Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Does this ruin my new kitchen?

310 replies

KitchenLayoutHelp · 06/01/2021 22:10

We are moving into a new house, there was an integrated fridge freezer included that was too small for us, we already own an American fridge freezer we wanted to bring with us.

This isn't our kitchen, ours isn't finished yet but this is the same size and lay out. I have (badly) edited the kitchen like ours to show where our American fridge freezer is going and where the breakfast bar is being shortened to to allow extra room to pass by it.

It just looks a bit rubbish. I love how big open and bright the room looks in the first pic. I know we need to prioritise storage over looks but I'm worried it looks really bad and out of place. Does it?

Does this ruin my new kitchen?
Does this ruin my new kitchen?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
NellyJames · 07/01/2021 11:06

In the first picture, that looks like the door on the other side of where your FF would go. Is that the main kitchen door? Because if it is, that will be your main bugbear, coming in to a small, dark space with an enormous FF to your right.

Original poster
KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 11:08

@NellyJames

In the first picture, that looks like the door on the other side of where your FF would go. Is that the main kitchen door? Because if it is, that will be your main bugbear, coming in to a small, dark space with an enormous FF to your right.
That's the utility door, leading out to the back door / back garden
OP posts:
NellyJames · 07/01/2021 11:11

Oh ok, that’s not so bad then. Is there definitely no room for the ff in the utility room? You could knock through so it’s part of the kitchen.

pickingdaisies · 07/01/2021 11:20

I just looked at the plan, it looks to me that the fridge and the end of the island are too close. I can't read the measurements, but the fridge should actually come out further into the room, at the moment it looks shallower than 60cm, so the first thing to do is double check the measurements. Could you take the long run of units a little longer, just a foot or 18" would do it, to give a bit more wiggle room. Yes it takes the island a tiny bit further into the dining area, but not by much.
For what's worth, my DH talked me into putting the fridge freezer into the utility and having an under counter fridge in the kitchen so it would look better and it drives me crazy every day.

thelegohooverer · 07/01/2021 11:22

It will be fine OP. It’s not ideal but you have to work with the space you have. And I would choose to have my space inside the fridge rather than on the floor. Especially after going through a situation where I could only get food deliveries every few weeks.

There are advantages to having a slightly less wide entry point - it makes people more likely to congregate in front of the breakfast bar rather than in the kitchen. And a fridge on the boundary is a recommended trick to repel kitchen invaders.

I think the fact that it is a nice fridge will help with the overall look - it will be a statement rather than an accident or after thought.

Qc16 · 07/01/2021 11:25

Our previous kitchen was a very similar layout with the fridge opposite a peninsula. You just get used to not trying to get past if the fridge door is open. I really liked it as it was a short distance between all the appliances. The peninsula opposite the fridge is useful for loading/unloading the fridge.

It will be fine and you will get used to it.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 07/01/2021 11:25

Honestly OP once you're in it will look absolutely fine. I'd far rather that than a fridge/freezer that's too small for my family.

I love the chalkboard idea but equally nice would be just a big pot plant. No need for shelves etc.

IT WILL BE FINE Smile

bettytaghetti · 07/01/2021 11:26

What is on the other side of the wall behind the fridge? If it's a non-supporting wall, could you 'borrow' a bit of the space from there to sink the fridge into the wall space a bit more? Sounds complicated but builders can do this quite easily.

bettytaghetti · 07/01/2021 11:32

Also how wide is the biggest door on your fridge freezer? If the total width is 91cm it can't be much more than 60? 800mm gap is tight but doable, but remember you can't push the fridge too tight to the wall as it needs air to circulate.

Nichola2310 · 07/01/2021 11:34

I haven't read the full thread but could it go here, pushed back against the wall?

Does this ruin my new kitchen?
theemmadilemma · 07/01/2021 11:44

We're only 2 people and left a house with 60/40 integrated. Here we had both undercounter and the fridge was miniscule for anyone who enjoys fresh food. We had to stick a fridge/freezer in our dining area, it fits in well.

Now I've seen the floor plan, I think what you've done will probably work well.

