I had it high up for many years. I have it in my island now which I much prefer the look. For the 1 minute per day I probably use it I can suffer bending down.

I would put a Sharp microwave drawer in the island. Way better to reach down than up when it comes to hot food. The buttons are visible from above So no bending required.I would avoid putting a regular (non-drawer) microwave below a counter.

I worry that the microwave drawer would be an investment I'd regret later. I'm more comfortable spending the money on a cubby that can house a less expensive microwave. They do look really nice though.

Just make sure it is sized for air flow clearances.

This is what happens when one put the kitchen in the LR. Appliances must all be hidden or disguised. Heck, it's a working KITCHEN! Put the microwave where it works best for you functionally and economically.

I have a countertop in my current house -- it's okay because I have about double the amount of counterspace that anyone actually needs /wants.

In our new house I'm planning a cubby -- not unlike the one Darbuka shared above -- but I am going with a smaller microwave (we don't use it often). I have seriously considered just ditching the whole thing. I might go with a wider shelf that can hold a small microwave AND a small toaster oven (on a pull-out shelf 'cause, you know ... heat).

I had it high up for many years. I have it in my island now which I much prefer the look. For the 1 minute per day I probably use it I can suffer bending down.

Do note that this takes away from your under-counter storage.

I worry that the microwave drawer would be an investment I'd regret later.

Agree. I'm not a fan of the drawer concept at all.

I agree, anglophilia that this dilemma is one born out of open concepts but a wall deviding the space was out of the question for my spouse who has always envisioned being able to stand at the front door and see our back yard. I was less enthused about the idea because I know as he's gazing into the back yard I'll be looking at dishes in the sink, lol but compromise makes for a happy home.

You’ve labeled the photos incorrectly.

I know, and I couldn't figure out how to edit the post after it was published... whoops! I'm new here, can you tell. lol

Well then , I vote for the microwave in the corner cubby so there’s no confusion.

Our MW is inside a cabinet in a storage tower that has deep drawers below and 2 large cabs above. The cab with MW has retractable doors and there is lots of room on the sides and back for venting. A lot of times the doors are open and pushed back on the sides, but we can close them easily to hide MW. It works because this storage area is counter-depth all the way up rather than the depth of an upper cabinet. We like cheap, easily replaceable MWs as opposed to built-in.

How can you tell if people are voting based on the photo or on your description?

Your deep wall corner gives you enough room to add a door to conceal the MW. We have an Aventos lift-up door that hides our MW because we don't use it very often. I was able to get the functions that I needed in a far less expensive MW that could be easily replaced. We have a TV over our MW which we can see when sitting at the island or standing at the sink.

I have the same microwave cubby as Darbuka and love it. I had to replace my microwave last year and it was a lot cheaper than replacing a drawer microwave, simply pull out and unplug. Also, echoing comments above, drawer space is premium for my other items.

While ours is in a perimeter cabinet, we have our countertop microwave in a below counter cubby, right next to the fridge. We had the cubby sized so in the future we could put a drawer microwave if desired, although the savings of over $1000 on that one appliance, plus the ease of replacement was worth keeping it a freestanding unit. The sizing does meet all of the manufacturer's clearance guidelines for the countertop model as well.

Below the cubby is a drawer for all the plasticware.

In our 2 previous homes we had a cubby in an upper cabinet, again sized for proper clearances. Both times it was adjacent to the fridge. Both worked pretty well, but since the upper cabinet had to be deeper than a regular upper, it didn't look quite as integrated with the rest of the space.

As long as you size the opening appropriately for ventilation, either can work. I'd look closely at what location makes the most sense for using the microwave in the manner you typically do. That might tell you better whether the island or the upper cabinet option makes the most sense.

It really depends on your pattern of usage. Our microwave was the only appliance that survived through our kitchen renovation. We previously had it in a cubbie above the counter, but decided to put it in its own space under the counter. There is a cabinet door that flips up and slides into cabinet when we need to use the microwave.

When we remodeled, we created a cubby in our new cabinets. I didn't vote in your poll because, you know. LOL

What you don't see are the two unused oven racks we store in that cubby, next to the microwave. The space is large enough and I'm so happy. Why get them dirty and have to clean them when I use only one rack?

We are putting our cheap stainless micro in an upper cubby. I just couldn’t justify the expense and space in the island because we really only use it for tea and coffee reheating and the occasional microwave Mac and cheese cup for the kids.