Lfblair768--I'm considering the same Sharp model that you have. Do you experience any problems with hot moist air being directed onto the cabinet face frame and drawer below it?

Per experience, locating the microwave on an island was very inconsistent and cumbersome. It was difficult to read the digital panel and buttons as lighting is not readily available. Opening the the door always got in the way of the cooking traffic as it was used quite a often. Deep cleaning took a lot of bending and reaching.

I am sure most of these difficulties had to do with my age and the microwave was an older model. I find having the microwave on the counter, near the fridge has been the easiest and the most convenient for me.

I have not been able to test out the microwave drawer to opine.

jlmorikawa--no we do not have any problems with steam blowing on our cabinets

On page 20 of the Sharp Appliance Manual it says “During microwaving, steam may come from the right side of the vent.” This is the problem, where is the stream directed at? The cabinets, which will receive the wear and tear.

Kitchens should be functional first. Do we blend in toasters to keep them "hidden"? Or waffle makers? Why is a microwave considered as something that needs to be tucked away? Then again, it is a personal design choice. Personally, I have hated the TV in a cabinet aesthetic as I always preferred an open design where the TVs were either installed on the wall or placed on an elegant looking TV stand that could be moved if design choices changed as the years and size of TVs changed.

I would like to hear your thoughts on a pull down door microwave in the island.I'm considering the kitchen aid built in. If you could change from a drawer to that would you?

Nice looking microwaves and I like the fact that you can have the convection combination but I prefer the drawer. I like the fact that it is just below the counter so putting items in it is just like putting them in the top drawer of the base cabinets.

These new Kitchenaid units could be installed at any height you want up to whatever you feel is a comfortable lifting height however you do have to lift over the door. I have never liked having to work over an open oven door, which is why we got our Le Corneau range with the side-hinged doors.

Very expensive compared to the drawers however the drawers do not have convection. I miss having that occasional third oven facilitated by the MW/convection combo.

Can a microwave drawer be installed in a pullout cabinet in an island so that the microwave is hidden behind a cabinet door, but when pulled out the microwave is accessible?

Although we already have an open cabinet for an undercounter drawer mircowave, we don't want one. Wondering what creative ideas people have for using that open cabinet that's in full view as we enter our kitchen. :( Sounds like some you opted out of your undercounter microwaves; wondering what you did with your open cabinet?

Just wanted to chime in. We purchased our home in Nobember and have the Sharp 24 inch drawer model. At just 3 months old, it caught fire in the control panel a couple of weeks ago. In researching this issue, I have found many similar issues. I'd advise anyone to stay away from this model. Plus sharp's customer service has been less than helpful and so far not willing to refund, just replace. But I don't want a replacement to risk it happening again.

Kal, We did something similar but it was over ten years ago and drawer microwaves were just coming out (and expensive). Instead, we installed a lower cab on our peninsula that has an opening for the microwave (ours is a microwave/toaster oven combination) and a drawer beneath. The opening for the microwave has a door that hinges up and then fully retracts into the cabinet above the microwave. When we have guests, we close it up and no one has to look at an ugly appliance! - we love it! As for small kids, they can't lift the door as it pulls out then retracts. And ten years of leaning down hasn't broken us yet....highly recommend!

We just installed a 30" Dacor microwave-in-a-drawer and I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet. It took the builder forever to install, so we've only had it a few days. However, I can tell you I'm irritated at the items that don't fit, such as my rice cooker. I wanted the 24" model, but the stainless model didn't have a window so we had to go with the 30".

We have our microwave in our island but the problem we have is moisture /condensation when we cook rice .I have cut an exhaust hole 5"x6" in the side of the cabinet where the exhaust vent of microwave is but that just means the moisture is in that ,now empty cabinet ...any suggestions has anyone had this problem?

We had a sharp microwave drawer in our island which we inherited when we bought our house. It worked great for 2 yrs and then, well, it stopped working. Burning smell with a black spot inside. We called sharp and they have terrible customer service. Said that they cannot do anything about it because it is out of warranty, so we are looking for a replacement as sharp ones are over $900!

I love my drawer microwave ❤️ We just remodeled our kitchen $$40,000.00 the microwave did not go in the island It's in the corner with storage under and beside it and counter above just love it ☹️ We did not want it above stove we got a beautiful wood vent ❤️ Everyone seriously invest in a home warranty it's totally worth it Co-pay is $60 and they either fix it or replace I have had them out for my front loader and my refrigerator ( old one ) they fixed it To me it is peace of mind

annapittagarza4--do you mean a home warranty from the company when you purchase the appliance?

Has anyone installed a GE advantium microwave / oven in their island ? Would love to hear feedback and see pictures.

I am using Sharp microwave, you can read reviews here http://bakingreview.com/sharp-countertop-microwave-oven-zr309yk-1-1-cu-ft-1000w-black/ as of now it is giving good performance!

