There have been a couple of threads discussing MW's and how there are really only a few MW manufacturers, and the other brands (what you mentioned, DCS, Dacor, Viking, KitchenAid) are simply re-badges of those manufacturers (mostly Sharp and Panasonic). So if you buy DCS or Dacor or Viking, you will be paying a significant upcharge for those names, but for the same machine that could cost you several hundred dollars less if you bought it as a Sharp or Panasonic. Here is a recent thread: Thread about Convection MW's Thread about MW'S

These are my pics of my countertops placed Friday June 22, 2018. I cried looking at these seams. It looks so cheap. Fabricator explains that's the way it comes. I explained that I shouldn't be able to see the seams so clearly. It looks so unprofessional. They ended up taking them back to their warehouse. In hopes they say if it is quality control will try and fix it just to make it look better. Otherwise I will have to pay an additional fee for them to come out again to install. I just don't know what to do and if still looks the same. This is the first time I've replaced my counters in 24 years. I don't and can't live with it. looking at this for another 24 years. It looks so cheap and it really was not it's a lot of money to me. I hope fingers crossed that they will fix this problem. They never told me that there would be such seams. I thought the edges were done by a machine and it would be all one piece. I have read up on this and now understand there are seams. But now I do know that they should not look like this. If they are good fabricator you shouldn't be able to see them so clearly. I will find out next week what happens.

Love love love this topic. Your kitchens are amazing. Looking for pics of stainless; particularly of stainless with white cabinets and beadboard backsplash... Have you ever seen this combo? Any ideas would be awesome. Again truly amazing kitchens!!

Thank you all for your input. @Anglophilia, I saw the Neochef 0.9cf by LG and it is so nice looking. It was a strong contender. Then I kept going back to the Panasonic options at either the 0.9 or 1.2 cf with inverter tech. Some out of stock. I wanted to buy from Best Buy as they are near me. @Scottie mom, the Whirlpool one you mention was interesting, but I really want a bit more style and function. I saw a working unit at the car dealership waiting room where I get my car serviced. In the end I went with the Breville Smooth Wave BM0850 and have been very happy. It fits the small space well enough. The room it is located in, is an office/additional kitchen storage room next to the kitchen. Outfitted in the 15" IKEA base cabinets and soapstone counters that I fabricated from salvaged scrape from a local stone shop. The area is located out of the way of traffic, yet very close to the cooking area in the kitchen near the stove. I should qualify my comment about "being out of the way of traffic" as in my small kitchen nothing is really out of the way of traffic, as I have 4 doors in the 7.5x12' kitchen. The 17" depth counter over the IKEA bases holds the unit, with an inch of the appliance overhang at the door. The front feet are well back from the edge of the counter and are probably at the 15.5" spot on the counter. I have the requested 4" clearance, easily around the sides. the top clearance request 8", I have only 6" with my 18" above the counter, uppers. The back vents are 4" from the wall, though the "bump out" area (typically on the back of microwaves) is close to the back wall. The unit cost $350 and then I got a 4year warranty with Best Buy for another $40 or 50. Not cheap, and more than I initially wanted to spend. The Breville size is just fine for our use, and significantly smaller than the very large old Kenmore Elite microwave we have, which is still working at 10 years old. With the old microwave we had to keep it on the enclosed porch with the refrigerator because my kitchen is too small to hold these appliances. When I redid the office 3 years ago I had planned to have our microwave on the counter, and finally got around to it several months ago. The unit was way too big for the space, but VERY convenient and the location was such an improvement compared with the porch. Now I think the Breville is just right! small kitchen next to the office/kitchen storage. The stove is on the right of the door and the microwave is just inside the door in next room, on the left: This is the porch where the microwave did sit, just to the right of the door. This porch is also my refrigerator, pantry, coat room, and access to the basement: Still need the backsplash, lol: