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Original poster

New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?

52 replies

Jozijo · 07/03/2023 09:52

We're planning a house remodel and kitchen in a new space. I'm pretty happy with this plan now except I'm worried about easily reaching into the fridge freezer (well, the fridge part mainly). The fridge will open on the wrong side and there isn't a whole lot of room. We can slightly reduce the island to make a bit more space, but that doesn't solve the door opening the 'wrong way'. Do you think it will be a problem? I really want a side by side American FF (I know what people say but we have another freezer in the garage and I like the set up) and they only seem to work this way! We don't have space (or budget) for two full size fridge/freezer, and I think one won't be enough (current 70-30 FF is packed). Thank you!

New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
OP posts:
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Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 11:46

Can anyone help

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 07/03/2023 11:53

Is that an island? Will you have a separate dining table? Difficult to tell without measurements but I think it looks a bit tight for an island.

Hannahthepink · 07/03/2023 12:03

It's quite hard to tell exactly if it's the same size as ours, but we didn't have a huge gap in front of our fridge and it annoys me every day. On plan it was fine, but the reality of carrying something, opening the door and bending down to put it in means that you need more space than you think. If you can squeeze a little bit more space somehow, I would.

Digimoor · 07/03/2023 12:32

What about a french style fridge freezer instead?

Mumsafan · 07/03/2023 12:45

We have a french style fridge freezer (double doors at the top and two drawers). It is easily the best set up I have ever used.

Mumsafan · 07/03/2023 12:46

Also - if you have an island - have you thought about having a drawer fridge put into that? You would probably need a separate freezer.

Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 13:19

Kitchen is 4.2m long (3.4 on shorter side), the space between those cupboards and island is currently 90cm but we can get it to 1.1m. don't really want to lose any island storage if can help it! I really like the freezer stuff to be organised and worry I'll be rummaging around trying to find frozen peas in those deep drawers you get on the French style ones. I've attached more pics 🙂

New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
OP posts:
Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 13:21

Wow, I'd never heard of these. Are they any good?

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Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 13:27

Mumsafan · 07/03/2023 12:45

We have a french style fridge freezer (double doors at the top and two drawers). It is easily the best set up I have ever used.

Can you explain why? What about rummaging in big freezer drawers, is it not a pain? If french style one door would still swing out the 'wrong way' but maybe we could keep the most used things on the left and easier to grab. I am really keen on a side by side but I have a feeling it's going to be awkward grabbing things from the fridge in this set up...

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/03/2023 13:36

Why not have the island up against the wall? (Penninsula?) That will leave room by the fridge then.

Bb90 · 07/03/2023 13:41

Can you rotate the Island 90degrees, by the look of your plans you seem to have the space width ways as long as you avoid a pinch point with the storage unit? this will increase the gap between the doors and the island?

New kitchen plan - can I reach the fridge?
Escapingafter50years · 07/03/2023 13:42

Could you rotate the island 90 degrees, so it goes more into the dining space but leaves you more room around it at the kitchen end?

Escapingafter50years · 07/03/2023 13:43

Ah @bb90 great minds and all that!

redandyellowbits · 07/03/2023 13:46

I have a gap of 1.1m between fridge and island and its perfect. Any smaller would feel cramped and would annoy me, I would go for bigger gap if possible.

Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 14:08

Escapingafter50years · 07/03/2023 13:42

Could you rotate the island 90 degrees, so it goes more into the dining space but leaves you more room around it at the kitchen end?

Ha I was actually just wondering about that! In many ways it would make sense for space for sure and help solve the fridge problem. Downsides are that it would be good to have the drawers of the island opposite the main kitchen area with sink etc. I am thinking about this!

I guess a question is that if there is plenty of space (e.g. if shorten the island or turn it round), is it just annoying having a side by side American FF at the far end of the kitchen with the fridge opening the 'wrong way'. Does anyone else have this?

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Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 14:12

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/03/2023 13:36

Why not have the island up against the wall? (Penninsula?) That will leave room by the fridge then.

This is also an interesting and sensible solution. I don't know why is seems so radical, only that I've been thinking of an island for so long! And some stools would face away from the kitchen activity. It really would make a lot more space though.

