Jeez, that is tricky. I wouldn't like it. I'm one of those people who's kitchen is in full view of the front door, but the view is of the apron sink and a wall of windows looking onto the wooded back yard. I actually like it. I wouldn't if it was a big appliance.

Still, function is really important too. Is it hands down the very best layout you can do? Can you reconfigure the entrance to the kitchen someplace else so that you don't see the view of the fridge? Are there other options to explore? You can also panel the fridge and/or integrate it so that it doesn't really look like a fridge.

I'd stick with the peninsula, if at all possible.

I lived in a house, for years, that looked directly into the kitchen, at the back of the house, from the front door. At the kitchen sink. I hated it. It was a somewhat "open" floor plan, no doors.

When we moved, I insisted on a floor plan that didn't allow something like that to happen. Now my kitchen is tucked safely out of view.

Good luck

I have no problem with it all. With the open concept prevalent these days, you can usually see everything from everywhere. Just get a beautiful fridge. You could get a built-in or counter depth that looks like a built-in.

In my kitchen, the fridge is going to be the cleanest spot because dirty dishes can't collect there. I think I'd avoid it, though, or go for an integrated fridge.

I don't get it.

Like some Victorians used to drape the piano so its "legs" were not visible and wouldn't offend the vicar?

You'd really make a bad layout so somebody standing outside the room, on the doorstep, for 3 seconds wouldn't see the fridge? Did I miss something? Are fridges now somehow shameful now?

Do what's right for the room. Forget the rest. If it also happens to make sense to do something for another reason, fine, but I wouldn't make it a large factor in the decision.

Although its not ideal, I wouldn't mind seeing a full on front view of a refrigerator or wall ovens so much. However I would want the fridge to be free of any magnets and junk, and the cabinetry around it nicely detailed.

I do not like looking at the sides of appliances from a main focal point, especially if the fridge sticks out.

Sinks are problematic, because even the nicest sink tends to accumulate stuff around it and I don't care to look at soap and lotion bottles, dishracks or towel racks from the front door.

Currently I have a U-shaped kitchen with peninsula on one end with an island in the middle. Cooktop is in the island. Small, efficient work triangle, other than things landing on top of cooktop.

Think I liked the plan that started this thread (Option 1) best (today) as I've seen kitchens in FKB with the same layout. Not only is it lovely, but also flows very well, albeit, in the wrong direction from our dinner table. I could reverse it, but then you would see the range from the front door.

I have drawn out each option on paper & listed likes and dislikes of each. None are perfect! How does one ever decide which way to go if there is a flaw to every option?

Option 2 puts the fridge across a traffic aisle & 11 ft. from sink, but it would allow room for better equipment & ventilation.

Option 3 flows very nicely in the right direction, just the fridge & cooktop are now 11 ft. apart. Lot's of walking. Cooktop would then be on the peninsula & potentially visible from the front door, however I would lift the breakfast bar & that should hide it.

Option 4, basically keeps things as they are. Things landing on cooktop could potentially be solved with new fridge opening onto countertop instead of island. I actually like cooking at the island rather than facing a wall, but being on a wall would allow better equipment.

Herein, you see my dilema!

In a perfect world, I would prefer to not have a fridge staring someone in the face as they enter my house. But, it would be my kitchen, and functionality is key.
My wife and I recently put a bid on a house, and if we get it, the kitchen will be the first priority. As it sits right now, the kitchen is an L shape, with a head on view of the fridge as you enter the door. The formula I have in my head is making the kitchen U shaped, and having the side of the fridge being in plain view. From a cooks standpoint, I have to look at what will best serve me. If someone doesn't care for a fridge staring them in the face, that's fine. They don't have to live with it. And, provided that the fridge isn't a 35 year old Avacado dinosaur, I can think of a lot worse things to see at the front door.

Could you post a floorplan and perhaps a picture from the front door so we could see the situation?

Its all well and good to say do whats best for that room only and forget the rest. Thats apparently what they did in a townhouse development I where I did a project and the first thing you see when you look in the front door of every house is the powderroom toilet.

A fridge is not the same as the toilet, but the idea is the same. Part of the layout should be driven by how it looks from important sightlines. Should have a poor flooplan just so it looks good? No, but you are thinking the right way...what is acceptable for you to look at from the front door? What are the negatives of that layout? What are the positives?

