A kitchen remodel of your home or restaurant can mean making a lot of decisions about what to include in the design. One of the things you are sure to think about is what kind of cooktop to buy. For restaurants, professional cooktops are essential. But they are not just for businesses and can also be included in the design of residential kitchens. Though cooktops may not be high on the list of your priorities when redesigning or remodeling your kitchen, they do play a large part in how successfully the kitchen is run.

If you want to keep your options open, you are in luck. Though more options may sound like a great idea, it could make your decision even harder than ever. Knowing you want professional grade us great start and means you have already done some research into what you want your kitchen to look like.

Your may be one of the most important factors in determining which cooktop will best fit your needs. If you know you can afford something professional, you should go ahead and add it to your kitchen plan.

If you are using a company or person to help you in the design of your kitchen, be sure they are aware that you may be limited on options by your budget so that you can stay as close to your goal as possible in terms of money.

Be sure to make it clear to the salesperson you are working with that you want something a professional would or could use, but it must be within your budget. Once you know how much you can afford, stick to that price range. This will prevent you from having buyers remorse later on.

You may look at the different styles online to see if the kind that you had in mind is really what will fit your needs the best in terms of price, style and function. Another great thing about online shopping is that you can often get a better price than you could find in a store.

Though just browsing or researching online is great, there are also many people who choose to purchase items from online stores instead of a regular retailer. Price is just one of the reasons, but may be the right reason for you. Online stores or sites are sure to have a bigger selection and make things a bit easier for you to compare items based on features and price. You may even find the same item you were considering in the store, but be able to get a much better deal on it by purchasing online.

Whether purchasing from a store or online, reading reviews of professional cooktops is a must for any buyer. You may be able pick a cooktop based only on the reviews if you are looking for specific features. Be sure that you consider a review of the company as well to be sure your cooktop fits your needs as best as it can.

Angela Price is an interior decorator and home staging expert. For more information on professional cooktops, visit http://www.dacor.com.

1: IT’S ABOUT STYLE

Ranges have become the status symbol of the kitchen and many treat them like a stage for performing. There are free-standing or slide-in models, or built-in. It is a smart move to select the same type of replacement range to avoid renovations. Larger professional type ranges add glamour as well as heat, but they need better ventilation and may need fireboards next to the adjoining cabinets.

2: COLOR IS STYLE

Most ranges come in white, black, metallic finish and stainless steel. Custom colors are available on many of the upscale models. If the dishwasher and refrigerator do not have custom covers then the stove should match them. Don’t assume the metal is really stainless steel, ask.

3: THE FUEL QUESTION

Electric and gas are both reliable and offer consistent heat. Gas allows you to select different levels of heat and when the burner is off, cooking stops. If you currently have electric and decide to switch to gas, you will need a gas hookup as well as 120 volt circuit for clocks and electronic ignition. Electric heat gives you very low heat, which is not always possible with gas, but it heats up and cools down slowly.

4: PERFORMANCE

There are several choices and feature options. Decide which are most important to you and then ask which will best suit your needs. Don’t waste money on options that you won’t ever use, i.e. melting chocolate on low heat for eight hours. It’s great marketing, but very few of us actually do it. Make sure to ask about even baking and custom broiling options. You may want to check out convection baking for superior baking results, low simmer and high heat options on cooktop.

5: LOW MAINTENANCE CLEANING

If you hate to clean the oven, select self-clean options. Continuous clean never really gets the oven immaculate. Smooth glass or ceramic cooktops need specific cleaners and care to maintain their good looks. Burners on professional ranges require more care, especially with drips pans.

6: MAKING SURE IT FITS

The bottom line is that is has to fit in the space you have allocated. Professional models measure between 36 and 60 inches. Freestanding ranges are generally 30 inches wide, but can vary from 24 - 48 inches.