Additional pictures of layout and both current microwave renders.

Not sure if you ever received an answer about the microwave, but I figured Id chime in anyway. I have been in this business since 1993 and I can tell you that what's "common" today is frowned on tomorrow and even ridiculed. You need to do what works best for your family. Personally I do not like the placement of the fridge. If you open the doors you have blocked entrance into the kitchen and it makes the space between the pantry and fridge look small and like a cubby hole. Thats just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions. Plus I do not like walking into a kitchen and having the fridge be the first thing I encounter, its almost like a wall and feels heavy. Id prefer it next to the pantry and move the microwave to the the left of fridge. Or flanking the fridge with both pantries and pulling them out to 30" with a panel so that the fridge looks more "built in"

Just to echo some above comments. All base cabinets (not sink obvs) should be drawers- yes it costs more but you can’t do it later. The fridge wall minimally needs tweaking with an end panel, I’d much rather have the lower microwave versus reaching up. Either way you want a 24”+ deep cabinet over the fridge plus the side panel so the fridge is enclosed.

Do what’s safest and best for your children. Also, do you really think stooping over to get hot food from the micro would be ok for your back? Figure out another plan. Yes, to more drawers rather than shelves.

That fridge there really closes down the space and keeps light from coming in.

Also your uppers are really crowding the hood and window.

I'm not a huge fan of blind corners, would rather burn the corner and give you drawer storage. You'll be able to fit more in it and access it more easily.

There is no real visual frame of reference for whether the range is centered in the room, so instead of trying to center it on the wall, place it in a way that optimizes the space.

I did a quick lil layout and couple rendered styles

Agree with the suggestion to move the (paneled) refrigerator to the center and to match the depths of the refrigerator and the side cabinets.

To the left of the refrigerator you can have a coffee bar with microwave above or below the counter. I have cabinets/granite counter with pocket doors similar to photo 1 for glasses/mugs, microwave, coffee maker/supplies, toaster, breakfast items, snacks. Photo 2 is similar but without retractable doors.

I can close the doors. This keeps the traffic out of the main cooking zone for anyone wanting a snack, quick breakfast, coffee/drink, etc.

We decided against a drawer microwave in our remodel for these reasons. I didn’t want to bend over to lift things out. The drawer mechanism opens and closes very slowly, which annoyed many people (and knowing myself, would annoy me, having to stand there waiting for it to open, set something down, then wait for it to close). You can’t put taller items in there. Anything full with liquid will slosh when opening and closing, even though it moves slowly. They are much more expensive than regular microwaves and also harder to replace when broken. And most importantly for myself, there is a class action lawsuit against the maker (there’s only one maker) because these have a tendency to catch on fire. That was a no for me.

We opted to put our microwave at counter height, with an appliance garage door over it so that it can be open and visible when we want that, and then it can disappear when there’s company over (because apparently no one is supposed to see your microwave anymore). Counter height, with counter space next to it, nearish the fridge is the most useful solution for us and our lives.

STOP and get a proper independant KD no one does cupboards for lowers anymore all drawers for base are the best choice always . If you want real help here you post a to scale floor plan with nothing in it and then the pros go to work and you will get a ton of free really good advice .BTW no built in MW they die and every time you try to replace the size has changed and you are right to be concerned with the kids and for quite few years by the sounds of it Get the free advice offered please

I had a similar plan to Rabbit Design but I used corner cabinets - 1 lazy susan and one LeMans swing out.

And of course their rendering program is sooooo much better than mine!

Here's what I had:

Sorry - I like 2 color kitchens so when I design, I automatically put them in that way!

Hope you come back and let us all know your thoughts. It looks like you could use some help!