Cutting out the floor of a cabinet, am I nuts?

[HardDrive]

My wife and I just moved into a new home. Current microwave is above the stove, and thats got to go so we can install a hood vent. My wife wants me to put a standard size microwave and a warming drawer under the counter to the left of the stove (see photo below).

Yes, I'm aware that its a bit wonky having a microwave with a standard door under the counter, and yes, I'm aware that Sharp makes a drawer style. Wife hates how small the drawers are, and we are trying desperately to avoid touching the granite and cabinet boxes.

The problem is that with the trim kit installed, there is simply not enough vertical room in the cabinet. I can shave the top a bit, but I need to leave some support there for the counter top. What I was thinking of doing is simply cutting out the bottom of the cabinet completely. Leave the side intact, but take out the floor, and drop it down. The open toe kick area of the cabinet would go away, and I would rebuild the bottom to meet the floor. Luckily, the maple color of the cabinet is pretty easy to match for splicing in new pieces.

I would install toe molding to tie it into the refrigerator box to the left.

I think as long as the microwave/trim kit and the warming drawer are nice a flush with each other, this would look ok.

What do you think?

[Don Ro]

Hmmm...gas stove...someone likes to cook, I see.

[Zeke]

It's done all the time. If you have 2" of support behind the top of that drawer and there is room, you can run a 3/4 x 3/4 angle iron behind the built up bullnose. What I'm saying is that you can take some of the cabinet away at the top up to the top of the box. If it's a typical Euro box, there's not a whole lot more room to go up.

Your new unit will want a better platform to sit on, so by all means take out the cabinet floor. A multi-tool like the Fein or HF will be one to use in many places there.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Zeke

It's done all the time. If you have 2" of support behind the top of that drawer and there is room, you can run a 3/4 x 3/4 angle iron behind the built up bullnose. What I'm saying is that you can take some of the cabinet away at the top up to the top of the box. If it's a typical Euro box, there's not a whole lot more room to go up.

Your new unit will want a better platform to sit on, so by all means take out the cabinet floor. A multi-tool like the Fein or HF will be one to use in many places there.

Thanks Zeke, I was hoping you would chime in.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Hmmm...gas stove...someone likes to cook, I see.

Believe it or not, this very nice Jenn Air unit it going bye bye. The wife wants a $6000 Viking range.

[70SATMan]

How often do you use a microwave and how many times will it take bending over to get to the buttons, opening and closing the door before you get tired of its placement?

Personally, that would drive me crazy. If you go that route, I'd remove the drawer and doors entirely and essentially install a recessed wall mount unit in there with a full solid maple face. Removing the floor of the cabinet shouldn't be a problem.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Believe it or not, this very nice Jenn Air unit it going bye bye. The wife wants a $6000 Viking range.

Holy Blue Flame, Batman!
My kinda girl!

.
.
I gots the hots for a $4k 30" Wolf.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

How often do you use a microwave and how many times will it take bending over to get to the buttons, opening and closing the door before you get tired of its placement?

Personally, that would drive me crazy. If you go that route, I'd remove the drawer and doors entirely and essentially install a recessed wall mount unit in there with a full solid maple face. Removing the floor of the cabinet shouldn't be a problem.

Depends. Microwave in my kitchen is under the counter in our center island.

Wife is 5 ft tall on a good day so it works for us.

[Zeke]

Tell your wife to research ranges. Most of them are boxy looking commercial posers. If I had 6K for a range I'd be starting my looking with Wolf and Thermador. Then maybe DCS.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Believe it or not, this very nice Jenn Air unit it going bye bye. The wife wants a $6000 Viking range.

You only have room in there to install a 30" range. A 30" Viking should not be 6k. Yo may also need a stronger hood to handle the heat. Check into that. Cut the toe out and slam the warming drawer and microwave in there. One thing to keep in mind is that anything that require electricity to product heat will draw lots of amps. Microwave and warming drawer on one plug (tapped off another?) maybe be too much for it.

[jyl]

I would not put a microwave so low. You or she will be doing deep knee bends or yoga poses to use it. Downward facing dog has got to be less fun when holding a bowl of boiling liquid.

[look 171]

I have put them in base cabinets before. I personally wouldn't do it only because we use the microwave to hear up snacks or left overs often. The clients all claim that they use their microwave a couple of time a week, so its no big deal to them if they are low.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

My wife and I just moved into a new home. Current microwave is above the stove, and thats got to go so we can install a hood vent. My wife wants me to put a standard size microwave and a warming drawer under the counter to the left of the stove (see photo below).

Yes, I'm aware that its a bit wonky having a microwave with a standard door under the counter, and yes, I'm aware that Sharp makes a drawer style. Wife hates how small the drawers are, and we are trying desperately to avoid touching the granite and cabinet boxes.

The problem is that with the trim kit installed, there is simply not enough vertical room in the cabinet. I can shave the top a bit, but I need to leave some support there for the counter top. What I was thinking of doing is simply cutting out the bottom of the cabinet completely. Leave the side intact, but take out the floor, and drop it down. The open toe kick area of the cabinet would go away, and I would rebuild the bottom to meet the floor. Luckily, the maple color of the cabinet is pretty easy to match for splicing in new pieces.

I would install toe molding to tie it into the refrigerator box to the left.

I think as long as the microwave/trim kit and the warming drawer are nice a flush with each other, this would look ok.

What do you think?

Will the microwave work in the upper cab?

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by jyl

...Downward facing dog has got to be less fun when holding a bowl of boiling liquid.

Depends on the view. Is this wife one of the exciting models?

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by look 171

You only have room in there to install a 30" range. A 30" Viking should not be 6k. Yo may also need a stronger hood to handle the heat. Check into that. Cut the toe out and slam the warming drawer and microwave in there. One thing to keep in mind is that anything that require electricity to product heat will draw lots of amps. Microwave and warming drawer on one plug (tapped off another?) maybe be too much for it.

Yeah, I just got back a bid for $5600. They make a much cheaper D3 line, but she wants their professional series.

I've got space in the box, so each new unit will get its own circuit.

Currently we're looking at a Viking hood with a remote blower on the outside of the house. It will do 900cfm. Still searching.

[HardDrive]

BTW, the stove is nothing compared to the damn refrigerator she wants. Miele kf1901vi. $7800.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuudge. "Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!" -Ralphie

[wdfifteen]

I would never put a microwave oven within reach of a little kid.

[Z-man]

You can have your cake and eat it too, BTW.

We have an above stove vent that runs ductwork behind the microwave, up and out through the roof. Granted, it isn't as powerful as a stand-alone hood vent, but if you don't burn the food, you don't need a powerful hood vent.

Best pic of the kitchen I have with the stove/micro/vent:

[RWebb]

post some more pics of the kitchen & let people find a better place for your microwave install

I am a faith-based believer in maximal venting.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I would never put a microwave oven within reach of a little kid.

Yeah, blah, blah, blah Mr. Safety. Next your going to tell me leaving my Glock on the kitchen counter makes me a bad parent.