Let's Talk Remodeling

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Has anyone seen kitchens lately where the microwave is positioned above the built-in double ovens (which are positioned a bit lower than normal)? The microwave is a bit on the high side. Opinions anyone? Would you do this to save space in your kitchen? Would it drive you nuts to keep reaching high up over the double ovens for the microwave?

Picture? I can't picture it.

Another configuration I've seen is where a warming drawer is positioned very low - almost floor height - under the double ovens. I think its a bit hard to reach down so low.

The bottom drawer of my oven is a warming drawer, and it is low and clumsy. Let's just say that there have been a few spills in it. If I were putting in a stand-alone warming drawer, I'd have it under the countertop.

I'm trying to get ideas for the grand daddy of all remodeling projects - our kitchen. I don't want to put the microwave above the cooktop, I'd like a hood with a decorative plate rack/shelf. The island is my other choice for a microwave but space is limited here.

What creative places have you used to put your appliances?

Someone else we can live vicariously through!

 

[SplshMtn99]

You've bonded! See, it was trying to please you all this time. You just needed a bit of quality time with it.

I miss my warming drawer terribly. Two houses ago when we built, I had one put in - way back when warming drawers were very, very new to the market. I've missed it ever since we moved. When we redo this kitchen, I'm getting one. I never realized how attached I was to an appliance.

Where did you install yours? I've seen them low -below the double ovens, in the island, and also, just below the cooktop (this is where mine was).

Go back one page to post #914. I made a photo album. Its a VERY simple kitchen.

Its the bottom drawer of my slide-in Frigidaire range. Its my first one. We have the smallest house of everyone...and for some reason I end up with all the holiday cooking & company for days. lol I think the warming drawer will be a big help.

Cooking dinner tonight & the frig & I are very happy now. I even got my crockpot ready for tomorrow morning & it was able to fit into the frig. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MareQ]

Has anyone seen kitchens lately where the microwave is positioned above the built-in double ovens (which are positioned a bit lower than normal)? The microwave is a bit on the high side. Opinions anyone? Would you do this to save space in your kitchen? Would it drive you nuts to keep reaching high up over the double ovens for the microwave?

Another configuration I've seen is where a warming drawer is positioned very low - almost floor height - under the double ovens. I think its a bit hard to reach down so low.

I'm trying to get ideas for the grand daddy of all remodeling projects - our kitchen. I don't want to put the microwave above the cooktop, I'd like a hood with a decorative plate rack/shelf. The island is my other choice for a microwave but space is limited here.

What creative places have you used to put your appliances?

My father has the microwave at eye level, single oven below that and then the warming drawer. I like that set up as everything is at a workable height. I do miss the second oven when we go up (It's just him and his girlfriend so they don't need 2 ovens) but it's not necessary. We pulled off a sit down thanksgiving dinner for 33 people at his house - the warming drawer was amazing! (Helped that he also has 6 burners, a built in griddle and deep fryer too - lol)

I have a professional grade 6 burner oven - no way I could put a microwave over that and I don;t have a wall oven - so mine is a small kenmore elite stainless steel microwave/convection oven that sits on a previously unused counter next to my fridge

 

[mickeysgal]

The bottom drawer of my oven is a warming drawer, and it is low and clumsy. Let's just say that there have been a few spills in it. If I were putting in a stand-alone warming drawer, I'd have it under the countertop.


Someone else we can live vicariously through!

We're in the very rough planning stages at this time for the kitchen. It will be awhile before anything significant is done.

Here is a sample picture of a warming drawer below the double ovens. See how low it is? I wonder if its a pain using it.

Here is a sample picture of a microwave over the double built-in ovens. It seems to be placed a bit higher than a microwave over a regular stove, although I could be wrong. Maybe it just seems that way but it's really not. Notice that the built-in ovens are positioned a bit lower than normal to accomodate the microwave. I wonder if using that bottom oven would be cumbersome.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I think I like the look of the 2 ovens & warming drawer rather than microwave & 2 ovens. I don't like how the microwave door doesn't match the 2 oven doors AND all 3 together look like too much. The 2 ovens match & the warming drawer doesn't try to match. It just looks better to me. Same size as frig next to it. I think that's the set up that would function best for me. Find another place for the microwave. I've seen people even put a small microwave in a cabinet....with or without a door. Depends how much you use it. I use mine alot.

