Turntable: The drawer doesn't have one b/c it doesn't need one. It uses a different pattern/technology that eliminates the need to rotate a dish. As to cleaning the ceiling of the drawer, if you are someone who doesn't cover food and who only wipes it down every couple of weeks...yes, you probably will have some difficulty cleaning it. But, if that's the case, then put a MW-safe dish with water in it and boil the water in the MW for a couple of minutes...stuck-on food will soften right up and it should now be easy to clean. However, I always cover things so I rarely have anything to wipe off...except sometimes some crumbs on the bottom. I do check the ceiling periodically and usually it doesn't need it. When it does, I take a warm, wet (not damp) dishcloth and wipe it...it's pretty easy to know where you're wiping b/c the walls define the space. If something is left, I using the boiling water method and wipe again...everything cleans off then.

Have had ours since 2008 and I've never regretted it nor have I had any problems with it! In fact, I'm starting on designing/planning our retirement home to build in the future and I plan to include a MW drawer. With the exception of my (very) old Montgomery Wards Convection MW oven, it's lasted the longest. When we remodeled, the MW drawer cost the same as a built-in MW with trim kit. I've had no problems cleaning it. If food is stuck on it, simply boil a cup of water + vinegar for several minutes in the drawer and then wipe clean - the food should be loosened up and wipe off with a swipe. Yes, you do have to lean over and peer into it to see if it's clean, but... I'd much rather have to do that once every week or two compared to having to lean over/squat to use the MW several times a day! A regular MW in an alcove under the counter is not easy to use - you have to bend over or squat to use the controls and to add/remove dishes/food - usually reaching blindly into the MW and trying balance the hot dish as you're struggling to remove it from the MW, balance it to keep it from spilling, and standing back up - all at the same time! Regular/counter top MWs are not designed to be used under the counter - they're designed to be used at counter height or higher. Note that MW drawers have a "child lock", so if you're worried about your children getting into it, lock it when not in use! Oh and having a child lean on the door of a "regular" MW means potentially bring the MW down on top of the child - so be careful. No amount of child locking can prevent that! [I had a friend over a couple of weekends ago who kept trying to push the drawer all the way in and pull it all the way out - without letting the drawer do it's thing (automatically opening w/a gentle pull / automatically closing with a gentle nudge). Not sure why he didn't understand when I explained it to him, but his forcing the drawer open/closed did not damage the drawer in any way.] Sharp makes all MW drawers, so I would stick with a Sharp-branded drawer rather than pay $$$$ for a re-branded MW drawer with a higher-end name - it's the same MW! Here's a thread from 2008 about them. BTW...the concern that someone had 8 years ago about them being short-lived has not panned out. They're becoming more and more popular! http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2688345/microwave-drawer-pros-and-cons?n=42 .

I've worked 20+ years in the kitchen and bath design industry and have never done this. Base cabinets are 34 1/2" tall with a 4" to 4 1/2" toe kick (typical). That gives you roughly 30" to 30 1/2" to work with on space. Even if you are frameless with 3/4" panels in a typical Sharp microwave drawer requires an opening of 15 9/16" height. add 3/4" to both top and bottom and a 4" toe kick and your measuring up from the ground would give you 21 1/16" best case scenario. Smaller Fisher Paykel dish drawers are 16 1/8" tall. That puts you well outside your height of 34 1/2" for the overall cabinet height.

The microwave has been hidden in our last three kitchens - inside an armoire in the breakfast area (15yrs), walk-in pantry (12+ yrs) and currently a wall of cabinet doors that hide the SZ fridge/freezer towers, two pantries and coffee station/microwave. Two enclosed kitchens and one open concept. Current kitchen. Microwave, far right. I haven't taken a photo with the door open. FWIW, just because someone doesn't like seeing appliances, doesn't mean they don't cook. We cook 2-3 meals a day and use the microwave several times each day. While I dislike seeing appliances in our kitchen, it doesn't phase me what other people do in theirs. And I would never be condescending, and make assumptions based on preferences.