Urgent Cabinet Configuration Ideas!

8 years ago

We were expecting to have our kitchen cabinetry installed in our tiny kitchen today. Surprise! There was a problem with the measurements and our original plan may not work. (Photo of kitchen and plans below.) We wanted the microwave mounted under the counter between the stove and washer/dryer. Now it seems like the only way to do that is with a “dorm size” microwave. So I think the only option that makes sense is to mount the microwave over the stove instead. I don’t love that idea as it seems a bit “cheap”. Is that weird? Is it fine? We are in the tiniest house on the block in a nice neighborhood and I want to make my small kitchen into a “jewel box”, but it has to be functional above all. Ideas?

Featured Answer

sherri1058

8 years ago

If the only issue is that the microwave is too big for the planned space, I think I'd get a smaller microwave. I would hesitate to scrap or change a lot of other things for a microwave. (I will admit that I totally ditched my MW when I reno'd my kitchen 2 years ago). Your experience may be different, but my old microwave was, in almost every instance, bigger than what I really needed.

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Comments (9)

sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Is the rest of the kitchen all set? Wondering why you didn't put the fridge on this wall and the range nearer the sink?

If you weren't planning on a good exhaust hood that vents outside, you might at well put the microwave over the range and gain some base cabinet storage.
Gini Pritchett
Original Author
8 years ago
We *were* planning on a nice vent hood that vents outside. The planned cabinetry to hold the vent hood was pretty, too, and I’m reluctant to give that up. We have a galley kitchen about 16”x9”. The refrigerator is on the other side of the doorway you see in the photo and the sink is on the opposite wall about equidistant from both the fridge and the stove. It feels like a pretty good work triangle, but I’m open to suggestions.
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sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Can you post the 2d and we'll see if we can move some things for a bit of a better layout?
damiarain
8 years ago
Are you sure the microwave is too big? According to the specs on this example drawer microwave, the cabinet cutout needs to be 22 1/8" wide x 23.5" deep x 15.5" high and your cabinets shows 24 x (24 x) 16 - although maybe those measurements are outer not inner measurements??

Also, the AJMadison website lets you filter on size so you can see lots of options that should fit in your space
Gini Pritchett
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, everyone for your suggestions. I think we will continue with the cabinets as planned and put the microwave in the adjacent butler’s pantry. It’s not exactly ideal, but I realized I’m fighting for every inch of space in the kitchen and the butler’s pantry is under utilized.
emilyam819
8 years ago
They make microwaves too big, IMO. Get a dorm sized microwave unless you do actual cooking in your micro. Or put it in the pantry if you don’t use it much.
leelee
8 years ago
I'm not great at reading plans but where are the sink and fridge? More pictures of the actual space.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
Wow you have a butlers pantry then it is a no brainer to move the MW and IMO that might have been a good space for the W/D too