I am linking an older thread which discusses where to put a microwave, and has a lot of pics. Not all the pics are of concealed MW's, but some are, and it should give you ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread called Where's Your Microwave

I agonized about this! Door options include the barrister-type where the door swings up and then slides back, as well as those you mentioned. It really depends on where you are planning to put it. In my case the pocket or barrister type didn't end up working, because the door still would have stuck out quite a bit (since the cabinet was only 15" deep and the door needed to be much wider to accomodate the MW and the clearance for the door hardware) and blocked other spaces too much.

The type of door will depend a lot on the height you plan to put the MW. if it's lower, for kids to reach, for instance, you can't use a top-opening style (unless it's a tamboor door) because taller folks couldn't use it.

I elected to buy a small 7 cu.ft. MW and put it about chest-level in a 15" deep upper cabinet with a 180 degree hinge on the normal, side-opening door. It's not all installed yet so I can't comment on how well it works!

Another option is the Euro type horizontal door that swings up and is held with a hydraulic (?) arm. But the hardware for those is reeeeeally expensive!

This is how I will be hiding mine. I didn't want to buy a new MW but the one I have now is black whereas all my new appliances will be stainless. Rather than have to buy a new MW + trimkit and then have to be concerned that the MW could die in a couple of years, I will be hiding mine behind a door.

Here is a link that might be useful: retractable door

I have always hidden my MW in a lower cabinet. I am short and this works well for me There is no special door. Because it is an end cabinet I have a small hole in the side, at the wall, for the cord which is then plugged into a baseboard level outlet, right there. Although I have a simple kitchen, I just don't like to see the MW on the counter. Just my simple DIY idea.

We put ours on a shelf in the base cabinet, no door. You hardly notice it. If you want you can put a poll up door or a swing out door with 180 deg hinges.

oooh, lilyinmtl... I can't believe I never saw that system!! I spent hours and hours researching this!

How much are those hinges? Can you use them on full-overlay doors on Euro/frameless boxes? (Looks like it from the photo). I haven't made my doors het so I could still do that if the hardware isn't cost prohibitive!

We placed our microwave under counter in a cabinet with pocket doors and are quite pleased with our setup:

Doors closed:

Doors open:

staceyneil, I don't know the true cost of it. I was quoted $400 when I asked for it but then when I received the bill, I was charged more than $700 so I called my KD and brought him down to $450. I am in Canada so it is more expensive than what you'd pay in the US. Mine will be installed this week!

Thanks for answering my question.... Good grief!! $450! I hope that includes the entire cabinet at least! But it sounds like that's pricey hardware (I am not surprised since the pocket door stuff I was looking at is about $50 per set). In any case I guess I will stick with my normal door Blum hinges at about $18/set.

Yes, it is pricey but a new MW and trimkit would have come to the same amount. At least I don't have to worry about the life of a MW and having to get a new trimkit when the MW dies. And I also don't have to worry about finger prints as the unit will be hidden. I figured the retractable door was the lesser of 2 evils. I was going to be spending that amount, either way.