My refrigerator would horrify you all...it's how we organize our lives. I don't have a rolodex...I have magnetic business cards stuck on my fridge. Plus...I have a kick-butt magnet collection with all sorts of interesting sayings. It keeps friends entertained.

So I would not want MY refrigerator on display "front and center." However...if I were willing to live a refrigerator-magent-free life...I'd consider it. Particularly if I could afford one of those refrigerators that looks like cabinetry.

I speak from having grown up in a house that is actually very well thought out and constructed, for its era, with the exception that the sink is is direct line with the front door, as is the side of the fridge. When the house was built, the fridge was approximately counterdepth (so, no matter), but its replacement is one of those behemoths that hangs out into the room.

So you look right through a rather formal entryway into the side of the fridge, the door covered with papers and magnets, and the sink surrounded by the normal detritus, particularly as my parents get older.

Its the one thing that they would have changed about the house right off the bat: what you looked at from the front door.

So, while you are in the planning stages, take these things into account, It doesn't need to appear that the kitchen isn't back there, just make sure its something that puts its best face forward.

I guess I am most concerned since I have a formal entry. My home is very traditional with formal entry, formal dining to the left and formal entry to the right - I'm not sure a view of the fridge fits here.

As to layouts, I've posted my kitchen layout evolution throughout the last few months - this current layout idea is the exception. REceived some great encouragement, but unfortunately the problem with each layout was never solved.

I think perhaps what I should do is get all options drawn up & put them all in one link. Then you could help me decide on the "lesser evil".

I appreciate everyones thoughts! And growlery, no worries. That's why I started this thread - to get opinions!

I'd tend to say no, especially with a formal, traditional house...UNLESS you're planning to hide the fridge with custom panels and handles so it blends in with the rest of the cabinetry.

I would not put the fridge in a place visible from the front door. I am rearranging my kitchen to move the fridge into a less conspicuous place. It's the very first thing you see in my kitchen and it will never look good there. As it is in the place that is the "impact wall", where your first impression comes from, it is important for me to have a lovely hood and countertop visible, not a big refrigerator.

However, if you had a paneled refrigerator in one of those armoire styles, it could be very nice. It's the big blob of shiny stainless steel that looks out of place in my kitchen.

Just ranting a bit at architects or home floorplan designers-- it is a design issue to attempt to impose a very formal look and arrangement at the entry, and then have an entry-way line of sight directly into a kitchen, no matter what appliance or counter is in that of sight.

It sounds like it may bother you to see the frig or bother you that your guests will see it. It's hard for me to say what would be good or bad, as depends on just exactly how it looks and hits you when you walk in--I could actually see some arrangements that would bother me more or less than others. If paneling is an option, that is a good thought if it allows you to get both your frig location and aesthetics. Would be worth the cost and find ways to trim elsewhere, if it is just a cost issue (meaning, if it would give a great result). If you are going to the trouble to remodel, then a good or improved location for the frig is going to be important.

Also, is there any thing you can do in the entryway to distract and draw the eye--doesn't sound like you're describing an entry that can handle an actual screen, but in some entries, the placement of dramatic art or accessories, or a mirror--keep you focused on the short view, whereas other entry designs intentionally draw you to look toward the back of the home.

Some of the paneled refrigerators I've seen are really beautiful. With panels and great hardware, it could look more like a pretty piece of furniture than an appliance. And if the space works, a chandelier or pendant could be visible too. Then you could have a nice layout and a nice view. As others have mentioned, post a layout and the experts here will guide you.

I wouldn't worry about it. In my "Formal Entry" is a Huge Neon sign that says , "This way to the Miele" I wanted to also put a sign there that said this way to Gaggenaeu but I couldnt find a neon sign that big!!! (LOL)

Gary

LOL Gary!

Unless I move my front door, I will have a view of the front or side it. The newest layout has the side, disguised with open shelving or paneling, in view. I am going to partially recess it into the back of a closet so it doesn't jut out past the counters.

I would keep the design you love best. I'm really excited about my plan. As others have said, you can always dress up the fridge. I'm on a budget and can't get a liebherr or anything, but there is a GE panel-ready, counter-depth fridge that I'm considering.

Here is a link that might be useful: GE CD panel ready fridge

I sympathize with the OP on this issue. Several of our designs had the frig be extremely visible once you entered our house. The more I thought about it, the more I disliked the idea and we finally came up with a design of where it was not visible.

