Kitchen design: ideas for hiding the microwave.
I am BAFFLED that I must have a regular oven AND a microwave oven.
How is it that humanity has invented APPS… but is too stupid to combine two HOUSEHOLD BOXES OF CONVENIENCE?
Who is deciding the priorities of the human race?
Short of the OBVIOUS AND SUPERIOR CONVENIENCE of combining two boxes used for heating squash; I guess we’ll just get a panel-ready microwave… I can live with that.
Oh.
Wait.
No.
They don’t make those.
However! I CAN GET A PANEL READY TRASH COMPACTOR.
Amazing! Is this still 1982?!
(advance apologies to the people who are all— YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW GREAT A TRASH COMPACTOR IS.)
Then I spent a stupid amount of time trying to figure out how we could conceal a drawer-microwave with some kind of faux-panel… if you figured it out, let me know?
Although, I don’t actually WANT a drawer microwave… all the reviews are great and people seem to love them. EXCEPT for reheating liquid. (The opening and closing of the drawer/action, you can imagine is sort of slosh-y?)
And the thing for which we use the microwave MOST is Paul’s coffee routine.
He likes it BOILING hot… but he goes out to the garage or wherever, forgets about it, and when he comes back in, he needs to reheat it to 900 degrees.
He does this at least 12 times every Saturday morning.
I’ve suggested other systems, but this is the only one he will consider.
AND Paul does everything at warp speed, which means that it will take him less than five seconds to pull his cup out before the drawer is open fully and catch the lip of the mug and CRASH SPILL FLYING COFFEE EVERYWHERE.
He does this AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH WITH THE REGULAR MICROWAVE.
Then he gets mad.
Like he had nothing to do with it.
I bought bigger mugs… then I bought BIGGER mugs… then I bought THE LARGEST MUGS ON EARTH… thinking that if I could CONTAIN the liquid in a big enough container, it would not spill when CRASHED INTO THE MICROWAVE.
FYI:
it still spills.
Just THINKING about it makes me mental.
It makes me SO mental, that I EVEN ASKED HIM TO STOP MAKING ME INSANE.
And you know what he said?
Why do you need to control how I make coffee?
GENIUS.
I bow.
The drawer would be like ASKING FOR MORE OF THAT.
No drawer.
Ok! now is when you tell me your secret perfect solution!
We do not need to have the conversation about whether the microwave should go over the stove… I agree that it is convenient and solves all the layout issues.
But visually, I don’t like it.
END microwave post… brief housekeeping.
I’m getting this questions a lot:
Have you considered repurposing antique furniture for the kitchen cabinets?
Short answer: YES… a brief selection includes:
1. Repurposed / Reclaimed / Nontraditional Kitchen Island Inspiration.
2. Actual STUFF I considered for a repurposed kitchen (the bank table still gives me FITZ. I still cannot afford it.)
3. In case you didn’t know that Pilar Guzman’s kitchen is my ULTIMATE DESIRE.
4. More antique wardrobes-into-kitchens
This post sums up: One last hurrah… giving up a repurposed kitchen design.
Long answer: if budget was no issue, this would have been a magical solution… and also my entire life would be magical and I definitely would not be writing this blog about MICROWAVES because I would be out frolicking in the magic fields.
MORE LONG ANSWER: the piano-into-island spoke to me so LOUDLY that I felt– YES. Whatever comes next definitely needs to incorporate THIS.
But that complicates the outer cabinets.. anything that goes on the perimeter needs to be an appealing complement to the piano… AND I have no idea what kind of perimeter-amalgamation-buffet-nightstands-bookcases-library-cabinets… would be incredibly appealing to ME… while also not being nine million dollars… while also being a compatible size AND construction.
Paul cannot just hack into anything.
Even I must acknowledge this.
Then I got the lady mirror… which… sorry I am getting into the word-weeds here… You can stop reading… Nothing important is happening.
I had sort of waffled on that Renaissance Revival auction mirror –I had thought that the straight sides would be better for accommodating some kind of open shelving… but writing this out reminds me that the lady head mirror SPEAKS to me in relation to the piano. So I’m calling that decision.
Anyway.
A very long way of saying: the perimeter furniture would need to complement many things, be affordable, and also be plentiful.
And also: I haven’t FOUND IT… despite LOOKING!
April 27, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
You should consider the Embr mug for Paul. It’s an electronic mug for hot drinks that will keep his coffee boiling hot. Then maybe skip the microwave? (I have a two year old so I have a microwave and a toaster and a toaster oven and a microtoasteroveninstantpot)
April 27, 2018 @ 5:47 pm
I use my microwave several times a day, but I bought the smallest cheapest one ever with a just 2 dials. I hate the ones that look like an aircraft cockpit. Ideally I would keep it in the pantry, but the boiler and tumble dryer are there instead. My husband has a microwave, JML halogen cooker and a baby oven in the garage, also the freezer and a kettle. I think microwaves that move or hang up high are dodgy.
