You’re totally ignoring the cheap counter microwave on a shelf, top or bottom. The $89 MW option.

That is the better option for many. Built in is way overrated. Form over function. Especially when you have to disassemble things to clean up the hot cocoa that boiled over and flowed out the door and down into the cracks and crevices in the cavity. Or you have to replace the 45 lb paperweight and nothing fits the trim kit because models changed.

You're also not understanding the hundreds of cabinet options available to deal with this.

The reason there aren't many for under the counter is because that placement is ergonomically dysfunctional since you have to squat and squint at controls to use.

I am installing a microwave under my wall oven and opted for a microwave drawer with tilt out controls because a "regular" microwave placed low would be difficult for me to use. It's expensive ($999 for the 30" Sharp) but I felt I had no other reasonable alternative since I have limited counter space and installing above would be too high for function and safety.

It's an expensive design decision since I was fine with the function of my $150 microwave in my pre-remodeled kitchen except for the fact that I lose approximately 1/3 of my limited counter space to it so it was worth the money to reclaim that critical real estate.

When our 30" Sharp under the counter microwave drawer broke after only 2 years we opted to replace it with a built in. We weren't impressed with the Sharp as a microwave since it always seemed under-powered and had no turntable. Yes, the drawer is convenient and maybe we got a lemon, but since it was so pricey we went the other route. It's been 5 years and it hasn't been a big deal at all for us to reach below the counter for the microwave.

@sophie I'm aware of shelves but not under consideration. Spend $60K on a kitchen so I can buy a $89 MW??? I'm not optimizing for cheap. If you put a countertop on the upper cabinets in a shelf, it's going to stick out a few inches (except for a GE model I mention above) and that's not very attractive IMO. By looking at what people are doing on houzz photos, it's generally a built-in

@denita I'm not a fan of the microwave sticking out beyond the cabinets and I wouldn't mind sticking on in the pantry but it is not wide enough

@nicoleeve that's unfortunate but at least you were able to replace with a built-in. If I do get a drawer it will be in a 27" cabinet for better replacement options

Andrew, a microwave is not a high end item. People can spend big bucks on them, sure, but they are not impressive one way or another. Your goal should be to make that appliance as inconspicuous as possible. There is nobody who will look at your kitchen and remark on your expensive or cheap microwave- unless you do a poor job of placing/housing it.

Slightly off topic, but I am always amused by what some people consider to be small kitchens with limited counter space :-). Those of us with objectively small kitchens with objectively limited counter space don't have the same possibilities unless we want to go to the horrendous over the range combo vent/hood - we don't have even small pantries; we don't have the amount of counter space I extrapolate from the posted picture and we don't have any kind of "cubby" in which to put a microwave which would be at a reasonable height since all I have are uppers which would place the microwave at too high a height for me..

All of these solutions are great for those with kitchens that have the space. I realize I am paying quite a lot for the microwave drawer and I certainly don't expect to make it back if I sell - which I am not planning to do any way. However, it's worth it to me to spend the extra $850 or so for the increased functionality and space in my small kitchen since I have no reasonable alternative.

@Helen I like the drawers but have your read the reviews? Lots of sad stories of them breaking/catching on fire within weeks of purchasing or out of warranty as in @nicoleeve's case.

@sophie deeper upper cabinets is a possible customization but that cost money and negates appliance savings. Also I don't want deeper cabinets on the windows side and not sure they can do deeper on one side but not the other bc of the corner.

I never suggested my kitchen was high end. I'm talking about Bosch, not Miele/Wolf/Gaggenau. This is right inline with the level of cabinetry and on the low side for the cost of houses in my neighborhood. Actually Thermador/Jenn-air is also inline. Also not spending $8000 for a built-in fridge.

@rita "Your goal should be to make that appliance as inconspicuous as possible" Hiding a MW it is not my goal. My goal is usability and aesthetics. I could care less what people think.

Your actions bely your words. If your goal was actually usability first , half of your kitchen would need to change. Your primary concern isn’t function. It’s form. Thus the built in MW insistence.

Mean, median, mode. Your appliances choices are at the 70-80 percentile, but the project expenditures is at the 45. It doesn’t mesh.

Customizing cabinets to suit the workflow and need is a far more important thing to spend money on than mounting a 30” wall oven under an incompatible 36” gas cooktop. Again, looks over cooks is the choice.

Put brakes on and examine your decisions so far. They are out of step with what you say you want. You are lying to yourself about wanting functionality first.

Not that there is anything wrong with wanting a pretty kitchen. Look at Beaglesdoitbetter’s kitchen. It’s form first. But she listened enough so that if someone wanted to use it to do more than boil water, someone could do so efficiently.

Mrs. Slocombe for the win: Your actions bely your words.

FWIW, read reviews on any appliance that are anecdotal and you can be scared off since any appliance is going to have some failures and those who are dissatisfied with something tend to post whereas those who are okay with a purchase tend not to. The only reliable reviews are those which aggregate large statistical analysis of repairs and breakdowns of specific appliances.

I don't think microwave drawers are inherently less reliable than other microwaves - it's only that they are more expensive so the increased expense is solely buying ergonomic function.

I'm fine with my choice from a functional aspect including reliability given what my realistic alternatives are which are worse. If it breaks when it's out of warranty, so be it - I'll replace it :-) As per my post, I have no alternative and I am find with the increased expense to purchase increased ergonomic function as well as space in my small kitchen.

