I assume there's no window behind the sink.

While I don't care for OTR microwaves, sometimes there's not a lot of choice. The amount of time I spend at my stove is a fraction of the time I spend at my sink (prep plus cleanup). It would be much more disruptive for someone to be reaching around/over to use the MW while someone's at the sink than a similar situation over the stove.

No window, and she is the only cook. She really needs a good vent, and she preps on either side of her sink. She doesn't want to cut into hard upper cabinets because they were all built in place and share the same face frame.

900 Sq ft house, on slab. 4 in family. Space is tight. Extra storage for anything big is in detached garage.

Her kitchen is only 6' wide by 8' long. L shape with range on short side, sink in middle of long side, fridge on end of run. 6' of window behind the sink on blank wall. Lots of light, but hardly room for any more upper storage or any free counter spave. She always has something on the stove or in the oven.

I don't have pix nor access to graph paper, imagine 6×8 kitchen, open to dining area from one 6 foot end. One 8ft wall has nothing on it but 6foot long window, trash bins under it. On 6' outer wall is 6 inches of counter to left of stove, 30" gas stove, 36" lazy Susan corner cabinet. The 8' wall shares the 36" LS corner cabinet, then 30" sink, 18" drawer base, then 30" fridge. The fridge actually extends out past the kitchen opening, but bookcases on the living room wall butt up against back of fridge, hiding the coils. Standard uppers from over stove up to the fridge.

I think it sounds like a great spot for a microwave--just a regular one of course. No need to spend on an OTR with all the extra venting parts.

trash bins under window ?? ...I'd work on that aspect and see if a cart couldn't be placed under window for small microwave. Such a small space....does she need trash bins [plural] out and on view at all times...there are under sink rollouts for bins and then the window area can just have a cart underneath.

Trash bins are for waste and recycling. I know they are narrower than 10 inches (long sides against wall. Under sink has all cleaning supplies for house. A small cart or shelf unit would make her work aile even tighter.

If over the sink, there are mounts to attach firmly to wall if on a shelf.

I suspect that Linelle is right, though, and it would probably be a code violation.

Can she spare space for a microwave drawer?

We have this one, which sits in a corner and fits a full size dinner plate.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpool-0-5-cu-ft-Countertop-Microwave-in-Universal-Silver-WMC20005YD/203624099

The recommended height of a microwave shelf is 3" below the users shoulder, not to exceed 54" aff. Our microwave is pretty deep. I think you'd knock your head on that as you lean over the sink.

I think that it is totally doable but if it is not too high to be practical it will be in her way. I like the corner idea. Is the corner of the L in use? Alternatively, what is the size of the upper cabinets? Is it possible that one if them is wide, tall and deep enough to hold a microwave? Or would it be better to be on a cart with wheels that could provide extra storage as well? If you are worried about water and electricity, the cord for the microwave should be short to the point where if the microwave were to fall down into the sink the plug would have to have fallen out of the wall. Unless she is living in earthquake country I cannot imagine why a microwave would fall.

If code were an issue you would not be able to have pendant lights over a sink.

It is an in your face issue, as it is deeper than the standard 12" cabinet depth.

Maybe the GE Spacemaker which is only a bit over 12" deep would work. I've had these in a couple kitchens and the interior was plenty for our needs. Sometimes in a small kitchen compromises need to be made. My 42 square foot kitchen had full height cabinets over the sink and an OTR microwave simply because to follow the preferred guidelines for a more spacious kitchen would have left us without storage or counterspace both of which trumped the issue of an in our face cabinet.

FWIW, I had a cheap $50 Rival/Sunbeam for about 7 years. It was very small and it got the job done, if a tad slower than a bigger one would have done.

I have to agree with those who say that an over the sink micro is more obstructive than an OTR, though.

Get a right-sized box and tape it up there.

If code were an issue you would not be able to have pendant lights over a sink.

I don't think that's necessarily true - lights are "hard-wired" and a microwave plugs in. That just seems different to me somehow.

That dangling wire behind the sink. Um no

That's why microwaves often have outlets inside cabinets above or adjacent to the appliance. All appliances are available as plug in, not hardwired.

considering the need to embed the outlet and wire in an adjacent cabinet, if over the sink spot is chosen, I would probably rest a small microwave back in the corner resting on countertop. The back part of a corner is usually dead space...keep the microwave small and then it's at perfect height, no cutting into neighboring cabinets. They still make smaller microwaves- . 7 cu foot-some have turntables and preprogrammed settings altho probably not sensor, but for a one person, small household this should be better than using prime cabinet areas.

Well, I talked it over with her husband this morning, and he is working on a different option. He thought the microwave may belong in a better place - less likely to have a problem.

Since she uses the corner for her Mixmaster mixer which is used 3-4 times a week, the microwave can't got there (the mixer slides back on a tray when not in use). He thinks he can take the 18" upper to the immediate right of the sink and shorten the door so that he can put a small microwave on the bottom shelf and allow the door to close on the shelves above. The cord would come out of the cabinet and plug in behind the fridge.

As a bonus, in the 30" keyhole area above the sink, he is going to fashion a stainless dish drying rack that will drip into the sink -- eliminating the need for pulling the drying rack out all the time when she does dishes! Since they use the same dishes for nearly every meal, they just need to take them off the drying rack to set the next table!

He is marvelous! He already had attached a series of skinny lipped shelves under the 6' window (the one over the trash bins). She has all her jars of spices, oils, and flavorings there. (This family used to live in an even smaller apartment -- they know how to make the most of a space!)

Thanks for the input -- as I said, it was just a random thought that brought about some good ideas and input.

fridge and microwave will each need a dedicated circuit...code...

I thought about pendant lights over the sink. The thing is, you're not touching them, not moving them. It's highly unlikely one will drop at any time. MWs can inadvertently be moved, caused to fall. Not likely, but it would sure give me pause.

I happened to be looking at the manual to my countertop microwave and noticed that it says when installing in a wall cabinet, not to mount over the sink. Also says not to mount over or near a cooking appliance. So the safety issue may be different between a countertop-style microwave (that could fall?) and a mounted, over-the-range-style microwave.

I agree with others that it would be hard to use over the sink, and it's good they're finding another location. That sounds like a cool drying rack!

You mentioned plugging in behind the fridge. Someone already said that the microwave should have its own circuit. I had lived in a bunch of rentals and just plugged in the microwave wherever without any issues. In my current house, all was well until I upgraded my circa-1999 microwave, now I can't microwave and make coffee at the same time :(