A La Cornue range is more than just a stove.
It’s a one-way ticket to Provence.
Light the burners, and you can practically smell the fresh baguettes and melting butter.
These French icons have been handmade out of steel, copper, and brass and finished in
trademark colorful enamel since 1908.
Aside from the impressive performance, you’ll love all the customization possibilities.
There’s an array of color and trim options to choose from at different price levels.
Hi, I’m Elyse with Designer Appliances.
If you’re considering La Cornue for your kitchen, come see us.
We specialize in helping you customize your range.
We’ll introduce you to this French heritage brand, walk you through the different cooktop
surfaces and oven options, and help you design the perfect configuration and size for your
cooking style.
Finally, the fun part: We'll help you pick out the perfect colors.
With nearly 50 to choose from, it’s not a decision you want to make based on your
computer screen.
We have accurate color samples you can take home with you.
In this video, I’m going to give you an preview of everything we’d talk through
in detail in our showroom.
So, let’s start with the two series La Cornue makes: the original CornuFe and the newer
Le Chateau.
Essentially, CornuFe ranges come in a smaller selection of sizes, colors, and cooktop options.
They’re made in Birmingham, England.
They start at a lower price point, just under $10,000.
Chateau ranges are made outside Paris completely to order.
They give you many more size, color, trim, and cooktop options—in total, 8,000 different
possibilities.
These start right around $30,000.
Have questions yet?
Leave a comment below, and we’ll respond with a fact-checked answer.
Now let’s look at CornuFe in more detail.
CornuFes come in two sizes, 12 colors, and three trim finishes.
The 36-inch option is the CornuFe 90.
(90 stands for 90 cm, which is 35.4 inches).
It has a single oven and a storage drawer.
You can choose from dual fuel—it has five brass gas 17,000 BTU burners with enamel tops
and an electric convection oven—or an induction cooktop and electric oven.
Wondering if a higher output burner would be better?
You can get a higher BTU burner, but that’s not what La Cornue is about.
It’s about cooking with ease and style.
Most people cook at around 8,000 BTUs — 17,000 is more than enough, and honestly you’ll
be less likely to burn your food.
The 43-inch option is the CornuFe 110.
This larger size allows for two ovens (two electric ovens, one multifunction, one convection)
plus the five brass gas burners or an induction cooktop and a storage drawer.
Pro Tip: Order accessories with your dual-fuel range, and they’ll ship for free.
One popular choice is solid unlacquered brass burner tops.
Some people like to swap these in for the standard enamel tops when they’re not cooking,
for looks.
They’re around $600.
There’s also a wok ring, a grill/griddle, and a French plaque that sit on top of your
burners.
A few things to note about CornuFe:
On the induction cooktop, you can use the two right-hand burners together, but you can’t
bridge them.
The best induction cooktops let you bridge, or fully combine, two or more heat elements.
For a true bridging induction cooktop, look at Chateau series.
You also can’t combine gas and induction cooktop elements on a CornuFe, but you can
on a Chateau.
In spite of all the options, gloss black, matte black, pure white, and stainless steel
with polished brass trim are the most popular CornuFe colors, according to the company.
We have Joanna Gaines to thank for stainless steel, since that’s the CornuFe she has
in her studio kitchen.
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Now let’s take a closer look at Le Chateau, aka La Cornue’s crown jewel.
It’s especially easy to see why the company calls the series that now that it includes
diamond-encrusted edition—more on that in a sec.
As I mentioned, this series gives you a lot more ways to customize how your range looks
and how it cooks.
As for size, there are seven: Chateau 75 (29.5 inches); Chateau 90 (35.4 inches); Chateau
120 (47.2 inches); Chatelet 135 (53.15 inches); Chateau 150 (59.1 inches); Chateau 165 (65
inches); Chateau 180 (70.9 inches)
Color and finish options include all of the CornuFe swatches plus more for nearly 50,
or you can choose your own unique color and trim.
La Cornue also recently announced a new collection of colors exclusive to the Chateau series,
created in partnership with L.A.-based interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
The new color options are inspired by the colors of vintage race cars and named after
tracks around the world.
Depending on the size, you can pick from different preset combinations of cooktop elements: brass
gas burners, a power burner, a built-in French plaque, a true induction element, a lava-rock
grill, and a teppanyaki aka griddle.
On the chateau 150, 120, and 90, you can do all induction.
What’s a French plaque, you might ask?
La Cornue isn’t the only company that makes it—others call it a French top.
It’s basically a smooth circle, made of cast iron and coated in nickel, at the center
of the stove that’s hottest in the middle and gradually gets cooler toward the outside
edges.
It allows you to heat multiple pots or pans at once.
You can easily slide a boiling pot from the center to the outside to simmer and keep finished
foods warm before serving them straight from the stovetop.
It’s great for “conducting” dinner the French way, with finesse and ease.
There are other ways to customize your Le Chateau range:
The back guard can be flush seamed or seamless, so you can extend the countertops.
You can match the color of the toe kick to the range.
You can get lacquered brass or copper trim, which won’t patina like unlacquered.
They’re available only on the Le Chateau line.
You can add a leather cover to the handrail.
You can add a customizable ID plate.
I should also mention the Chateau Supreme, a special package available on Chateau 150
and 180 ranges.
It’s a collaboration with luxury designer Ferris Rafauli.
On the 180, the knobs can be encrusted with 28-carat diamonds.
There are only a few drawbacks we can think of:
1.
Cost.
These are a serious investment, but they will last.
We’ve heard about how a La Cornue range sold a house.
Potential buyers might recognize the look and fall in love with it.
2.
No self-clean setting.
That’s a deal-breaker for some people.
The company recommends setting a pan of distilled water, vinegar, and Dawn soap inside and letting
it steam at 225 degrees for about a half hour to loosen cooked on grime.
3.
Oven size.
La Cornue ovens have a unique vaulted design.
If you’re used to something wider, you might find these feel a little small.
They may look smaller than average, but they’re actually bigger than most.
They’re just a different shape.
From front to back, they measure 19.8 inches on the Chateau, compared with the typical
14 to 17 inches.
You just need to load your roasting pan or baking sheet narrow side first.
The company swears it can fit a 28-pound turkey.
To sum up, here’s what we love:
1.
The unique French styling and ways to personalize it.
We love all the color options and elegant trim kits.
2.
The serious performance.
La Cornues have an unbeatable convection oven.
The company’s founder, Albert Dupuy, actually invented the electric convection oven, after
all.
We also like the continuous cast iron grates and French plaque on the gas stovetop.
They make it really easy to move pots and pans around and cook in a relaxed way.
3.
The ability to combine induction and gas elements on Chateau ranges; the only other manufacturer
we carry with that option is Thermador. 4.
The warranty.
You get a full five years parts and labor, and they have their own national service line,
so you’ll never be out of range for service.
Think a La Cornue range sounds perfect, or still have questions?
Come see us, and feel free to bring your designer or contractor along.
If you’re in New Jersey or New York, our experts can help you design your dream stove.
We have floor models in our Bedminster showroom—believe me, seeing the gleaming brass and solid build
quality in person is worth the trip.
Just click the button to schedule an appointment, or give us a call.
Which La Cornue feature impressed or surprised you the most?
What do you still want to know?
Tell us in the comments below!
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