i don’t Favor microwaves behind pantry doors as much as some people. Small townhouse kitchen ? I’d get the21 inch depth of upper cab taking advantage of the depth of fridge ...an open wall cab or bottom section of wall cab void of door and rest a 1.0 cu foot mwave on lower shelf. With 24 inches wide are you aware the sharp mwave drawer unit will fit in a base cab there? Almost all who spend the bit extra seem to have positive feedback about this feature . It should be given consideration.

Have you considered something like this where the fridge is? We don't know where your pantry is, but micro can go in a drawer in your island (assuming you have one.) Lots of people love them there.

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Since you seem to need pantry storage and a place for your microwave you could just use a pantry cabinet with the microwave inside. You'd just have to have one shelf fixed (not a pull out), and have an outlet inside. However, if you use the microwave often, you could do something like the picture below. I'd place the microwave higher than the photo shows (think above the range height) with pull out shelves below for pantry items, and a cabinet above.

I'd looked into the microwave drawers when I started thinking about this kitchen remodel. As I recall, a major complaint (and what turned me off of them) is that it is nearly impossible to get down and be able to clean the inside top of the microwave. I normally use a microwave cover 90% of the time, so perhaps this really isn't such a major issue. I won't have an island, but I will have a peninsula where I suppose I could think about putting in a microwave drawer.

Unfortunately, unless, I missed something, IKEA doesn't have those tall pantry cupboards that just slide out like decoenthusiaste posted.

And, to my other question, do you think it would be better to put the fridge on the right or left of the configuration!

Thanks for the ideas.

Design Girl--

I think we were simultaneously posting. Interesting concept! I'll have to think about that one and if I could do it logistically (find a cabinet and microwave that would work together).

We really don't use the microwave all that often, maybe once or twice a day at most.

Get a large, 33" (maximum width), 25.5 cf bottom freezer refrigerator such as this LG LRDCS2603S. If you have a problem with the door hitting the wall, reverse the door.

Put the microwave oven on the countertop so it's cheap to buy and easy to replace. In preparation, install a recessed electrical outlet behind the spot you will place the oven.

wdccruise

I haven't thought about a single door fridge. It is something to definitely think about. Thanks.

I'll admit I to have thought that the counter top microwave could be an affordable solution because I wouldn't be tied into needing to find certain specs if the microwave would need to be replaced.

Anyone else have any other thoughts on how this could work out with a french door fridge? I guess I should mention that if the fridge is on the right side of the configuration, the wall could be set up so that it does not run wall the way to enclose the fridge. I could have the wall constructed such that the wall would only extend as far as the carcass of the fridge.

1/16“ of inches matters. Post the actual layout, in context. Side panel sizes matter too . Filler sizes matter. Trim size matters. Other molding sizes matter. Level floors matter. Straight walls matter. All of those things that impact the actual room that you think you have, and may not have, until they are all checked and documented. All coordinated with specific appliance specs.

All of that is the different between a tight fit and many expletives that it does not work at all and has to be redone. This is where an experienced kitchen designer earns their money. If the floor is out of level, then that takes away space, and nothing will work without extra room. If the wall is out, that impacts how deep the fridge will fit in an alcove, which impacts aisles. It’s a 3D puzzle, not a line drawing.

it would be helpful if we had the exact specs and layout - You wouldn't need to worry about the fridge door opening if it was on the other side and not against a wall - However, is that the best place for it? Without seeing the layout, we really can't advise on that.

You could do a regular cabinet with the microwave installed above so you don't lose counter space. It doesn't have to be on a shelf like this one, you could get the kind made to go above a range. Some of them are recirculating so no need to worry about venting it like the directions will show as the standard way to install. Also, make sure you check the depth of the fridge. I'd go with counter depth if you are concerned about space in front of it. Some of them stick out so far! Also, a fridge with one door is going to open wider since the door is longer.

I like the picture above and had also thought of that. However, if you need pantry storage, that configuration will not give you much at all. Do you have a place to store other than this spot. If not, then think seriously about putting the microwave in the peninsula so you can get decent pantry storage.

I'm trying to post layouts but can't get the site to accept a PDF. Does anyone know how to get a PDF to post here. I saved my IKEA layouts to a PDF. And, technology on this site is not my friend today. I tried to post a question about how to get a PDF posted and that has not shown up even though the site says I've posted it.

You cannot upload a pdf. Search the Internet for "convert pdf to jpg" and upload the converted image file(s). Or re-save the IKEA file as a jpg if that's possible.

The posted layout is the design where the pantry is next to fridge. If I do keep this configuration, rather than having parallel front faces as in this rendering, I'd slide that pantry cabinet back to the wall so that the fridge extends out a foot further than the pantry. North wall is a peninsula (couldn't get the software to reflect this so that's why it looks like a doorway next to a window). South wall is a large pass through window. I have a 32" passageway (no door) on the west wall and a 39" passageway on the north wall with the peninsula.

