Help with microwave placement?

11 years ago

Greetings from another forum lurker who has done lots of reading here but is now asking to take advantage of your knowledge and good natures.

We're closing in on starting the kitchen. Our job is on the cabinet maker's schedule for late July and my big issue is microwave placement - which in turn could affect the wall oven height.

The kitchen is almost a galley style in an open concept layout. There is a 12' island opposite the wall in the photo. There is no room for the microwave in the island.

I'm 5'4" and my husband is 6' and we're in our fifties. I am the primary cook.

The original thought was a cubby for the microwave above the wall oven. The more I get into the ergonomics I think the wall oven will end up being too low this way, as the purpose of going with a wall oven was to avoid bending down as far.

Now I'm reconsidering and thinking of placing the microwave adjacent to the refrigerator in one of the configurations below:

1. Micro drawer

2.Cubby built in to upper cabinet, similar to a OTR setup

3.Mount under the upper cabinet.

Options 1 and 2 wouldn't be very pretty. The simplest option is probably the microwave drawer, but my concern is cost and also replacement when it croaks.

Putting a cubby below the counter with a free standing/swing out door microwave just wouldn't be very convenient. I use it every day. I did run across this drop down door Samsung but being a combination wonder if it could even go below the counter.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_580866-149-MC11H6033CT/AA___?productId=50376762&pl=1&Ntt=samsung+microwave

Thanks for your thoughts!

Featured Answer

ediblekitchen

11 years ago

If you use it every day and you are the primary cook, I really think you should go with what works best for you. And it sounds like that is the drawer.

If it's cost that is holding you back, then take a look at the rest of the budget and see if there is something else that you don't use as much that you could economize on.

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Comments (11)

lenzai
11 years ago
Personal preference is that I would want it closest to the fridge: take frozen stuff/leftovers out of fridge, put in micro next to it instead of walking all the way around the stove to do it. Micro drawers can be nice (Sharp makes all of the insides as they have the patent, other brands just slap on their trim on them and re-brand them).
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Here's a shelf next to the fridge--your option 2. I flipped the cabinets on the left side of the range, which leaves more room for a shelf:
You could have it at any convenient height:
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sjhockeyfan325
11 years ago
We have the drawer in an open-concept room in the island across from the refrigerator. Although expensive, it works great for us. I have had OTR microwave (hated - too high and imposing), and a microwave on a shelf as in mamagoose's picture (liked the concept, but still too high for me, and to make it a height I thought worked would have been very unattractive)
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measure_twice
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
We have 2 micros, one over the range and one about 12" above the counter. DW likes the lower one and would prefer it on the counter. She sometimes heats large casseroles. Heavy, hot things are difficult to get out and down. Below the counter would be too low for us. We considered the landing places before we decided on location.

It depends what you like to cook and the fitness of your shoulders.
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ediblekitchen
11 years ago
Yes, that would be Option 4 - on the counter. I know most people who are remodeling their kitchen don't like a microwave sitting on the counter, but actually it's not a bad option for convenient height and easy replaceability. Personally, I don't mind having toaster oven, microwave, KitchenAid mixer all sitting out on my counter. But I do have extra deep counters, so that might be why.
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szruns
11 years ago
Your kitchen sounds nice and big, so you should have room for what you want. If you cook much, I'd do double ovens (where your current oven/microwave is) and a microwave drawer.

FWIW, I love my microwave drawer. I was hesitant as they seem so overpriced and prone to break downs. My design with few upper cabinets made me choose it, but now that I have it, I do love it. I *did* get the extended warranty on it (which I never, ever buy), since they are so prone to problems. 6 months in so far, no troubles.

The drawer could be on that big island if you don't want it right next to the fridge. Personally, I'd prefer it on the island to avoid cluttering up that busy landing space next to the fridge with any appliance action. It's also nice having on the island as that's where I prep, so all the butter melting/etc I do for prep stuff is right there. I'd put it on the island somewhere near the fridge end of things. HTH
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sjhockeyfan325
11 years ago
I'd put it on the island somewhere near the fridge end of things.

That's where mine is.
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User
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, everyone. Mama goose, thanks for the drawings. It hadn't occurred to me to adjust the upper doors. I'm not to swift at this kitchen thing.

Micro drawer in the island across from the fridge won't work. My husband wanted ONE thing in the remodel and that was under counter refrigerator drawers. Those are in the island across from the fridge.

It *could* go in the island at the opposite end, across from the wall oven. Then as lenzai pointed out, there is the distance between the fridge and microwave. We're shuffling things around some but right now the OTR micro wave is almost next to the fridge, which I find convenient.

I'm leaning toward sucking it up and forking over for the drawer.

It's all about trade offs, isn't it? And I am AWFUL at making decisions.
numbersjunkie
11 years ago
One thing to keep in mind is the door swing - for most if not all models, the door opens from right to left. So if it is against a wall on the right it might be very awkard. I almost made that mistake and moved mine elsewhere for that reason.
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User
Original Author
11 years ago
Good point, thank you!