We just bought a new CD fridge and I'm pretty sure somewhere in the owners manual or installation instructions it gave dimensions including how much clearance is needed to the sides to open the interior drawers.

If you don't have the paper manuals, you should be able to find them in a google search.

12" is best. Instead of filler, get a 12" pullout - you can use it for broom and similar type storage. If you don't need a Utility pullout, it can be used for many other things - canned goods, flour, etc. You may need 1/4" filler b/w the wall and the pullout, but it's well worth it!

Have you had your layout reviewed here? I'm guessing not since that issue would have been caught... I strongly recommend posting it here for review b/f you order cabinets.

If you're really stuck, you might be able to find a single door fridge that opens the other way. It will make it harder to find a landing space but...

Also, have you checked out the specs for different fridges to be sure the 3" isn't enough? There are a few different hinge setups and you might get lucky.

Buehl is right of course: 12" is useful as a pullout (or something smaller can be a hinged bit of filler that you can stash brooms behind). Post layout!

(You can tell who has small kitchens: those of us who automatically look for USEFUL fillers!)

the refrigerator won't be counter depth and it's not a full wall, but the fridge is about 36 and the wall is about 43-47'', so the handles will come past the wall giving me more room to open. I don't have room for a 12'' broom closet though. Should I choose a 6'' filler instead of 3''?

Do you need that wall? Is it load-bearing?

Yes, I can shave it down 4'', don't know if it will help

No, it doesn't look like 4" will help.

Siena's idea about moving the DW to the other side might work, but then you'd lose the symmetry of the cupboards flanking the window.

not only that, but there is no other place for the refrigerator.

Move the dw to the other side of the sink. Move the sink to the right. Thats right it will not be centered on the window. Move the refrigerator enough to the right to have a 12" pullout. Personally I think symmetry is over rated. I don't have symmetry on either side of my sink or my range. Its not noticeable.

To follow up on debrak, depending on how far over you have to move the sink you still might be able to center the faucet on the window. That's what most notice anyway. Just a thought.

because of my ceiling and lights I need to keep everything center and symmetric

Definitely move the dishwasher to the other side of the sink. Between the sink and range is the best prep location in a kitchen. Having a dishwasher between the sink and range means you can't be working there and open the dishwasher. That means:

1) The cook can't clean-as-you-go.

2) A non-cook cannot do the dishes while the cook cooks.

3) No one, including the cook, can grab something from the dishwasher without displacing the cook.

As for your fridge issue, swap the fridge and pantry locations and put a prep sink in the island. That actually makes this a much better kitchen generally. You end up with:

a) two great work zones for two cooks

b) a separate clean-up area that doesn't get in the way of cooking

c) a ton of storage for dishes right next to the dishwasher, so unloading is fast and easy

d) a ton of storage for dishes that can be accessed without entering the cook zones

Like so:

I also added an extra version with a larger window, if you are open to changing that. Currently, this is kind of a cabinet-heavy kitchen. It would be nice to visually lighten it up a bit. Another option would be to keep the window the same size, but put glass doors on the uppers flanking the window.

Jilius thank you so much, that does look good. I will try to make these changes. The only negative is I would need a counter depth fridge. Too late to make the window bigger, would have been nice.

Glad it was helpful!

What if i put a 9'' broom closet to the left of the refrigerator?

Jullius you don't think that the refrigerator will be too far out of reach if I put it by the pantry?

I just did a kitchen with the same issue. It really is a matter of what your specific fridge needs. You have to look at the specs. Or you can just place your fridge against a wall and try it out, then move it to the right and see how far you have to go before you can get the drawers open.

abick2, your picture shows a 2 door refrigerator.
This may be a dumb question..but is it indeed a double door? The reason I ask is that many 36" refrigerator are single door. while I think that the DW / fridge swap is a great idea, if you have a single door, another easier option may be to reverse your fridge door.

Gemcap, actually, almost no 36" fridges are single door models. The weight on hinges of one large door full of food isn't something that holds up over time. Older fridges that didn't try to store gallons of milk on the door had single doors more often, but they stop were less common than double doors.

It will be a French door refrigerator. Unfortunately I can't move anything to see how it will look because it's new construction so I need to make it right the first time. Chinchette, which fridge did they buy, did they have a problem banging the door against the wall?

It is so unfortunate your KD did not catch this. Have you already purchased the fridge? If you did, you really have to look at the specs for your model. If you haven't, then you need to look for one with minimal clearances and adjust your cabinet plans accordingly. I have a 36" full depth and needed a 15" pantry for clearance. Jillius's plan to move it is a great idea. I prefer fridge traffic out of my work space. Will you have a table in that nook or is it a path to the deck? It's hard to tell from your plans, but is the kitchen open to another room on the left, like a family room? This is helpful to know for typical traffic flow as everyone in the house wants access to the fridge and sink.

What is the measurement of the return wall depth next to your pantry? I pulled out my pantry and fridge cab to box it in. You would need 31-34" depending on your specific fridge. You could also pull out your lowers on the pantry wall or get deeper cabs to allow for a deeper counter. Here is a pic of mine with the door fully open.

