EDIT: I highly recommend reading the comments on this post, not only are the entertaining but it would seem our poor experience with the ILVE range is rather common. Also please read my updates at the end.
I wanted to write a post with a review about our experience with the ILVE Range we purchased for our kitchen when we renovated it last year. You can read the original post here and the follow-up source post here if you have questions. A commercial-style range is a very big investment, as well as a big factor in the overall design plan, so I wanted to share my real-life experience now that we’ve used it for about nine months. This is not in any way sponsored (unlike most of the ILVE reviews I have found online), I selected, researched, and paid for our range all on my own.
My Review of the ILVE Range
To begin with, I have the ILVE 40″ Freestanding, Dual-Fuel Range in Stainless Steel with Brass Trim. You can get more detail (cost) for it here, though I’d definitely suggest ordering it through the manufacturer (they have an American marketing company) vs. Wayfair. I looked at a lot of commercial style ranges, and read what I could find online but in the end the look, the price and the reviews sold me on this vs. a brand like Thermador, Viking or KitchenAid.
I’ll start with what I like, because spoiler alert: we’ve had a lot of issues, but overall I do have some good things to share. First of all, I admit love the style, I think it works perfectly in our kitchen which is on the smaller size. I also love having two ovens, I find the smaller one that heats up fast and is perfect for quickly heating up things like chicken nuggets. I will say though, the larger of the two ovens is not that large. It doesn’t hold a full-size baking sheet, and a full-sized Thanksgiving turkey would be a challenge so you will need to go larger if you need more oven space. It does have a large storage drawer at the bottom, which is a nice feature. I also like that it has multiple oven settings like for pizza, broiling even rotisserie chicken etc. though I admit I don’t use them often.
Moving on to my disappointments. I don’t like that with the grill set up, you only have four burners. There is a large middle burner, but it’s oval and I don’t know what I’d use to cook on it. The center grill has benefits, like making pancakes but it’s really, heavy so I rarely use it as it is quite cumbersome to move to the sink to clean.
Let me now share what we’ve dealt with performance wise. My biggest complaint is that during this one-year warranty period, it has been next to impossible to get customer service. I actually had to go through Instagram direct message to finally get a response. I spent multiple 45-minute plus hold times on the ILVE customer service line only to be hung up on once I finished waiting in the queue. I did get a better response once I started working with the marketing company I ordered the range from, which is why I think you need to be sure to order direct.
We’ve had multiple issues, but the biggest complaint is that my burners just suddenly go out while cooking. I have to constantly be checking to see if there is still a flame under a pan. Not only is that scary, since the range is gas, but it can really slow down cooking time if it goes out and I am not aware of it. I find that issue for a range of this cost to be pretty significant. I have had the warranty repair person they sent (which took months) check this several times but am told everything works fine. I also often have to ignite the burners multiple times before the gas flame catches, which is a little disconcerting though I have gotten used to it. Overall, it just hasn’t been what I’d hoped for, especially for someone who really likes to cook and entertain (and has a food/wellness blog too, right?)
Finally, the gasket on the larger oven door came loose in March. I wound up waiting until late August for the part to come in and for the repair person to come out and replace it. I actually paid for a new part (they billed the card they had on file from the purchase without telling me). Then the repair person left without making sure the oven actually started up once it had been replaced. I finally was able to get that troubleshooted via phone, but again, not the experience I’d hoped for.
I had seen ILVE reviews online, which I like to read to see if anyone else is having the same difficulties and overall they seem good so it is possible we just have a “lemon” of a range. Though again, most of the reviews are from bloggers/influencers who were given their range in exchange for online promotion so I thought it worth my time to share our non-sponsored experience.
I’d love to hear experiences from anyone else who owns a range like this, or about other brands if you have had good or bad experiences. I found very little information online to help when I was trying to make a decision, so please leave a comment if you think it will help others who may be remodeling.
{You can see the kitchen remodel in our last home here}.
UPDATES:
I am adding in this section to this post, as it seems that my experience is similar to many others. I am trying my best to be responsive since the comments continue to come in, and I would hope we could find a happy resolution. So stay tuned, I’ll continue to update:
As of June 2024, I reached out on Instagram and shared this post (and the comments) with @ILVEranges and asked if they wanted to respond. I was told the following “I am really sorry to hear about your experience with our product. Unfortunately Superior Marketing and its affiliates filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the end of February so we don’t have direct access to your order”.
….more to come!
XO,
Please visit my Health and Wellness website 11MLWellness here.
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I don’t have the same range (at all) but I do have the middle burners that are rarely used. My solutions was to get an always oven pan! It has amazing conduction along the bottom and it can go in the oven too. So easy to clean and light. We use it for eggs, bacon, pancakes, grilled cheese, fajitas – so much stuff.
They are pretty, but the problems far outweigh the aesthetics. Poor customer service makes it even worse.
I do agree with you!
Thank you for this post. The stove is SO pretty and I was about to purchase but will instead continue my quest with other brands. Incredibly helpful and agree with others, your kitchen is lovely!
