I would have a different suggestion altogether. I can't vent outside either, but having had an OTR microwave/hood before, we instead went with an under cabinet Zephyr recirculating hood. It works fabulously compared to the OTR in our previous place (obviously not as well as one that vents outside, but still light years ahead of the OTR). So I'd get an undercabinet recirculating hood, and a small countertop/shelf/under-cabinet microwave in white.

Thanks very much, sjhockeyfan. The thing is that she is pretty set on the GE for use as a second oven. This is a very small kitchen--currently she has two 18" base cabinets on either side of a 30 in range, so counter space is at a very high premium. By shrinking down to the 24 in range she can get in an 18 and a 24 in drawer base, which will be much more useful for storage.

Not all of her choices are what I would do, but they're what she's pretty set on doing, and I can understand her thinking--even the smaller range will be considered very radical in her building, and she's not, alas, one of the TKO. :)

I'd love that Zephyr for myself when I get around to doing my kitchen, but my little kitchen is huge compared to hers.

sjhockeyfan, I see that gibby2015 has posted a thread about the Zephyr over in Appliances. Just thought you might want to respond since you have experience with it:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3590516/recirculating-range-hood

But for anyone else reading this, I'd still like to know whether you would pick:

1. All stainless for the other appliances

2. Stainless microhood and white w/stainless handles elsewhere

3. Ignore the range and do all white

I would ignore the range & do white, but some of y'all know how I feel about SS...

If here cabinets are white, a white fridge and dishwasher will likely blend in okay. But, with a stainless range, I'd put a stainless hood or mw over it to make it a cohesive unit.

Everything is on one wall, correct?

Thanks, Carrie. I feel the same way about stainless and she doesn't like it either.

dyhgarden, that's the main sticking point, I think. Thanks for your input.

banana suit, everything is on one wall except that there is a little peninsula for the sink and DW. The available area is very constrained.

EDIT This isn't her unit, but it's the same kitchen from one I used to rent. That's the sink edge on the left and the side of the fridge on the right.

The blomberg range is good looking and rather adorable, too. I like it!

I struggle mightily with color coordination, but if I strongly preferred white appliances, I think I would buy the Blomberg range and pair it with a white refrigerator and dishwasher (or a paneled DW). I am not sure about the OTR microwave - maybe SS if your friend wants the eye drawn to the range area, or white if she wants to play it down.

If I liked the SS almost as well, I might match the finishes and consider a paneled DW.

I would match the microwave and range and the fridge and dishwasher. As long as the choice repeats and similar things look similar the choice looks intentional and can work. I would try to find a dishwasher with a pocket handle.

Thanks, historian and banana suit.

So I guess the consensus is that she should do whatever she wants, which will probably be all white other than the range.

I would match the OTRM to the range, then use white w/ stainless handles for the rest. I do agree with hockey fan that a recirc hood would be better than the OTRM, though, but realize space is at a premium.

Thanks, Errant.

Thanks, funkycamper. The micro is the toughest decision.

I think she could go fine with matching the OTR & range in SS, or doing a white OTR. The advantage to white appliances/white cabinetry is that if you don't think (your) appliances are particularly pretty, then the white appliances will pretty much blend in.

That doesn't mean that the whites will be the same shade of white - they probably won't be, but they won't stand out.*

*disclaimer: many here just can't abide by mismatched whites, and think that they *do* stand out.

Here's my white/white range & OTR. I think that if I'd gone SS with the range, I could still have gotten away with a white OTR and it would not have looked weird to me.

Thanks, Carrie B. I love having another chance to see your wonderful kitchen.

We discussed the question of whites not matching, and especially not matching the cabinets, and it doesn't seem to bother her. She likes this photo from a HD review of the microwave and these cabinets are way further off than hers will be:

Incidentally, as far as the range goes, it can also be installed without the backguard so it looks like a slide-in. She hasn't decided about that yet.

The one thing I really don't like is that if you look at the largest available version of the photo I posted here, you can see that even the professionally photographed one is very fingerprinty around the controls, so I'm afraid that keeping that clean is going to be a hassle. Just thought I'd mention those things in case someone finds this thread when looking for more info on the range.