Please find out before anything is installed how much it would cost to reduce the toe kicks and what the implications would be for the rest of the design. I'm a total amateur, but it seems to me that making that kind of change now would not be all that expensive or difficult.

It is typically possible to shorten base cabinets by an inch or slightly more. Most DW's can go as low as 33-1/8, the range is less of a problem but you would want to determine how it relates to final counter height. Slide in ranges are an exception and have issues of their own.
Even factory cabinets with standard toe can easily be cut down. Using a homemeade sled that a circular saw sits on. In my own kitchen I cut down a dozen cabinets in under two hours. Less expensive than ordering modified heights- alterantive is order without sub base (no charge most often) then build that on site at the height you want.

I found something that shows a version of the jig I use- go to link and look for the pdf file- download online extra.

Here is a link that might be useful: Circular saw jig

This post was edited by jakuvall on Wed, Oct 9, 13 at 9:43

Thanks. We are using a slide in range which does complicate things a bit. But the installers said they can sort of "split the difference" and give me a little bit of reduction. Oh I am exhausted. What a process! These last few weeks are going to be the most trying I think...

You can always embrace the slope. I have a 48" range and when it is leveled properly the legs on the right end are about 2" longer than on the left side. (It's one of those commercial-style ranges with visible legs.) So the left hand counter top is great for me (I'm a just bit taller than you) but the right hand counter is my husband's territory as he is much taller. We wound up with what is effectively a two-height counter top that is also perfectly level and even with the range's surface.

Oh the joys of antique houses!

Jakuvall's suggestion is very useful and the way to solve your problem.

You could always have your range a bit higher than the surrounding counter. You just can't have it a bit lower, for safety reasons. Also one of those gel floor mats would chew up a bit more of the counter height, making you effectively 3/4" taller.

HTH

L.