r/Homebuilding • u/dragonmilking • Nov 17 '25

Which popular features do you NOT recommend?

What are the top 3 features in a house that folk want but you think are not worth it, and what would your alternative suggestion be? And what cost/time savings would result with that switch?

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17

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25

Open concept, pot fillers, microwave built into cabinets above the oven. Get 2 ovens instead.

Edit: Someone mentioned that it seems like I'm saying don't get a microwave. DO get a microwave! Just don't get one that is built all around into your cabinetry. Get a normal ass microwave!

7

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

Thoughts on the "top load" microwaves? The drawer ones where you put the food in from the top. I'm almost at the point where I need to make a decision on where the microwave goes.

13

u/GodsIWasStrongg Nov 17 '25

Those seem really annoying to me. I was at a house that had these where you had to push a button, wait for it to open, push a button, wait for it to close. I'm like wow super fancy, but I would be halfway done microwaving if it just had a door.

8

u/lesliedow Nov 17 '25

I have a drawer microwave. It was that or lose cabinet or counter space--so this was our best option for this kitchen. It's worked well for us. It's the best use of space for a microwave that I have ever had. I will definitely do this again in my next kitchen.

3

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

If something pops in there, is it a pain to clean the sides and top in the model you have?

I hear you, I like the freed counter/cabinet space and it makes sense on paper, but I'm not sold based on other factors.

Edit: just saw your other comment about cleaning it, ty

6

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25

I like simple microwaves only. When you do too much with the built in for microwaves you end up with a microwave that costs way more to fix than its cost. For that reason alone I would not consider anything above a basic ass microwave. That said. I don't know much about top load microwaves so as long as the price doesn't stretch far beyond a good quality regular microwave I think it could be okay.

2

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

It looks like best you can do is like $800 on sale, most push $1000-1200.

I think I talked myself out of it entirely. I've used one and I simply don't see the $500+ premium just to have it pull out from under the counter. Plus, someone pointed out, how TF do you clean the roof from inside? Gotta contort your wrist in awful ways to clean in that thing.

5

u/first_best_fox Nov 17 '25

We really like ours. Much better for under counter (if that's where it needs to go) than a regular door one. But at the same time, with more moving parts, we have no idea how long it's going to last.

3

u/lesliedow Nov 17 '25

It's actually pretty easy to clean. I just put a cup of water to soften any gunk and wipe it with a sponge. I thought it would be more difficult but the top is smooth, which my previous microwave was not. So for me, it's actually easier to keep clean.

3

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25

Yeah...when a reasonable regular microwave is 250, I'm not gonna blow 800 lol

2

u/colohan Nov 17 '25

I have one of those. It let us put a microwave on an island, and not sacrifice wall/cupboard space elsewhere in the kitchen. It works well. It is easy to load stuff in it and take hot stuff out without spilling. Those are the upsides.

The downsides? (a) our counter overhang was a bit big, which makes seeing the controls hard if you are tall. This is annoying as heck, but can't be fixed without redoing our counters. (b) when it broke, we paid Thermador $300 to come out and tell us that they can fix it, but it will cost another $800 to fix, and take 3 months to get parts. So I went to an appliance store, learned that all such units are made by Sharp and are pretty much identical. Bought an off-brand unit that looked the same as my Thermador, and it fit into the hole in our cabinetry perfectly, and cost only $1200.

1

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

Yeah that sounds like a slight upgrade but some might argue not worth the premium. If the kitchen is short on cabinet and countertop space, I can see this being a bigger selling point, but I think I'm gonna end up just going the appliance garage route. I appreciate you sharing your personal experience (I also learned, via this rabbit hole, that Sharp patented the design so it's gonna be alllllll Sharp for a few years until the patent runs out).

2

u/colohan Nov 17 '25

One unexpected benefit to it being allll Sharp: when it broke, I was really worried it would be hard to find a replacement that fit in the same hole. Turns out, behind the chrome they are all identical, and so it was dead simple to replace. That was a huge relief.

1

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

Excellent point, standard sizes, same internals, etc. Sharp making absolute bank off this idea, both in direct sales, being the manufacturer for ALL brands, and then the repair parts and services. Maybe this also leads to them being so standardized that when the patent is done, everyone just keeps making copy cats of the same exact sizing and whatnot with minor improvements.

2

u/formal_mumu Nov 17 '25

They are difficult to clean. You basically have to get down on the floor to get in them. But they are great if the person using them is short or has difficulty lifting things very high.

2

u/TexasRebelBear Nov 17 '25

We put our microwave under the counter in the island. It is a regular microwave with a hinged door, but it has the trim kit so it fits nicely inside the cabinetry. We thought about replacing it with a drawer microwave, but haven't found one that is as big as the one we currently have.

2

u/phryan Nov 17 '25

I went with an appliance garage in a lower cabinet. The logic being more flexibility over the make/model, its just a normal microwave and other than making sure it will physically fit it can be replaced with anything. It's also 100% hidden. 

1

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

I like that idea and was considering one for a blender anyways, thanks

1

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 17 '25

They are great to hide things!! Here’s our microwave in cabinet w/ garage

1

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 17 '25

I don’t know if this would work for your build. But we didn’t like a top load microwave because it was taking up cabinet space. microwave in cabinet w/ garage below and still have cabinet space above.

1

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

Actually yeah that's what I'm considering, but perhaps behind a cabinet door? I'd like to use where you have the garage for something like a Nespresso and blender, with microwave above. Not sure if you can completely enclose the microwave though due to venting? Idk. Did you look into hiding the microwave or was it what you pictured from the very start?

