Which appliance garage would you choose?

14 years ago

Here are three photos showing the design of my new cabinet maker. He's included an appliance garage below the microwave. The first looks too set back and small to be anything more than a bread box. The second would have a roll out on which the appliances would sit, allowing me to use them rolled out. The third I like even though it's sort of weird. It has two doors which open at an angle directly onto the counter. The last photo is just the other side of the room. He told me he doesn't like roll up doors, because the hardware doesn't last.

The colors aren't right, it's just to show me what the basic design/layout would be.

Which one would you prefer?

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Comments (14)

fern76
14 years ago
I like the second one, but would have false fronts and have doors opening toward the countertop maybe, would something like that work? Good Luck!
remodelfla
14 years ago
I like the second but would use a single door that rises up and slides into the top of the cabinet itself. I saw that on this forum and it was very cool.
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rhome410
14 years ago
Does your microwave cabinet really have to be 24" deep? If not I would cut it back to 16, 18, or 20" (depending on what the microwave requires) and extend the appliance garage to the counter at the same depth. (Or having it back a little, where it's shown now in the 1st option, might be OK, too) This would give it some extra style, and also give some counter space in the front. If the microwave has to be 24" deep, I'd do the full depth appliance garage. I would never do the 3rd. Sorry, but if I'm honest, to me it looks like a mistake....or a corner cabinet used in a way it wasn't meant to be.
pharaoh
14 years ago
#2. with remodelfla's suggestion of a lift up door. Also no counter edge showing at the front (end the counter before the garage). Make it look like a single tall cabinet.

You could also make the appliance garage have a slide out shelf so that you can reach the appliances in the back.
teppy
14 years ago
i vote for the second one.
oldalgebra
14 years ago
I vote #2 and make it a single tall cabinet like pharaoh suggested, with a lift up door.
southernstitcher
Original Author
14 years ago
Rhome, yes it has to be that deep due to the size of the microwave I have. I like a big microwave.
A flip up door sounds good, I hope he can do that. He didn't want to do a roll up. Interesting idea to make it look like a tall cabinet.
Thanks for saving me from myself. The third one does look like a mistake! DH didn't like it either.
hestia_flames
14 years ago
A concern, I was told that most microwaves have a left hinge, with the door handle on the right. If that is so, a microwave could be very tight to access in that location so close to the wall - you wouldn't be able to put a hot plate/casserole down on the counter unless you stepped back around the door first. We considered putting our microwave in a similar type of location, and found it too cumbersome because of the way that the door was hinged.

Can you move your current microwave to sit up next to a wall and try to use it that way for a week just to see how it works for you?
ebse
14 years ago
I like rhome's suggestions, or #2.
southernstitcher
Original Author
14 years ago
hestia flames, good point! I didn't think about the fact that they all left return, and it might be awkward. Oh, I'm just stumped trying to avoid an OTR microwave situation.
What about on the other side, to the left of the range, with NO appliance garage underneath it? That would cramp some of my anticipated counter space of 30" on that side of the range, since the doggone thing would have to be counter depth.
OTOH, I don't want it on the opposite side of the sink run, because I really wanted to use those uppers for glasses and dishes right next to the DW. And, we think that the micro upper sticking out to counter depth wouldn't look as good on that side, either.
What a dilemma over something as simple as a microwave.
Anyone wish to share about micro-drawers?
hestia_flames
14 years ago
How about:

Move the pantry (currently next to the fridge) to where the microwave is in your current plan, then move the fridge to the right (in place of the current pantry) then have the microwave either built in to the left of the fridge, or leave the countertop (no appliance garage) and you would gain a landing spot next to the fridge? You would need to make sure that the pantry drawers would work with the doors against the wall, or plan for a little filler. You would lose a little counter space next to the sink, and have a slightly smaller upper cabinet there, but for me, I would want a separate area near the fridge as a landing space - or are you having an island?
dinkledoodle
14 years ago
I like #2
biochem101
14 years ago
I would go with #2, as one long cabinet (no countertop) BUT...I'd move it to the left of the dishwasher.

I remember seeing a kitchen on here like that. It was a dark wood cabinet and the microwave was at the far left end of the run. That would help taking things out and sitting them down towards the sink.

I believe the cabinet I'm remembering had glass doors and they stored glassware there? (It might be close to your table in this spot?) Some people also have installed a pullout shelf below the microwave for sitting stuff on.
southernstitcher
Original Author
14 years ago
No island, unfortunately. I wanted to retain the small DR through that door that separates the range area and the fridge wall.
Interesting idea that would give me some landing space for the fridge. It will be around 5 ft from the other side, and we've decided we can live with that. Anything is better than having it where the microwave is in the above pictures.
I'm intrigued by the idea of a micro drawer, but they are so high.

Which appliance garage would you choose?

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fern76

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