A friend of mine was telling me just last week she loves her convection microwave oven, I didn't get details but she was saying it cooks things so much quicker and now she pretty much does all meals in it, and just uses her normal oven for baking!

Quick super fix for resale, get the professionals in to spray paint kitchen and bench tops, (whisper white) change handles and taps. Paint the window frame gloss white and add subway tiles. You will still need to add a panel on the fridge end to mirror the opposite side. I'm seeing a planter box window? Fill with herbs, will make a great impression. If it's for you, then I would get in Granite transformations. They can replace all your doors, recover your bench tops and sort the fridge panel problem. Still white cupboards and a concrete stone colour, still paint the window frame and still subway tiles. Change the sink to a smaller more modern ( less draining board, more bench top) If your planning on changing your oven or appliances in the near future, I would consider doing that now or at the least finding the perfect fitting replacement for the future. The lounge walls, paint in Dulux Whisper white low sheen. I've done so many houses and really there is no such thing as a cheap quick fix or a cheap kitchen makeover but at least you can get quotes for both of these. Hope this helps.

the vent behind a built in stacked mw oven only vents above the wall cabinets to the kitchen so there should'nt be any reason why the exact same construction couldn't be used at counter height with a suitable sized opening (width of mw and 45mm deep?) along the splashback to allow air to ventilate but safety could be compromised if the hole was accidentally covered so a raised edge or "chimney" around the slot could help stop items being placed over the opening or crumbs etc falling into the hole BUT if you had a non built in mw the ventilation requirements are less strict as there's more air space around the appliance..seems to me that like the manufacturer who provides the best customer service to clarify this issue might be the one who gains your business...good luck, but i wish you had the option of a wall mounted appliance that is so much easier to use

I would install a new oven exactly where your microwave is at the moment. I would install new cupboards, the length of your wall under the window. These can be built so the top of bench sits just under the window sill. Yes, they may be slightly lower, but it would add a lot more storage. Place the microwave on the top of these new cabinets. Installing a new PowerPoint in the corner for microwave. This would make it safer to use microwave, because it will be at waist height. Transferring cooked hot food directly onto bench.