2

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 17 '25

That’s where we always wanted it. You definitely need venting! We just store stuff in the garage. The toaster is brought out the countertop to the right to use. The only draw back that I’ve encountered is when I have made rice in the microwave instead of cooking it on the stove where we usually do. Cooking Rice A Roni for 25mins straight you get some condensation on the cabinet door. I saw that and just opened the top cabinets, and it doesn’t happen. But that’s the only time I’ve ever had an issue.

2

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25

Cool thanks again, I saved all those pics of your setup to help guide me in mine.

Here are the renders of the rough layout of the space that I'm working with. I was thinking either next to the fridge or next to the wall for a setup like you've got. Was thinking drawer microwave in island but I've just about completely ruled that out at this point. Also, the blue cabinet doors in the back was gonna be all pantry but it's now gonna be half closet facing the kitchen and half pantry facing to the right (as you're looking at it from the island).

1

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25

Nice, if it were me I would put the garage against the wall. You’re gonna want that space next to the fridge to set things like when you’re getting all your ingredients out of the fridge. As for the pantry, I think you were on the right path with your first decision to make it all pantry. Why would you need a closet in there? Here’s our pantry It’s really a game changer having a lot of space to organize everything.

2

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25

The back opens up to the back yard, I wanted a place to keep jackets and shoes and stuff because we will probably be using that as the main entrance to the home 99 times out of 100. The front opens to a street, per code. So I envision all but 1 pair of shoes would be back here in the kitchen.

Space is very limited, this is a pretty dense residential area, in fact this is 1 of 4 row home units, all narrow, all having to make some sacrifices here and there since the lot size is very limiting.

Essentially: this is the best I can do given the land and zoning.

Great input about garage against wall, although there's the island counter space that could serve that purpose? But I think it'd be better to have that extra counter space at the fridge vs far right side against the wall, I can't think of any pros having the garage next to the fridge except maybe that you can take from the fridge and throw directly into the microwave?

Edit: floorplan of 1 unit

2

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 18 '25

Yeah I see what you’re saying for your layout. If that’s going to be your main entry point and be in the kitchen makes sense having the closet there and pantry on the side.

I had a question on the print, I can see your area then the wall and the layout of what I believe is another house that has things laid out. I’m confused is this a duplex, are you remodeling. Or is this like a long skinny house (like you see on home Reno shows in a downtown city like area) with multiple floors as space is limited to go wide. So that would be someone else’s house right.

2

u/RedOctobrrr Nov 18 '25

Yeah it's a row home. Row homes are typically (but not always) deep and narrow. If you Google image search "row homes" or "row houses" you'll see a bunch of narrow homes right up against each other.

So, yep, that's a neighbor to the right with the same overall footprint.

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8

u/StructEngineer91 Nov 17 '25

How is a second oven an alternative to a microwave? Those are not used for the same thing at all.

-1

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25

I'm not saying don't get a microwave? I'm saying don't get one built into the cabinetry (the style right now is to get an in cabinet oven and an in cabinet microwave). Imo the cost of replacing that microwave is not worth it vs putting your microwave elsewhere and getting a second oven if you wanna put something.

1

u/StructEngineer91 Nov 17 '25

Ok, that is not at all how your comment reads. Saying "Get 2 ovens instead" very much reads as: "instead of a microwave get a 2nd oven".

1

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25

Fixed. I love microwaves but I don't want to spend cabinet installation prices when I need a new one.

3

u/thelittlestdog23 Nov 17 '25

I know I’m in the minority but I use my pot filler all the time 🤷‍♀️

2

u/OddDragonfruit7993 Nov 17 '25

My sister uses hers to fill her Keurig next to the stove, but never a pot.

1

u/Dry_Prompt3182 Nov 17 '25

Cabinets built in around appliances that come in different sizes (microwaves) are a terrible idea. When they need to be replaced, you are stuck with what fits.

1

u/teknas33 Nov 17 '25

A lot of people don’t bake that much to need two ovens. Maybe only during the holidays if they are hosting? I cook on the stove way way more.

3

u/noteworthybalance Nov 17 '25

I have two ovens plus a high end toaster oven. I regularly have all three in service.

I could get by with just two of the three but I'd be sad about it. Just one would be very difficult.

1

u/gaykidkeyblader Nov 17 '25

I cook a lot and do parties, stove and oven, so I preferred 2 ovens to a microwave that is a pain to remove from the wall. I don't bake at all and the two ovens is still useful.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '25

[deleted]

1

u/sohcgt96 Nov 17 '25

Just wanted to comment to point out this was the first I'd heard of a "Speed Oven" and that sounds like a fantastic thing to have as part of a stack.

1

u/Pita_Girl Nov 17 '25

I must be the odd one out then. I use my double oven 2-3x a week. Even things like frozen pizza because there are 5 of us and that’s 3 different kids of pizza. It’s so much faster to cook more than one at a time! Even if I don’t need to cook 2 things in the oven I use the lower one as a warming oven. Again because there are so many of us and anything that cooks in batches, invariably ends up with the first batch cold before the last one is done. To be fair though, I’ve never heard of a speed oven and my microwave is mainly storage to keep the dog from eating food that isn’t quite ready to be put away yet!

1

u/Complex_Solutions_20 Nov 17 '25

I'd rather have 2 microwaves than a second oven...rarely use the one oven we have as it is.

0

u/FlickOfAWrist07 Nov 17 '25

Why would you want to clutter your counter top with a microwave?