I'm still on the hunt for new appliances. I've decided on my fridge - a bottom mount refrigerator since I don't use the freezer very much and it's more important to me to have easy access to the refrigerator. Next up: Looking for a stove. I'm so excited to update my very old, very tired appliances, but I want to make sure I make the right choices to suit my lifestyle and of course, I want them to look fab in my kitchen. Sophie Boudreau, product trainer from Whirlpool, helps to make the decision easier for me by answering some questions about my needs. Q: I've never shopped for a stove before - what are some of the most important things I need to take into consideration? A: Most ranges are 30” wide, therefore replacing an existing range is relatively easy. The first decision to make is: Do you want a freestanding range or a slide in range? Next, decide if you want a gas range or an electric range. Once those two decisions are made, you can decide on which features such as convection cooking, warming drawer, steam clean, suit your lifestyle. Q: I admit, I don't cook a whole lot but I love to bake. Is this an important factor? A: Since you love to bake, I would recommend a range with convection. In our Whirlpool line-up, we have several models that have this great feature. Some of our models offer Time Savor Plus True Convection while others offer Time Savor convection (also known as fan convection). Q: Is a convection oven important for me since I do a lot of baking? A: Yes, convection cooking is great for baking. Our TimeSavor Plus True Convection Cooking System uses a rear fan and third heating element to circulate preheated air over, under and around food. It keeps oven temperatures consistent to provide uniform browning and even baking to bake the perfect cookies! Another great benefit to this feature is that it cooks food 30% faster on settings such as convection roast. Q: Gas? Electric? What are the pros and cons? A: There are pros and cons to both types. Some prefer a gas range because they can adjust from boil to simmer very quickly and depending on the cost of electricity where they live, a gas range can be less expensive to run in the long term. As for electric ranges, consumers who bake a lot seem to prefer the even heat distribution of an electric oven while others prefer the easy clean up of the electric cooktop. It really comes down to consumer preference. Q: When it comes to style – what’s on-trend? A: Stainless steel remains the trendiest finish followed by black and white. We are seeing a growing number of consumers who are considering built-in appliances such as a wall oven and cooktop, but of course this depends on the size of their kitchen.