Im in thr middle of kitchen refit. The old kitchen was awful, didn't comply to any regulations and was probably planned on the back of a beer mat after several beers! The whole lot has been reconfigured, new electrics and plumbing, walls plastered etc etc.
I'm only 5ft tall. The old kitchen wall units were only 31cm above the work top. That is what I am used to and it's quite handy with me being so short.
Friday my fitter hung the 1st wall unit with my wall integrated microwave in. The unit sits 18inches above the work top which upon googling i understand is an industry standard. It also matches the height of my larder unit which is attached to the fridge housing on the end wall.
All my base and wall units are in a C shape and separated from the larder and fridge on an end wall; so I feel it won't matter if there is a different gap between units and ceiling.
I've used the microwave over the weekend and I can't really see in it. I can't reach the cabinet above it well enough to open it.
I now understand the old kitchen had a stupidly low gap and i dont want my new toaster potentially damaging my new units underneath. So I'm thinking about asking the fitter to lower the wall units by 3 inches to make the gap between worktop and wall units 15 inches. Do you think this is ok? I just feel this is MY kitchen and I'm short so it makes sense that it works for me but worried there may be reasons why 15 inches may not be acceptable.
More googling has thrown up 2 websites suggested wall units can sit 15 to 20cm above work top depending if you are tall or short but that 18 is standard.
We have a free standing electric cooker which will have a chimney hood 75cm above (as per regulations) and wall units either side of the cooker. Is there a minimum height limit for these units either side?
It's urgent because my fitter arrives 8.30 tomorrow to carry on from Friday and I need to know what I want to ask him to do and what's acceptable.
Thoughts and advice please.