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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?

OP posts:

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AlaskaBird · 07/01/2021 07:54

Another vote for saying it's absolutely fine. A large fridge/freezer is wonderful and you'll be cursing a smaller one with everything rammed in. Also, I don't know how old your DCs are but when they become teenagers you need masses of food as they eat all the time!!
It looks like a beautiful kitchen - enjoy the newness and freshness once it's in.

picklemewalnuts · 07/01/2021 07:55

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

In time you may not need such a big fridge freezer and can rethink, but in the meantime you'll have the storage you'll need. I removed integrated in favour of a freezer similar to yours. I don't regret it even if the space is a bit tight now.

Has the freezer already been delivered? It may be worth checking the depth. There were a couple that were too deep that I couldn't have.

Original poster

KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 07:55

I've managed to dig this out my emails which explains the lay out better

OP posts:

Baxdream · 07/01/2021 08:59

I had an integrated fridge freezer in my old kitchen (like what yours would have been). I also had a wine fridge and it wasn't big enough so you're right to change it.

I'm planning on an American fridge this time for those exact reasons. I actually think your picture doesn't describe it well. I think it'll look fine. I'd definitely look to get panelling when you can afford to so it's more built in.
Has the old fridge freezer been changed to a unit and wall cabinet? Ie you get more worktop space? If so that's a great idea.

Original poster

KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 09:04

I'm not sure whether to phone and query having the integrated instead and how much it'll cost but worried I'll regret it. Panicking now!

OP posts:

billybagpuss · 07/01/2021 09:13

I’d probably keep the American but sacrifice the breakfast bar, do you need it if it’s a kitchen diner and you’ll have a table as well?

We had our American ff hanging over the part of patio door that didn’t open, it was fine but it stuck out and now we’ve redesigned I’ve appreciated how much it actually annoyed me.

MaggieFS · 07/01/2021 09:15

OP, what's the distance between the fridge and the end of the unit? It comes up blurry for me on the image you've posted.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 07/01/2021 09:21

I’d be concerned about the grill on the back of the fridge freezer which will leave a large gap at the back that will make it take up even more space.

pinfloy · 07/01/2021 09:22

Do you know the size of the integrated they would fit?

WeLovePeaSoup · 07/01/2021 09:26

Please do not get integrated fridge. If it’s breaks down you have to have the same size and you might don’t have that much choice then.
I do agree the photo doesn’t look good but like you said it’s not your kitchen and the fridge on the photo is not the fridge you are getting.
I love the idea with the chalkboard or the bookcase. It would look fine, I wouldn’t worry. We have an American fridge freezer and I went from a small build in fridge plus a smaller fridge and freezer and an another good size freezer to an American one. I thought it won’t be big enough but I fit so much in it, which always surprises me. If you want to see how much you can fit in it just message me and I can send a photo privately.
Ours is next to the build in double oven and it’s only sticking out about 20cm maybe 30 at a push. So don’t worry it won’t look horrible. Good luck and how exciting to have a new kitchen.

treeeeemendous · 07/01/2021 09:28

Looking at your picture I'd keep the kitchen L shaped. Lose the breakfast bar and turn the drawer unit round if you can't lose that too and put the fridge next to it on the end.

If you are having a table in there I don't see the point of a tiny breakfast bar, it will become a dumping ground.

Baxdream · 07/01/2021 09:28

I don't think you can lose the breakfast bar as you'd have hardly any worktop space without it.
Strangely the kitchen layout reminds me of the 4 bed houses at Center Parcs! The kitchen is the same without the American fridge freezer. It's not a big kitchen (sorry op).
Without knowing the rest of the house, in an ideal world I'd make the whole room the kitchen with the dining table in the middle. I know that's not an option though.

Baxdream · 07/01/2021 09:31

Looking at it, a run of units along the wall that the oven is on, to include the fridge, would be brilliant. The dining table would then go between the two doors.
You'd get rid of the breakfast bar entirely

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 07/01/2021 09:33

I would out a thin floor to ceiling screen of board the same white as the side of the breakfast bar against your Monster Fridge. Then put a lovely picture / artwork on the top half, and shallow shelves with attractive storage (baskets etc) or cooler than books on the lower half.

