Discuss Trying to avoid that ugly microwave cabinet on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. Trying to avoid that ugly microwave cabinet - Need help with planning your remodel? Want a kitchen planner to review your ideas? This is the happenin' spot!.
I'm not a fan of how the microwave cabinet extend out the bottom shelf and was thinking of using a regular 21" wall cabinet with short doors, leaving the bottom open - just like I would for a bookshelf.
I found a microwave that is 19 1/4" wide, 10 13/16" high, and 13 7/8" deep. What do you think? Would it fit? Would it look good/better than with a microwave shelf?
That size micro would be too small for me but I have a family of 5. Back in the day when it was just me, that size micro would have been just fine.
Another option, and I'm blanking on who's done this, is to use some space in a pantry or convert one of the oven cabinets to work for a full-size micro. Do you have a plan up that we could see? Or have I missed it?
I just made a paper cube the dimensions of the micro interior - 13 x 13 x 8 and was astonished at how BIG it was. My current micro is 11 x 11 x 8 and the size is just fine for us.
Perfect! How industrious of you to make the cube - I'd still be sitting there holding a ruler going...um...so it would be 7" wider than this ruler...LOL
Some other thoughts - the depth? You said the depth of the micro you were looking at is 13 7/8" deep so you'd probably have a bit of the front hanging over the edge of the cabinet no? Because the wall cabs are only 12" deep. It's likely to only be the door but still something to consider.
Also, is there a way to download the installation instructions for the microwave you're considering? The outlet for my micro hood is a HUGE honker. It's in the cabinet above the microwave and takes up some space. I know that different microwaves have different instructions but you'll have consider the placement of the outlet and the plug in your design.
And the micro would go in that 21" to the left of the range. I am a little worried that it will mess up the symmetry of that wall by having it in the wall cab rather than just on the counter. But my sister got all upset that I was thinking of putting it on the counter.
Another choice would be to put it in the pullout pantry. See the thick wall behind the piano? That will house two 24" pullout pantries. I will already have electricity nearby and it wouldn't be a problem to run it through the side of the pantry to power the micro. That being said, it would be a bit far from the action.
"Also, is there a way to download the installation instructions for the microwave you're considering? The outlet for my micro hood is a HUGE honker. It's in the cabinet above the microwave and takes up some space. I know that different microwaves have different instructions but you'll have consider the placement of the outlet and the plug in your design."
I believe it just has a standard three-prong plug but lets think a moment about where it would go. Clearly not directly behind the micro because I will already be using every micrometer. Can't go to the side because it is only a 21" cab. That leaves up - running the cord through a hole in the shelf to get into the cabinet above. Or down to the plugmold just below.
This same model includes an undermount kit and the instructions for undermounting say:
Be sure that the underside of the cabinet is at least 50 cm (20”) wide and 35.0cm (13 25/32”) deep. If the cabinet is less than
35.0cm(13 25/32”) deep, follow the cabinet mounting instructions carefully if you desire to mount your oven under cabinet.
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