 

[shelly3girls]

I would love to hear if anyone has their microwave in the island like the above picture. This is something I am considering once we finally start our remodeling project. Of course it will not be for another couple of years, but I am a planner.

 

[shovan]

I would love to hear if anyone has their microwave in the island like the above picture. This is something I am considering once we finally start our remodeling project. Of course it will not be for another couple of years, but I am a planner.

After all the mistakes I feel like we made with our kitchen remodel, I would say plan & plan some more!

I had considered & am still considering the moving of the microwave over the double ovens.

 

[mickeysgal]

I would love to hear if anyone has their microwave in the island like the above picture. This is something I am considering once we finally start our remodeling project. Of course it will not be for another couple of years, but I am a planner.

We did put a built in microwave below the counter in our basement kitchenette. So far, I like it. I'll try to post a picture later.

I will say this - the built-in microwave cabinet chewed up a lot of space. We went with Diamond cabinets and their microwave cabinet is a one-size fits all. We had to buy a trim kit for the microwave (which just about cost as much as the microwave) to close off the open space that the actual microwave didn't fill. I have to wonder if we would have gone with a truly custom cabinet would the cabinet been make to fit the actual size of the microwave, thus saving precious cabinet space? Then again, maybe all microwave built-ins chew up this kind of space due to necessary venting/air space requirements.

To put the microwave in a kitchen island - for us - is going to eat most of our island storage space. We may have no choice though. If I want the look of a fancy cooktop hood, that is the price we may have to pay.

 

[mickeysgal]

After all the mistakes I feel like we made with our kitchen remodel, I would say plan & plan some more!

I had considered & am still considering the moving of the microwave over the double ovens.

What are your regrets with your kitchen remodel? There's always a few...

Are you saying that you want to move the microwave TO be over the ovens or you want to move it FROM being over the ovens?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We're in the very rough planning stages at this time for the kitchen. It will be awhile before anything significant is done.

Here is a sample picture of a warming drawer below the double ovens. See how low it is? I wonder if its a pain using it.

That's how low mine is, and if I were putting in a stand-alone, I would have it higher. Plus, when I open it up, I have to make sure that Chloe is nowhere around, because she thinks it's an extension of her food bowl.

Here is a sample picture of a microwave over the double built-in ovens. It seems to be placed a bit higher than a microwave over a regular stove, although I could be wrong. Maybe it just seems that way but it's really not. Notice that the built-in ovens are positioned a bit lower than normal to accomodate the microwave. I wonder if using that bottom oven would be cumbersome.

I'm a shrimp! I don't think I could reach that!

 

[shovan]

What are your regrets with your kitchen remodel? There's always a few...

Are you saying that you want to move the microwave TO be over the ovens or you want to move it FROM being over the ovens?

I've considered putting the microwave over the ovens. Right now it is above the stovetop.

Kitchen regrets, well where do I start...

Mostly things I wanted to do, but didn't or stuff that wasn't done correctly. And colors & styles have changed quite a bit in the last six years since we did the remodel. Also a lot of new & improved products have come out recently (such as man-made quartz). So what was a very costly remodel already seemed dated.

Let's see biggest regrets:

Relying on the cabinet store for kitchen planning & layout! It caused some problems that we didn't see until everything was complete & we started using the kitchen. I wish we could have found a contractor or designer at least for more advice before doing the kitchen.

No one told us that the new fridges are larger. Even if you go with the same cubic ft. fridge the outside dimensions are bigger. So we remodeled then went & bought the new GE Artica fridge & it barely fit. I couldn't open the freezer door all the way or remove the ice tray. We had to widen the door opening next to the fridge for room to open the freezer door. The only solution that would avoid a much more costly remodel

countertop color: Colors were big when we redid the kitchen. I put in a dark cobalt blue, I don't hate it, but wish black would have been the "it" color at the time. The dark corian counter also scratches & needs to be buffed at least once a year.

Stovetop, ovens, etc.: Wish I had spent more time considering how I cook & what I wanted in regards to heat, power, cleaning, etc. It really didn't occur to us then to consider say a range instead of the stovetop with separate ovens.

The backsplash: Was installed incorrectly, corian came in too thick & I let them install it anyway. Which caused the backsplash to be too close to the faucets which made the caulking get moldy. It has now been replaced with a tile backsplash.