This post is especially interesting to me. I have a Commercial Thermador 36″ range that is about 16-17 years old. The oven went out last year. the estimate to repair is around 2000.00 . For now i have decided against repair and am researching new options.
I have to admit I have absolutely loved the range, and I am not a fancy cook, but I do cook a lot. It is a tank, and I think it should last another 8 years at least. I have never heard of Ilve, and i am a professional interior designer who works in kitchen/bath reno.
Your range is very pretty and suits your kitchen beautifully. I really feel they should stand behind their upscale product and send a ILVE area rep to your home and address your issues. You should be enjoying your new range!! Best of Luck, please keep us updated!!
Thank you fo r your feedback. We are learning to live with the issues. That is a great run for your commercial range, It is a tough call to repair or not. Good luck with your search!
XO,
Amy
Hi – I wish I would of seen this review before I purchased my stove. I listened to my contractor. I have not make Thanksgiving dinner in years and now I need to cook a turkey. Any recommendations? I agree with everyone review, pretty but not at all what I expected. Thanks
I am so glad I found this post. It is obvious when you read some reviews that they are sponsored, which feels a little less than honest, but that may just be me. I have wanted an Ilve since I first saw them, but I have a history of falling for a pretty face and being sorry afterwards, especially with the difficulty of getting imported appliances serviced. I had a Bertazzoni range that I used to call my gorgeous but unfaithful Italian boyfriend. Amy- with what you know, would you buy the Ilve again? Is the marketing company you bought from Ilve or Hallman? I have a very small narrow city condo kitchen and a beautiful range would really jazz it up, but I am too old to go through this all over again. Yoiur kitchen is beautiful and I love your white enameled pot.
Thank you for your note (and hilarious on the “boyfriend”), I had to think about your question. I think I would select something else, mostly after the hassle we have been through, it makes me nervous with the burners randomly going out. I just don’t know what I would select otherwise. The marketing company is Superior Marketing, they have been fine. I do hear good reviews on the ILVE ranges overall, maybe we just got a lemon, which is unfortunate for us. Take care, Amy
These seem to fly under the radar, but as a chef, I chose a DCS range 20 years ago for my home. It is dual fuel, 5 burners, works like a champ. It’s amazing. Nice clean sealed top. Easy to clean. Pro baking sheets fit it, 5 burners, has convection, it’s been a dream. I’m remodeling and had seen the ilve ranges and wondered if I should ‘upgrade’. So thanks to your post I researched new DCS which has been now taken over by Fisher Paykel. I’d recommend them, but read all their reviews. I realize replacing your lemon is not something you want to do after paying for it. Ouch. My DCD was $8k 20 years ago. Worth every last penny. I’ll most likely just have it serviced to clean all the gas orifices, etc., and stick with it for now. Check the updated DCS here: https://www.us-appliance.com/fipara2.html
Also, the Wolf ranges. I’m looking at those as well. I had a Viking years ago and absolutely hated it. But Wolf might be nice, goes well with my Subzero.
I recently got the Ilve Majestic in the 48″. It is a total lemon. We have had it serviced three times with no luck. The burners won’t ignite unless the oven doors are open. The burners go out all the time randomly. And there is not a simmer setting on the burners that is a low heat. I love how it looks but for this price point I need it to work. I have a friend who has to light the burners with a lighter each time and another person in my neighborhood who has a total lemon as well. Ilve would never get back to me and never got back to the appliance store we ordered from either. I have contacted several different appliance stores asking if they have had issues with Ilve stoves they have sold and was told that “it’s not built to be a high performance item” but built to look pretty in kitchen.
Oh wow–that is so interesting. Well it does look pretty in the kitchen but honestly, it also should work great for the price point. I really appreciate you sharing your story and from others with similar experiences.
XO,
Amy
We bought a house that has a 40″ dual fuel Nostalgie. It looks nifty but honestly I think it’s a pretentious piece of trash.
I found your post because I am trying to figure out how the rotisserie oven (the smaller one) is supposed to work. It won’t turn at all. Others have also had this issue.
Hope you find something you like better. I hate not having the ability to put a whole sheet pan in it. F’n useless.
Thanks for sharing–I haven’t even tried the rotisserie, I doubt I ever will. You are right that the size is definitely limiting too, live and learn I guess. XO, Amy
Hi Amy, I sincerely appreciate your review and the other comments as well. I have been considering purchasing the 40″ Ilve duel fuel Nostalgie oven for over a year now. I currently have a 40″ duel fuel Kenmore over that is no longer heating up. I have replaced my counters and backsplash so I am stuck with purchasing only a 40″ wide oven/cooktop. The problem is the only oven/cooktop I can find in a 40″ width is Ilve. After reading these honest reviews I do not want to deal with these issues. Does anyone know of another manufacturer of 40″ ranges?
