Does this ruin my new kitchen?

[KitchenLayoutHelp]

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?

@KitchenLayoutHelp I don’t think you need to worry about arranging furniture around the fridge. With my in laws kitchen (exactly same layout as yours) the fridge just ‘Fits’ in, I think it just feels as though it’ll stick out like a sore thumb at the moment.

It will be fine. A friend of mine has this exact kitchen layout with the large fridge and it looks fine, and is very practical.
Also my mum had a new kitchen done 5 years ago and she still complains about the integrated fridge freezer and how it's too small and there's only two of them!
I like the idea of the bookcase or chalkboard too.

I think it'll look fine. You just need time to get used to it.

Last 3 comments are very reassuring thank you

I had a similar issue in our previous place. We asked our builder to put in a housing unit around our samsung american, and on the side he put narrow shelving (Howdens do them). So if you imagine walking into your kitchen area, you would have shelves on the left and your breakfast bar on the right. It only looks odd because as you walk in, you see a big slab of silver (the side of your fridge freezer) but imagine that you saw shelving in the same colour as your kitchen - it would look lovely. It doesn't take up any room - the housing unit just ties in the fridge. The shelves on the side only come out around 100mm. Lovely kitchen btw.

I think you could get away with it by doing something with the plain side that's on show.
Hanging plants? Artwork, or a blackboard or something.

I'd take better/more storage over looks any day. You'll not even notice it after a while. Does the first photo look a little better? Yes. Has it ruined your kitchen? No!

It's not ideal but I think you'll stop noticing it once you're in. Living with a small fridge would be much more annoying on a daily basis. The breakfast bar might be shorter than you have drawn it on the plan too, if it's just to fit two.

@KitchenLayoutHelp

Found this on pinterest which the kids would love 😂

@KitchenLayoutHelp

Perfect!
Either go for something like that and make a feature of the side of the fridge.
Or, do like your previous edit job and try the bookcase idea.
I think whilst your original pic did look cumbersome, it’s clearly the most practical option for your family. Plus with the reduced breakfast bar, and once in situ, it won’t look quite so stark.

Also. 100% agree with @OldAndWornOut. Do something nice with the exposed side.

I honestly think you'll feel fine about it once it's in. Don't worry!

I really like the idea of putting a shallow bookshelf or partition wall down the side of the fridge.

Having a large fridge freezer is so important. I recently faced a similar dilemma. The kitchen in my new house is a similar shape. I did look at integrated fridge freezers but they are just a bit too small. I had one in the past and I was forever rearranging things in the fridge and freezer trying to fit everything in.

can people not read

im going to call put the integrated frige back in the new cancel the cheque

it looks fine btw op

Put some photos and magnets on it. You'll soon get used to it.

It looks awful, sorry. Who on earth designed that? Obviously not a professional kitchen designer.

Awful. We are a family of 7 and manage just fine with the integrated type you have at the back. I miss having an ice maker though.

@Wingedharpy

No point having a tiny fridge that looks beautiful, though.

Practicality over aesthetics every time, in this house.

This!

I don’t see anything wrong with it. Maybe do something to distract from side of fridge? I wouldn’t add more furniture maybe just something to distract from the silver

Your bookcase idea looks lovely OP. - neater than the blackboard thing if you're aiming for "Homes and Gardens" look.

My thought was a small console table, with lower shelf, the same width as the FF, running from front to back, if you get my drift.
Would be a good dumping ground/storage space for odds and ends that will otherwise be dumped on the kitchen worktops.
Fancy cook books on lower level of console.
Small mirror, family photos etc artistically arranged and held on to side of fridge with those jumbo sticky back things - hell, you won't even recognise it as a fridge by the time you've finished👍

Pe ordered is not too late. Only fitted!!

Put some photos and magnets on it
I recommend not taking interior design advice from people who think fridge magnets look acceptable.

Just had a new kitchen and it really helped me to build it in Lego to scale. I used the model to squeeze an extra cupboard in which didn't look possible on paper.
Another thing which might help before you finalise is to use the Ikea kitchen planner. If you have the dimensions of your room, kitchen plan and fridge it will enable you to draw it and see it as a 4d drawing. Really helped me to visualise things.
Definitely keep the big fridge. You will need it and regret it if you downsize it. You might be able to get a panel to match the kitchen if that makes it blend for you or just have a fridge. Not everything needs tonne integrated and hidden.

We have a similar layout. Our fridge freezer is in the corner which would be nearest the camera in the picture. Never mind how it looks, it would be difficult to use in the position it is proposed.

@SpikySara

Put some photos and magnets on it I recommend not taking interior design advice from people who think fridge magnets look acceptable.

@SpikySara

It looks awful, sorry. Who on earth designed that? Obviously not a professional kitchen designer.

The first picture was the kitchen plan by the developers. We provided the measurements of our fridge and this was the only option without eating into the dining room. We're just trying to make the best of the space we have.