[angryhippie]

Hello,

I actually have a couple of questions, but let me give a little bit of back history. I live in a house that was built in 1886. The current cabinets I have are 1950's metal cabinets from the last remodel. While they are in great shape, It really isn't the look I want, nor is it very functional. We have decided on an Ikea kitchen, but we are still in the planning stage.

1) We are trying to decide which cabinets to go with the Stat or Fagerland. Can anyone provide an opinion on the benefits of going with either cabinet.

2) the more important question that I had is, I have a potential design set out, but I am trying to figure out the best placement for a microwave oven. Originally we were considering doing an OTR microwave, but after reading other posts, we decided it may not be the best option considering my wife's height at 5'3". I would prefer to not having it sitting on the counter top of I can help it.

I would also be open to other ideas and suggestions if anyone has any to offer.

	OTR OTR means Over The Range, usually in reference to a microwave

[Espo]

If it is in your budget, they now make drawer style microwaves that pull out from the cabinet. They are pricey, but would fit the needs you have.

[gleamingeye]

As to the first question, I would recommend looking at as many fagerland and stat kitchens as you can, and see which excites you the most. We had always loved the fagerland best at the store, but then decided to go with white, and ended up with the stat. I love it! I'll try to post pics soon, so you can see it. We went with butcher block counters and oiled them a dark brown, then put a light sage green glass tile for the backsplash. It completely made the look I wanted which is reminescent of a french provincial style, but made modern.

As for microwaves, I also prefer to not have them on the countertop, but that really seems to be the best height for us. I'm 5'4" and we have kids, and I like for them to be able to use the microwave, but I really don't like those ones that are built into the base cabinets. What I had considered for a time was using a high cabinet that would keep the microwave basically at countertop height but have it all be enclosed and more intentional- looking. I still think those look nice, but it didn't work for us space-wise, so on the counter it will stay.

[QWR Services Inc]

First, I love Ikea kitchens. If you have kids, the fagerland is a very nice looking door but is made of pine. This is a very soft wood and can easily be marked with dents and scratches. The Stat, like most the other door choices, is very durable and white leaves you with more options later with decorating.

As for the microwave versus microhood, if your wall cabinets are mounted at he standard height off the floor, it starts at 54" up. That should be reachable for a person 60" (5 foot) just fine. The option given above about placing the microwave in a pantry is a great choice. You can decide at what height you want it to be but it leaves cutomizing the layout of the pantry cabinet. That's not a problem if you want to get into it. Deciding door sizes, drawer sizes and fillers to accomodate the microwave into it.

[Kayla]

I'm going to disagree with QWR. I put Stat in my old house and regretted it with my 2 crazy kids running around. Once the white cracks or dents it's over. sure you can paint the spot, but it doesn't add to the look. Oddly enough Fagerland is what I'll be putting into this house. If it dents it goes with the patina of the knotty pine and i find pine more durable than some seem to.
Just my 2c

[QWR Services Inc]

Don't get me wrong, Fagerland makes up a nice kitchen. It's just when people are looking for solid wood doors, there's a big difference between oak doors and pine doors as far as durability.

Also, if those Stat doors peeled on you, Ikea does give you a 25 year warranty towards manufactured flaws and defects.

[Kayla]

lol , yeah, i know that (actually at the time i bought them it was not 25 yrs yet), but this wasn't a manufacturer flaw or defect. Like I said before, this was my kid doing the damage.

And this wasn't a discussion between Tida and Fager, this was between Stat and Fager. I was just lending my opinion, which you are free to disagree with.

	LOL definition LOL means Laugh(ing) Out Loud

[kelly]

I don't like small electrics out on counters- and so all of them are behind my pantry doors. This includes my microwave, coffee maker, toaster, grinder, etc. I thought I might regret the lack of ventilation in the cabinet, but thus far, 1 year+, I have zero issues. My good friend, a professional corporate designer, put his microwave behind closed doors as well, and it's been 3+ years and he's had no problems. The microwave is slightly below counter height, but of course you're free to place that as you will inside a pantry. I will be putting in a pull out shelf for the coffee pot eventually, but totally unneeded with the microwave.

hth ,

Kelly

	HTH definition HTH means Hope that helps!

[mommyme]

I put my microwave in a 24" wide 88" high pantry cabinet. It is at a good height for me, and for my daughter, and hopefully future children, when they get old enough to use a microwave. I did a pantry mod, inspired by Liz's kitchen if I remember correctly. She has a beautiful picture posted. I don't have any yet. I used a 39" door on the bottom, then had a shelf above it, then about 13" of space for the microwave, then another shelf above it, then two 18" doors above that. So the microwave is off the counter, at about 39-52" off the floor. If you have a pantry and can spare the room, it is worth thinking about!

[mommyme]

Okay, I haven't done this before so let's see how it goes. Here is the picture of liz's pantry:


And here is the link to it in case that doesn't work:
IKEAFANS - Galleries - Completed kitchen photo's