Built in ovens and microwaves help

choccybuttons

Hi

We are planing to buy for our new kitchen, a built in double oven and microwave in a tall housing but worried microwave will be too high and might be dangerous lifting stuff out - like hot soup. Does anyone have any experience Im just over 5 foot height wise.

Also built in microwaves seem very expensive. I was planning on a bosch double oven but microwaves very pricey.

Should microwave match the oven? What size microwave do I need - bearing in mind I only heat up soup, baby food etc.

Thanks

hermanmunster_3

Hi

Bought a house where there was a built in microwave above a single oven (but room for a double) the microwave is about 4.5 ft up ish, I am not v tall and was worried about getting things in and out but actually it is OK once you get used to it.

Would I do it if designing kitchen myself ?- probably not as I prefer to have worktop in front of the microwave to put things on / stir / mix etc etc,

mikey72

I just fitted a kitchen with a built in microwave. Designer had made it far too high, it was a microwave/oven, over a single oven, and meant you would be lifting out food at head height.
I re-designed the layout as I was fitting to bring it all down to a better height, just below shoulder. We had to swop doors to do it, and finished with a deep draw at the bottom of the tower.
I couldn't see how a microwave over a double oven could be safe, unless the oven was at floor level.

debbie42

We have a single built-in oven with a combi oven/micro above it. I'm 5'3" and wouldn't want the extra height a double oven might add onto the combi. I'd also not want to lower the oven as then I'd be crouching down too much.

tanith

I have a Bosch double oven and I love it but I didn't want to pay the price for the microwave as like you don't really use it that much.. so I opted for one that just sits on the work top... its fine but then I'm not too fussy about my non-designer kitchen...

clockworks_2

i have a small kitchen and everything is built in incl the Neff microwave to maximise the work top space. Mine has a single small door on the floor. Single Oven above and the Microwave above that. Its more at chest height. I would worry about it being any higher but am able to stir things whilst they're in the microwave no problem.

Much prefer it as the kitchen looks a lot smarter with it all built in.

jillymit

I originally wanted a built in microwave above my main oven but didn't want to pay the outrageous prices quoted.
I opted for a double oven (smaller oven with grill on top) and bought a microwave to stand on the work surface.
I'm about the same height as you and have to lift stuff out of the top oven to see how it's cooking but can watch the things going round in the microwave IYKWIM.
The top little oven is being used a bit more these days as I am trying to break the habit of turning the big oven on just to bake a couple of things which saves me money and I've the extra bonus of having all three on Christmas day (when I tried to ignore the electricity meter)
It might be worth having a snoop round a couple of show rooms as I think the heights are pretty standard.
HTH.

choccybuttons

Thanks everyone.

I was originally going to go with single and a microwave but I do love my grill so changed my mind. Im happy to have one on worktop but OH fancies built in as less clutter. Def dont want it over the cooker so will have to have a think.

Thanks again.

becs

Can you have it built in at the side? We've done this with ours. Have the double oven and then microwave in the other tall cupboard next to it. I'd say it's a perfect height.

jennifernil

Microwaves can be built into a wall unit if they are not too deep.

We have actually done that in our Guide Hall kitchen. We used a standard wall unit a bit wider than the microwave, ordered a shorter door (720mm rather than 900mm), fitted a shelf at the right height to line up with the bottom of the door, and used an ordinary £30 microwave. There is plenty of space round it for ventilation. We secured it by fixing a wooden batten in front of its feet so it cannot be pulled out.

We have a housing unit with a single oven too, but having the microwave above it was just too high to be sensible. Now it is at eye level for me (I am 5' 2").

We have a stainless steel fronted Bosch oven so bought a microwave with a stainless steel door surround and control panel, it looks really smart.