Interesting feedback on the micro drawer. We’ve seen them in kitchen magazines and wondered who the heck would want that? Sounds like lots of people. We are not the target audience for this house - I adore my microwave over smooth top range (which makes a great landing spot for hot items from the mic… typically I don’t use the stove
My relative has an oven drawer. She likes it but sometimes forgets she has food in it until we are cleaning up after dinner! Leftovers!
I have one of those microwave-convection-combo drawer ovens in my house and I have no idea how, when or why I should use the convection feature. Would like to learn though!
so is the micro drawer going to be installed on the island?
where are the wall ovens going? directly across from the sink? or is that where the fridge goes?
To the right of the stove on the 'north’wall is a 42" wide countertop that I had designed as the ‘coffee’ station. Now it has the micro drawer under countertop. Two landing spots, counter next to stove or counter directly above. My main concern is if you put something in it and it gets hot and you’re trying to lift it up out of the drawer. It would be nice if the drawer front would drop down also so you can slide things out.
But the microwave drawer has the wow factor
Refrigerator is to the right across from sink. I’m worried that we don’t have a good landing area for in/out of frig. There is 42" of countertop to left but I would prefer to have a landing area right outside open doors.
Other potential location is under counter along long run on east wall. But that’s across the kitchen from everything
Double ovens are in wall to the right of hallway
Use the convection feature to turn the microwave into a traditional oven. I use it all the time when I have small things and don’t want to heat the large oven or when I have overflow from large oven.
Microwave drawer is Sharp 30". I researched and they make all the drawers, even for other brands who just have slightly different styles but same guts
the main landing area for my 1 door , 2 freezer drawer 36" built in Subzero, which is located next to the door to the garage, is on an island across from the fridge - 48" away.
So here’s the answer to your concern -Put in the island, put the microwave drawer in it, AND switch the ovens and fridge locations.
That way the fridge will have 2 landing areas for loading and unloading- the new island to the right as you come up from the garage, AND the long counter to the left ,along the east wall, which could also easily become the new coffee station. Opening it wont get in the way of anyone working in the stove/ sink/ oven/ micro area.
That gives everyone easy access to drinks ,juice, cream/milk in the fridge which will be out of the main cooking area and they WONT get in the way of the anyone else working at the stove, sink or ovens.
The ovens/ micro will have landing areas either on the new island or on the counters to the right of the ovens.
@menloparkmom. If you look at the overhead layout…refrigerator is to left of hallway to bedrooms, with coffee counter between refrigerator and stove area. Ovens on right of hallway. Agree that ‘cooking’ area should ideally be together and it would be nice to have refrigerator away in a traffic easy zone. But I was worried that frig was too far away from cook prep area.
Its looking more and more like I need an island to provide good landing area. Right now I don’t really have a good zone to land groceries
I know someone with a micro drawer 
it is terrific…and really very stable. No spills…and easy to use.
I have the microwave drawer by Sharp. I love, love, love it. The only reason soup would spill when you open/close the drawer is if the bowl is too full! It’s attractive, really functional, and everyone who sees it loves it. I got it because I had a particular size cabinet for my micro and, if I added as much clearance on each side as the regular micros needed, I would have been down to a teeny-tiny micro, in my big, expansive new kitchen. The guy in the appliance store recommended the drawer and it’s huge inside. I’m very happy with it.
I have a Sharp microwave drawer in the house I built last year. I put it in the island right under the counter. The drawer is very smooth and stable and operates via open/close buttons on the panel. It took me a little bit to get used to pushing a button rather than grabbing the handle to open the drawer. If you bought the new model with the flat front you can ignore what I’m about to say. But if you have this one
http://www.sharpusa.com/ForHome/HomeAppliances/Microwaves/Models/KB6525PS.aspx
look at the installation instructions to see how the handle will project out somewhat from the edge of countertop. That was a bit of a surprise to me when I saw it installed. It’s fine, but I want you to be aware of it if you are cutting it close on aisle space in front of the oven. Overall, I like the drawer a lot, but be aware that you will bump into the handle before you reach the edge of the counter.
