Unless you are really short on countertop space, the dedicated vent is a better choice then an over the range microwave. The over the range microwave does not vent as well, crowds the cooking space and for those like myself who are short, is not convenient. There is nothing wrong with a small microwave on the counter or in a pantry. Your contractor is correct. He cannot build anything out of a combustable material (wood) within 30" of the range / stove top.

You cannot find Bisque because it is not a color that is wanted by buyers, so manufactures are phasing it out or charging extra for special orders.

Hate to say it, but time for an appliance change. If you've got bisque.......they may be aging anyway? Might be time for a switch to stainless.

At the very least, get a stainless hood. That often looks fine in combination with other things, especially since you probably have silvery metals in your sink and faucet, the metal on your appliances, etc. You could probably get a stainless countertop microwave as well -- who cares what that matches? fitting your cabinet should be fine there. (Have to admit that I'm confused about whether you have a built-in countertop microwave or an over-the-range vent hood/microwave combination right now...)

Why not just get an over the range micro? They still have those in bisque and it would solve the hood dilemma as well.

Or, do a combo as suggested by acm. I have white appliances. I found a countertop microwave that I liked, but thought the white version looked really cheap. So, I went with the stainless steel countertop microwave. I also have a toaster oven that sits on the counter - it is ss as well (not even sure that they make those in different colors). I don't think the minor appliances have to match the major ones.

Drop back and look how bisque looks with white painted cabinets. It isn't the best companion. This is why most use stainless. It's reflective, and it blends better with any surroundings because of that.

Keep a 36" stainless hood over the cooktop. No OTR. You will get better function, and form.

There are combo MW and wall oven units in stainless as well, but a 28" wide cabinet will be really really tight for a 27" combo oven. Most would want at least a 30" cabinet for a 27", because the face frame is all of the support on a framed cabinet and you would be cutting away almost all of it. Modern 30" combos need a 33" oven cabinet to provide the proper support.

yes my 27" combo required a 30" cabinet.

as far as bisque appliances and white cabinets, i sort of have the reverse.. ivory cabinets with some white appliances (the rest, stainless). i dont think its bad and can make a small cabinet area look less choppy. but i do feel the OP is unnecessarily limiting their FUNCTIONAL choices by the insistence on bisque color. go to stainless, not black.