April 27, 2018 @ 5:53 pm
Have you considered the lovely SMALL sized microwaves which are installed in trailers and RVs? Small size, kit to build it in, could be tucked into a cabinet easily.
April 28, 2018 @ 2:30 pm
I went back to your post about when you acquired the antique wardrobe; you know, the portals to Downton Abbey and Narnia?!? I absolutely LOVE that piece, and I remembered the post was hilarious, so I thought it would be fun to read again. Oh my gosh, I about died laughing! I have to say that that is THE funniest one you’ve written! (The Craigslist Charge!! Hahaha!!!) I just want to say I’m so glad I found you on that long ago day! Your blog is beyond hilarious, and, well, I love you! Lol!
April 28, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
So, do you really only use the microwave for coffee heating? Because our microwave died last year and after a lot of research we decided not to replace it and get a Miele food steamer instead in the same size to fit the place where the microwave was. Bonus for cooking and reheating you do not lose nutrients, which to someone like you who is concerned about health is just about the healthiest way to cook. We do the veggies in there I have also tried the risotto recipe and on the rare occasions we have fish I do that and add the veggies later! Absolutely brilliant. Check out their YouTube cooking demos. For coffee we have a machine that grinds and makes single cups of coffee super fast and always hot! Also I use the grounds in the garden to deter slugs. Win win. Just a thought, as it seems like a a lot of space to use up for an item used for only one activity.
April 28, 2018 @ 7:58 pm
I hid ours in a cupboard. You have to open the door, and the microwave door but it’s worth it to not look at the hideous microwave. It also sits on a sliding shelf, but we rarely use that.
April 28, 2018 @ 8:41 pm
Put the microwave IN THE GARAGE.
April 29, 2018 @ 2:06 am
Send that darling Paul to my house where I will design a kitchen just the way he wants it–microwave and all. Then this kitchen you have obsessed about can be just perfect for you and no need to worry about where to put the microwave. You’re welcome!!
April 29, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
You need an electric kettle for heating the water. So much better than the microwave. You can tell it what temperature to heat the water to (which is really great if you also do tea so you can do the correct temp for each type). Oh and they are faster than a microwave.
April 29, 2018 @ 7:17 pm
Many titillating microwave suggestions. I do favor “a” if not “the” micowave in the garage assuming that is a convenience for the good man instead of a slam-bang-here’s-your-thang – see-ya solution which of course VEB would never do. (Some of us might – unwittingly of course.) But I do love my vac-insulated mug for hot and cold beverages – Tina’s suggesiton. I drink directly from it and also use it as a thermos pouring the contents into another cup. It took a while to locate a leak proof one that fit my hand with a simple easy to clean closure. Sadly that model is no longer available or I would link. There are so many on the market you would surely find one that suits PB. VEB might enjoy one as well.
April 30, 2018 @ 8:52 am
I just finished a kitchen renovation and one of my favorite new things is a combination convection oven/microwave from Bosch. It is so easy to use and provides me that double oven option during holidays or when I want to bake something small. I put it in my island opposite the oven and refrigerator space. So, looking face on to my kitchen, it is invisible. love your posts and congratulations on all your progress.
May 2, 2018 @ 5:48 am
Microwaves should be small, cheap, and live behind cabinet doors. Any other option is too expensive or ugly for me.
May 3, 2018 @ 7:52 pm
I have a Miele Speed Oven (microwave and convection cooking – either separately or in combination). I like it for cooking. It is a teensy bit hard to clean, though, and a bit on the small side if one is into cooking giant things.
May 7, 2018 @ 9:47 am
So, I said “no” to having a microwave after our kitchen renovation and it has gone pretty well…..we don’t miss it that much. It’s fairly easy to reheat on the stove top or in the oven. Only downside is making oatmeal for the kids-wish I had a microwave for that. Also, I hate upper cabs as well so we don’t have any. All of our lower cabs are drawers which is life-changing and best decision we made in there! I’m waiting for the day to have the money saved up to build floor to ceiling cabs about 15 inches deep on the opposite wall to store all the pantry items. Right now a hutch is filling in as pantry. I love furniture in the kitchen. Maybe something like that could work somewhere in your space? I know Paul could build something beautiful and very FANCY!
March 15, 2021 @ 2:29 pm
What did you decide, Lady Victoria? We plan to buy a small one to stash in an upper cabinet, with pocket doors like these: https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/walters-renovation-farmhouse-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~20395504.
Even so I’m hoping to find a “retro” if not steam-punk/Victorian design so that even when the doors are open it doesn’t have to be an eyesore. I don’t mind having a separate oven and microwave, and while I only use a microwave for warming or reheating (and by the hubby for nuking leftovers when I’m not home) I still use it multiple times per day, every day so sticking it in the garage or in some out-of-the-way place is not practical. I’m with many here in wondering why microwaves have to be so ugly?? Most of the ones that aren’t cased in white/black plastic are stainless, and not everyone wants a kitchen that looks like a school cafeteria. Even the ones that are cute-ish are ultra-small and not big enough to fit a dinner plate inside. And so the search continues…