The OTR MW should not be flush to the cabinets for two reasons (1) you won't be able to open the MW door more than 1/4 of the way or so because the door won't be able to clear the cabinet side (in the photo you linked, how is that MW door going to open all the way or even part way?), and (2) you won't have exhaust over the front burners whatsoever if you don't have the OTR MW slightly forward of the cabinets.

The OTR MW sticking out a few inches or not isn't going to make it look any better or worse. An OTR MW is what it is. It sounds like you don't have room for even a small countertop MW anywhere else in your kitchen. Every kitchen has compromises.

My kitchen designer suggested the cabinet above the microwave be built up and out. Not sure why Sahmmy believes the front burners won't exhaust, microwave is in same position, the cabinet is just built out. You do need the vent to be vented outside and not just a microwave that recirculates air with a charcoal filter. I don't think mine looks ugly at all, and a small countertop model just wouldn't work for me.

i too have an otr micro. not only was there no room anywhere else, i have no outside vent anyway. i personally don't find anything wrong with the normal cab setup aesthetically. the newer micros are less ugly than the old ones.
kitchenlover1 is right about the recirculating vent being in front. my vent is at the top and would not vent properly if the cab was deeper but i do not have an outside vent.

Thanks for the responses.

Yes, I do not have an exterior venting option either. Just too many âÂÂifsâ with putting a hole in my roof.

@ ardcp. Yea, thatâÂÂs what mine would look like I guess. So those are 12â cabs with a 3/4â door?
and, the cab fronts come right to the edge of the fan area on top??

I spoke with GE tech support. Not very helpful.

I guess IâÂÂll do 13â boxes unless someone here has a reason not to.

Thanks

Not sure what a 3/4 door is? They are full overlay cabinets. Yes standard 12 " deep cabs. The vent is directly in front of the upper cab so it would be blocked by a deeper cab

The door is 3/4" (inch) thick.

This is the problem I am having. I really don’t want the OVR MW. I have it now. The fron burners send steam to the front of the MW and right up to the ceiling. Still undecided what I will do but I ran into this last night and it sounds pretty interesting. If I get the OTR MW I will be adding this on.

https://microvisorhood.com/product/microvisor-hood-stainless-steel-sb-30s/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh4fktszw9QIVcsmUCR00AwkpEAQYASABEgJmEPD_BwE

Here’s a picture of it.