Why "must" you have a microwave? What law says that? If you don't use one, don;t get one. The height above double ovens is impossible and unsafe. Your builder is an untrained, uncivilized something or other, IMHO.

If you don’t want a microwave, have them give you a countertop model to stick on the countertop. Then donate it.

That is not a safe setup. The MW is too high. The bottom oven is too low.

Relocating the MW requires changes in cabinetry, electrical, and appliance selections. Those will require change orders. Be sure that you understand the change order process and costs. It’s often surprising to those who are building with tract builders how much things like this cost.

Options for changing the MW include all of the options that you listed, plus locating it in a deeper wall cabinet on a shelf, or as a built in with a trim kit. Or possibly doing a simple countertop model located in a pantry or onnearby counter. You need to go over the options for builder cost to you versus the value given by the convenience of the specific location.

I have my microwave above my double ovens like in your drawing. I was apprehensive at first but it has worked out well. The oven is no higher than one over a stove and the bottom oven although low is not used often enough to be a problem. I am tall and we have no small kids at home that would have trouble with this arrangement.

(Not a pro) I'm also confused about the 'must' on the MW. Check to see what your contract says about it. If you signed off on the 'must have a MW', I'd first ask if a combi double oven that includes a MW satisfies the contract. I don't have one but know people who like theirs. Here's one example. That would be my first choice.

If that doesn't satisfy what you signed off on, then I'd consider asking for a cavity below your ovens with an outlet for a MW; later change that to a storage or warming drawer. Since there's electrical there, perhaps it could serve as a charging station. Awkward, because it's at floor level, but better than having a MW up high and your oven down lower than you want. Or if the MW can be anywhere, ask for the space in your island or elsewhere.

ETA: yes I have my MW below my counter. It's a drawer microwave and I very much prefer the drawer style to a counter top style (just my preference.) It's my preference despite the fact that my 10 year old Sharp 30" drawer MW just conked out and it's pricey to replace. Merry Christmas to me.

Also, I have a warming drawer in my island that I use quite frequently and really like having it. Would be worth searching for a combo MW/warming drawer, or asking if you can have a warming drawer instead of a MW.

FWIW My builder had a microwave as standard over the stove until I pointed out my face would almost certainly get splashed with hot soup. (Those things are dangerous, IMO) Turns out, the standard was chosen because the MW includes a venting hood. I had to agree to have just a hood. It's not the builder's usual. I asked for an extra electric socket "for a countertop microwave", but I actually don't have a MW. I do have the luxury of an extra socket, however!

I have a hood that is also a microwave. This is the second house I remodeled that this double-duty appliance, and it has worked out great. I hate that builders are now putting microwaves below the counter. My kids would have put crayons, who knows what else in the microwave. Microwaves need to be childproofed.

Yes, I will not use a microwave- don’t want a microwave- but they are saying until we close- it’s their house and other buyers would want a microwave- so they are making me put one in- I think for inspection- you can’t have one just sitting on counter- that’s why I thought about creating a cubby on the island-then I just pull it out and use that cubby to store my mixer or processor..or cookbooks. that would be easier than using a cubby on upper cabinets- it just wouldn’t look right. We have written ten contracts in 27 years- always fulfilled them...that alone plus the 80k upgrades I’m paying for should be enough ‘insurance’ that this is MY house...ugh. Thanks for the advice and suggestions! I have tried to find a plan that has this set-up..crazy that one of you have it. I had a bad car accident at 21 that wrecked my back- I’m very flexible now- but would ruin the gains I’ve made trying to lift anything out of that lower oven. My husband does all the dishes to save my back because lower shelf pinges my back easily- can’t imagine that low of an oven.

Imhall, resale is always important.

Now that I think of it... I just recently built my house, and a similar situation came up because of my LENDER. The lender managed all the contracts and inspections, 'cos, basically, it's their money. At one point, my builder and I decided we'd skip the standard flimsy little roof thingie they put over the entrances (my builder had by then built a spectacular set of back and front steps, on a Friday evening, out of the goodness of his heart), but the lender was going to require it unless I signed a change order. My builder didn't charge for the change order on his end (it took about 2 minutes of paperwork from them and they weren't gonna have to build a silly little roof). I signed. We actually had to come up with a viable reason for the change, otherwise my lender (ever protective of me and their investment) was gonna say no. We wrote I'd had an equivalent dollar upgrade on something else.

So, yes, I can see that your builder might have to follow through, and it might very well involve an inspection, From the LENDER.

Placing the microwave in the island seems to be the easiest solution. Perhaps the builder would be willing to order extra cabinet doors or a drawer that you could install when you remove the microwave.

@lmhall200055: What brands/models are available for you to choose from? And why do you not use a microwave? Just trying to understand the whole picture so I can offer the best advice. :)

FWIW My builder had a microwave as standard over the stove until I pointed out my face would almost certainly get splashed with hot soup.