I like that the microwave is hidden from view plus I don’t have to bend over to use it. I’ve never had any problems getting food into or out of it. I find it easier than a traditional microwave.
That sucker costs $1000?!?
The last couple microwaves I’ve had have lasted only a couple years, name-brands too. I treat microwaves as a disposable appliance now and go for cheap ones.
I hope that one is more reliable.
Well, mine was installed three and a half years ago and has had absolutely no problems whatsoever. I’ll let you know in a few more years how it’s doing.
Mine is not also convection, so it wasn’t that expensive – somewhere in the neighborhood of $750, IIRC.
@VeryHappy - do you have the 24" or the 30" wide drawer? The one I purchased is the 30" wide drawer with more room inside.
Of course I don’t even know the model nbr of the one I bought. I bought it from Pacific Sales clearance up in Carlsbad. It is brand new so I’m hoping it is the ‘new’ model. Purchased it over the phone Wanted to pounce on it because I didn’t have time to go up to Carlsbad and look at it. I put one caveat on my purchase - no scratches or dents on front. The guy opened up the box and told me that everything was still in the styrofoam packing and he claims he checked it carefully. We will see
When items are in their clearance center I only have 4 days to go pick it up. They will not ‘store’ it. This means I am taking a chance with the warranty as the micro sits around waiting to get installed. I might just bring it to my own garage and hold it so that the gorillas don’t bang it up (although it would be tough to bang it up if it is still completely packed in the box). Most of the clearance stuff I buy is ‘out of box’ so the poor appliances have to sit around covered in plastic and blankets and seem to be magnets for damage.
@coralbrook: Mine is 24". It’s model # KB6524PS. Label inside says it was manufactured in 7/12; it was installed in my kitchen around March 2013.
@GRITS80 is correct: The handle sticks out almost 2" (actually is 1 and 31/32") from the front of the micro.
ETA: I expect that the 30" model will be YUUUUUUUGE inside.
I think it is this one because he told me list price was $1,299, it was all stainless, and that it had tilt out controls that you can see when you are standing above it (very cool feature)
http://www.sharpusa.com/ForHome/HomeAppliances/Microwaves/Models/SMD3070AS.aspx
Kitchen Design - If I remember correctly, I originally had the wall ovens over on the wall by the stove and everyone suggested switching with the refrigerator so that the refrigerator was closer to the prep cooking area.
I just realized that we have already wired the heavy 220 outlet down the wall to the right of the hallway passage. We had to drop the wires in order to pass the electrical inspection because we had to have the load wired and labeled on the main p anel. Don’t really want to pay to move that wiring. It is not totally dialed in because the outlets aren’t attached or nailed to studs yet. Just wires coiled and dangling from ceiling.
It’s a tough decision whether to switch them or not. I like the idea that the refrigerator is away from the cooking and cleaning area to allow for kids and others to go in and out of refrigerator without going into other area of kitchen. But, I also would like to have the refrigerator near the cooking area so that it is easier to pull things out for cooking. If I put an island in there people will have to go around island to get to refrigerator.
@coralbrook, that micro is gorgeous, and it doesn’t have any handle that sticks out!! I also imagine that, with the flat front with the controls hidden, that can be locked in some way so that curious little fingers can’t play with it.
" I like the idea that the refrigerator is away from the cooking and cleaning area to allow for kids and others to go in and out of refrigerator without going into other area of kitchen. But, I also would like to have the refrigerator near the cooking area so that it is easier to pull things out for cooking. "
I think if you add the island you will accomplish, both plus have a landing area for groceries that need to be put in the fridge. .
Anything you need for cooking can be taken out of the fridge, and placed on the island.
I strongly suggest you move the fridge to the area out of the way, so when the fridge doors is / are opened they wont be in the way of anyone working in the stove/ micro area.
How big an island ? what dimensions? what is the distance from the stove to the coffee bar/ cabinetry area across the kitchen?
having to veer only 12" to get around an island is not a big deal.