My fridge opens on the countertop side. If I had to start from scratch, I would order a fridge with the door swing the way I want it (or get a fridge with a reversible door). Some kitchens I've had were quite small, so I unloaded the fridge to the opposite counter.

I have a French door fridge and sufficient counter right next to it to set things down. The kitchen is a smallish galley so I can also easily turn around and set things on the counter next to the sink.

My kitchen is U-shaped and the fridge is on the bottom of the U. I can take a step to either side counter or use the end of the island.

I have a side-by-side that faces a narrow island cart. I have plenty of room to open both doors. Sometimes I just put the food on the counter in the area I will be working ( kitchen has food prep zones ), other times I put it on the island,. This is why I love a side-by-side - much narrower door!

I always notice when kitchens have refrigerators that open the wrong way to be practical. I have a side-by-side so there really is no wrong way.

In my current kitchen I put the food generally on the nearest surface, which is the top of the range. I might walk it to the peninsula, if that space is available. If the door opened the other direction, it would be worse. Yes a small and badly designed kitchen.

Mine opens on the counter side. I made sure of it when I bought the refrigerator. I'm also "fussy", as you say, about the door thing with dryers, door must not open toward the washer!

If you can reverse the door on your fridge, I'd do it.

Mine faces the "right" direction but it still amazes me that they remodeled the entire kitchen, brag about new appliances, etc. and the fridge door opens the "wrong" way!

I've had kitchens where the door had to open the "wrong" way because of a wall. It's really not that big of a deal to get used to stepping back, then over. I'd never plan a kitchen like that, but it's not the end of the world if you get stuck with a door that opens between you and the counter.

I have a french door now, so no problems, but I've noticed in others' kitchens that I prefer a door that I open with my left hand, so as to grab things with my right hand, regardless of the way the door "should" open. Even when there is landing space to the left of the door and the handle is on the left, it feels awkward to me. (I'm right handing btw).

Mine opens the "right" way. If it didn't, I would make sure I had one with a door that could be reversed.

Ours opens the wrong way in the new house and it really isn't a big deal but will be replaced with a door that swings to the left. The dryer that came with this home opens right into our washer and I hate it. It will also be replaced with a more convenient door when it is replaced, it is not reversible. Looking again it appears the washer opens to the wrong side for the space as well. Not sure if the door is reversible.

Mine opens to the right & the counter's on the left, so no prob. It's new & does have a reversible door. I ordered it online & image showed the r-hand opening, but when they delivered it, door was hinged on the left. I had the delivery/installers change it.

Haha, so in 1929Spanish's house, no food ever touches the counter?

Are there really refrigerators that don't have reversible doors? I thought that they were all reversible. When I used to move all over the place, I'd always have to change up my refrigerator in the new house. It's really quite simple, even a girl can do it...HAHA!

@carol...it's possible that there are times I eat out of the fridge. Slide that deli tray right out and start eating rosemary ham....um, did I over-share? For the record, I never drink out of the carton. My DH, on the other hand........

I also have never seen refrigerators that did not have reversible doors, and they are quite easy to change, although it does require two people and possibly a special type of Allen wrench - like the star-shaped ones.

My fridge has French doors on top, a central drawer (which I love) for meats and cheese, and then a bottom drawer for the freezer, which I don't especially like, but it does have two small upper drawers for things that are used often, and that's what I use the most. I have a small counter between the fridge and the stove, but most often I put foo on the peninsula, which is close enough to the fridge, but not so close to the stove/oven that I cannot use a large pizza peel with the oven.

My island is across from our fridge. Food lands there all the time.

My fridge has French doors on top, a central drawer (which I love) for meats and cheese,

*****

I love my FD frige's central drawer. It is incredibly useful and fit a great deal of stuff. I also love that I can see into it.

I have a French Door fridge and also a peninsula across from my fridge which is the usual landing area for foods. But, when I had my new washer and dryer installed, side by side, I had to insist the installer switch my dryer door around so that I can more easily move wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. He was actually going to leave both doors opening from right to left!

I have a side-by-side across the aisle from my peninsula. It's the perfect staging place for items going in or coming out of the fridge. For small kitchens, a peninsula is a huge asset.