If one has a larger kitchen there are other ways to place a microwave that are functional and less expensive. Given a large enough space, I would place a non-built in microwave in a cubby in a tall cabinet at a perfect height with a shelf underneath it as my friend has but I don't have the space for that so a drawer is my only option within my specific limitations.

"You are lying to yourself about wanting functionality first"

@sophie I never said usability was my primary concern. I said usability and aesthetics, as in both are important. Cooktop over an oven is very common and can be less than the cost of a range, as I proved in a previous post.

You seem to be conflating cost and functionality, as most of your comments are oriented around lost cost, not improved functionality. As an example, a built-in microwave can be just as functional, when installed at the right height, but you insist on a shelf MW, so your goal seems to be cost, not functionality.

"Your appliances choices are at the 70-80 percentile, but the project expenditures is at the 45"

You have no idea on all of what I'm spending 60K on. You have no idea what labor is in my region or what other work I'm having done. I said 60K for the job labor, materials, everything. You have no idea what level of cabinets I'm getting, or what markup I'm paying.

"spend money on than mounting a 30” wall oven under an incompatible 36” gas cooktop"

I think you're confused. This is compatible as stated by the manufacturer. It actually costs less for the cooktop + oven than range. This style is everywhere on houzz. Are all these people must be making terrible decisions along with their designers.

Is the tall cabinet beside the fridge able to be modified? You may be able to put a microwave in side of that cabinet. I mean the front of the microwave will be facing the same direction as the stove/oven. Then you can have a pull out shelf that you can rest the food on for stirring and putting back in the microwave.

https://www.google.com/search?q=microwave+pull+out+shelf&rlz=1C1CHZL_enUS746US746&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYxObQ0e3bAhWIna0KHcTQC7kQsAQIlQI&biw=1600&bih=794

Have you looked into a cabinet lift system? Here's a link to a YouTube video that shows an example of this option. Depending on the size of the cabinet and microwave, you might be able to put the microwave inside the cabinet and then have the bottom of the cabinet lower to countertop level when you wanted to use the microwave at that level. Or you could position the microwave so it's attached to the bottom of the cabinet and still allow the cabinet lift to lower the microwave to countertop level.

I like the flip door. I need to see if my cabinet line offers this style. I'm thinking even a shelf may work. I guess the one caveat is it needs to be wide enough to clear the door opening. I assume the MW door stops at less than 180 degrees or it would hit the cabinet.

@kathi the tall cabinet is a pantry with roll outs. I'm not sure if it can accommodate an MW but would be a good option to have at counter height.

@oneandonlybobjones looks very fancy. Need to see if that is offered

@Katie S. Thanks. Others on this forum have provided similar sentiments regarding a countertop MW under the counter

We do not use our MW very much so the shallow GE has been more than powerful enough for our needs and is budget friendly if it has to be replaced. When we built our house in 1993 we installed the Monogram with trim kit in an upper and it lasted 14 years. When it died it was replaced with the GE Profile version, but unfortunately I also had to replace the trim kit. In the new kitchen, we decided to forgo the trim kit and build a cabinet that could also store the splatter guard on top and pot holders next to it. We have always had a TV in our kitchen so the space above was the perfect spot. The cabinet is 15" deep. DH is 6'5" and I am 5'3". Height is perfect for both of us.

@wilson853 very nicely concealed. My wife isn't a fan of the door, thinking it would always be open and if in the island it won't be as visible anyway. Well maybe, but I at least have to option to hide it.

As far as appliances breaking, what I hear most often and from experience includes microwaves, dishwashers and fridges. But at least dishwashers come in standard sizes and you're not going to have problems finding a 36x70/72 fridge anytime soon.

andrewrxxx, I was afraid that if we used a retractable door(s) that folds into the cabinet ceiling or into the sides of the cabinet that we might not close them, and I did not want to see the MW. The Aventos hardware goes up and down in one easy movement so it is never stays open when we are not using it. Here's where I got the idea.

Formal white kitchen with blue island - Mullet Cabinet · More Info

I'd much rather give up counter space and get a small countertop MW than put one under a counter or over the range.

I ended up going with the Sophie Solution lol. Well I had a cabinet designed in the island to hold a standard size below-counter microwave drawer (but with finished interior). Bought a basic $80 microwave to get me through the demo and gut stage since the previous built in died; intentionally bought a size that would fit the cabinet hole meant for future microwave drawer.

Thought I’d give cheap microwave a try in the slot before we committed to a drawer, and turns out, we’re perfectly happy with it and saved close to $1000. Admittedly not heavy users of it, but husband and I are both tall and don’t find it a problem at all. The kids find it much easier to reach and use than an over the range style we used to have. We only ever use the 30 second button (hit button 4 times for 2 minutes) so no need for us taller folk to squat and look for controls. Don’t think I’ll even bother with the microwave drawer now (although it’s ready for one if we or future owners would want one later)

andrewrxxx-

We can buy and sell stock and control our AC and water heater with our phones. We have cars that run on battery power and drive themselves. Is a microwave that lowers from a cabinet really all that fancy? To me it seems more like a simple solution to a common concern about counter space, heights of different adults and children and the ideal placement of a microwave.

Here's a link to a company that sells appliance lifts, where the appliance can lift up to counter level from under the counter top or lower down from a cabinet.

@OneRidgeOffthat that is a really great idea! Going with that I figured out a MW cutout that can accommodate a countertop microwave (Sharp SMC1842) alone, or optionally with the trim kit if we don't like the look. Also if we find the ergonomics to be inconvenient, we can put a MW drawer in later but will need some trim strips (only on the sides). This gives us lots of flexibility and doesn't lock us into a proprietary solution.