Wood floors in kitchen: Floors ended up messed up from Katrina (dripping refrigerator caused rippling & mold) They were also getting beat up from me dropping cans, etc.. I also cook alot, so spills happened often & I didn't like using the swiffer or special wood floor mop stuff instead of water.

So, we just changed out the floors for large porcelain tiles.

Things I'm happy with:

The corian counter, overall holds up very well, doesn't stain.

The sink! It's the corian seamless & molded into the counter. Love that! No place for dirt, gunk to get into! It's also an extra deep double sink & I'm very happy with that too. (My fav thing in the kitchen!)

The GE Advantium Microwave we put in, love the speedcook function & the baking. I can keep from heating up the house when it's miserably hot like it is now.

Sealed cooktop is good, but I would like something with more heat output.

Glad we included a wine rack.

With the lastest mini-redo, the tile backsplash & tile floor are great. And I can now open the freezer door.

 

[mickeysgal]

Mostly things I wanted to do, but didn't or stuff that wasn't done correctly. And colors & styles have changed quite a bit in the last six years since we did the remodel. Also a lot of new & improved products have come out recently (such as man-made quartz). So what was a very costly remodel already seemed dated.

You are oh so right about this. I think thats why I lament over the most mudane of decisions. I want to make sure that I pick stuff that will stand a reasonable test of time.

Who would have guessed 8 years ago that granite or other solid surface material would be so "expected" in a kitchen. Now it seems like it's a dark mark against you when you try to sell a house that doesn't have this in your kitchen.

 

[holbear]

No one told us that the new fridges are larger. Even if you go with the same cubic ft. fridge the outside dimensions are bigger. So we remodeled then went & bought the new GE Artica fridge & it barely fit. I couldn't open the freezer door all the way or remove the ice tray. We had to widen the door opening next to the fridge for room to open the freezer door. The only solution that would avoid a much more costly remodel

Our refridge has become a huge issue. It can squeeze into the spot, but the freezer door won't open. We are trying to get it exchanged for another one that looks like it will fit. The doors open flush to the side of the fridge. Just getting it exchanged is such a pain with all the sub contractors.

This whole remodeling project has been horrendous. I've really had it with installers that don't install (we even had them refuse to hook up the dishwasher because the water shut off valve was seperated from the dishwasher by a set of drawers..never mind the hole was already cut through the cabinet. They would not stick a hose through.) We have been doing things through Home Depot. I would NEVER make that mistake again.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I had always said I would never use Home Depot to install anything...and what did I do? I went with Home Depot for the Silestone. BUT only after alot of research on who our local store uses for the Silestone fabrication & installation. Since it was the main Silestone people in New England, it looked like they would be the ones doing the work even if I went with a different kitchen store. So, I used a combination of discounts getting 20% off & went with Home Depot. So far, the only contact we've had with HD was that we paid Home Depot. The rest has been with the Silestone fabricator anyway.

I'm hoping it continues to go well.

I agree, I wouldn't use them for windows or other stuff that they can sub out to just any old contractor who can't get work of his own. I used to sell insurance. The subs coming in for certificates of insurance to do work for HD where people you'ld wouldn't really ever call yourself.

 

[Galahad]

I had always said I would never use Home Depot to install anything...and what did I do? I went with Home Depot for the Silestone. BUT only after alot of research on who our local store uses for the Silestone fabrication & installation. Since it was the main Silestone people in New England, it looked like they would be the ones doing the work even if I went with a different kitchen store. So, I used a combination of discounts getting 20% off & went with Home Depot. So far, the only contact we've had with HD was that we paid Home Depot. The rest has been with the Silestone fabricator anyway.

I'm hoping it continues to go well.

I agree, I wouldn't use them for windows or other stuff that they can sub out to just any old contractor who can't get work of his own. I used to sell insurance. The subs coming in for certificates of insurance to do work for HD where people you'ld wouldn't really ever call yourself.