Some of the Feng Shui websites mention that seeing a frig stimulates appetite...

But if it has panels or is somehow blended in to the rest of your wall, then it might work and not stimulate appetites!

We had exactly the same dilemma. Our house is a stone Tudor, i.e., traditional if not formal, and the only way for us to get the utility and flow we desired in our tiny kitchen was to open it to the dining room (which is right off the front entry hall. Thus, open entering you see the fridge, and near to it, the dishwasher. We opted to spend more to get paneled appliances, and I think they look great. I say go for the best layout you can get given the space, then if you think the visibility of the fridge will bother you, get one that accepts panels. Good luck!

We also dealt with a similar issue. In our case the choice was to keep the kitchen where it was or to flip it to the breakfast room area. Doing the latter gave us the big, spacious, functional kitchen we wanted, but it also opened up a view into the kitchen from the front door. One can't see any appliances, but you do get a lengthwise view of the island , the big triple window windows over the sink, glass display shelf uppers, and the prep sink in the island . We also did panels on the DW which would have been visible near the sink. I tried to figure out some other plan, but really no other feasible thing to do unless I wanted a kitchen about half the size. The way I look at it, there's also always the possibility of installing a pocket door (there are some really high tech systems out there) in the future.

From my front door you can see the stove. Well the side of my stove. I didn't even notice it when we bought the house. But after we moved in it bothered me. If you are questioning it now then it may not be the best plan.

If it's a choice b/w a good layout and seeing an appliance, I'd pick the layout hands down!

The only thing I would rather not have front & center is the sink, anything else is fine. But, again, if it means a compromise in layout, the layout would still win.

Our kitchen is in the line-of-sight from the front door and you see my GE Profile double ovens...no, not a Miele, Viking, etc. And it doesn't bother me a bit! I would feel the same way about the refrigerator and cooktop.

Functionality is a 24/7 factor, view from the front door is a very brief time maybe once or twice a week (not family or close friend)...no contest - layout!!

When you walk in my front door, you see the kitchen slightly to the right side and you see my beautiful counter depth ss refrig and the cabinets. When you are sitting in my dining room, there is a half wall that looks right into my kitchen and the refrig is right in front of you. And, guess what, it looks beautiful. I was a little concerned at first because my dining room is formal, but DH stained the wood on my half wall to match my furniture. Everything is new and bright and I love it. Don't make yourself get all up tight about it. If you love your lay-out go for it because in the end you will enjoy your new kitchen.

"Some of the Feng Shui websites mention that seeing a frig stimulates appetite"
hmmmmmmmm!!!!! Does this mean that folks with "Totalled integrated Fridges" tend to be on the "Thinner Side"
Now here's a "Weight control Program" that I bet nobody thought of¿¿¿

Gary

I think the key thing is not seeing an appliance or a functional area of the kitchen per se, rather what you see around or on the appliance in every day use that you have to think about. If you keep your sink or stove area neat, it could be a nice focal point, if you have a pile of stuff around the sink and keep pots on top of the stove, it may make a messy impression.

If I were to look at anything from a more formal area, a fridge (with no stuff on it) or a stack of wall ovens would be the least to worry about. A sink area or cooktop that were not kept clean, maybe not so much.

If the fridge is the main "focal point" then I wouldn't like it. If there is something else that distracts the view - window wall in the living room, even off to the side (as an example), seeing the fridge is secondary and not such a huge issue.

Another option might be to change/add the entry.

You can see the fridge from my front door as you enter my home. It is unavoidable but then I have a country casual home. If I had a more formal traditional home and could not avoid looking at the fridge, I would panel it, without the ice maker showing, and make it look more formal, furniture like. I do think of all appliances, the fridge is the best to conceal (with panels). Sink, especially during holidays, could look cluttered; same with range.

Having said that, if I had an option to keep the kitchen out of view from the entrance, like in my last home, I would.

It depends on your home and your style, I think.

Function of the layout comes first, but if the fridge had to be in view of the front door in a traditional home, I'd probably panel it to look like an armoire. But another functional aspect -- do you have glass in your front door or sidelights? I was thinking that I would not want my prep space or cooktop visible from the front door since it would make it harder to ignore a doorbell that rings at a bad time (like the solicitors who came after dark recently!) -- but could you be seen making a late night run to the fridge for a baby bottle, dish of ice cream or glass of wine? That might kill it for me.