East wall has a shallow hood over the range with upper cabinets on both sides. Putting a microwave shelf hanging down from one of those uppers is the one other place I have thought I could perhaps put a microwave.

Thanks for the help! The technology of getting the floor plan uploaded is what was driving me nuts!

Given the size of the kitchen, I'd sacrifice some refrigerator storage by purchasing a counter-depth model (32" bottom-freezer example) and slide the pantry cabinets back against the wall. The example refrigerator is 27-3/8" deep; its door would extend only a few inches beyond the surrounding cabinets. A refrigerator that stuck out a foot? Just too much.

There are no measurements. But you can’t overhang doorways like that. Clearances look really tight. Is there even a 36” door and route through the home to get a large sized fridge into the kitchen from outside?

Should have mentioned that the doorways are being created after we gut the current kitchen and can flex a little. Right now the one on the north wall is 39" so a fridge could get into the kitchen.

So, you think my wanting to get a 36" full size fridge is the problem. I understand that. My problem is that we have no garage and no basement and no space in the small laundry room, so no place to put a back-up fridge.

Here is another thought: Could I take the base cabinet in the SW corner next to the dishwasher, and make it the shallower 15" depth cabinet? That would enlarge the passageway a bit. Then I could take the pantry cabinet which is next to the fridge and rotate it 90 degrees so it opens into the passageway. Then I could make that a 30" cabinet so the fridge would only stick out 4" to 6" or so.

The more I think about it, it is seeming like the best of not too many options for the microwave is to put it under the peninsula.

Thanks all. I need to do some more thinking.

1. I would not do the idea just above.
2. I would use the idea in your original photo #1. The shallower upper cabinet and the countertop make that wall appear less monolithic.
3. I still like the counter-depth refrigerator. If it were a single-door model whose door was hinged on the right (e.g., Fisher Paykel RF170BRPX6N, 17.5cf), the countertop to its left would be a convenient landing spot for groceries.
4. Even some counter-depth 36" wide refrigerators have a lot of space (e.g., LG LFCC22426S, 23 cf).
5. I know that people here dislike it but this Whirlpool WML75011HZ Low Profile Microwave Hood Combination is attractive (not bulky like most), gets the microwave out of the way, and is convenient.

I have been thinking about all of your comments and have made some revisions to my original thinking, and I have worked with an IKEA person to re-do some of the plan. Doorways do not have interior molding and are just openings.

I was told that it is virtually impossible to have a pantry set at a 90 degree angle to the fridge because there is no wall to hang the pantry cabinet from. So, that's out.

I am leaving a full height pantry cabinet to the left of the fridge (to make the passageway into the kitchen larger), but I am making it 18" wide rather than the currently planned 24" wide. And I'm putting the microwave on the other side of the room instead.

The fridge will have a side panel, and the 24" deep pantry will be set back from the front of the fridge so the fronts are not parallel.

I am putting the microwave across the room in the corner to the left of the range. I had planned a standard wall cabinet there. Instead I will have a cabinet that goes down to the counter top. That cabinet will have two shallow drawers with an open cubby on top of them. The cubby will contain the microwave (this way I can just put in an inexpensive microwave). There will be cabinet doors on the portion of the cupboard above the microwave cubby.

The photo below is the idea that I will be replicating (except I will have a small section of wall maybe about 20" deep that the left of the cabinet will butt into so it will be an actual corner. And I will have a flat counter on the peninsula rather than the raised ledge section..

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Do you think this will work better?

Ever since I began planning this kitchen, the microwave placement has just been a bear in terms of where to put it. When we were first starting to think about this project, and when shopping was easier, we did see the microwave that @wdccruise linked and liked it. I went back and took another look online at that option today. It could still be a possibility maybe, but there are some negative review comments about usability that bother me. And, we have to go with recirculating because this is a townhouse that has no way to vent to the exterior, and I have found some other hoods that do provide better function with recirculating.

I really appreciate all of the thoughtful comments and advice you have given me..

You know what doorways without moldings are called? Damaged. With constant drywall repairs. Moldings are functional. Not just decorative.

The 18" wide cabinet would seem to open up the corridor to adjacent room, making it seem less crowded.

"The fridge will have a side panel, and the 24" deep pantry will be set back from the front of the fridge so the fronts are not parallel."

Even a counter-depth refrigerator's door would stick out past surrounding cabinet as the "cabinet-depth" refers to the depth of the refrigerator box, excluding the door and handle.

I think that any hood you install will be recirculating is another plus in favor of the Whirlpool WML75011HZ or other OTR microwave. Remember that you have to allow space for on both sides and the back of a countertop microwave put on a cabinet shelf and keep it from overheating. For example, the small 0.9 cf LG LMC0975ST requires 4" all around.