Place for built in Micro

15 years ago

Hello all,

Below is the layout for our kitchen in a new build (nothing set in stone yet, but we're generall happy).

The original plan called for a microhood but my wife is 5ft tall and the micro is just too tall over the range, even at 16 inch clearance (which is too tight anyway).

So we are looking for a place to mount it. DW is thinking in the island somewhere.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Marshall

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Comments (6)

aprilmack
15 years ago
Sharp has a microwave drawer. One of the cabinetmakers that I visited had one in the showroom (in an island). I'm 5 feet as well and it seemed to be a great solution but I didn't want to mix and match my appliances.
erinct
15 years ago
Ours will be in the island for lack of a better place. I would prefer it to be a little higher, but we had to work with the space we had! One note of caution if you're doing inset cabinets: make sure the countertop people know that you're doing a built in microwave with trim kit. Ours didn't account for that and the trim kit (GE Profile) stuck out about 1/2" beyond the countertops (about the depth of a cabinet door) so that spills could run off the countertop and right down into the air gap of the trim kit. We're still trying to figure out a solution! HTH
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cindaintx
15 years ago
I see a couple of potential spots. Undercounter or drawer microwave in the island -maybe facing the pantry? - or on a specially built shelf in the uppers in the run between pantry and range if you are getting cabinets that can be customized in that way.
dianalo
15 years ago
We have ours on a shelf above our counters. It is approx 13" over our counters (not over the stove). Our sons are approx 4'6" and have no problems using it. The benefit of a shelf is the installation is easier and if you ever need to change out units, you are not stuck with an exact size.
We ordered our stainless micro shelf through webstaurant.com but you can use a normal shelf equally well.
jakabedy
15 years ago
Ours is inside the (reach-in) pantry, just sitting on a shelf. We don't have any uppers in our kitchen, so it was either put it in a base cabinet, or tuck it in the pantry. It's on a shelf that is higher than counter-height, but lower than what a micro-hood would be. It works out great for us (5'7" and 5'10"). But you can custom-fit the height at wherever your DW wants it if it is inside the pantry. Also, it means we have a simple cheap microwave. If it breaks, we spend $150 and get another one. Easy peasy.
ControlfreakECS
15 years ago
I am 4'11" and will be getting the microwave drawer. I too saw it in a showroom and fell in love.

It will be going in the base cab next to our fridge because that seemed the best place in our layout. It will create a good area for reheating leftovers or preparing quick snacks and lunches. The only time I use the MW while making dinner is to steam veggies or melt butter, and it is still in a convenient spot for that. I think it is important to think about how and when you use your microwave now, what kinds of things you want to have convenient to it and where it will not get in the way of other functions. Good luck!