I sold my OTR micro on Craigs List and bought a small counter model for now. It sits on an open shelf in an upper cabinet. The shelf is 19" above my counter and with the little "legs" of the micro it is at 20"-perfect height for us.

Some put it in the pantry or in the island or right on top of the counter.

As far as I know, an OTR MW can be used anywhere...over a range or elsewhere. Just be sure to adhere to the required air clearances all around (top, bottom, sides, back).

Is your design "set in stone" yet? If not, I would look at placing it near the refrigerator but on the periphery of your kitchen so those working in the kitchen can easily access it as well as those outside the kitchen - without the outsiders interfering w/the work going on in the working part of the kitchen. This is also the ideal location for a refrigerator, btw.

Regarding how to place it in your cabinetry, I would put it on a shelf with doors that you can close (since you don't want to see it) when it's not in use (doors that fold in so they're not in the way while using the MW). If you have the space & it fits in your design, then I would put it on a shelf that hangs down from an upper cabinet...hanging a few inches lower than the upper cabinets for the ideal height. Yes, that will shorten the backsplash area under the MW, but it makes it easier to use. You'll still have enough room for landing space for both the MW and refrigerator (assuming there are at least 18" of counter width, preferably 24"!

Or...do you have a "snack" center that's separated from most of the kitchen, and definitely separated from the Prep Zone? If you have enough counterspace, you could put one there...maybe even in an Appliance Garage setup.

Note that in any scenario where the MW can be closed off (Appliance Garage, behind doors, etc.) be sure it's not used with the doors closed...air circulation could be an issue.

If the above options don't work, you could put it undercounter...but only if you're OK with bending & stooping to use it. We were not, so we got a MW drawer. You might consider selling it on Craigslist (or via a "Pennysaver") to see if you can get enough $$$ out of it to pay for a MW drawer...

If your design is final, then I would post your layout here and ask where to put the MW. Emphasize that the design cannot change, you just need ideas on what to do with the MW given the final layout. Without seeing the layout of your kitchen, it's tough to give specific location advice...just generalities

The design is nowhere near final. Here's the only things that are set - The wall over the range is a half wall with an arched opening, set at 48' high, that opens into the dining room. That was the microwave's original location. It was done to open up the rooms and echoes arched doorways in other areas of the house. There is a laundry cabinet with bifold doors at the far end. I'm hoping for the wall between the fridge and the laundry cabinet to be a pantry wall of some sort, so it sounds like the microwave might fit well in that area? Any advice on layout would be appreciated.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Layout

Microwaves can go pretty much in the following places:
1) OTR model, OTR
2) OTR model, elsewhere in upper cabinets.
3) micro drawer
4) freestanding on counter
5) freestanding on a cabinet shelf -- upper or lower
6) freestanding behind a door somewhere
7) any model built into a wall

So figure that the decision task isn't insurmountable, as you really only have six choices. Determine your budget and whether you are getting rid of the existing unit and that narrows the choices tremendously.

As far as keeping the existing unit . . . someone posted a finished kitchen recently that used an OTR microwave in a short run of cabinets tucked away on one side of the kitchen -- nowhere near the range. I thought it was a great solution because it wasn't staring you in the face but was still very accessible. I'll have to see if I can find it and link it.

We put our MW (we always had a small freestanding one) in a pantry on a shelf. I don't know about your layout restrictions. but have you considered putting stacking laundry units in, and then having the rest of the laundry closet available for a pantry? You could then put the MW in there. Or you could feasible built a nook for it in the wall on the end of the laundry closet, facing you as you walk in from the basement/bedroom door. That way it would be flush with the wall surface and out of the way.

I found the link! It is Newyorking's kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Newyorking's kitchen - OTR MW not OTR

Thanks for the link - that's a nice plan. I think ours is bigger than that, unfortunately. I like the idea of tucking it away by the fridge.. Our fridge is pretty out of the pathway, and we really only use our microwave for heating up leftovers which will come out of the fridge, and even that is seldom.

An OTR microwave is usually bulkier than a counter-top microwave of equivalent interior size, partly due to the fan, motor, and duct that is no longer needed. If you have a small kitchen, the wasted space might matter. If you mount the OTR somewhere for the looks, remember it'll be expensive to replace if it goes out.

