Atomics - I do not have experience, however, we are placing a Sharp microwave drawer in our island. The various models I viewed at appliance stores have viewable controls. The only drawback is a casserole dish with a lid (i.e. Corning Ware) may be too tall. The casserole without the lid will fit. A sales rep pointed this out. It is a non-issue to us because our microwave use is more for defrosting and melting. Best of luck with your project!

We put a regular countertop microwave in our island. The cabinet is sized to take a Sharp drawer later if we want. My mom, had a almost new stainless microwave she was willing to just give us, so I couldn't justify spending the money on the built in version. It was one of the easier budget compromises.

We are all tall in our family, except for 5 year old daughter! It takes some getting used to, but for the few times a day we use it, it doesn't really bother me. As a plus, we have taught our daughter to use the microwave because it is at her height. She can now help us prepare her snacks.

We got a drawer microwave.
It was a super splurge.
But we love it.
The only downside, besides the price,
is that the drawer, by necessity, opens and closes
more slowly than you would close a regular microwave door.
But overall, it is super convenient.

We love our drawer microwave. We got the taller one (the PS6524, I think) that can nuke a venti Starbucks cup, not that I would ever reheat coffee, but that's how it's marketed. It can hold my large casserole dish with it's lid on.

One of my favorite things about it is the ability to stir things without removing them from the microwave first. The control panel is angled slightly to make it easier to see from above. I think stooping to use a regular microwave placed that low would bug me.

Here's a link to a thread with pics. It's about halfway down.

Well, I like my drawer microwave, EXCEPT: you have to be a contortionist with extremely long arms to clean it! It is very uncomfortable to reach in to clean the splatters off the back and top.

My microwave is under the counter, though not in an island. It's a largish countertop style GE that sits just below the counter in a cabinet. Others, including family members warned me not to do it, but it's working out fine for me and my family. You can easily see the controls ( a touch pad down the right side of the appliance) without bending down and only need to bend slightly to get things in or out. Of course, I'm only 5'4".

I probably prefer its above-counter (lower shelf in an upper cabinet) home in a previous kitchen, but not by too much and this definitely worked best for layout of total kitchen here.

We have our microwave in the island. We considered a drawer microwave but they were very new when we did the remodel 6 years ago - the 24" model was just becoming available. Also, I have short arms and was concerned about the cleaning issue. I didn't like the trim on the ones available at the time.

Instead we went with a KitchenAid with a drop down door. I've put the link to the current similar model below. It has the controls on top and a knob which makes it simpler to use from above than side controls and a keypad. Of course one still has to stoop to put something in and take it out, but I don't find that any worse than using my bottom oven.

If we were making the decision today, we might choose a drawer microwave now that they have been around for longer because of being slightly more convenient to load and stir even if it would be hard for me to clean. But we are happy with what we have. The performance of the KitchenAid in evenness of heating and such is great. I like the meal reheat button which does fine job on reheating leftovers.

Here is a link that might be useful: KitchenAid with drop down door.

I've had both. In the old house, we had a micro/convection oven in the island. I'm very short, so it was just fine.

New house, we have the Sharp drawer in the island. Oh, my gosh, I love this little appliance. One of my favorite things in the kitchen. And it has a "cheat sheet" on the top edge of the drawer to help you with the programming. Very handy indeed. I honestly don't find it any harder to clean than the old micro. But I'm a shorty so not so far to bend. When I had a regular microwave on a shelf in the upper cabinets, I found it much harder to clean because I had to get a tall step stool. The joys of being short.

Joyce 6333 ~ Love your kichen! The microwave looks nice too :) Thank you so much to everyone for your input! I'm on the tall side (5'9") so I'm thinking we'll go with the drawer microwave. Can't wait to put it all together! Thanks again!

Joyce 6333, Beautiful kitchen. Was wondering what type wood and stain are your cabinets. Building and having a difficult time deciding on cabs. Thanks!

My micro drawer is across from my island, but it could have just as easily have gone in the island. Why not? That's one of the great tings about them.

I know you have a lot of input but just wanted to put in a quick comment about the "slow" opening/closing. Mine is in the perimeter, not the island, but I went with the manual open/close model instead of the power one. I have small children and knew that they would never wait for the power open/close to work and would ultimately break it. Plus it was cheaper :) I was worried about closing it too fast and getting splatter, but it still has some resistance so that doesn't happen. So far after a month I love it and so do the kids! They can reheat their own pizza, pop popcorn, whatever (although we have had to have the conversation about no forks in the micro a couple of times). Would definitely buy it again so much easier than reaching up and the controls are very easy to view/use.

We have a Sharp drawer one underneath the kitchen island. You can open it using the power button or manually. Last year the motor that runs the opening was whirring and not working ( it was only about 6 months old then) I called Sharp, they referred me to a repairman about 200 miles away! That wasn't feasible. Long story short, Sharp sent me a brand new one but we had to install it ourselves. I am very careful opening it now but I do really like it.

Blugrl: don't want to hijack this thread, just answering your question.

Cabinets are custom by a local cabinetmaker, and are premium hickory with SW chestnut stain. They are actually darker than the picture shows, and a tad redder. Good luck on your build.

Love my Sharp Micro drawer in the island!

We're putting in a Sharp microwave drawer in our upcoming kitchen. I can't wait! My friend who just built put a regular microwave under her counter. When I was there the other day I happened to be standing over that spot and leaning on the island. Every now and then I moved in a certain way and would brush against the microwave and hit a button since they're all along down the front of it and the button would beep. That's one thing I never thought about with putting a regular microwave in that spot. I'm pretty small yet apparently more fidgety than I thought! But when gathered around the island with people around leaning on that spot as I was, it seems super easy for those front buttons to keep being pressed over and over, the angled buttons of the drawer seem less likely to be pushed by accident.