Will I get used to fridge opening the wrong way?

[Notonaschoolnight]

This is the kitchen plan with the existing radiator down the side which I don’t want. I could put a slim radiator on the wall instead but that would stop the fridge door from opening fully unless I have it opening the wrong way round, the worktop starts right next to the fridge so in my head ,if the hinge goes on the right, I’ll be dancing around the fridge door getting stuff out the fridge onto the worktop but maybe I’d just get used to it

Alternatively I could not have a radiator and get a hydronic plinth heater getting rid of the fridge door issue but I have know experience of them and perhaps they’ll be a headache in themselves

Or have neither and be cold ha

Comments and feedback very welcome

please show us the layout of your whole kitchen. It might spark some ideas.

Units are easy to more around, they're just rectangular boxes on legs, and the worktop just goes on top. If a current design, you can still get a matching door front, for example in a narrower size. But next to the rad is not the best place for a FF.

a bit off topic, but what's the distance between worktop and the underside of your wall cabinets? they look rather close to me.

Is the kitchen built, or still in plan?

OP has said plans can't be changed. So my suggestion about moving the fridge up won't work. 82mm should give you enough to open the door on the left, but whether you can take the shelves out fully probably depends on the model.

You would get used to opening the door with the hinges on the right. But it would always be a pain.

There are many variables re the heating. How cold is your house? Can the radiator be sited anywhere else in the kitchen? What's your budget?

Here’s some crap screenshots of the cad to be honest the freestanding fridge freezer is already right next to the existing radiator so we never really have it on so it would be easy to just say let’s not have any heat source in the room at all and we’d probably manage it’s just I feel like I’m meant to have one and I need to make my mind up as the first thing I’ll need to do one the kitchen is ripped out is have a gas engineer take out the existing radiator the what he does with the pipes depends on what I decide to do

Sending you all this info + dwelling on things + Pinot Grigio = starting to think maybe plinth heater might be ok arghh I’m driving myself mad !!

My kitchen is totally unheated and it’s not been a problem. The only time I’m in there for any length of time is when I’m cooking and it gets warm then anyway. I don’t eat in there but it doesn’t look like you will be either.

So what I mean is don’t have a heat source just because you think you’re meant to!

I've got two fridges in my kitchen. One opens left, the other opens right. I've just adapted. I am truly bifridgual. Human brains are amazing things.

A right hinged fridge in that position would drive me barmy.

What about the wall next to the oven? Could you put a very slim radiator there? How wide is the spacer panel next to the ovens?

the Hudevad P5 radiator only needs 50mm from the wall to the front of the radiator

hudevad.com/en/mwdownloads/download/link/id/88/

Towel rails are often very slim so you could consider one of those too

Another solution which will work IF the wall around your door is a stud wall: get a builder to make a recess in the wall the size of the radiator. Basically make the wall thinner where the radiator needs to go. So the radiator is recessed into the wall (obv with a bit of space around it, especially above it, to allow heat output) and the front of the radiator is flush with the front of the wall.

should be possible, for the builder it’s similar to knocking an extra doorway through

not sure if this will work: pic

It will make the radiator less efficient mind you, but better than nothing

i had a plinth heater in my old house and i always liked it. I did also have electric underfloor heating which meant the tiles were always warm so it gave it a little extra warmth.
It was a small galley kitchen which opened into the living room so did gain heat from that also.

Definitely don't open the fridge doors the wrong way it will drive you mad.

If you rarely have the radiator on then definitely go for plinth heaters!!

Thanks everyone

Have a look and see if your fridge doors can be swapped round to open from the opposite side. I have done this previously, but some models can't be altered.

My fridge opens that way and it really didn't take us long to get used to it.