Thank you, Kathy
Oh that is too bad, I hope you can find something else. Can you get a 36″ and just have a narrow pull out cabinet made? Just an idea! Thanks for your comment. Good luck! XO, Amy
Thank heaven I found these reviews, as I was about to purchase the 40 inch dual fuel range. An oven which can’t accommodate a full sheet pan or a large turkey wouldn’t work for here at all. I, too, have a 40 inch Kenmore that needs replacing. The new plan is to buy a standard-sized induction range (I had one in my previous home and loved it) which will leave 5 inches on each side – It needs to be centered due to the current cabinet configuration. We are having 2 narrow slide-out units built to go each side of the stove. Alternatively they could be just decorative panels. We finally thought of a solution for the countertops to go over the new slide-outs: the granite on our island matches the current countertops. Our local granite fabricator will cut this slab and replace the tops either side of the range. We will then put a new, different piece of granite on the island as an accent piece. I haven’t decide on the backsplash yet, but am considering stainless steel.
I hope this solution helps.
Thank you all for your candid reviews. They saved me a lot of frustration.
Carol
I think using counter filler is a good idea, you can find 36″ ranges or even 30″. I don’t know of a good induction brand, I didn’t research them as I wanted gas but maybe we can get some suggestions from others reading the post. I appreciate your comment!
–Amy
I too fell for the pretty face. I have a hard time regulating the burner flame because the knobs are so vague. The oven temp is off by 25 degrees from what I set it for either and it goes up and down. The oven fan that cools the oven has a high pitched whine that drives us all crazy. I have only had this range for three months. I have a newly renovated 1905 home and I thought this range would be perfect. Life is too short to struggle daily with an appliance. It is still under warranty and I have a technician coming to look at it. In any case it is getting replaced.
I am sorry you are also having issues and I hope they will replace it! I really appreciate you sharing your story/experience. I should have mentioned how loud the fan is–it stays on forever after the oven is done too. Good luck with the repair! XO,
Amy
I have had a 36” dual fuel range for three years now. I’ve had similar issues to yours but I don’t find it that bad. I’ve been overall pretty happy with it. I have had to call for service for the igniter for one burner. I didn’t have a huge problem with service actually as I expected it to take a little time. I’ve rarely had a situation where service responded quickly for any appliance brand (I also think it’s due to the company’s small footprint in the US). Anyhow, the igniter not catching seems to be a common problem with the Ilve ranges. The service person told us that there is a trick to doing it and it works pretty consistently now. You need to press the knob on the igniter symbol and hold it there for a two seconds. It has to be pretty much right in the igniter symbol. Usually with other burners you can just turn further on the knob after hitting the igniter but not with the lIve stoves. I find that it takes longer if I have a large pot on top of the burner. Works faster when there’s nothing on top of the burner. The service repair person said that the sensor is finicky. I haven’t had any issues with the oven at all. Works great and I cook a lot! I also have no issues with the rotisserie. After this range croaks though we are planning to switch to induction because gas isn’t great for health or the environment. We have a Bertazzoni in our mountain cabin and I have way more issues with that one than the Ilve. The Ilve just cooks, bakes, and roasts much more consistently.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have heard that ignitor trick (one repair person said hold it for 5 seconds, another said push it twice FYI for those in the same boat) but it’s good to know it works for you. I do agree the ovens work well. Again, great to have another experience in the mix. I appreciate your time to leave a comment.
Amy
I bought a 36 inch beautiful Ilve. It can make ANYONE A BAD COOK! The oven temperature might be 100 degrees off but not consistently the same direction. And that is after waiting about a year for a new thermostat! I couldn’t find anyone willing to work on an Ilve. Ilve customer service was terrible! Can’t find anyone west of the Mississippi willing to work on it. The burners can’t be turned low enough. To fry an egg you have to turn the stove off and then back on again. To cook rice I turn it off after 10 minutes and then turn it on again. Sometimes the flames goes out unexpectedly. I HATE my beautiful range.
Yes–that is so true about cooking rice. Though I haven’t found any gas range that can be low enough? It’s so frustrating! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Same I live in Washington state and cannot get anyone to come and look at my oven the temperature is all over the place. Who can I call to get help????
We get service on our Ilve from Frederick’s Appliance in Redmond, WA. These ovens are trash though- any replacement parts have to be ordered from Ilve manufacturing in Italy. You’re looking at 3-6 months of wait time.
Amy, we have had the same issues. Only reason we purchased this range was bc it’s pretty much the only 40” available. Cant set the burners on low without them going out. It originally came with a regulator that was leaking gas. The installers cracked the original regulator and left without finishing install. I had to replace the regulator myself. Ovens seem to work pretty well, but the range top is a nightmare. I too am finding it extremely difficult to find someone to come out and fix the issues.
As a follow up to my earlier post, I had an appliance repair person (not ilve certified) come out to check on the range burners this afternoon. The issue (for mine at least) is the incorrect orifices were installed under the burners. The install people installed the liquid propane orifices instead of the natural gas. Hopefully this will correct the problem once they get switched out.
This is great to know, I wonder if it is the same with mine. I will check–thanks for sharing this!
So glad I found your posts and comments…Sounds like the Ilve only makes lemons! I am starting the process of a complete kitchen remodel and the Ilve caught my eye. They are beautiful and look stunning in your white kitchen, but, obviously not worth the trouble. Thanks so much for helping others dodge that particular bullet!
I am glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your renovation!
