Also, if someone could just tell me which micro to run out and buy, I would be most grateful. I thought I would go with a Panasonic like we had before the fire, but reading online lots of people say they;ve have door problems - but maybe Panasonic has cured this prob? Too. Many. Decisions.

We love our panasonic from Costco. We actually gave it to my mother-in-law as a gift and she's happy with it. It's been a few years, so the models have probably changed but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another panasonic.

I also have a Panasonic and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. As to whether you need a trim kit or not I think is more of a personal preference. Mine is sitting on a shelf and I think it looks fine, and it makes replacement a lot easier and less expensive.

I'm not sure about how much room you would need for the KA. I think it would be awkward to pull it up off a shelf unless it was a pullout. Have you considered that idea? Here's one idea that was used for a Vitamix, but I thought might also work for the KA. Something like this.

Kitchen · More Info

We also have a MW drawer and love it. If/when we ever build/remodel, a MW drawer is one of the items I will definitely repeat!

If you want an under-counter MW, I definitely recommend a drawer over a traditional MW in an alcove (or even built in).

Advantages:

• No having to squat or lean far over to use the controls
• No reaching in blindly to retrieve a hot dish
• If you need to stir something, simply open with a gentle tug - the food comes out right in front of you in the drawer, stir, close with a gentle nudge. No need to remove the food!
• No need for a turntable b/c the functionality built in to the drawer eliminates the need for one (helpful when you have a large, rectangular dish like a 9"x13" dish)
• Opening and closing are simple and the drawer is "soft-close" and "soft-open"! A gentle tug opens, a gentle nudge closes. You can even program buttons to open/close, if you prefer.

Think of it this way - we (GW) recommend drawers over stationary shelves - this is no different! Add to it that now you're dealing with hot food, not just pots/pans/etc. under the counter, and it makes even more sense!

There are quite a few different microwave options! Here
is a great article: Where
will the Microwave go?

benjesbride, that is good to hear. We had ours for 9 years and had to have a couple of really minor services done in that time. It was a workhorse (still is, but it's an OTR and like cabinets4U demonstrates in his pic, that is not going to happen again).

Buehl and nini, the guy at the appliance store was trying to talk us into a drawer, but I have reservations (altho that is a convincing list of pros). I worry that any micro has a pretty short life and with the drawer it's an expensive replacement and hard to get out for repairs. But I haven't completely decided against one. I'm also a bit of a control freak and I need to be able to figure out how this thing is going into the island/mounted, etc. and if I can't do it myself, it probably won't happen.

sherri, you don't have a pic of your micro on a shelf do you? Not sure why, but I hadn't thought of a pullout for the mixer. That is a good idea. I had been toying with the idea of an appliance lift, but I want it on an open shelf and the lifts are pretty butt ugly. I wouldn't mind having a nice wooden pullout though.

Appreciate all the great ideas and info. I stopped by the place that is doing the island and figured out most of it. Just need to decide on microwave and measure the KA mixer.

Definitely go with the drawer microwave. And fyi sharp makes them for most of the other brands. All you need is a 24" cabinet for the sharp. Any larger and it's really only a trim kit.

I've had mine in my FL home for almost five years and love it.

As far as maintenance & repairs....we've had our MW drawer 4 years now. It gets HEAVY use, I have a 15 yo & 12 yo & they eat a TON! We've not had a single problem with it. Honestly, the only downside I see to it is that it costs more.

Okay, don't think I can do a drawer in our island just cause of the way it's designed (also don't think it is in the budget right now - so over budget on everything).

Just heard from electrician that island can go in last and he'll come back to wire it. I'm thinking I should wait for my designer to get back in town and calm down. Two weeks is not going to kill me even if it's not in right when we move back. Deep breaths, Daisy.

i got a bosch but only because i found it on sears outlet online. i wanted the drawer but did not want it to have a handle sticking out due to its location on the peninsula, and the drawer models without a handle were at 700+. anyhoo, we are doing a trim kit because i want that built in look, but for purposes of the cab building, we gave our cab maker the actual micro specs, not the trim specs.

My microwave is on a shelf, but not in the island. This should give you an idea though.

A Traditional Country Kitchen · More Info

The problem with a regular microwave under the counter is then you're constantly bending down to see what you're doing, what's inside etc. I had that in my house. It was ok at the time as I was young, but now that I'm older, I love the drawer I just reach down into. So easy.

Have the people with microwave drawers had any issues cleaning them? We ended up getting one but the sales guy tried to talk us out of one because he said he was getting complaints from customers with the difficulty in cleaning the inside of the drawer.

The only thing that might be slightly hard to clean is the roof of the drawer, but I got one of these and try to remember to cover things that will splatter.

I don't understand why you are mad at the designer. You admittedly took the week off and haven't finalized the appliance. It sounds really unfair to project this problem on her.

Just sayin...

And I love microwave drawers.

No, it's easier to clean because you're not trying to reach up with an over the counter one.

mamarachel, I think we are both to blame. Last time we met, we talked about what was needed for the island. I later sent her all the dimensions and pics of inspiration islands (except for dimensions for the one shelf that micro and KA will go on, but she did know we were doing a micro on a shelf). We agreed it needed to be ordered before she left to meet our timeline and that she would email the drawings before she left. I'm to blame because I should have sent her reminders when I didn't get the drawings.

Also, this isn't my kitchen designer. This is a person I'm paying a huge amount of cash to basically hold my hand thru the whole rebuild process. My DH and I made the decision to put a huge fraction of our budget towards paying her because she has been thru this process with many clients and knows the process and steps (this was not a planned project so we are doing our best, but the learning curve is high). And, I'm not really mad, I'm just a bit frustrated. She's been amazing to date and I know she was frazzled getting us and other clients ready so she could take her holidays.

I know it will all work out, I'm just feeling a bit set a float on my own as our contractor is also away for the same few weeks. They've both been amazing to work with, I'm just feeling the stress.

I'll try to get to the appliance store today with my island drawings and see if a drawer will work and actual cost. Budget is becoming more and more of a fairy tale that kind of exists somewhere, but I don't really believe in anymore.

I really do love that pic of the micro on the shelf in the English kitchen that Sherri posted (love the whole kitchen actually).