Will my refrigerator be too far? Need layout help

10 years ago

I posted another much lengthier post, but think I missed the mark posing my question......
Is moving my refrigerator 11ft from my stove, and about 16ft from my sink too far?? The fridge would be 6ft from the nearest work counter (there would be counter on either side of the refrigerator, but I doubt I would do any work or prep there, it would be mostly a landing zone). There would be a walkway to the dining room and backdoor access right through the kitchen and through my path to the fridge, but it would give me a larger kitchen and dining area. Thoughts?? ideas??
I am considering moving my refrigerator to a wall that currently houses my eat in kitchen. I would surround the fridge with cabinets and counter. I would be moving my kitchen table to a 'dining room' around the corner that is currently a playroom/family room. I started another question where I was seeking advice on losing a living space if I turned the playroom/family room into my dining space. Please see link to other thread for those details if you don't mind.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0617331412022.html?5

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Comments (6)

homebuyer23
10 years ago
Would your new dining area be that space that's visible in the picture, with the blue walls & the shelving?

What is the purpose/intended use of that room originally, as in what would the architect/builder who designed your home have called that space?

I do think that space would make a nice dining area...its close enough to be a casual every night dinner table but separated enough to feel more formal when you have company.

That wall does seem like it'd be pretty far from the sink for your Refrigerator. But there's some advantages to having it there...all builtin with cabinets would look nice, it'd be easy access to grab stuff during dining, quick snacks etc.

I don't know, I'm not one of the layout experts around here for sure! If you can sketch out your first floor layout on graph paper & post it you may get some better opinions. There might be better layout options for you.

Good Luck!!
lascatx
10 years ago
I would not want my fridge that far away. from the sink or stove. A prep sink could help, but that's only one fo the issues.
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Thanks for your suggestions, All! You've given me much to think about. I was trying to figure out if a U shape would work, and it helps to see it drawn out. It would work, but I have to decide whether or not I should give up one or both of the angled cabinets. Love the look of the angles over a strict galley as it opens it up and will make it different from everyone else's in our community....The angled look would tie in so well with the other angles in our unit (It is not a rectangle, but more of a "wedge" shape - narrow at the front door and opening to a wide, panaramic waterview through sliders and picture windows.) Anyway, the angled opening would also would make it feel bigger...but it does cut down a bit on counter and storage space. Think we'll be fine with the cabinet space since the wall we are opening up is 5" thick, so we'll gain that space at the end of each side. We also will be taking the cabinets to the ceiling, so will gain an extra shelf in all wall cabinets. So, prefer the look that creates challenges...but it does help to hear from all of you so we can make these decisions after considering everything!
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The fridge is farther from the cooktop than the NKBA recommended max distance of 9' between appliances, but I don't see another location, except where you have the ovens drawn. I would move the DW to the left of the sink, so it's not in the primary prep space between the sink and cooktop. NKBA guidelines New to Kitchens? Read me first.
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Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to add their suggestions/thoughts! My husband is taking an entirely hands off approach to this remodel so it's nice to have others weigh in with their expertise and advice since I have no background in home improvement! HU- 187528210- I definitely see your point about moving the fridge to the left to make a tighter work triangle but I do agree with chispa that moving it to that location might interfere with the doorway to the laundry/mudroom. decoenthusiaste- Thank you for the diagram! It helps to see the triangle with measurements included. I did try moving the range and ovens to where the refrigerator is in one iteration of the design but worried that if I kept it there, it would be an issue if the oven door was open when one of the kids was running from the mudroom into the living room (behind the north wall). I also thought it would be nice if the refrigerator could be more easily accessed from the dining and living areas. palimpsest- You're right, a couple extra steps beyond what is recommended hopefully won't make too much of a difference! And as I said to decoenthusiaste above, you totally called it on the limitations of the range and ovens being relocated to the wall where the fridge is! kevin9408- now you've got me feeling insecure about my "kitchen desert!" lol Early on I had considered doing an island but, like I mentioned in my original post, I decided that keeping my kids on the perimeter of the kitchen while I cook might be preferable to having them in the kitchen while I cook. I've also seen so many gorgeous kitchens with islands but always think, "man, what a pain to have to walk all the way around that island every time you need to get something out of the fridge." Maybe there's an island solution to both of those problems that i haven't thought of but so far I haven't been able to make it work in my space :( Perhaps a mini island in the middle? Like a lone palm tree on my desert :) H202- Thanks for keeping it real. You are also right, it is so easy to get caught up in these details during the design process that become complete non-issues once the job is complete! I probably won't even notice the extra few steps to the fridge! But I gotta say, now I don't know if all of the wasted space in the center of the kitchen that kevin9408 pointed out will be something that looks particularly odd and bothers me when it's done. Will try to keep your wise words in mind though and move on:)
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deedles
10 years ago
An overhead view of the proposed layout would help a lot.
User
10 years ago
Post the overhead diagram, but yes, essentially the fridge will be much too far from the action as proposed. Maybe do a small fridge in a buffet area if you think refrigeration would work in that area, but do the main cold food storage near the prep zone.
rosie
10 years ago
Well, in a smallish house, which I lived in for a lot of years, I like multifunctioning rooms. In your place, I might rev up the "play room" to be a family dining, homework, play, projects, whatever space. I'd put a bird bath and feeder on view outside so we could watch them have breakfast with us and bathe during dinner.

To better the relationship with the kitchen, I might close back up part of the opening to the living room (I know!) and place the refrigerator on the end of the counter opposite where it is now, or even at least explore the possibility of turning the U so that the open counter faced the current dining area and had a line of sight into the family dining/play room.

The current dining area might be very cramped for that use, but it's right in the middle of everything and would likely be a great spot for visiting with friends, chatting on the phone while dinner finishes up, playing near mommy, laptopping, chatting with DH, so perhaps a sofa and chair, a small table for setting drinks and Ninja warriors on (not for seating a family). If your living room is typical, it has one seating group, and that's focused on the TV. Another where those not interested in basketball or Scoobydoo could sit and chat with whoever's busy in the kitchen might be a very nice thing to have.
erinraugustine
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for your your responses. I believe I mixed up the titles of my rooms....I will be opening up the kitchen to our FAMILY ROOM (I mistakingly called it our living room, because it's where we do our living....) It has our sectional sofa, TV, and fireplace, and is 15x17 vs the playroom/living room which is 11x13. Rosie, I like the idea of the dining being a 'rev'd up' dining/family room, as that is what it would definitely turn into with our lifestyle.

Will my refrigerator be too far? Need layout help

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Will my refrigerator be too far? Need layout help

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