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Mumsafan · 07/03/2023 14:20

Jozijo · 07/03/2023 13:27

Can you explain why? What about rummaging in big freezer drawers, is it not a pain? If french style one door would still swing out the 'wrong way' but maybe we could keep the most used things on the left and easier to grab. I am really keen on a side by side but I have a feeling it's going to be awkward grabbing things from the fridge in this set up...

Show quote history

Ours only looks like big freezer drawers from the outside. Once we open the drawers there are various sections, shelves, smaller drawers etc inside the big drawer. I suppose it's down to which one people choose, and how they arrange things inside. Ours is a Haier.

Don't have a fitted appliance as you lose so much space.

Keep an open mind about your plan and don't be afraid to change it. We've done this a few times in various houses over the years (DH is a builder), and I've found it to be beneficial to stress levels to decide what I wanted/needed and plan around that. Don't be afraid to go back to the kitchen planner with your own plan . Its your kitchen and you have to work in it.

ApolloandDaphne · 07/03/2023 14:23

I have an ordinary tall integrated fridge in my kitchen. When the door is open you can't get past the end of the island. It's been like that for 10 years and it hasn't bothered me or anyone else one jot. It's not like you have your fridge open all the time.

Daftapath · 07/03/2023 14:25

French style fridge with double opening top doors and two full width drawers under are so much more practical and flexible than american style. The freezer of an American style is much too narrow - can only fit small pizzas in Grin. French all the way!

To answer your question about fridge door opening the 'wrong' way, I have a standard fridge with the door opening 'wrong'. If it is just me in the kitchen, it's fine. Can be a bit cramped and we end up doing the fridge dance if anyone else is around!

Madcats · 07/03/2023 14:25

I would also rotate the island. I would also think about having an L shaped banquette for the dining table. If you (re)moved the sideboard it would free up a lot of space.

I think the key thing is to have a think about how you actually cook/eat (or want to). There is no point having a microwave pride of place if you only use it for a few minutes/month.

I didn't really have room for an American fridge (I wanted the extra cupboard space) so I have an undercounter drawer fridge close to the hob and a traditional fridge freezer round the corner.
You could easily have an undercounter fridge in the island (electrics permitting). I have a 15 year old version of this, which is primarily used for milk/juice/condiments and cheese/deli stuff:
home.liebherr.com/en/gbr/products/household-appliances/built-in-appliances/built-in-refrigerators/details/uiko-1550_123348.html

CurlsLDN · 07/03/2023 14:33

@Daftapath did you know it’s incredibly easy to take off a standard fridge door and put the ‘hinge’ on the other side? They’re designed to do this! Go and have a look and you’ll probably see the holes already in place ready to swap it round.

not so easy with a double door as in the op though, of course

MyfavouriteisA · 07/03/2023 14:35

Just measured my island distance from fridge and freezer doors Jozijo and they are 1 metre apart exactly. I have plenty of room to open the door and stand perusing shelves plus bend down to remove items from the bottom shelves.
I don’t understand your question about the door opening the ‘wrong way’ as surely, if it was the other way round, you’d have to sort of exit the kitchen work area space to open the door back on yourself and this would be most annoying.

Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 14:46

MyfavouriteisA · 07/03/2023 14:35

Just measured my island distance from fridge and freezer doors Jozijo and they are 1 metre apart exactly. I have plenty of room to open the door and stand perusing shelves plus bend down to remove items from the bottom shelves.
I don’t understand your question about the door opening the ‘wrong way’ as surely, if it was the other way round, you’d have to sort of exit the kitchen work area space to open the door back on yourself and this would be most annoying.

Thanks, good to know 1m is OK. What I mean is that the FF will be at the far end of the kitchen. We'll always be approaching it from the right and with the American side by side the fridge is always on the right. Therefore you have to approach and open the door towards you and get behind it whereas it's more convenient to open the door away from you as then you see the fridge contents immediately. Hard to tell how annoying (or not) this would be! If it was a normal single sized FF you would just put the hinge on the other side to have it opening the way you want.

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Original poster
Jozijo · 07/03/2023 14:50

Ooh I haven't seen that in in the ones I've looked at. Will look more.

You are right on the design. Our architect is doing the kitchen and she's a bit bossy but she won't be living with it for the next 30 years! So it is a good reminder to be firm.

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Strictlyfanoftenyears · 07/03/2023 15:06

Also having open shelves on the island will drive you bananas, everything will be on show there. (And people/ kids will stuff things there...............)