I know what you mean by "stinkin' microwave"...ugly eye sore.
We've lived with ours on the counter for ten years. Finally last month, we had an electrician put a plug in our walk-in pantry, and put the microwave on a shelf in there to get it off the counter. I wanted to do it YEARS ago but DH thought I was nuts until a hand full of other people suggested the same.
It's working out perfectly for us an no problem to take a walk to the pantry. We don't use our microwave much other than to re-heat along with occasional cooking. It is so worth getting it off the counter!
We were fortunate to have already an electrical output near by for the carpenter to connect to. Cost us $50.

You're putting your range in front of a half-wall...so, how are you venting it? Are you putting in an "island" hood that will hang down into the arched opening? The fact that you have it in an open space like that makes venting even more important...steam, smoke, grease, odors, etc. will travel more quickly & farther throughout your home so you need an adequate range hood.

Even if you were to use the OTR MW as it is intended, it's not very effective as a hood. We've been in a rental for over a week now w/an OTR MW as well as have used them in other rentals and in my sister's home and none of them have work particularly well...even those that vented outside. The best I've encountered is one that had two "outlets" but they only worked for items directly underneath them...and even then they only "caught" about 60% of the steam, etc. from the tall pots and I'd say only 40% for the shorter pots & pans. Forget the front burners!

Downdrafts are even worse, even telescoping downdrafts. They only work at all for pots/pans that are right next to them and that are several inches shorter than the top of the vent. Downdrafts have to work against the natural tendency of steam, smoke, etc. to rise. I used to "lust after" a Jenn Air cooktop w/downdraft (I thought they looked "cool"). Then I used one at a friend's house many years ago and I realized how poorly the downdraft worked! (They actually recommended I not get one, they were very disappointed in it overall.) Oh well! At least I discovered it b/f spending the $$$ on one!

For an open space like you have or an island or peninsula, you will need an "island" hood. Unfortunately, they're more expensive than a wall hood b/c of the need to finish them on all 4 sides, the expense of venting other than on an exterior wall, and the need for a larger & more powerful hood. Why the need for the larger/powerful hood? Because there are more & stronger air currents in an open space than along a wall plus you don't have the wall and, possibly, cabinets on the sides to corral the smoke, steam, etc. and direct them upward toward the hood. [BTW...flat hoods are less effective at "capturing" smoke, steam, etc., b/c there are little or no sides to "hold" the smoke, steam, etc. for venting out.]

For venting in an open space, you need a bigger hood (at least 6" wider & at least 27" deep) and more powerful cfms. The higher you mount if off the cooking surface, the bigger and more powerful it needs to be.

...

Do you have a layout to post for helping you find a place for it?

We put ours inside a cabinet. It took a little rework regarding the wall behind it (basically we had them cut out the panel behind the cabinet to accomodate the plug), but we LOVE it! No ugly microwave anywwhere in sight!

Thanks again.

Monaw - that's what I'm leaning towards - which means selling this one and getting a smaller one.

Buehl - thanks for your thoughts - you are very knowledgeab le. The range does have a self vent built into the back of it and is supposed to be able to operate without a hood. I'm coming from renting a place with a gas range without a hood (had an OTR micro that didn't have a functioning vent!) and with the things that I cook I never noticed a problem. I don't fry hardly anything, or cook a lot of high fat foods. If I did fry anything, I did it in my electric skillet because I hated cleaning grease off of the range. I know a hood is the "right" thing to do, but for my needs I think that I can live without it.

I did post the layout a couple of posts up.. I'm not sure if there is a way to post it directly, but I posted a link. I'll try it again though - hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Layout

When we changed the plan from having an OTR microwave to a hood, I already had purchased the microwave on ebay, and it was sitting in our garage. I got the idea to have a coffee/microwave station away from the rest of the kitchen.

I am so happy to have it that way now. We access the microwave mostly for snacks or heating foods for meals. It is right by the dining area, so that makes sense. The prep sink is right across from it to fill the coffee pot and for drinking water.

Here's a photo of our stinkin' microwave set-up:

My home was built with an OTR microwave which I use (mostly when I am entertaining and need multiple cooking options). I also have a large microwave on the counter. My Mom who comes to stay with me is too short to use the OTR one, so having one on the counter is great. I use the counter one on a daily basis, but I don't have issues with seeing it out in the open with my other appliances.

Nice set up shelayne...that looks great.

shelayne - That's the ticket!

You all are so very smart. We are having a "coffee station" around the corner in our breakfast nook where we will keep the coffee maker, fruit and breakfast goodies. That would be the perfect place to put the microwave, and I reminded me that I use the micro for my hot tea in the mornings. Above the coffee station it shall go. Thanks everyone!