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Open Cabinets for Microwave

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Relocating the microwave from over the stovetop to it’s own built in area, has been on our to-do list for months. If we’d known what a huge difference this project would make, it would have flown to the top of our list a long time ago!
Building-in-the-Microwave

We didn’t want the microwave sitting directly on the countertop and although putting it in the cabinet was an option, we realized we could give this entire area a Built-In-Cupboard effect by taking off the doors and adding bead board, rustic shelves and building a cubby for the microwave!

Building-in-the-Microwave

Here’s the kitchen before we moved the microwave…

kitchen before

before and after

The after photo is so much warmer isn’t it? Opening up these cabinets and creating a built-in shelf for the microwave gives our kitchen a little character…

Building-in-the-Microwave For the first part of the project we used…

 3M Painters Tape

Sand Paper

jigsaw & reciprocating saw

paint

beadboard

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First we took the doors off of the cabinets-right then and there I knew I was going to love it!

Building in the Microwave

Next he cut the centerpieces out with a jigsaw…
Building-in-the-Microwave

Building-in-the-Microwave

Our shelves are permanent-inserted into groves, so they had to be cut out with a reciprocating saw…Building-in-the-Microwave

Wow! Never has demo been so rewarding!

Building-in-the-Microwave

Since one of my objectives is to make this look like a built in cupboard, I decided to use bead board on the backsplash. To keep this project easy, we put the bead board right on top of the tile! This worked like a charm.
Building-in-the-Microwave

We also completely covered the inside of the cabinet with bead board, again to give the built-in cupboard look.
Building-in-the-Microwave

*We decided to cover our existing countertop with a wood countertop. This isn’t necessary, but we thought it helped the cabinets look more like a piece of furniture. Mike joined the wood for the countertop in his workshop then cut it to lay on top of the granite-

 Next it all had to be sanded smooth – Since Mike sands a lot of wood, he always wears a 3M™ Safety MaskProducts (safety eyewear & a 3M™ Paint Sanding Valve Respirator)

Building-in-the-Microwave

After the bead board was painted, Mike installed walnut wood for shelving.

Then he built a cubby for the microwave!

For the cubby he used:

Sand Paper
Wood Filler

5/8  inch plywood

wood screws

1  x 2 pine strips for moldings

Brad Nailer or small nails

paint

Building-in-the-Microwave

 First he cut the side and bottom panels to size…

Building-in-the-Microwave

Then measured where to put the screws for assembling the shelf…Building-in-the-Microwave

He drilled holes for the screws…

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Then using a drill bit a little larger than the head of the screw…

Building-in-the-Microwave

He created a  shallow indention to allow the screw head to be below the surface of the  board…

Building-in-the-Microwave

When the screws were in, they were below the surface allowing room to cover them with wood filler…

Building-in-the-Microwave

Mike used 3M Wood Filler in the shallow indentions to cover up the screws …

Building-in-the-Microwave

And sanded it smooth…

Building-in-the-Microwave

The cubby fit under the upper cabinets. Mike secured the cubby with wood screws.

It’s big enough for the counter depth microwave to have a little room on the sides for air circulation. And because it’s raised, the few inches underneath is a great place to store a cutting board!

Building-in-the-Microwave

To make the overall space look more intentional, we decided to add another divider to define an area for coffee supplies. The tall narrow space between the microwave and the coffee area is perfect for cookbooks…

Building-in-the-Microwave

Since we needed to paint the wood sitting on top of the countertop, painters tape was a necessity…

Building-in-the-Microwave

To finish off the built in cubby, he added  1 x 2 pine strips for moldings…

Building-in-the-Microwave

And attached them with his brad nailer…Building-in-the-Microwave

Building-in-the-Microwave

Since the microwave has an inconspicuous nook, it’s no longer the focal point of the kitchen! And opening up the cabinets gave a little charm and warmth to the heart of our home.

Building-in-the-Microwave

Before, the microwave was front and center and the white cabinets did little to warm up the space…

kitchen reveal 037

Now, the new microwave is nestled in it’s own little cubby and the new “cupboard” brings warmth and a little charm to the heart of our home…Building-in-the-Microwave

Comments

  6. They truly look like custom built-ins! I love how they look! What is that thing(vintage) on the wall by your island and seating area! I think it is an old land line kitchen telephone, lol! You don’t see those anymore, pretty soon, kids will ask what that is!

    Reply

    • DeDe…thank you my friend! And yes! It’s a vintage phone (pink!) I love it so much- everyone who comes over for the first time, pick up that phone and dial their old phone #s 😉

      Reply

  15. My very most favorite part is seeing the wood being used- both the bead board, and the piece on the counter! I truly love the entire look- but the wood customizes the whole piece. Did you have to redo over the stove too? xxoo

    Reply

  19. Robin and Mike….This is absolutely beautiful!! It did bring more warmth to the kitchen and such an efficient set-up
    for the microwave and coffee area!! Awesome job!!

    Reply

  20. I think what you have done here definitely warms up your kitchen. I would love to see a new photo of the entire kitchen looking from the breakfast bar.

    Reply

  21. I have a small apartment and keeping it organized is a challenge for me. I have always thought my microwave needs a built-in cabinet just like many home designs I have seen and then I saw your project. Hmm, I don’t need to spend for cabinet installation. I have an open shelf which would do just fine as the new place for my small kitchen appliances and other kitchen stuff. Thanks for the idea.

    Reply

  22. I absolutely LOVE this! I’m going to get my fiancee to do this in the house we just purchased! Thank you so much 🙂

    What did you do to the spot that the microwave used to be in?

    Reply

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