So glad I found your post! I loved the look, but want a electric stove top which they have, but now I am concerned! Would you recommend any others out there that have that old world look with electric tops?
Thank you so much for this! I am desperate to find a 40 inch range to replace our vintage Wedgewood range. I really want double ovens. I was so hopeful for this one, but we are replacing our vintage one for gas leak reasons. So the gas issues are enough for me! I only have 40” to work with…do you or anyone have any recommendations for a nice range please? Thx!
I haven’t found one, though this keeps getting asked. I think that is a downside, it’s a unique size. Hopefully someone will chime in with a suggestion!
I don’t I am sorry, but I am hoping that with the amount of interest this post is getting that others will share alternatives which will help everyone!
The Lacanche makes a few models in 40”. One has two equal sized ovens and one has a large and a small.
Thank you, this is very helpful to those looking for an alternative!
Yes but the price is double that of the Ilve… I am looking at them
I own the 36, along with the range hood. She is beautiful! And that is where my love ends. When I am fortunate to get my burners to light, they will completely die out if I lower them. I will try the trick I read above. The oven is so inconsistent. I am not even sure to this date if it can broil anything. My most problems recently have been from the range hood. I have tried so many different way of cleaning the inside, but continue to have oil drops that leak down the back, front, from the lights. Driving me cuckoo. Everyone does love it when they walk in the door for first time, so it gives a great impression. Good luck to everyone!
Please help I am having so many problems with my nostalgic series oven. The temperature is all over the place who can I call to help me?
I would reach out to Signature Marketing (or whereever you ordered it from). I hope they can help you!
My experience with our 36” range has actually been really good – that being said, there was definitely a learning curve to using it. One thing I will say that may possibly help someone having burner issues – if all the little pieces on the burner aren’t lined up correctly the burner shuts itself off. There’s little notches in each piece that you have to make sure are aligned correctly. I figured this out after a couple times of cleaning it and taking it apart. And yes you do have to hold down the igniter for a few seconds before turning it.
Thank you for sharing–This is helpful information. I do think this is part of my issue with the burners and it may be that the pieces get slightly off, but it seems to be happening quite often. I will try to pay better attention, I appreciate you taking the time to share. My oven hasn’t been an issue overall, it’s mostly just the burners going out while cooking. That issue is actually getting worse, I only have one burner I trust right now regularly and it still isn’t very reliable. 🙁
XO,
Amy
I am so glad I found your post. I love the look of this range…but oh my goodness….why can’t anyone make a beautiful range that works? If you were to do this over again which range do you think you’d get. I am converting my home out of gas to induction which
I have now worked on and adore, it is clean, even heat, and excellent for high heat quick boiling and for simmer or just warming. Easy to clean etc. But I can’t figure out which range…any thoughts? Warmly Christina
I’d go with Thermador, KitchenAid or Viking next time. I’d stick with a high-end brand that has a good reputation. I would also buy it locally from a store that had repair options and customer service. I don’t know much about induction but it might be a better option in the long run? Thanks for sharing!
XO,
Amy
no support from Ilve, good luck, just purchased one right oven does not work, tough sh^t from Ilve
I feel your pain, if you go through their marketing company that may help. I am sorry! Thanks for sharing.
This oven is garbage. The lack of a simmer is maddening. Both my broilers the middle element does not turn on yet they are still trying to figure out if it is broken or if that is just how it works. Its been 5 months now. Why would you put in broiler parts that do not turn on? I built everything around this 40″ oven so pretty much stuck with it
Would like to chime in and thank you for this post! I was looking at Ilve ranges because the price seemed right. So glad that there’s an honest review out there, and interesting how many comments in agreement there are.
Ugh! I’m so glad I found this article! I thought I was alone in this or, like you, just ended up with a lemon! I had the same issue needing a 40″ wide range so I bought the Ilve Nostalgie. Oh, man. Yes, same issues with the burners, but it’s the inconsistent oven temperatures that are killing me. I had a booming cake business for 10 years on my old trusty Kenmore oven. If I had started baking with this Ilve, I would have been convinced that I could not bake at all. Everything comes out either burned or dried out…that’s if I can even reach the correct oven temperature and sustain it. I have to literally iet in front of the oven with a temp gauge and babysit each item in there. It’s been a nightmare. My once love and confidence is baking has been completely eradicated by this overpriced contraption. I have to go elsewhere to bake the occasional cake for a friend now. I’m too embarrassed to serve what is coming out of this machine. I’ve had it repaired a couple of times to no avail. The problems persist. It’s been an awful waste of money all around and so absolutely disappointing.
We just purchased a Nostalgie and are having issues with one burner failing to ignite. We also do notice that none of the burners will stay alive on simmer. You don’t have to worry about it being a danger because it’s actually a safety feature that is causing the issue. Theresthat little brass piece that sticks up next to each burner opposite the white igniters. That’s part of the thermocoupler. If the thermocoupler doesn’t stay warm enough it tells the stove to cut the gas on the burner. It’s a way to keep the burners from accidentally being turned left on with no flame. The problem is that the thermocouplers need A LOT of flame to remain open. Somebody dropped the ball in engineering. I’m going to see if there’s a way to replace them with more sensitive parts or override them completely.
