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Need help deciding which way fridge door should open

7 years ago

Hi, one last question for tonight! Thank you for your time. :)

Our new kitchen will have a side-by-side column fridge and freezer combo, 30" & 18" (I also have another freezer in the garage). I have only ever seen side by side combinations with both handles in the middle, so the fridge hinges on the right and the freezer hinges on the left. However, it occurred to me that in our kitchen, it would make much more sense to have the fridge hinge on the left. If you are facing the fridge, the entire kitchen as well as breakfast nook and family room are to your right. So if the fridge is hinged on the right, you then block off access/traffic to the entire rest of the room when the door is opened. This seems like it would be awkward and inconvenient, especially with a big tall 30" door. However would it be more strange to have both fridge and freezer hinge on the same side (left, with handles on right)? I can't imagine ever needing to open both at the same time so they really don't have to be like French doors, do they?

I know for sure that if I was buying a single door fridge with the freezer at the bottom or top, I would want it to be hinged on the left and handle on the right. Is that a good confirmation of my theory or are there other factors I should consider because they are columns? Will they not fit as well together, or need trim in between? They will also be panelled if it matters. Not certain what brand yet but probably Sub-Zero.

Thank you!

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Comments (4)

sherri1058
7 years ago
As I recall, if you don't have them open french door style you will not be able to use the merging kit. Instead, you will need extra trim between the units. I actually prefer the look of all units opening the same way... but that is just personal preference. Have you considered flipping the fridge and freezer so that the fridge hinges on the left and the freezer on the right? You can split the units up as well so they are not side by side.
jesslake thanked sherri1058
jesslake
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks for your reply! I am curious about what kind of trim will be required between the units if I go this route. I'm meeting with our kitchen designer tomorrow and will bring subzero spec sheets, hopefully we can get an idea. Interesting that you say you like the look of them opening the same way, I'm glad! I've never seen an example but will try again to hunt down some photos. Thank you for the other suggestions as well - not sure about switching the two but I do have a little bit of flexibility and might be able to separate them.

I also had another idea that struck me as genius for a moment - just get the 30" fridge and put the freezer separately under counter. Either a set of 30" drawers or a 24" unit. Everything will be panelled so doesn't have to be the same brand. Slightly less capacity but probably still sufficient given that I have another upright freezer in the garage, which is easily accessible. This would give me so much flexibility in my layout and look so much better! Then I remembered that my husband and kids consider an exterior water and ice dispenser to be absolutely essential (I could care less but they'll pull the plug on the entire reno if I try to negotiate out their water and ice!). As far as I can see, these only come on freezer units, not fridge. So now I'm researching water and ice units that I could build into a cabinet....
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Spacer: in this case, a piece of wood that matches the cabinets that will go between the last cabinet and the fridge. Usually you use spacers between cabinets when the length of the wall doesn't exactly match the summation of the widths of the cabinets. In your case, you have to make sure you have enough space to the right in order for the door to swing fully, else you might not be able to pull out any drawers. Or you may bash the door against the counter top. For the counter top, you usually round off the corner depending on how much overhang you have. Counter depth means different things to different manufacturers. For the expensive built-ins, it means exactly counter depth in that the fridge matches the depth of the counters and blends in completely. For the stand-alone units, it usually means that just the carcass is counter depth which can be 24"-27". The doors stick out farther. And how that door swings (function of the hinges) determines how much room you'll need to the side.
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IMO if you go with plain old stainless they will work together and honestly the handles are just fine as they are . The fridge should be counter depth .I like a separate water dispenser on my counter by the sink connected to water filter either under the sink or in the basement . I do love an ice maker but I don’t care if it is in the door .Please make sure that fridge placement will allow the doors to open fullyLooking at the 3D what is that thing beside the stove?
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lillyoneill
4 years ago
I would love to know what you decided! I found your question when I was about to ask the same question! I'm also going with 18" freezer and 30" frig and want them to open the same direction
lcdietrich
2 years ago
I also have same issue… any thoughts?

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