When I embarked on a kitchen remodel a few years ago, one of my main obsessions was to hide the microwave (Jerome, remember?). My kitchen is tiny, and it proved a challenge to find an unoccupied niche. But we prevailed, and I'm happy to say I haven't had to come face to face with my microwave for the past decade. Here are 10 spaces where the microwave is tucked away from aesthetically appraising eyes.
Above: A Dumbo loft designed by Marco Pasanella and Rebecca Robertson features a microwave tucked inside the kitchen island; see the whole project at A Whimsical Family Loft in Brooklyn. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.
Above: Alison Devlin of design firm Jute (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) tucked a microwave in a kitchen cabinet; see the whole project at Rehab Diary: A Small-Kitchen Makeover with Maximum Storage. Photo by Drew Kelly.
Above: A folding corner cabinet provides a niche for a microwave and other appliances (note the piano hinges; read more at Design Sleuth: Elegant Piano Hinges).
Above: For a Silverlake remodel, designers Project M+ tucked the microwave tucked under the kitchen counter; see the whole project at Before/After: A Cool and Confident Kitchen in LA by Project M+.
Above: A cabinet front conceals a microwave. Photograph via Decor Pad.
Above: A microwave and a toaster oven tucked under a countertop ingeniously solves two problems, via Gepetto.
Above: Barbara Bestor tucked a microwave in a side cabinet in A New England Kitchen by Way of LA.
Above: A built-in Viking Microwave is a sleek, discreet (and expensive) option.
Above: The built-in BM 281 Gaggenau Microwave Oven features gas-pressurized springs for smooth opening and closing.
Above: Allison Bloom of Dehn Bloom Design tucked her microwave in a niche in her kitchen island (see Steal This Look: Mill Valley Loft-Style Kitchen). Photograph by John Merkl.
Above: Traditional cabinetry with a built-in microwave slot; via Heartwood Kitchens.
Above: Ikea cabinets with swing-up doors for countertop appliances; via Dwell.
Above: A clever slotted bookshelf, spice rack, and microwave niche, all hidden behind pocket doors; via This Old House.
Interested in more storage ideas for the kitchen? See 15 Ideas to Steal from High-End Kitchen Systems.
This post is an update; the original ran on April 9, 2013, in our Bring on the Spring issue.
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