This is really interesting, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for taking the time for this independent review. I was considering buying a 48″ ILVE to replace our 25 yo Dacor. I’ll reconsider, thanks to you!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow! So glad I came across this blog. I have been wanting this range fora year now and getting ready to plan my kitchen remodel I even started to see ILVE in some home improvement shows and love how they look but now I am reconsidering! So disappointing because all the other ranges that have a similar look (brass hardware) are SO expensive! Thanks everyone for sharing their experience!
I agree–these are very pretty but maybe not as functional as we all hoped. Especially for serious cooks…good luck with your remodel!
I bought the 48″ almost three years ago and have to say I am surprised by the amount of complaints. Mine is working great although I do see the problems. To light any burner you have to wait 5~6 seconds holding the igniter which is annoying but not deal braking. When I turn the oven off, the fans keep working for a good 5 minutes afterwards, I suppose to cool the oven. Still, overall, I really like it. I have a burner that goes from extremely high to a low simmer that works perfectly; the issue with the middle grill being too heavy is a feature to me, not a bug. Never had a problem with the burners turning off on their own so there is that. I really love the look, we got a burgundy with gold knobs and it is a knockout.
I found this post while researching how to replace a knob that is showing signs of use and thought I would share my experience.
Would buy again!
Great to have a positive experience shared here–thank you so much for taking the time to chime in!
I am surprised by the amount of comments. Does your blog normally have so many comments or it this 40″ range issue that popular?
I also am looking to replace a 40″ range and it seems like Ilve or Hallman are the two options.
Not sure if anyone has noticed but Ilve has very recently made some changes to the Nostalgic and increased the price by about $2K. You can see the old vs new model on AJ Madison. The older ones are currently on sale. Maybe they have fixed the issues. Maybe not. Anyways, all these comments are very helpful. Thanks!
Yes–This conversation has garnered quite a bit of discussion, it’s worth noting the difference in experience with this product. Hopefully it just provides a non-sponsored/biased point of view!
It also seems those purchased during or at the end of the covid production hassles( reopening work houses and shipping lines reopening) are very problematic.
My purchasing company, Premeir Home Supply helped me with many questions and purchasing in the Fall of 2022. Apparently, once they place the order it shipped to the USA and Superior Marketing took over my purchase to deliver it to my home. I was left alone for set up etc. Many phone calls , photos and videos to a wonderful agent at Superior got replacement parts sent. The ordered gas stove was indeed a propane stove that Premier Home Supply did not order correctly. Following that was finding a plumber who had knowledge of Ilve brand. I exceeded the 1 year warranty and had city gas company check it 3 times in which Superior mktg paid for, but never correctly fixed the appliance.
Dual burner has never turned on, others go out, some take several trys depending on the day.
The oven also has list of issues. Fan on for extended pds even when not high temps, temp.changing throughout cooking period, and all those already mentioned. I am wondering if a Class action lawsuit has been filed.
Frustrated and disappointed in not having decent meals anymore.
Thank you for sharing, it sounds similar to our experience. It’s unfortunate that we’re all in this situation!
I’m so happy that you and others have shared your thoughts and problems that you are experiencing with your Ilve ranges. I am currently shopping around for a new 48 inch range and fell in love with the look and price of the Ilve range. But once I started doing my research, that has quickly changed. I own a 19 year old, very tired DCS, now Fisher & Paykel. I’m starting to experience issues with my oven now and have had an ongoing problem with my igniters on my burners, which has not been resolved, so it’s time to replace my tired range. I have looked at other brands, but have decided to go with a Thermidor, Viking or another DCS/Fischer & Paykel. I thought I was going to get a beautiful range with a great price with the Ilve, but I’ve decided that we are going to have to pay high dollars and go back to the high ticket price to get a good quality and dependable range.
Thank you for your honest review! It’s just good to know that others have had the same issues. We’ve had our 48 inch Nostalgie for almost a year and we HATE it. The burners won’t stay on, there’s no such thing as a low setting on them, the constant noise from the oven fans is maddening, and it takes several tries to light the burners…. The smaller oven is so tiny it’s almost useless. We had a 5-star gas range in our house we had before this one and I never had one issue with it. Ilve really needs to step up and address these issues considering what they charge for their products. We originally wanted a Smeg – but it was during Covid shutdown and the Smeg was coming from Australia- and they said it could take years for it to get to us. We waited 16 months for this Ilve and it is a huge disappointment.
I purchased an Ilve range about 2 1/2 years ago for our big remodel and it has been a nightmare since day one. The burners do not stay lit. The flames are way too high and can’t be turned down properly. My center burner has never worked and after having a repairman come out at least 8 times, it still doesn’t work. I’ve just given up. (By the way, even finding a repairman to look at it is next to impossible.) I’ve had the orifices swapped out over and over and it never fixed anything. The oven is SO NOISY! When you turn the oven off, the fans run forever and you can’t manually shut them off. They are so loud that my family doesn’t want to eat dinner while they are whirring because the noise is so distracting. The oven temperature is wildly inconsistent. Suddenly convection runs no matter which setting you choose, so all of my cookies and cakes come out crunchy on top. I fought with the company I purchased the range from for about a year with no luck. They just blew me off left and right and promised to get it fixed if I could find a repairman myself – good luck with that! And even after I finally found one they never paid for a thing. I gave up using it and installed my old range in the basement. It’s super old but is perfectly consistent and reliable. The only good thing I can say about my Ilve range is that it is beautiful! There were almost no helpful reviews when I bought mine, so I just hope to save someone from the same mistake I made.
