All microwave drawers are manufactured by the same company: Sharp. Other brands simply have the control panels and doors redesigned to distinguish them from the Sharp. The Monogram ZWL1126SJSS is not only the most expensive at $1600 but I believe the vertical control panel will be hard to see when the appliance is mounted low. The Sharp SMD2470ASY may be a better choice as its control panel flips out so it is more easily visible from above. It also costs $400 less. Its door is 1-9/64" thick.

@wdccruise Thanks so much. I did know that Sharp makes all of them and like the lower priced unit but I don't like the fact that the drawer requires a ventilator underneath for a flush install. Monogram doesn't seem to require it for a flush install on frameless cabinets.

No, both the Sharp and Monogram microwaves are installed the same way. Read the last paragraph of the Clearances and Dimensions section of the installation instructions for both appliances.

@wdccruise thanks that's helpful. It's weird but I've not seen the deflector on the monogram installations as much. Wonder why that is? Is it that people just think they can get away with it or?

Any idea what's going on here? Do you think it's just regular proud installation but the door/drawers are also somehow 1 1/4" thick?

Yes, I think the oven is not installed flush and it's door and control panel are the same thickness as the surrounding cabinet doors and drawers.

The Flush Kit installation instructions are linked here: http://www.sharpusa.com/ForHome/HomeAppliances/Microwaves/Models/SMD2470AS.aspx

Thanks @wdccruise. I've just never heard of doors 1 1/4" thick which is why the first picture I posted and this one just stump me so much. Thanks for your input. If anyone else agrees or has direct experience with these I'd appreciate your input too!

By the way if anyone is also wondering, I think I found a microwave drawer that allows flush installation without a ventilator at the bottom - https://assets.ajmadison.com/ajmadison/itemdocs/MD24WS-Installation.pdf

@Eva S.: That Thermador the same as the Sharp. It's just even more money. Look at the picture of the open appliance from the side.

"A flush install with full overlay cabinets would be weirdly recessed since it’s even with the faceframe and not the doors."

My Ikea cabinet doors (for example) are 3/4" thick. The Sharp microwave door is about 1-1/4" thick. I don't see why 1/2" of material couldn't be cut from the top and upper portion of the side, front edges of the cabinet to accommodate the recessed "spaceframe". The oven would the be pushed into and attached to the spaceframe. The installed oven front would then be flush with the surrounding 3/4"-thick cabinet doors and drawers.

@wdccruise Thanks for articulating it so well. I was finally able to visualize it in my head. I think you are right that cutting the spaceframe/opening frame about 1/2" would give that even look. Just to double check - is it your opinion this works best with frameless cabinets or do you think it can also work with face frame cabinets?

@live_wire_oak thanks for engaging. I truly appreciate everyone's comments as I learn more. I've also been converted and will likely get the sharp microwave that's cheaper so thanks to everyone that pointed it out numerous times because I not only got help on my question but will also be able to save some $$!

I posted a while ago about replacing my drawer MW, and there was some discussion about flush mount. Also scroll down to cpartist's picture; hers isn't flush mounted but looks awesome and is a very clean look. Link

"is it your opinion this works best with frameless cabinets or do you think it can also work with face frame cabinets?"

I only imagined how I would do it with my Ikea Akrum cabinet which is frameless; the doors and drawers are attached to the sides of the cabinets and, full width, cover the cabinet edges. Looking at this Conestoga cabinet, I think it would be more difficult to modify the cabinet to accommodate the flush-mount oven. Maybe you should speak with someone at Conestoga about what you want to do as it may have had other customers with the same request.

Thank you. I will do that. I'll report back here if/when we install a microwave and figure this out!

Hi Eva, I am wondering which sharp you got. I also have purchased a sharp and am currently faced with the dilemma of having my cabinets made already, without double checking the flush mount dimensions needed for the sharp (the one with the wave to open function). Now I’m trying to brainstorm how to make it work without having to rebuild parts of my cabinets. I thought, maybe I should go with the standard installation because maybe it would be easier to read the top panel? But am also afraid that it’d be ugly since my cabinets are all inset.

Hi Jenny, I never got a drawer microwave. We ended up planning to put a regular microwave in an upper cabinet closed off. We decided a drawer microwave was too expensive and potentially prone to breaking down and then being costly to replace that we didn't want to plan our kitchen around that.

Best of luck to you!