How deep is the space under a Sharp Microwave Drawer?

16 years ago

The Sharp Microwave Drawer is always pictured with a single cabinet drawer underneath, but just how deep is that drawer? Is it a custom size, or can it be handled with stock cabinetry?

The first model is still available as well as a more recent one that is a little deeper inside, but has the same overall dimensions. Are those of you who own one still happy with the concept? Would you buy one again?

The idea must take some getting used to!

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Comments (3)

Buehl
16 years ago
Just measured....

In a regular 3-drawer base, the top of the bottom drawer is 15-1/2" above the floor.

The top of the drawer below my MW drawer is 16" above the floor.

So, the drawer is 1/2" deeper than a regular drawer base. However, the drawers themselves are the same size (same height drawer front & box), there's just an extra 1/2" in the opening behind the drawer front.

The top of the drawer front is approx 2" above the top of the drawer box in a regular drawer...so there's room for the bigger opening behind it in the drawer under the MW.

As to custom vs not, yes, my MW cabinet is one of the 3 Omega Custom cabinets in my kitchen (the rest are Omega Dynasty/Embassy semi-custom cabinets...even the odd-sized 23" wide cabinets are semi-custom).

Would I do it again? Honestly, I would still rather have my MW a little above counter-height. However, if I were in the same situation again where my MW had to be under counter, I would definitely buy it again. I think it's a much better design than having a standard MW under counter...ergonomically speaking. Plus, I've been very pleased with its performance...it's much better than the top-of-the-line Amana I had in my old kitchen (sitting on a MW cart)! In particular, the "Sensor" cooking options seem to be more sensitive and most food comes out perfect...from frozen "hard" veggies to frozen "soft" veggies to defrost. The only sensor that overheats the food is the "sensor reheat", but it's closer to right than my old Amana was (i.e., the Amana was even worse.)
tsherman
16 years ago
We have semi-custom (frameless) cabinets and the sharp mw fits no problem. The drawer under the MW is 16 3/4" off the ground. It does look like the installer took out the top 2 drawers and used some filler under the mw to fill in some space. I'm guessing you could "fix" stock cabinets in the same way.

I love the MW, although it takes some getting used to letting the drawer open and close on it's own. (It's much slower than I would open/slam shut my old OTR MW.) The only lesson learned is that although it sits in the cabinet back fine, the rounded front does stick out a tad. It looks great, but it I do notice it when I am leaning against the island. If I got a do-over, I would install the MW on an end rather than in the center of the island. No biggie though.
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teresa518
16 years ago
I had a stock KraftMaid cabinet and it was fine (I think it is a 27"). My contractor added a couple custom filler pieces to make it really built in. It probably would've been a little better in a 24" cabinet (I got the smaller size). There is a standard deep bottom drawer under it.

I really love the Micro. It is fast and heats things accurately (accordint to MW directions, etc.) Much better than the old one I had on a cart (took forever).

The open and close feature does take some getting used to but I love having it out of the way and that it is built in.

I don't find that it sticks out TOO much but I got the one with the integrated handle (not the one with the handle on the front. Maybe that is the difference.

I would do it again!