Built in under counter refrigeration is incredibly expensive to create and obtain the same amount of storage space that exists in a standard refrigerator. If you have room in an adjacent pantry for a full size fridge, and it isn’t far, then adding a veggie fridge, and a beverage fridge, to the kitchen, can work OK. But the fridge is part of the traditional kitchen triangle for a reason.

I‘d suggest working with a good kitchen designer to help you meta space plan before you get too far in the weeds into loving an open space plan retrofit. Retrofitting a kitchen to not have walls is very challenging! The trend has been the reverse of taking down walls, and to leave a little more space definition. You can have both family inclusion and openness, with a bit more walls.

What about something like a Smeg fridge? Smaller than your standard fridge, but still big enough to be truly functional in your kitchen.

I have a narrow galley kitchen and briefly considered what you're suggesting. Instead, we were able to recess a counter-depth French door fridge into a laundry/utility room. It gave us a 48" aisle which was essential. Don't give up your fridge - as @User suggests, find someone who can work with you around the space to make the most of it! There are a number of narrow refrigerators, Liebherr and Subzero on the higher end, Blomberg and others on the lower end, that you should also consider as well. AJ Madison's website enables a search by specific dimensions and includes customer reviews. Finally, if you search the archives here you will find lots of really lovely tiny kitchens, especially galley style. This one was kind of the epitome of how much function can be squeezed into a very small space: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2626772/brooklyn-galley-kitchen-finished-not-white

If your budget allows for it, consider putting an all-fridge into the kitchen and moving a traditional combination-fridge or an all-freezer into the garage. Freezer space isn't something that absolutely has to be in the same room, even if it is nice when there isn't a huge distance from the kitchen.

Having an all-fridge allows you to pick a more compact model and/or a built-in counter-depth model. That gains you a good amount of space that can then be used otherwise (e.g. for work surfaces). Depending on the floor plan, you might even be able to partially recess the appliance into the wall behind it. That'll give you a few more cubic inches. We did something similar with our built-in (but not "integrated") Sub-Zero. It's installed flush despite being a model that isn't originally made for flush installation. Super happy with that option.

Unfortunately, there are only very few and expensive models that can be installed this way. Most manufacturers don't put the right type of hinges on their appliances, and they can't be installed flush. So, research this question before committing to something that is out of budget. Sub-Zero rocks; but they charge an arm and a leg.

Thanks for the ideas! Even the smallest built-ins or an all-fridge in the current space would only give me about 12-14 more inches of countertop. The cost to replace the refrigerator and then reconoiter the cabinets would not be worth it, IMO. We might convert a reach-in pantry into an alcove for a Sub-Zero, or a similar recessed, built-in effect. I just wasn't sure how it would look. The pantry is in the dining area, directly adjacent to the kitchen, about 5' away from where the fridge currently is. So while the work triangle would be skewed a bit, but not as much as if the refrigerator was in the garage, I'm just wondering if it would look weird to have a Sub-Zero in a dining area, even if it is an informal eating space? I'd love to just extend the whole kitchen wall into the dining area and create an eat-in kitchen, but there is an arcadia door on the adjoining wall at the other end, and not enough clearance between the edge of the door and where the cabinets would land. **sigh**

Seems like you should sit with an interior designer specialized with kitchen planning and look at the whole space. if budget is a concern, at least have some consultations. Your contractor will only be doing the work, and usually won't be able to give you the best layout advice. Overall, it is hard to say without seeing photos of the space or a diagram with measurements. In short though, you need a fridge in the kitchen space, although it could only be one door wide.

With enough money all things are possible...it might be smarter, long run, to consult with a kitchen designer who could offer a suggestion that you never considered that might help to solve all or most of the issues you believe the kitchen/dining room has. Just remember that smaller costs more, built in costs more, and sometimes solving a problem means reworking things that initially seem like they are fine (meaning pull back and think about the entire space, not just the few feet you want to gain).

Pictures and a floorplan showing kitchen and surrounding area would be helpful.

When I purchased my home I had no counter space and tried to put the fridge in the laundry, adjacent to the kitchen and swap out the base cabinet that was in the laundry. I hated it! I went back to the cramped kitchen in about 5 minutes.

When your making meals you will be so sick of forgetting the peppers for the salad, or running back to get a vegetable out of the freezer.

It’s not like you can buy a restaurant walk in to convert a whole room to refrigeration! You have to work with what you have, which can be pretty great! With the right help.

Small kitchens are appropriate to small homes. People adapt. Work with a good kitchen designer to make your home, as a whole, maximize storage. A completely built in SZ that looks like a cabinet, could be DR located as one possibility. But that would require a test run. Put your fridge in the dining room now. See how crazy it makes you to have to walk that far.

Fisher Paykel has a smaller French Door counter depth fridge. I bought it for my small kitchen. It's about 32 inches wide and still has plenty of interior space. At least for a couple. I can see a family of ravenous kids wanting a bigger fridge, but if the next owner finds the fridge too small, they can always get a second one for the basement.

As others have posted you need to work with a creative designer who can give you real input into maximizing your kitchen space.

In terms of your question - will not having a refrigerator in the kitchen triangle put off future buyers. First I think unless you are planning to sell in the near future, do what works for your needs. And if you are planning to sell so quickly probably don't invest any money becaue you won't get it back anyway unless you are a DIY and are able to achieve fabulous results for not much labor costs.

As for functioning in YOUR kitchen, I would personally go insane if I had to retrieve refrigerated items for stuff I use often at a far distance. That said, having a secondary refrigerator in the garage or basement is pretty standard for overflow type of things like drinks or whatever. And also many people have large kitchens so that effectively the distance from the refrigerator to the prep area is further than the entire area of my kitchen.

That said, I have a very small urban kitchen - original footprint was an 8' x 10" galley. I configured so that I expanded the run of my cabinets on one wall into the dining area and so what looks like a hutch/buffet actually supplies lots of kitchen storage including a utility closet. I managed to be able to fit a large sink; a 36" counter depth refrigerator as well as a wall oven. Not saying that would provide you with a solution since my solution is based on the configuration of my particular space. However, a designer can help you with the most creative and functional use of your space.

@Helen, a 10" kitchen would truly be tiny. LOL. I love that typo.

Yes, small galley kitchens can be surprisingly functional if well-designed. There are all sorts of amazing appliances and fancy cabinets that can maximize space utilization. Of course, a lot of it comes at a cost. And the cost per area is usually crazy for these super compact kitchens.

One of my favorite upgrades for any kitchen, but for compact kitchens in particular, is a good workstation sink. It can do double duty as the main work space which will be invaluable in such a small kitchen.

I recommend checking out the rachiele.com website. It has lots of great background information. I love our Rachiele sink and Dino is a pleasure to work with. But even if you ultimately decide to buy some other brand, check out all the info that he shares with the community. Few people know as much about highly-functional sinks as he does

Not having a fridge freezer within the kitchen will be a major problem for many buyers. I wouldn't look at under counter fridges for that reason. I have a friend with a 24 wide counter depth Samsung fridge and it is surprisingly useful. She has a very tiny kitchen and prior to the remodel, the fridge lived in the dining room. If you have an easily accessible overflow fridge, I think you could make it work but the full size fridge in the pantry area is probably a better option.

My friend has a single story house and the basement stairs take out a corner of the kitchen. She was able to get a bit more space by having a wall oven installed in the headroom over the stairs and having a cooktop over a base cabinet instead of a 30 wide range.