I installed my 36″ Nostalgie in Feb. and it has been the biggest disappointment in my kitchen remodel. She is SO beautiful but that’s where my love ends. The oven takes 3-4 times turning it on and off before it eventually lights and is so small I can barely fit a cookie sheet. Anything I put in there cooks so unevenly, it needs to be monitored the whole time. My burners, especially the largest one, only light 20% of the time without the help of a lighter or match and if it’s too low it just goes out altogether. Just complete garbage! I cannot get help from ILVE, I’ve tried contacting them over 10 times, and Appliances Connection went out of business, so no help there. I even bought the extended warranty, and they won’t help either. Too expensive to be this disappointing.
I am so sorry to hear this, but your experience mirrors all of ours. Thanks for sharing!
Hi there! Wondering if you have any recommendations on baking sheets for this oven? We just bought a house with it. Thank you for your honest review btw!
Sorry for the delay, I use two smaller baking sheets instead of one large one, the half size. Hope that helps!
Oh my GOD! i literally thought I was the only one experiencing the NIGHTMARE that this stove has been!
We bought the house with this gorgeous new ILVE stove — and in two months, it began acting weird. Like — the large front burner in the front would never stay lit — so we got someone to service it here in Boston — Mr. Appliance Salem. They ordered parts,
(the wrong ones) then came out to install them, then ordered NEW parts (six months wait from Italy), then those turned out to be the wrong ones, too… and from that point on … we’ve had no front large burner at all. The stove cooks ridiculously hot … and the other burners cannot be turned down to a simmer … so I constantly have to jiggle my pots to the far side to try to prevent overcooking. This stove is an EPIC fail … do not purchase it under any circumstances. Beauty is only skin deep.
You are correct that beauty is only skin deep! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, this stove is all style and no substances. Bought it based on its good looks and the mistaken assumption that something that expensive has to be decent quality. Wrong! Have had all the issues mentioned. Oven gasket falls off after year and needs replacing (not cheap). Large burner takes forever to light, if at all, spewing noxious gas into the room while you stand there holding the knob down. Oven temperature is all over the place and not consistent at all. Am about to cut my losses and try to get rid if it, but no takers so far even at a pretty steep discount.
Thanks for sharing, the gasket is definitely a common issue. We had the same thing happen. Also the igniting issue of the large burner, which is so frustrating!
We purchased the 40″ Majestic, dual fuel, propane almost two years ago. The burner ignite took a little learning, but once learned, they are simple to ignite. We have never lost a flame at low flame. While we have never temperature tested the oven, it does seem to run a little on the warm side and we have adjusted time / temp accordingly. We LOVE our ILVE range! Have never had the need for a service call. I just got a text message offering to sell an extended warranty. My initial inclination was “no thanks”, but I went to Google to see what others were saying about ILVE reliability. I’m shocked at the entries on this blog! I’m confused as your experiences are totally inconsistent with ours, but I’m still doubting that I will spend $500 to extend the warranty for 5 years.
I am glad you had a good experience–it’s nice to hear all the varying opinions.
UGGGH. Yep. I have the same oven, but the 60″ with 6 burners for propane fuel (even the same color as yours). Ours was installed in July 2023. I agree with you regarding the griddle- does not heat well due to the burner shape (the 60″ has TWO of these useless U-shaped burners) and it is REALLY hard to clean and keep looking nice. They really should have used a cast iron griddle, not stainless. Now the problems: The gasket on the small oven failed within a few months, the rubber ripping from the cheap metal clips that hold it into place (horrible design) and the burners often won’t light and will go out on you randomly. I went round and round with their customer service who would not accept the invoice/receipt I got from the appliance store I bought it from as proof of purchase (they wanted the invoice the appliance store got when they ordered it) when I submitted an online claim for the burners and the gasket. Eventually they stopped responding and I found out from my dealer ILVE scrapped the company they contracted with in the US to handle customer service in early 2024. They now have a new firm handling CS. I went online and filed a new warranty claim and got NO response, but a new gasket showed up via Fed Ex about 2 weeks later. The fact they expect me to install it myself pisses me off, so I submitted another claim AND reiterated the problem with the burners. Paid WAY too much money for a beautiful piece of junk….Completely disappointed in the quality. Be nice if someone started a class action suit….