@tangerinedoor: How would your face get splashed with hot soup? I can’t picture that scenario.

Sammy, as part of the hood over the stove, it is not that high- more like eye level. I am only 5'4" and it is not an issue.

I have spilled things on myself retrieving them from our above the range MW. I'm 5'2". It's definitely going in our remodel.

any thing that is filled up tp the top has the danger of spilling. No one stands with their face that close to the microwave when they take something out that it would splash in their eyes! Having a multipurpose appliance is a real space saver.

Long story on no microwaves, but I have a history of seizures and they can be a trigger...plus I don't like what they do to food...My appliances all have to be GE Cafe because I need the 6 top burner with knobs facing you...they won't let me buy the 6 burner without ALL my appliances being Cafe because they order them in a set...but the microwave sku and picture he sent was a countertop microwave. I'm meeting with builder in an hour...hoping he will do the island insert!! You guys are great!

I think most people do use microwaves, so, for resale value, it's probably a good idea to have a spot for one, but the builder's layout would be a turn off for a lot of buyers. If you have a decent sized pantry you might consider putting in a deeper shelf and outlet for the m/w there. Ours sits in the walk-in pantry, along with the toaster and blender.

Posters are getting all reactive because I run the risk of getting soup on my face if I access a microwave above the stove? Seriously? It's the truth. What's the problem?

First of all, the door swings open and you have to be standing at least 18" away from the soup bowl that is inside the MW to be able to open the door. Common sense would tell you to gently lift any bowl full of liquid, not move your face right next to it, and not to tilt it towards your face.. You have to be a certain kind of stupid to spill hot soup on your face from getting it out of a MW oven that is at eye level. Go to your microwave right now and open the door. How far away do you ned to stand to get the door open? If one needs a space for a microwave, a hood/microwave is a great solution. Seriously, if anyone would have an issue with this, don't put it in, but I can't even imagine it being an issue.

decades of people surviving this arrangement?

Anything to report, @lmhall200055?

I have the same. two ovens and a micro above it. the door opens like an oven. it is high, but in 2 years I haven't had an injury, but it is slightly inconvenient. if I did it over, I would put it in the island...

Jeez Lois!

I'm with tangerinedoor about never having an OTR MW. I can definitely see how it could be an issue for someone who is short, and especially children! In addition, it can be dangerous reaching over hot food (think about steam billowing up from boiling water or grease splattering as you reach over them). If you have gas, it can be even more dangerous b/c you could be reaching over a flame. We actually had someone here a few years ago tell us how she set her sweater on fire reaching over a pot cooking over a flame to reach into her OTR MW.

Functionally, they're lousy hoods. They don't cover all the burners and they don't do a good job exhausting FOGSS (fumes, odors, grease, smoke, steam). If it's a recirculating vent, then it's even worse!

I've used them in rentals and have a sister who has one -- so I'm speaking from experience.

A TRUE hood is much, much better than an OTR MW as a hood and a non-OT MW is usually better as well. (Most MWs don't last long but hoods do. It's less expensive over time to have a true hood and separate MW so you can just replace the MW when it dies.)

.

I would ask you Lois, not to make personal attacks on others. You may not agree with someone, but that does not make them "stupid". BTW...sloshing liquids definitely could spill on someone when taking them out -- especially if you're on the short side. Just a minor tilt can cause sloshing/spills and most are not perfect at keeping things perfectly even. In addition, while you do have to step aside to open the MW door, you then step closer to MW to get to the food inside.

Putting a regular MW in an alcove under the counter, while an option, is not the best idea. Operating it and getting to the food can be an issue b/c it's so low that you have to lean over or squat.

If you truly never use one, then you probably won't care, so I would go with that option.

However, if you think you will use it once it's there, then I would consider a MW drawer instead. They're under the counter but, as a drawer, they are much more functional in that location. [In addition, they seem to last a lot longer than regular MWs (over 10 years for mine).]

I agree that the configuration you show is not very good. (But, then it's a builder proposing it, not a KD, so not that surprising.)

Personally, I use both our double ovens all the time, so I would not want one that low -- it's lower than the oven in a range (note that it is just above the toekick, so only 4.5" off the floor). The lower oven is in the same location that a wall oven mounted under the counter would be -- and those are so low that the handle from the oven barely clears the floor! If you're very short, it might be OK, but if you and/or your family are average height or taller, you will not like it. Sure, you could just not use it like the poster above, but then what's the point of spending $$$ on it?

to not lose more cabinet space- I’m thinking I can use this combination- even though it says microwave it also says it works as an oven..is this true?

I have a built-in microwave drawer under my counter and love it. (It’s to the right of my gas range).

I chose that double wall oven with the convection microwave for a previous house, and I loved it!!! I would choose it again!

