You're right...I don't know why they made it so wide & tall. Even though your refrigerator is a standard depth, it's almost 36" wide, which is becoming the "standard" width...so there's probably no need to plan for wider. The top I can see since the new "standard" is close to 72" high, so that may be planned for the future. I actually have 4" of so of empty space above my refrigerator but I also have filler to cover up the gap. My refrigerator is about the same height as yours, so I needed room to expand later...but probably not 4" worth! I think RHome410 has a great idea of putting a slab drawer front piece across the top filler to make it look "planned" and more "finished". Unfortunately for me, my door style wouldn't work b/c it needs almost 7" to fit the frame + a center...and I think you're in the same boat since your style is similar to mine. I wonder if the real reason has more to do with measurements in general on that wall. Maybe it was made bigger to take up a couple more inches of room so there would be less filler elsewhere. If there wasn't at least 3" that could be tacked on one of the middle cabinets (or 6" to balance two cabinets...3" for each), then maybe the thought was that rather than have two inches of additional blank wall on one side or even an inch on each side, it would look better to have those 2" in the refrigerator alcove. Have you asked them why there's so much extra width?

I think you're right about the window balancing the fridge in this photo. The trick is to get away from photos however. There is absolutely no way to get IRL balance in a rendering because the page ends. You always have to take it back to the space and see what your reality is. Hold up the renderings one at a time and see what is off page. I know you did a lot of mockups...so do you have a beach towel or sheet that more or less matches your current cabinets? And a gray or blue one? Get a family member to stand holding each, one at a time, even waving them a little, where the new fridge goes, during the day time so the window gets its full due, and see how much it matters having a contrast color impacts vs. just having the big towel hanging there. Walk around. Approach it from all directions. The look of this wall is really important to you, and nobody's taste but yours (and your husband's) matters. Maybe the contrast will help lighten the room? And tie in with all the appliances (okay, for that one imagine that a blue towel with fishies matches :) ). It may be that the "hulk" you were worried about seeing when you put the fridge here looks much better if it's part of the cabinetry. The smudge thing really isn't an issue. Actually, the replacement issue is only a moderate consideration too--important, but not the first thing to determine. The overall look is a huge issue. Especially of this one appliance you were so concerned about. Settle that, and make your decisions and compromises from there.

bbtrix, You're right about what I left out. I should have included the opposite wall in my posted layout but idk how to indicate a stud-bay pantry and pull-down table in floorplanner. I guess I could just put in a couple of lines with a note. We were still planning to do something like that, although maybe a narrow table with a stool underneath instead of a pull-down table (even though it would technically be in the way of traffic, we can deal with something that protrudes 12" or so). We probably can't do an under-cab MW just yet, as my youngest would probably spill stuff/burn himself, but in a couple years we could do that. I do want a few hooks and a place to put a couple pairs of shoes, but our front is our "main" entrance, or at least it's where we store more stuff. When we come in the back door, we are supposed to bring our shoes to the front, although we don't always do that (me too, not just the kids). We also have a closet and storage baskets in the front, so everything is *supposed* to be carried there. What hangs in the back is my apron and a few fleeces/windbreakers (and snow pants to drip/dry when we have snow but that's been sparse lately). So we need a little space for that, but not a ton. Sometimes I hang my purse in there out of reach of the cat, who finds the leather straps just right for chewing. That said, I am intrigued by the idea of the wall table on that *back wall* under the window in the next plan. If we did that, we could then use the space next to the stud-bay pantry for coats & shoes. And I didn't even know that Ikea made a fold-down table. I like the sound of a $40 table a lot better than a custom one. I wonder if I could put some fun contact paper on it so the whites wouldn't clash. That second layout is close to what I thought was The One, but several people here talked me out of having the fridge along that opposite wall next to the DR door. Even one of the people who originally suggested it changed her mind. Strong words were used. lol. I think I have officially abandoned that one. But this definitely gives me more to think about. Thank you so much!

A couple of things to keep in mind with today's refrigerators. You can expect them to last, on average about 8 to 10 years before they need to be replaced. Another interesting fact is that today's modern refrigerators don't operate below 50 degrees F. That means no more garage refrigerators. I'm shopping for new appliance now because I'm remodeling my kitchen. My old refrigerator is in pristine condition and works perfectly. But it's white and would look out of place in my new kitchen. Having said that, I'm seriously considering having the doors powder coated or spray painted at an auto body shop to a new color. Except for energy efficienty, everything about my refrigerator is superior to what's being sold today. And even on the energy efficiency front, it will only consume about $15 more dollars per YEAR than a newer model. My recommendation would be to stay with GE, Whirlpool, or Frigidaire simply because they have better parts and servicing across the US. Samsung and LG parts and service can vary wildly depending upon where you live. Since the expected life of a refrigerator is so low, I'd say by the least expensive model that's meets you needs and pass on the expensive bells and whistles. It might also make economic sense in some cases to fork over the 7K+ for a built in refrigerator that will have a serviceable life of 20+ years. You could easily spend that amount replacing and servicing standalone refrigerators in that same 20+ years window.