Thank you for sharing, I think we’re all pretty frustrated. For the cost of the product, I totally agree they should do better. I appreciate your idea of the lawsuit and hopefully someone will take the initiative! I never thought my post would garner this much attention. It’s probalby time to share this with ILVE just in case they aren’t paying attention 🙂
I purchased a Hallman 48″ dual fuel in 2020. Best range ever. Not one problem. We sold the house in 2022 and left the range with the house; buyers loved it. Purchased an Ilve Majestic dual fuel (propane and electric ovens) Love the range, not a problem whatsoever. Only thing is that a knob broke off from the black plastic piece that hold them together. They are very hard to remove for cleaning. But we have a propane leak inside a wall in the house. Could be inside any walls from kitchen to guest room. In order to repair the leak we will have to tear down walls, tiles and may be too expensive. Because I am terrified of propane, we decided to disconnect the propane tank (we switched to heat pumps last winter, only the range uses propane). I hate to sell my Ilve, it is a blue gray color with brass accessories, but at my age, my peace of mind is priceless. We are looking for an induction range. Ilve makes them so I am looking into it. But if I get a choice between Hallman and Ilve, I will go with Hallman. Exactly same range, they are made in the same factory in Italy. But Hallman is half the price as Ilve and I prefer the Hallman griddle, easier to use also.
This is great information, especially on the Hallman. I am so sorry about your leak, that is scary. Thank you for sharing!
By the way, the Ilve Majestic is 48″ dual fuel also
I stumbled on here and felt compelled to add my experience. To start, I am the regualr cook in the house, love to entertain, and do a fair amount of canning, so my experiences here are a bit more than just casual use. I purchaded the 40in Ilve Nostalgie a little more than a year ago. I admit, there is a bit of a learning curve (lighting to burners, oven options and setting), and I aslo experienced the frustration of the high capacity burner shutting off randomly (which is how I stumbled herr). But over all, I love the stove. I love how well the burners are spaced, and even using large pots, there is plenty of room on the stove top. The main oven is smaller tham your average US oven, but I had no trouble cooking the Thankgiving turkey. I can’t say I had any issues with the oven, but I always keep an oven termometer in the oven anyway, so it was just a matter of getting used to a new oven. Keeps a consistent temperature and has worked fine. The grill is heavy, but has a good large surface, without crowding the other burners. It heats up well, and I probably use it at least once a week. For those times I can’t justify dragging out the big grill, I have a smaller, and much lighter, cast iron gridde that sits nicely on the long burner. I also purchased the bain marie accessory that sits on the long burner, that kept a few sides warm, freeing up the other burners while making Thanksgiving dinner. In terms of a simmer burner, the high capacity burner can be reduced to just the small inner burner that works fine for me as a simmer burner (oddly that one stays on better than the big other burner), or I use a heat diffuser plate on one of the other burners that works well for simmering as well. With the exception of the high capacity burner going out (and even that only happens in the first couple of minutes), there isnt much I dont love about this range. Perhaps I’m just lucky, but I haven’t regretted my purchase for a second.
I, too, was looking at purchasing an Ilve. We are remodeling our kitchen and decided to, finally, invest in the gas we have always wanted. I first fell in love with cooking on gas stoves when I was a pre-teen living in military base housing. I am so sick of electric burners and their on/off inconsistent cooking. I really love the vintage look ranges, and I was ALMOST taken in with the Ilve’s beauty, until, I read the oven size on the specs. We need a 30″ range, and the oven is only 2.7 cubic feet! I found a brand called Kucht. All models of this brand get hundreds and hundreds of fabulous reviews(non promotional). There are different models, sizes, and colors available in dual fuel ranges. The ranges are pretty, as well, although, I will admit, not quite as eye catching as Ilve. The oven size on the 30″ is still small (4.2 cu.ft.) but better than Ilve. Kucht is backed by a 4 year parts and labor guarantee, with a 60 day customer satisfaction guarantee. Plus, they say after the original warranty expires, they offer unlimited lifetime support to customers and technicians through video chat. Now, I do not, yet, have their product, but based on the non-promotional reviews and Kucht’s warranty support, I will be purchasing one of Kucht’s 30″ dual fuel ranges with gold accents and digital dial thermostat, which I haven’t found reviews on, yet, for this particular model, but I’m, still, taking my chances. I’m praying I have the same great experience with this range as so many others! I hope this helps others in their searches!
Oh man. I purchased an Ilve 36″ dual fuel 1 month before this review was posted (from Appliances Connection).
We were doing a total kitchen remodel so the Ilve was delivered 4 months before we could install it. It was operational for 2 months before the electrical had a critical issue and now the entire oven and gas starters don’t work.
I discovered that Appliances Connection had gone out of business so I reached out to Ilve and they are funneling all manufacturer warranty claims through one of those aftermarket warranty companies (CPS), so it’s become my part time job to follow up with CPS to get an update on my claim and attempt to keep things moving. Terrible experience, going on 2 months.
I finally called Ilve directly today about the part that CPS said they ordered 3 weeks ago and Ilve is giving me a 90-day lead time for the part. I inquired about getting a replacement unit instead, but they said I would have to appeal to Appliances Connection Board of Trustees for that. (Doesn’t make sense to me why the manufacturer’s 1 year warranty would be handled by the retailer but that’s what I’m being told.)