We've also had bad luck with Home Depot's sub contactors almost every time we used them. Mostly the communication between Home Depot and us and the sub contractor. We did get our Silestone through Home Depot - and we DID run into the same frustrating communication problems that caused delays. But the quality of the work was great. We are in Indy and the fabricator they used for the Silestone was in Canada. I thought that was interesting. They drove our counter tops down from somewhere north of Windsor I think.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Well this is a brand new Home Depot that opened in our town just 5 miles away from the neighboring town Home Dept. They aren't busy yet so I hope its a simple job they can handle. They built this store to take the pressure off the other store, one of the busiest in the area due to contractors. The manager hand picked who he wanted to come to the new store. So far, they have all been excellent. I know 2 by name already & they know my name only after 3 visits. lol I now email privately with the kitchen guy because he told me I should have a "gay kitchen designer". His words, not mine. I've sent him over to the Finished Kitchen Blog site. And he's big into travel too. We've been getting along great. So, it seems I have a friend in my corner, hopefully, if I need it. The other is the girl at the service desk who approved an additional 20% coupon I had gotten off ebay. It was supposed to be for carryout items, but she approved it for some special order items we got. I've been more than happy so far.

I had tried 2 other places also while getting quotes. It seemed neither was very interested in giving me the time of day. Never returned my calls. Never got some info I requested. Never contacted us to come measure........ I'm guessing my business was too small to both of them. AND they had both come recommended by people. All I wanted from them was $3000 worth of Silestone. ??? So I got $3000 worth of Silestone at Home Depot for $2400.

I know for a fact one would have use the same place as Home Depot. The other ....we never even got that far in discussions. I do ALOT of my own research, maybe too much. I think that bugged them. oh well.

 

[holbear]

I'm dealing with everybody and their brother..

Home Depot says to call GE delivery, GE tells me to call LG warehouse and guess who LG says to call... if you guessed HOME DEPOT you would be right. It would be comical if it wasn't so completely frustrating. A girl from LG seems to understand the problem and is in contact with HD corporate (or so she says, still waiting and waiting for a call back). The appliance expediator at HD is handing info over to her manager (or so she says, still waiting on a call back.) All this and NO ONE is able to make any decisions. It is PITIFUL.

And the drama with Best Buy may even top this.

 

[holbear]

Oh, had to add..

At least they finally came back and regrouted our kitchen after mixing the grout wrong the first time. It was not grout, it was SAND. It was everywhere! It only took them a week to come back out and fix the problem.

 

[shovan]

You are oh so right about this. I think thats why I lament over the most mudane of decisions. I want to make sure that I pick stuff that will stand a reasonable test of time.

Who would have guessed 8 years ago that granite or other solid surface material would be so "expected" in a kitchen. Now it seems like it's a dark mark against you when you try to sell a house that doesn't have this in your kitchen.

It really makes remodeling so hard doesn't it! I know I'm going to put a granite or marble counter in the bathroom, but who knows what will be the "expected" item in a couple of years!

Our refridge has become a huge issue. It can squeeze into the spot, but the freezer door won't open. We are trying to get it exchanged for another one that looks like it will fit. The doors open flush to the side of the fridge. Just getting it exchanged is such a pain with all the sub contractors.

This whole remodeling project has been horrendous. I've really had it with installers that don't install (we even had them refuse to hook up the dishwasher because the water shut off valve was seperated from the dishwasher by a set of drawers..never mind the hole was already cut through the cabinet. They would not stick a hose through.) We have been doing things through Home Depot. I would NEVER make that mistake again.

I hope you can find a fridge that will fit better! We realized the size issues when shopping for the fridge. Our problem was depth & width, so I had to go with the cabinet depth fridge but then width was a problem too! The only other thing we could have done was a simple fridge with freezer on top, fridge on bottom, no water/ice dispenser. And my old fridge had all of that, so I really didn't want to give that up. Maybe we should have just checked into painting the still working 20 year old autumn gold fridge!

Sorry you are having all of these problems. I have not had good results with Home Depot either. I had to change the dishwasher from our original remodel after only 2 years. Bought one at Home Depot & of course their "installer" had issues! I had to have my DH get on the phone with guy & explain how to & pretty much force the guy to hook up the dishwasher. One dishwasher came out & a new one right in it's place & this guy acted like it was such a major deal!

 

[SplshMtn99]

All your stories kind of reinforce why I think DH & I are do-it-yourselfers.

We just prefer it that way. No one cares about your project as much as you do. Know what I mean?

I know not everyone can do it themselves. We are facing some busy schedules ourselves these days & finding the time to do things can be hard.