LOL, my SIL lives in America and has a tiny fridge... but then she is in a Manhattan apartment, not a massive house in Cleveland or New Jersey.

sosotired1 · 07/01/2021 09:34

I think you may as well try it and see if it works with the big fridge. It is actually super easy to change the tall cupboard to the left of the sink to accommodate a very tall built in fridge freezer. We just did it and it is big enough for our family of 4. Could you have a second freezer in a garage or another space if you needed more freezer space?

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 07/01/2021 09:36

I agree that you need to keep the ‘breakfast bar’ as worktop space. By the time you have kettle and toaster out, bread bin / bread board and anything else you keep out, you will need space to prepare all the food from that fridge!

Puffalicious · 07/01/2021 09:37

Don't panic OP, I think if you can put the bookcase or PPs Pintrest suggestion of the oak framed blackboard on that side it'll look good. Like you say, if it doesn't work or suit you you can get it built round at a later date.

Original poster

KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 09:38

There's 300cm between breakfast bar and fridge. I've found one fridge 11cm slimmer if that would make a difference.

OP posts:

im5050 · 07/01/2021 09:41

Can you not get intergrated fridge / freezer and put them under the kitchen bar
That what I have done so absolutely no waste of space
Kitchen bars are often not designed well in terms of space and storage

At the very least I would be making the kitchen bar into some form of storage space with doors and shelves under them

Original poster

KitchenLayoutHelp · 07/01/2021 09:43

@im5050

Can you not get intergrated fridge / freezer and put them under the kitchen bar That what I have done so absolutely no waste of space Kitchen bars are often not designed well in terms of space and storage At the very least I would be making the kitchen bar into some form of storage space with doors and shelves under them

There are pan drawers and a cupboard underneath the breakfast bar

OP posts:

williowrosenburg · 07/01/2021 09:45

Hi op,

We have a similar lay out for our fridge/island. It's fine. The only issue we have is the size of the freezer..... far to small for us.
But looks wise it's fine.

It may help you draw a floor plan to scale. Then you can actually see the space you have between fridge and Island.

With ours, if the door is open you can't get past.... but it's not like you'd leave the fridge open for extended periods! So doesn't really cause an issue.

im5050 · 07/01/2021 09:46

Ah right I have fridge / freezer with the doors the same as my units under mine
But I feel your pain
I have a bloody big bin in my kitchen as the designer fucked it up
I am still pissed off with it 8 years on 😂

JM10 · 07/01/2021 09:48

I think it's fine op, it won't look as open, but it also won't look as closed as in your picture. Easier to live with a less open kitchen than a fridge freezer that's too small for your family

Africa2go · 07/01/2021 09:54

Are you sure there's 3m (300cm?) between the breakfast bar and the fridge??!! That doesn't sound right!

We're a family of 5 (including 2 never-full teenagers) and I don't like American Fridge Freezers - think they dominate the space which is exactly what yours looks like in the photo - so did masses of research about integrated fridge freezers. Ours is 60/40 fridge/freezer and works really well. Had it for 4 years and never had an issue with it.

I think you'll regret at least not finding out what options you still have at this stage - what the costs would be and what the developer can do to re-arrange things - and going ahead with the FF. That kitchen diner looks a lovely bright space and if your family is anything like mine, you/your family will spend quite a bit of time in there and it needs to be a space you love (in my opinion). The screen / blackboard /built in cabinet are all good ideas to disguise a big ugly FF but it will make the room look horribly cramped and I think losing part of your breakfast bar to allow for the FF is a big mistake. Sorry.

BiteyShark · 07/01/2021 09:55

Having made decisions based on looks rather than practicalities in the past I would pick function over aesthetics.

Integrated appliances look nice but are a pain when they break as you have less choice.

It will be fine OP.

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