I will have been without an oven for at least 5 and a half months by the time this is fixed (if it can be fixed), and it will no longer be covered by manufacturer warranty at that point either. I seriously regret buying this range. And will be getting a very big ‘told ya so’ from my husband, who was leery about buying an Italian range because of service and support access.
Ilve ranges are definitely form over function.
This has been my experience with Ilve, too. I’ve had issues since March and it’s now November. Lucky that you bought a 36″ as you can more easily replace it. I bought their 40″ which is almost impossible to replace as no US manufacturers make a 40″ range.
We’ve had nothing but trouble from the moment we ordered our Ilve Majestic. Since they’re coming from Italy, and this is the current state of our world’s shipping industry- it took 9 months to get here. It arrived damaged. The largest burner was non-functional, the bottom, decorative panel was warped and won’t stay popped in the framing and the induction top was shifted slightly off the oven box. This for 8 grand! It took forever to get the burner replacement parts, and we just kinda bent and shoved everything else back in place. Then the oven rack mount popped off the wall and we can’t get it to re-attach to the screw mount, so whenever you need to shift racks, the whole thing comes off the right side wall. Next, the interior temperature probe mount fell off and landed INSIDE the wall, which once again took forever to get the replacement part from Italy. And the latest is that the glass oven door exploded,(yes, exploded!) and we are again having to wait for a replacement glass panel. It’s already been 3 months and there’s no update on a delivery time. We are a family of 7 and I am roasting vegetables and baking bread in a toaster oven after investing about 10 thousand dollars for this worthless piece of European junk.
I refer to my Ilve as all beauty and no brains. The worst range I’ve ever had – we had to purchase a counter top roasting oven to make our annual Thanksgiving turkey. I’m so disappointed and have the worst buyers remorse.
Thank you for this honest review and all the helpful feedback from current Ilve owners! We were considering purchasing an Ilve because it has the look we want for our kitchen remodel; however, after reading these comments, I have reconsidered. Does anyone know of better alternatives?
I also bought the Ilve 40″ dual fuel and have had many issues since day one. Their customer service is non-existent. They say they will send someone out and never do. It’s been a year now. Worse yet, 40″ ranges are very hard to find and are much more expensive than Ilve so my renovation would need extensive and expensive changes to accommodate a different sized range. Stay away from Ilve.
Thank you for sharing your experience with everyone!
This is Phoebe following up. It’s now November 25th, three months later and Ilve still has not resolved my issue. And the issues are now even worse as neither of the ovens work. I have had to cancel Thanksgiving at my house and likely will need to do the same for all the December holidays. I have called Ilve so many times now, I’ve lost count and I just counted 52 emails to/from Ilve and yet my range is still broken. Every time I call, they have no answers and say they will get back to me which they never do. Please learn from my mistake and DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME ON ILVE.
One quick note because I find the post and comments interesting. I have not bought an Ilve yet but am considering it as a near future purchase, that’s how I ran into this post.
I will say that all genuine recommendations from Italian sources that I’ve been able to find seem to rank Ilve above pretty much any other Italian company for commercial products. People seem to rank them very highly for durability and reliability.
Ilve is still, from what I know, a company that makes all their products artisanally and is very good at working with customers. I wonder if there is a difference in what they put on the Italian/European market vs elsewhere, or in quality assurance, the emphasis they put on assistance, etc….
This is a great thought, I appreciate you sharing this!
Bought an Ilve 48″ Nostalgie in 2022. Overall it’s great. We did have the problem of the dual burner shutting off unexpectedly. It’s a thermocouple issue, replaced that not a problem. No other issues in 2.5 years and we use this thing nearly every day. My wife wanted THIS model because of the style and color. I am handy and can fix things, but I expected parts would be a challenge to find and they are. You can get them here in the US, but it’s a challenge. I also expected if I ever needed a service tech that could prove difficult. We have not required any outside service and I can repair pretty much anything on this unit myself, but for others I can see where service could be a nightmare. Ilve is an off-brand here in the US.
My 2c: Overall very good experience, this is a fine range. The small second oven is too small for anything but a bread loaf, but the large oven rocks! We got a matching 48″ hood and it has made for a stunning kitchen. We’ll see how we’re doing in 5 more years. I also see a lot of very real service issues people are writing about and that seems to be Ilve’s biggest issue here in the US, getting adequate service techs able to work on these. These are big, expensive and fairly complex units – they will require some service during their lifetime. Overall this is a well-made unit in my opinion. Ilve needs a better plan to offer service, that’s a real problem for them along with using some shady distributors. We used Appliances Connection out of NY and they were as shady as they come, never again. We were blessed to get a good working unit delivered along with a good working vent hood. Just hope I don’t need help fixing it!
I have a 60″ ILVE (7 burner, dual-fuel, dual oven) and have had it for about 2 years. I have had zero issues (knock on wood) beyond one burner occasionally going out if it’s on low, which is so easy to work around that I haven’t even tried to resolve it. It’s elegant, easy to install, works great, and has held up well to our five-kid household. I think the manual is awful, but it’s charmingly technology-deficient and works well for us. I would recommend it, based only on my experience.
Sorry to hear about your issues…