I installed a new drawer microwave when we remodeled. However, I had the counter raised about 8 inches. That particular counter is where we have our Jura Compressa and all the coffee supplies and my husband is tall...works perfectly and keeps him out to the "power triangle" where all the food magic happens! ;-) Not a fan of microwaves anyway, love having it off my counters! Having it above the range was not an option.

Thank you! Enjoy seeing your creativeness!!

I had micro in island of my old house and loved. Looking at doing at doing the same in my current home.

My microwave is placed much like this! It's the perfect place for me as I use a wheelchair!

If rosecottagehome is still following this, I'm interested in her comment and photo (sept 2013) re putting in a standard microwave in an open cabinet in her island. I think it looks great, but it seems like most microwaves specs suggest at least a few inches on either side of the microwave and above, which wouldn't allow for the nice fit she's showing. Does anyone know if those specs are really important? We mostly use the microwave for heating things up vs really long cooking times.

Our "Theramodor microwave drawer" is designed to be installed in a cabinet and the microwave drawer rolls out when opened. It was installed to spec and doesn't have any venting on the sides or space. It's all custom fitted.

Jan b all microwaves need some air. It looks like rose cottage slid a standard microwave into a cabinet the same width and added filler piece on top. The cabinet is probably 24 " deep. So she has air on top and behind it. You just can't completely block any specific microwaves vents. Hope this helps

I've had a sharp microwave drawer in my island for 4 years now, and I can't even imagine opening a door and needing to pull whatever's in there out to give a stir or check on. With a drawer, you simply stir it right where it is. And I can't imagine having a big clunky microwave on the countertop to look at. I love, love, love it! About 2 yrs ago I had that awful burning plastic smell, so I took it to our local appliance sales and service center where I bought it (crossed my fingers) and it turned out to be the magnetron, which was replaced for $120. It's worked perfectly ever since. Btw when I was debating which brand to buy, the salesman, that could have easily sold me a more expensive one, told me that all microwave drawers are actually manufactured by Sharp no matter what badge they carry or how they're 'dressed' differently, they're all still components actually made by Sharp. Not sure how many salesmen would actually tell you that though, if that's still true.

Curious how many of you have had your microwave drawer more than 2 years. I'm not finding many reviews online, but the ones I have found, the biggest complaint is that they stop working just past 2 years.

I posted this question almost 6 years ago and still have my original microwave in place. I've never had a single problem with it. I've used it multiple times a day, every day. I wouldn't hesitate a second recommending putting a microwave in the kitchen island- to anyone! You won't regret it- I never have!!!

This is the one I have....

Thanks for the response. That makes me feel so much better! I know people tend to post their bad experiences, but I could only find people that had their MW drawer a few months and loved it or the ones that had bad experiences with it. I know Sharp has a model now, where the controls/display tilts out so you can see them better. Do you have any issues seeing yours?

Not a single issue.... there are times when I forget what I needed to push before closing the door, but that's due to my poor memory, not the microwave! Below is a picture of my display panel on the outside and the list of what numbers to push for each type of setting!

We went from having a traditional microwave/convection oven installed below the counter with manufacturer's trim to a Sharp drawer (identical to the above photo). The controls were very hard to see on the old one but the drawer is designed for better visibility and the design works. The drawers are more expensive and I see the new, folding control panel ones are quite pricey, but we have had zero issues with ours and love it.

Thank you both! Your responses and photos have been very helpful!

Has anyone any thoughts on a built in microwave with a drop down door? If it is at eye level does the door get in the way when reaching into the microwave?

I ended up putting the kitchenaid drop down door style under the counter top . I didn't want the microwave over the wall oven because i did think the door would be an obstacle,and I'm tall. I purchased it because it matches my other appliance handles and is also a convection oven. I have no problems using it where it is but if kitchenaid made one that pulled out and was taller inside then the sharp I would have gotten that. If I was able to build it in on top of the counter with a pull down door that would've been the perfect spot. I tried to make it work in the island as I would have preferred it there but couldn't. In my perfect kitchen I would build a double wall to recess a full size refrigerator to counter depth and a built in microwave to cabinet depth. Gee lake house could this be the longest running thread on Houzz

Would like to resurrect this thread because I have some concerns about the island/base cabinet microwave: 1) Bending/comfort 2) Cost is significantly more than a countertop microwave (even for a standard door type - no interest in the drawer fad) and 3) Flexibility - once you've settled on a built-in cabinet space, you're now stuck with having to buy only expensive built-in units for as long as you own the home.

So my question is: can I place a standard countertop microwave in the built-in space? (If it matters, we'll be doing an Ikea kitchen)

My alternative is placing the microwave on the countertop in the corner space. The kitchen is fairly large and countertop space isn't at a premium.

