Our MW drawer cabinet is one of the few cabinets that are Omega Custom (most of the rest are Omega Dynasty/semi-custom). Yes, it had to be custom made to fit the MW drawer. This was back in 2007/2008. While I would think by now the semi-custom lines would be including cabinets for MW drawers, it sounds like they do not. So, in answer to your question, yes, we did have to pay more...$414.39 more. Our 30" cabinet for our 3-drawer cabinet holding the Warming Drawer (top drawer + WD + bottom drawer) was: $540.25 Our 31" cabinet for our 2-drawer MW drawer (MW + bottom drawer) was: $954.64 MW Drawer Cabinet: [On the plus side, b/c it is custom, the interior of the cabinet is finished to match the outside so if we ever wanted to replace it w/a "regular" MW we probably could...if we could find one to fit in the alcove. But, to be honest, I would never want one in an alcove under the counter...too low!]

Have had ours since 2008 and I've never regretted it nor have I had any problems with it! In fact, I'm starting on designing/planning our retirement home to build in the future and I plan to include a MW drawer. With the exception of my (very) old Montgomery Wards Convection MW oven, it's lasted the longest. When we remodeled, the MW drawer cost the same as a built-in MW with trim kit. I've had no problems cleaning it. If food is stuck on it, simply boil a cup of water + vinegar for several minutes in the drawer and then wipe clean - the food should be loosened up and wipe off with a swipe. Yes, you do have to lean over and peer into it to see if it's clean, but... I'd much rather have to do that once every week or two compared to having to lean over/squat to use the MW several times a day! A regular MW in an alcove under the counter is not easy to use - you have to bend over or squat to use the controls and to add/remove dishes/food - usually reaching blindly into the MW and trying balance the hot dish as you're struggling to remove it from the MW, balance it to keep it from spilling, and standing back up - all at the same time! Regular/counter top MWs are not designed to be used under the counter - they're designed to be used at counter height or higher. Note that MW drawers have a "child lock", so if you're worried about your children getting into it, lock it when not in use! Oh and having a child lean on the door of a "regular" MW means potentially bring the MW down on top of the child - so be careful. No amount of child locking can prevent that! [I had a friend over a couple of weekends ago who kept trying to push the drawer all the way in and pull it all the way out - without letting the drawer do it's thing (automatically opening w/a gentle pull / automatically closing with a gentle nudge). Not sure why he didn't understand when I explained it to him, but his forcing the drawer open/closed did not damage the drawer in any way.] Sharp makes all MW drawers, so I would stick with a Sharp-branded drawer rather than pay $$$$ for a re-branded MW drawer with a higher-end name - it's the same MW! Here's a thread from 2008 about them. BTW...the concern that someone had 8 years ago about them being short-lived has not panned out. They're becoming more and more popular! http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2688345/microwave-drawer-pros-and-cons?n=42 .

I remodeled and went with a microwave drawer and I love it. It's expensive but well worth it because none of the other alternatives were acceptable - I wanted a real hood so didn't want it over the cooktop and I have limited counter space so I didn't want to give it up for a microwave on the counter. I also don't think that having the microwave above my head would be ideal for access. I also use my microwave almost every day so I wanted it to be in a convenient place. Mine is a Sharp with a tilt out control panel so it is extremely easy to use without stooping. When I researched, all of the drawer microwaves are made by Sharp so there isn't really a reason to get one with a different brand that may cost more than the comparably featured Sharp

My daughter has the Sharp drawer and I love it. It is easy to load and unload. I couldn’t give up drawer space in my island so we used the Sharp under the cabinet MW. It mounts with a bracket on the wall. 24” wide and 14” tall, it takes the space of the bottom shelf of a cabinet. The cabinet on top is just shorter. I like the controls at eye level because the other cook in my kitchen has back issues. Of course, safety is an issue with the wall mounted-steaming hot food is pulled out and down towards you-or your children. Since my other cook/ dear husband has back issues, he couldn’t use a regular MW installed on a shelf in the island. Bending over every time to see the controls and bending to put things in and also bending to remove them would be a more difficult task for him. We both wish we could have the drawer, for ease of removing hot dishes. Why don’t you rig up a little stand at the height your MW would be if it is installed under your counter? Something about 20” high and sturdy would be useful as a trial run for your family. Try it for a week and see if it works for you. I almost always do a mock up if I am uncertain how something will work. That’s how I decided my “perfect size” island was 18” too long for my space. But now, after doing a trial run mock-up, I am satisfied I looked at all the options.