WeLovePeaSoup · 07/01/2021 12:25

@KitchenLayoutHelp just measured mine between breakfast bar and American fridge freezer. We have a meter between and it’s comfortable to open and take things out etc. You just have to remember you need to open the fridge doors fully as otherwise you won’t be able to pull out the salad draws fully.

Original poster
KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 12:47

The price to change the space back to fit an integrated and to re-extend the breakfast bar would be £500, plus the price of the integrated fridge freezer. We could technically do this with the plan to add a big fridge/freezer in the garage once we can afford to add a garage a few years down the line. They've said we're cutting it very fine if we don't want to be delayed so they need a final answer today.

Either that or we just deal with it being a little tight and being a bit of an eye-sore and hope we get used to it.

OP posts:
pinfloy · 07/01/2021 12:54

Have you worked out the difference in fridge/freezer space between the integrated unit and your current fridge freezer?

Original poster
KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 12:56

@pinfloy

Have you worked out the difference in fridge/freezer space between the integrated unit and your current fridge freezer?
We'd lose just over 200l storage.
OP posts:
pinfloy · 07/01/2021 13:07

We'd lose just over 200l storage

Sounds like the fridge freezer is even more massive than I imagined.

Original poster
KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 13:11

@pinfloy

We'd lose just over 200l storage

Sounds like the fridge freezer is even more massive than I imagined.

It's big! To be honest we struggle to fill it it's so big, but as the kids grow we'll need more and more food and until we build a garage there's no back up plan. The fact we can't stand in front and open it comfortably has really put me off.
OP posts:
Africa2go · 07/01/2021 13:12

OP only you can decide! Personally, I think it will be more than a little tight and I'd have the integrated FF and a lovely bright, spacious room every time and consider it £500 well spent (although won't you make a saving by not having to have the extra water connection fitted?). If you're absolutely desperate for more freezer space (although I'd try without - you may be surprised) I'd change things around in the utility room.

Lightsontbut · 07/01/2021 13:13

I'm loving the edited pictures!! I think it looks better when more integrated rather than just there by itself. Chalkboard is interesting but lots of work to keep nice. Can you have it properly built in with end panels and a top box which matches the rest of the kitchen? Might make it feel less plonked there. We also have an 800mm fridge and like you designed our kitchen around it as it has been a game changer for our family. Esp helpful during lockdown as we now don't need to go out for milk every 2/ 3 days and can stay away from the shops more.

Tangledtresses · 07/01/2021 13:15

You can live with it for a while.... you can change it in a year or so! See how it goes, at least you'll have a nice big fridge

pinfloy · 07/01/2021 13:16

The extra bit of peninsula you could have if getting an integrated fridge freezer, is there an option to put an undercounter freezer there?

Chambored · 07/01/2021 13:27

What’s going in the utility?
Could you get a combined washer / dryer to create more space circa extra fridge or freezer? (Whichever you’re think you need more, or just an extra free standing F/F)
Or stack the washer & dryer on top on each other?

Chambored · 07/01/2021 13:28

^ this is if you decided to ditch your American FF and revert to the integrated one, and are thinking of other options

SciFiScream · 07/01/2021 13:33

I thought it would be fine and you'd get used to it until I saw the measurements.

IMHO there isn't enough clearance. There's enough "space" but not useful space.

I think keep the FF but get rid of the L shaped peninsula. Push the drawer unit against the wall and find creative solutions to have more work surface space. Ie a cover for the sink, a pull out drawer that is actually hidden work surface. A butchers block on wheels. A cover for the hob.

We decided against a peninsula because it creates an obstacle to get around and is a dumping ground.

Daisydoesnt · 07/01/2021 13:34

OP definitely live with it for a bit, and then you can always decide to change things around if you need to later. As someone else has said, don't less this spoil what should be a really exciting time for your family.

In a year's time you'll either think 'what was I worrying about, it's all worked out great and we have our lovely big FF', or you'll be thinking 'let's get it sorted.'

It'll all work out.

Swipe left for the next trending thread