I have got a Cadco half-size. Model OV-350. Now discontinued but the updated model looks great. I got it used from a deli that was upgrading to a larger size. It is a pro piece and as such, you may or may not like the looks.

Pros - works great, top browning element, accommodates commercial half-size baking sheets.

Cons - it is a beast, expensive if bought new.

http://www.cadco-ltd.com/sample_cadco_ovens_application.html

Lots of questions here: Do you own or rent? Because if you own, I have to believe it's worth investing in both the new heater and new oven that satisfy your needs as well as updating the home for eventual resale. (BTW, in the early 1900's it would have been just "H" - no AC, and Ventilation was windows and poor insulation!)

Most electric wall ovens today are also convection -- is there any place you could install one? As for countertop, I would check out consumer reports. If you don't want to spend for a copy of on-line subscription, check out your local library -- New England planned well in that department -- lots of libraries. Good luck.

oh man...do you live in Somerville? My best bud used to live in an old apartment in Somerville where her stove was her heater and vice versa. Needless to say there were a lot of space heaters in that apartment and not a lot of baking.

The Breville Smart Oven was recommended in a "toaster oven" post - but it is sooooo much more than just a toaster oven. It's not cheap but sounds worth the cost. They also have a smaller size for a bit less money. I read all 19 pages of reviews on Amazon... I'm convinced to buy one when my current countertop oven bites it.

I bake, broil and roast everything but a 20# turkey and yeast bread loaves in my Breville. I usually make enough bread or rolls that I don't want to dink with the small oven then. If you are cooking for 2 and don't mind making 1 loaf or 1 pie at a time, the Breville is great. I use ours all the time. It takes a 9 x 13" pan. If you are baking for a larger family, I would think you'll have to look at some sort of catering oven if you can't get a new stove. When I lived in Europe, we had apartment sized (20") coal and gas ranges side by side. But the 20# turkey wouldn't fit in either of those ovens either.

I have a Europro convection toaster oven, probably almost 12" deep inside, with two racks, about 6-8" from the bottom rack to the top heating unit. It's an older model, so I can't find it online, but I'm sure they have similar sizes now. I use it for half-recipes of cookies, square pans of brownies, and a number of entrees when I'm cooking for one or two, and it works really well. I get much more even cooking with the convection cooking than with my gas oven, and it's by far the best "toaster" oven I've used. If you can't replace your full-size oven, a larger-size countertop oven like this one could really be helpful. I think the key is to make sure that it is deep enough and tall enough to be useful, but I can fit my 8" cast iron pan in mine, a square baking pan, etc. I was given a small stone baking sheet from Pampered Chef (probably called a toaster oven sheet?) that I love, and will often choose to bake half batches of biscuits or scones on that in the smaller oven rather than heat up my house for less-even cooking.

I raved about my Breville Smart Oven in a toaster oven post a few weeks ago. I actually bought it to use as a countertop convection oven. I love everything about it, I often use it instead of our full size oven, but it's also great as a 2nd oven on holidays.

I roast, broil, bake, defrost, reheat, keep things warm in it, and it makes great toast!

I don't think the price is that bad considering it's way cheaper than replacing our oven with a convection one.

umm, if you rent I'm pretty damn sure that an oven that is used for your source of heat is NOT up to code and totally illegal. Plus dangerous!

I'm confused, too..how can you oven also be your heating unit?

Ovens can easily be used for heating. In older homes, they were often the sole source of heat and they also were attached to a boiler/tank to heat the household water as well. There are many types of ovens available today that serve the same function and can be run on gas, electric, wood, oil, etc. They are actually really neat ovens and would be great for a cabin or off the grid country home. They are similar to the Aga type ovens (Esse, Rayburn, etc.). Here is a link with an example: http://www.cast-iron-range-cookers.co.uk/esse/esse-woodburning-cookers.html

Anyways, I thought of getting a countertop convection oven when I move out for a small apartment/suite and was looking at the Breville Smart Oven (or whatever it's called) due to the size, digital controller, modes, etc.).

Sharp makes a very cool countertop oven that is a combo microwave, convection, and steam oven. Model number is AX1200. Not sure if it's big enough to do much serious baking in though.

I have the smaller Calphalon toaster oven/ convection combo. It's a piece of crap. The timer knob broke twice on it.

I've had a Cuisinart Convection Brick Oven for almost two years now. It toasts, broils, bakes and has a convection fan. It's the one Eric Ripert uses here: http://aveceric.com/multimedia-get-toasted-9.html.

It's amazing, I don't have one complaint. There are two racks that you can pull in and out and flip upside-down to get what you're cooking the desired distance from the heat. The door is designed to stay cracked open for broiling... It's the perfect size to cook for two AND it's big enough to bake a full size pie. It can even hold my bigger dutch oven -- if you put the lid on upside-down :)

Many old apartments in Jersey City, NJ are/were heated by what is called gas-on-gas - a space heater/oven combination. It is legal, but you probably couldn't get permits to install a system like this if you were renovating. I was also told that banks won't give mortgages to houses with these systems.

I have the same Europro convection oven that 'newlychicagoan' mentioned above... and I love it. We use it more than our regular oven, especially in the summertime.

I have the Breville and I use it every day. I'm at the point where I think I could live without a regular oven and just have 2 Breville's going. I had the Cuisinart but found that it never worked as well.