As you can see, it needs the full 15+ inches. Here is an example of the wall.

No matter where you place the refrigerator, the doors, at least, will stick out past the surrounding counters/cabinets/etc. They have to if you want to be able to open the doors fully.

Jillius' idea is good one - as long as you have landing space within 48" - which you appear to b/c of the counters on that same wall. Another possibility with Jillius' layout is that since the refrigerator is now on an interior wall, you may be able to recess it a few inches into the wall behind it. Even 2 or 3 inches would help.

And yes, a sink in the island would help immensely in making this a better functioning layout!

.

So, to recap:

• Move the DW to the other side of the cleanup sink - placing it out of one of the Prep Zones and placing it so that dish storage is to the left of the sink and right next to the DW. With dish storage on the left, someone setting the table will go around the back of the island to get to the dishes, not b/w the island and range and right through your Prep (both island & perimeter) and Cooking Zones.

• Move the trash pullout to the island with it facing the range wall, but put it at the very end of the island on the right (toward the sink). This puts the trash pullout in the primary Prep Zone (island) and across from the secondary Prep Zone (perimeter b/w the sink and range) - where it's used the most, It's also near the Cooking Zone where it's used the 2nd most often. Finally, it's near the Cleanup Zone for that short time spent cleaning up. Prepping and cooking generate far more trash and recyclables than cleaning up - and for a much longer/extended period of time. [Remember: 70%+ time is spent prepping and 10% time is spent cooking = 80%+ of your time. Only 20% or less time is spent cleaning up.]

• Add a sink to the island. You may not be able to put it exactly where Jillius put it b/c you have seating there (at least it looks like an overhang on that end), but place it so you have at least 42" of workspace b/w the sink and the other end (the cleanup sink end). If your island isn't big enough, then consider eliminating one seat on the short end.

• Move the refrigerator either to the pantry wall or to the right of the range. The pantry wall is probably the better of the two locations b/c you do not appear to have that much room on the range wall. (It's a good idea to have at least 24" on each side of a range/cooktop for work space and emergency landing space.) If you can, recess the refrigerator into the wall behind it.

One last thing, consider getting a 30" single-bowl sink for your cleanup sink. I think the one you show is 36" with two bowls. This will give you two advantages: (1) a larger single bowl than either of the bowls in the double bowl sink and (2) 6" additional cabinet and counter space for storage and workspace. With a prep sink in the island, you don't need a double bowl sink.

Unless you have very few dishes, 36" upper and base cabinets will give you more dish storage. Also, if you like a "hutch" look (upper cab to the counter), you could create a 30" or 36" dish hutch . I would then have at least 13" deep uppers.

If you have the space, you might consider pulling the cabinets on the sink wall out 3" to give you more space behind the sink for the faucet as well as deeper storage for overall storage but also to allow you to consider 15" deep upper cabinets (especially if you go with the hutch idea so you still have space in front of the hutch for landing space.) It will also give you 3" deeper workspace on that wall. You'd be surprised how much 3" can make a difference both for workspace and storage!

i didn't get a refrigerator yet. I am meeting the KD and we will make changes. I will put the fridge on the pantry wall.

The walkway with the window is actually to a dining room, no window. On the opposite side is all open to the family room.

I am planning on a counter depth refrigerator now , so it shouldn't stick out too much. Looked at some 42-48 built in refrigerators and the least expensive is $5500 Samsung. Not sure how reliable it is wouldn't want replacing it in a few years all others are more expensive. I like the look, but don't think it's worth it for me. If the counter depth won't be enough I'll get another refregirator for the garage.

What do you think about the cabinets by the refrigerator more glass or leave as is? What about the pantry, maybe make it a dish hutch with glass doors? or should I leave as is? Thanks!!!

Move the fridge down slightly, farther away from the dining room. It should be a straight walk between the fridge and the cooking areas. It is hard to tell, but right now it looks as if you would be clipping the corner of the counter to the right of the stove when doing that walk.

I would make the two upper doors on either side of the window glass doors (so four glass doors total).

Jillius, I have an 18'' pantry to the left of the fridge. I can increase it to 24 that way it will be a straight run. I am revising the pantry by the window into a glass hutch

Should I make the pantry 24" this way i will have that straight run. I don't want to move the fridge too much, because I will have seating on that part of the island. here is an idea with the hutch instead of a bulky pantry. Tell me if you like it.

by the way the hutch will be visible from the foyer and as you walk in so i think that is nicer than a bulky pantry

You should decide the pantry size by the cab configuration offered as there can be big differences between 18 vs 24, food storage needs, what fits with your island seating and how much counter space is left on that run. It's close enough to the cooking zone that centering it on the aisle shouldn't be the major consideration. Look at the big picture and all the pertinent factors.

What are the bottom glass doors on the hutch? Are they drawers? I think it would look better and be more useful as single drawers to mimic the base, reserving glass for the top.

Can't tell from the pics, is there a prep sink in the island?