Hi Tommy. We have a below counter microwave space we had built into our island. We just purchased a regular microwave, not a built in or drawer model, and sat it in the space. It works for us just fine, not difficult to put things in or take things out. Our first microwave only lasted 5 years, so easy enough to replace without great cost.

Hi Tommy I don’t see any problem with putting a counter top model microwave in a built in space as long as it has room to vent. My built in vents out the front . You also need an outlet behind it, and appliance plugs are big just be aware of that when planning. In my old kitchen my microwave was in the corner on the counter top and I liked it there. If I had a corner available for it in my new kitchen I would have put it on the counter, for 2 reasons I think it’s the most convenient and l could have saved quite a bit of money. But if my built in breaks I don’t have to buy another I could just set any microwave that fits inside the space.

Not a fan of too many built in things. I like functionality. A microwave to me is no different from a toaster. The only way I would built it into a wall or cabinet is if it is part of a speed oven.

I, too, have had a space made in my island for a countertop model. After reading all these helpful comments, I guess I just still need to know if the space allowed for venting needs to be as much as the manufacturer suggests. I have a 1.1 Samsung which suggests 8” and 4” around it which I don’t have. I use a microwave only for reheating. I can easily return what I have bought and am interested in a possible microwave/toaster oven which was previously mentioned. Any opinions on this? This is all incredibly helpful.

Hi Pam. I would definitely go with the minimum suggestion from your manufacturer of 4". My first counter top microwave, that sat in the space made in our island, may have only had 3" clearance on either side, much more at the top. We basically just reheat also, but the unit only lasted 5 years. I think it may have over heated. Our new one, also counter top is a little smaller and we have 4" now either side. Must also watch the microwave does not get slowly moved closer to the one side over time. You definitely want the recommended clearance.

Footnote to above post.....Just checked older photo of first counter top microwave in island and it may have only had a 1" clearance on either side of it. Would not do that again.

So glad to find this feed ! While building our home we rented a home with a kitchen that had every convenience and gadget you could think off but the microwave is in the island and and as tall people 5’7 -6’ we hate it. It’s hard to clean , my husband has had back pain from bending and twisting just to see inside and to remove something hot with two hands the angle you have to bend at is lower back strain . The door is difficult to open as well . While at the emergency room with our grand daughter who ran into the door of the microwave as it was being opened the ER doctor said they get 100’s of patients injured from below waist micro’s as he called them everything from leg burns from dropping liquid to herniated disc in low backs and many kids heads but then said no one even realizes the radiation that now hits kids heads and adults genital area’s ! Needless to say we changed our design to a no traffic area table top next to toaster and coffee maker with a cabinet door that lifts up and slides back into the under cabinet area while using it then can be closed to hide everything !!

Oh wow, who knew it had the potential for so many safety concerns? Good thing you had a trial run before you built you’d own home! My husband is 6’5” and has never once said the microwave is a problem being lower... we absolutely love it in our island! I started this thread over 7 years ago and wouldn’t go back and change a thing!

Scpt1, btw did the microwave drawer not slide out when in use? When you say “Bending & twisting”, it sounds as though only the door opened and you had to reach back into the microwave drawer while it is still underneath the island?

Ours is like this...

I have a kitchenaid built in microwave with a drop down door I’m 5’8 54yrs my husband is 6’ 67 yrs we’ve had none of the problems spct1 speaks of. There are many accidents that can happen in the kitchen but I’m not scared of my microwave,double ovens or cell phone radiation. Maybe a built in isn’t a good idea for anyone who can’t bend at the hip or isnt strong enough to lift up a plate. For someone in a wheelchair it’s an excellent design.

@thelakehouse Having the drawer type is great but the one we had was a pop open door that opened to the left . Reaching in to remove hot plates or bowls when your tall is a pain . Yours looks very nice We ended up putting 3 stackable refrigerated drawers on one end of the island for water bottles , soda and juice and one for wine and on the opposite side 3 stacked warming drawers. These get so much use !

@idnash I should have mentioned ours had a swing open door not pull down which might have made a difference . I will mention that I recently spoke to a cancer specialist who said I had a right to be concerned about radiation and that it is one of there questions on their questionnaire Do you have a microwave installed below waist height for men. He also said despite claims of low doses used every day for month is the same level as a radiation treatment . No one should stand anywhere near it while in use especially children .

spct1. My point was that maybe you should be more afraid of using a cell phone next to your head everyday for fear of brain cancer. Don’t you think no one should stand in front of a microwave at ANY level ? What does the quack dr think is happening to the food you eat that comes out of a microwave? Sorry I don’t think microwaves are the cause of brain breast or prostate cancer. And even if it were my husbands not standing with his u know what pressed up against the microwave everyday.