fdl

I have the option of shortening the cabinets over the stove so that a microwave can be put there (see picture below for what I mean). This seems like a good way to free up counter space. Anyone do this and regret it? I cant think of negatives (other than perhaps not liking the way it looks).

dom

I didn't do it and regret it.

Scottman111

I only hear people regretting it I guess some people might like their range hood better though...

fdl

Regretting doing it, or regretting not doing it?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I'm a big fan of mounting the microwave if possible. No need to have that on the counter. Our last house had it over the stove... but the new one goes one better and has it mounted in the wall above the oven...

doopstr

My kitchen is setup in a way that it could accept a microwave there. It currently has a range hood there. I need to replace the hood because it is stainless steel and the new range is white. I am considering putting a microwave there but I am worried about the reduced space over the range. I think it would be more difficult to grab pots on the back burrner if the microwave was there instead of a hood.

Here is a pic of the kitchen before I swapped out the range. Would a microwave be okay here or take up too much room?

fdl

doop, i dont see how that would be a problem. Unless you are over 7 feet tall.

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

We have it over our stove and love it. It matches perfectly with our range/oven and looks great. Very convenient and frees up a lot of counter space.

doopstr

Well, I'm 6'5" My wife is barely 5 ft so she has no issue.

doopstr

Is there any issue with doing this over a gas cooktop?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Nope, my parent's new house has a microwave over a gas cooktop. As long as the microwave has a fan underneath you'll be fine.... Just need to buy a microwave that's meant to be mounted over a stove.

TBone2004

Nope that is how our house was built. No problems.
I guess one could argue that the fan is maybe not as good a regular hood - which usually happens when you compromise things - the two front burners are not fully under the hood, but gets the job done. Definitely way better than having that big thing on the counter.

fdl

good point. its a trade-off i guess.

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

The fans built into the microwaves are pretty strong and even though the front two burners aren't completely covered it does a fine job.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

As mentioned, our last house was like this and there were no problems. Those fans are pretty damn strong!!

soopa

fdl, you're building a new kitchen, why not do a seperate oven/cooktop... and build the oven/microwave into the wall or a wall cabinet? (like junior described)

it's a much cleaner and more modern way of doing things then using it as a range hood.

soopa

yeah, over a standard 4 burner home range... the fans are plenty. but if you upgrade to a powerful cooktop... or anything with more then 4 burners... a microwave fan isn't going to cut it.

also, do microwave fans even vent to the exterior? most of them just filter the air and pass it through, no?

soopa

... and doing a seperate cooktop allows you to place your cooktop (where most people spend the majority of their time in the kitchen) in an island or some other more enjoyable space.

who wants to cook staring at a wall with your back to your family/friends?

fdl

soopa, this is for a new home and my options (through the builder) are limited. I dont have the option to build it into the wall, unfortunately.

fdl

I'm pretty sure they vent outside, through the back.

soopa

why?

fdl

I suppose it could have been an option early on, but my house has already been framed and its fairly far along. I am just picking interior stuff now.

soopa

yeah but, even so, you can still put everything in a wall cabinet no? that's what i did (looks better then putting in WALL itself, IMO)

soopa

like this kinda

soopa

fdl

when you say build the microwave into a wall cabinet, do you mean under the countertop?

dom

fdl you could do it but they'd rip you a new one.

soopa

look at the pictures

soopa

and its actually called an oven cabinet (go figure)

soopa

and the dual one is called... get ready... an "oven/microwave" cabinet

or, for dual ovens... a double oven cabinet

fdl

that looks sweet.

fdl

yup

They want $130 to put an extra outlet in for the microwave above the stove.

soopa

precisely.

do that. it might cost slightly more, but hardly a ton... and you'll get it back in resale as it gives the kitchen a much much nicer look.

soopa

go down there at night and install that shit yourself

dom

If you can, go there when the electrician is working and slip him some cash. I had a outlet for the garage door opener, a light in the shower and power for outside potlights put in for $100.

soopa

I've been searching around looking at microwave fans... average seems to be about 300CFM...

Your average air purifier has more throughput then that.

Whereas, your average residential range hood or downdraft is 1500-2000CFM

GreenMonster

Mine does... but I don't think all of 'em do...

mt6forlife

I have a GE microwave/hood. There's a 2 speed fan in it and it can vent to the top, back, or out the front through a filter. The last option is really only a last resort if there's no way to vent to the outside. There's plenty of room to work under it. The only downside its kind of high for my short girlfriend. And if there's one person on the stove, you have to be careful not to wack them on the head when opening the microwave door. But those are minor issues. My kitchen is very small for a house and putting the microwave on the wall saves a lot of counter space.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

This is pretty much exactly what ours looks like except the cabinets are cherry...

TBone2004

yup - we vent to outside as well. Some are recirculators which never really made sense to me...so you are sucking it from down low and blowing it back into your face. Good idea if you are cooking something that smells really good tho