52'' aisle, 36'' fridge door. Bad?

15 years ago

Fridge trouble. We can't pick. We thought we needed a French door style (or side-by-side) because of the 52" aisle. But the big door fridges use space a little better (and don't have the weird gasket issues that at least one FD fridge we're considering has). They're even cheaper! But the swing clearance for the one we'd get is 38" and the aisle will be around 52". Ug. Bad idea in this space, or really bad idea?

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Comments (9)

evilbunnie
15 years ago
Hmm. How many cooks? How much traffic thru the kitchen? If it's a one-cook kitchen, and not a major thruway, I guess it could work, but certainly isn't optimal. Hopefully someone with a similar real-world setup can opine. I think it could be a problem because it effectively blocks access to the DR. Is that where you normally eat?
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Buehl
15 years ago
I think it's fine. For one thing, you don't generally open the door and leave it open for an extended length of time (except maybe unloading groceries). For another, how often do you open it fully so the entire 38" is sticking out into the aisle?

Even when fully opened 90o, you will have 14"...that's enough room for someone to scoot by if they really need to.

My concern would be to be sure the door hinges are on the left so you can utilize the counter b/w the cooktop & refrigerator for landing space.

Actually, with your setup, a single door works better anyway. With FD refrigerators, the best landing space is in front of it, not to the side, since the doors block access to the counter on both sides.
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Fori
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I hadn't really thought about landing zones. We currently have a similar setup with a full-depth side-by-side and use the counter opposite as a landing zone. It's a little closer because there is a 12" pseudopenninsula there, but THAT's going away.

We do have traffic. I can just picture my klutzy 3.5 year old doing her laps and running smack into an open door. Why does that thought make me giggle? I am bad.

If I want to go "up" a brand, I can get a 36" fridge with a 34.4" swing. Hmmmm. I need to see how that works.
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rhome410
15 years ago
I have a 33" fridge with 46" in front. When the door is open 90 degrees, there is 14"...and mine even opens the 'wrong way', and still no problems. Like Buehl said, the fridge shouldn't be open that long and people can wait a second, or the person at the fridge can pull in a bit.
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Fori
Original Author
15 years ago
I was in the kitchen playing with measurements and think perhaps if I do go single door, I'd want it hinged "wrong" so I'd see people coming around the corner before slamming 'em.

Big door fridges really open up a lot of possibilities. Back to the store!
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bmorepanic
15 years ago
You'll be fine with a 54" aisle - you'll have 16" for you and most people stand a bit towards the opening side to use one.

I think getting it hinged the wrong way would make for a long term regret. Instead of being able to get stuff out and place it beside the sink in one go, you'll have to put it on the baking/seating counter, close da door and then move it. You are twelve inches into the room so opening the door would not completely block either exit door.
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remodelfla
15 years ago
Now your making me rethink my frig choice. I plan on a frig on the end of a run and the aisle across will be 4'. I had always thougth FD or SXS... DH prefers the SXS and I'm ambivalent unless I was able to the Liebherr free standing FD at a killer price. Otherwise I'm focusing in on the Bosch SXS. Are you saying I'd do better with a single door, left hinged? Does anyone know off hand how much freezer/frig space you get in a smaller 33" or 30" single door? Boy... I'd have to sell DH on the smaller frig notion but it the CU IN are close, I could end up with up to 6 more inches of counter space which I'd love. Or even a 36" induction top if I choose.
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vicnsb
15 years ago
fori, my 36 single door is only 43 inches across from my island granite edge.
When the door is opened straight at island, there is only 8 1/2 inches left,
not enough for anyone to scoot by. It works out fine because a refrig. door is
only opened for short blasts and when loading.
Unless its a teenager standing there staring at whats inside like its gonna change or something.
I would definitely make it hinged for your ease of use while cooking, prepping, snacking or loading.
vic
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plllog
15 years ago
LOL!!! Fori, you're not really bad because in your silent movie she's not hurt or crying...

I LOVE cooking in galleys. They're so much easier! But when I tried to shrink my kitchen to do that you all talked me out of the tree. No, wait...that's when I was out of my tree, so y'all talked me back into it. But...

Feh. Your fridge. Plenty of room. Single door is better. Hinge on the right as you're facing it is actually the right way because that way it opens toward the door where all the thirsty ketchup seekers are looking for pickles, olives and camponata. However much you'll have to walk around the door while you're actually cooking, it'll keep 'em out of your workspace.

Voice of experience :)
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