Installing microwave in overhead kitchen wall cabinet

[Martin Pentreath]

Am I onto a loser here? I'm roughing out some plans for my (rather small) kitchen. I want a microwave but I don't want it cluttering up the worktop. My preferred solution would be to have it in one of the over-counter wall cupboards (whether it's behind door or not I don't really mind). I thought I'd seen this sort of thing, but looking through some kitchen brochures perhaps I was imagining it. The problem I think will be the depth of the microwave. The least deep microwave I can find is 312mm. The standard depth for wall cupboards is 300mm. I don't really want one of those chunky oven housings which are the full depth of a work surface.

Does anyone know of any extra-shallow microwaves which would fit in an overhead cupboard or have any other ideas?

[Ben Micklem]

in article [e-mail], Martin Pentreath at martin [e-mail] wrote on 14/3/06 16:02:

My parents have a NEFF that fits into a 30cm deep x 60 cm wide overhead unit. I think these ones on the Comet website are similar models to theirs:

don't seem very good value compared to the cheapest on offer at Tescos/Argos/etc.

Ben

[mark_yh]

We have a Bosch micro built-in. It appears to be an adapter plate fascia that clips into the cavity, with a standard-ish oven filling the hole in the plate. No doubt much more expensive than a cheap, standard oven.... I assume that the depth available is a standard for built-in units like ovens.

[meow2222]

Sounds like a non-problem to me.

Much easier to have it on an open shelf than behind a door. It needs the ventilation, and why open 2 doors rather than one? And why have a risky corner sticking out at face level any time youre cooking?

NT

[Richard A Downing]

Why not make a custom shelf unit 315mm deep to sit between two standard wall units? You could then use the space above the microwave for those lovely knick-knacks or your collection of cookery books :)

Even though the other units are 300mm deep, with their doors on they are likely to be 312 - 315 mm anyway.

R.

[Lobster]

Ours - a standard full-sized one - sits on a shelf in a custom-made larder unit; the gap is just big enough for the oven (subject to adequate ventilation requirements), and it sits at the front of the shelf, giving an almost 'built-in' look.

David

[Owain]

I think it's popular in America.

It seems an excellent way of facilitating pouring hot cooked things over one's head or chest to me.

Owain

[zymurgy]

I put mine on microwave brackets under the boiler. Takes care of not wanting to lose worktop real estate, but keeps ventilation ok.

Also saves a cupboard !

Cheers

Paul.

[Harry Bloomfield]

You might find that cupboard shelves are not really designed for the weight, without additional reinforcement. You can however buy purpose made microwave wall mounting brackets, with adjustable arm length. These might be a better solution.

[Martin Pentreath]

Many thanks for all the advice, it looks like I was worrying about nothing.