Don’t have a combi oven, but have heard the combI steam/micro are good. In our kitchen re-do I eliminated a micro; bought a countertop one and got rid of it.

I prefer to cook real food on a gas stove with a powerful exhaust hood. I serve it on a collection of real china, for which I needed the storage space - hence no microwave.

I can understand the builder/lender concerns, although people can (and do) re-do their homes, without needing the lender’s approval, making them less marketable.

On balance, the combi oven sounds like your best option.

I didn't say they were stupid, but used the cliche "Ya gotta be a certain kind of stupid". You have to be standing about a foot-and-a-half away from an eye-level microwave to swing open the door to get a bowl of soup. So how would that soup ever splash onto your face? You would have to step right up to the microwave after you opened the door. "Just tilting the bowl a little" as you phrased it, would not make it splash onto someone's face from 18" away. One would know there is a bowl of hot soup in there. It is really not an issue unless...

That cafe combo oven looks good. Just to answer one of your other questions, a countertop microwave CAN go in a cabinet. A rediculously expensive (for what it is) trim kit is ordered to cover the gaps and make it look built-in. But if you were going to remove it, hopefully you’d get away with not buying or installing the trim kit. Baskets or cookbooks could go in the cabinet; I’d put it in a lower cabinet in an inconspicuous place (Because an an upper cabinet would have to be made deeper for a micro).

I have a drawer microwave in my island and I love it.

(warning - off topic): Nita and Key Rat your kitchens are beautiful! Nita that island counter is stunning!

lmhall: I think your choice of a combi oven makes sense for what you're trying to accomplish. TBH I'm surprised that the GE is more expensive than the Bosch I linked to above, but also TBH I don't own either. It's worth 1) making sure with your builder that a combi will satisfy the contract, then 2) doing some research here on folks' favorite combis, visiting in person, and checking the specs for features and sizes.

Let us know what you decide! Exciting to be building a new home!

Our microwave is in a cabinet in the island. It is a compromise, but one we would do again.

Your kitchens are incredible!!!! I have two weeks to scour designs to make my selections on everything! I’m overwhelmed, since this kitchen is structural- it has to be decided now. Brick on Monday..it’s fun but so afraid I’ll mess this up! Your kitchens would go great with my farmhouse table I’m building my kitchen around..need to start a thread on kitchen design!!

We do several undercounter MW's a year. Usually for those that are not heavy MW users. Here's a few of our projects:

Stunningly Modern in Norman · More Info

Transitional Kitchen · More Info

The Social Kitchen · More Info

In response to your question about the Advantium working as a second oven - yes, it will do almost everything a standard oven will do. However - it does it differently. Where a standard oven has heating elements (electric) or gas burners, the Advantium has a microwave element, a halogen lamp, and 2 other heating sources - none of which are an electric heating element like an oven. So while it will make cookies fast - and brown, how it gets there is different. You have to decide if you are ok using those other heating sources to cook your food. There is also a learning curve, but the appliance is very helpful if you use the onboard recipe guide. You tell it what you are cooking and it will tell you which tray to use, what settings to use and for how long. We have installed many over the years and people that are ok with microwaves seem to enjoy these.

A healthy alternative is steam. But most steam ovens do not have a microwave heater, except Viking. Steam is slower but it is the absolutely the best way to reheat left overs! Best of luck with your project!

Builder agreed to let me do the convection micro/oven combo...there will be a learning curve, but hopefully it will be easy to deal with...I went looking at models for our brick selection and actually saw the double oven combo with microwave above it, So many appliances in one place...I think this will serve us better...thanks for all the help! I actually picked out our brick, working on kitchen..haven't nailed that down yet. Figuring out trim on brick...thanks!!

@lmhall200055 I guess it’s good that you’re able to do the combo, but are you being shortchanged? While the Advantium is great in that it can do more than a conventional microwave, it’s not a substitute for a full-sized second oven. Are you sure you’ll be okay with that? In any event, hopefully you’ll get a credit for the difference.

I so wish I could do full custom, just so hard to find lots here- we've had 10 acres before, we love 65 foot lots now :) I've had double ovens for 15 years and they've become a habit- but actually using them hasn't...when I thought about it, in the past 3 years- I've used the double ovens about 3x a year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter), because my kitchen is so much smaller, I just couldn't give up the upper cabinet space I need that likely they would have forced me to move the microwave- and it would be much harder to match cabinets and removing the microwave...I used to be a big bread baker feeding those yeast batches weekly and grinding my own wheat berries...so two ovens were necessary, but I don't bake loaves as much because our kids are all off at college...I think this will work out fine, and actually- it costs MORE??? to have this set-up?? He's pricing it right now, but the double oven and countertop microwave costs less than the convection micro/oven combo...so I'll have to pay more, but I'll have a more functional space.