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carramrod

need help, new side by side fridge, freezer door doesn't open all

15 years ago

Just got a new fridge, stove, and dishwasher and love it, except for the fact that I cannot open the freezer door all the way in it's current location.

Looking for a little advice on how to shuffle cabinets or otherwise to make space to move the fridge closer to the stove. I don't mind moving or removing cabinets, but i don't want to move the stove and the cabinets to the right of it.

Would it look bad to swamp the cabinet and counter that's left of the stove, to the left side of the fridge? Could i put a an oak 3 or 6" spacer and countertop so the fridge and stove aren't right on top of each other?

Please see the pic attached, sorry for the clutter! Thanks for the help

http://www.glowfoto.com/static_image/12-174952L/2914/jpg/05/2010/img4/glowfoto

Comments (15)

  • 15 years ago

    Sorry, I can't help you shuffle things. I would send the sxs back and get a bottom freezer refrig that opened from the left. Just seems easier than shuffling your cabs.

    Someone else here can probably help you figure out how to reshuffle though. Good luck!

  • 15 years ago

    Here's your picture.

    {{!gwi}}

  • 15 years ago

    I agree with flwrs n co because I have not idea how to rearrange the cabs. It seems like it would be easier to change the frig.

  • 15 years ago

    i agree it would be cheaper than the fridge, it's just that getting it on sale last month (30% off) + 15% off from state stimulus, saved $700, and a comparable top or bottom freezer, which is not as nice is essentially the same price :(

  • 15 years ago

    Hoping that someone with more expertise replies to your dilemma. The only thing that would work may be what you had suggested. How far does the freezer door open?? Could you post a pic showing how far the door does open?? I have a CD s x s with the pantry wall on the right side. My problem was the fresh food door hitting into the pantry door knob. DH solved the problem by simply moving the fridge over to the left an inch or so. Have you tried to see if it can be moved in the space there? If that doesn't work you may have to think about moving it to the right closer to the stove and rearranging the cabinets.

  • 15 years ago

    This could take some work...but you can do this:

    It appears that both the upper and lower corner units are "BLIND" corners. They have extra wood to the left of the upper and lower door. Look underneath the wall cabinets and you'll see how it's done. There's probably 3" to 6" gap of space at the far right corner (as you're facing the range).

    Those cabinets are meant to be pushed or pulled to whatever length desired. It appears that you have room there to push them back. Partial overlay, like you have, don't need a whole lot of filler space to open the doors and drawers.

    Then, you'll have to take off the L-shaped top and cut it and cap it. Then move the rest of the uppers and lowers down accordingly.

    You can probably get a piece of oak filler board to put to the right of the refrigerator wall cabinet.

    A lot of work, yes. It's up to you.

    Kompy

  • 15 years ago

    Kompy,

    I too noted how deep the corner fillers were from the pictures and was going to suggest the same thing.

    What about just sliding the fridge forward a little? It looks from the pictures like the fridge is located right next to a doorway. Could either the doorway be enlarged to provide space for the fridge door to swing or possibly have the fridge pulled out a little for the same affect? It's not ideal but if it was just a few inches...

    Another option might be to buy a smaller cabinet for the left side of the range and hood. You may be able to find that door style.

    I do think it would be a mistake to swap the cabinet on the left of the stove and the fridge so that instead of going fridge, cabinet, stove it would go cabinet, fridge, stove. I think switching out the fridge would be much better.

  • 15 years ago

    Is that a doorway that the freezer door is hitting. Could you cut it back a few inches?

  • 15 years ago

    Ps. I would NOT like the looks of switching the ref. and the 12" wide wall and base cabinet.

    One other option is to go out and get a 9" wall and base and cut/cap the small short top. Those cabinets are probably still available...and if not...take off a door and go find the best match for door and color.

    Or better yet....get a carpenter who can modify the cabinets to be 9" wide and just go buy doors.

    Also, it looks like that's a patio door, to the previous poster. I doubt that could be widened easily or cheaply.

    Kompy

  • 15 years ago

    thanks for the input guys! i had pondered the idea of moving that whole wall of cabinets to the right, but realized in doing that the stove would move. i can only move stove a couple of inches to the right (make that 2'), and still be able to fit my waist inside the corner without hip-checking the stove every time.

    What i really need to be able to completely open the freezer door (past the first point where the door holds it self open) as i can the refrigerator door. That requires 5 3/8'. I have 3/4' i can gain just by tightening up the 12' base cabinet closer to the stove, add another 2' by shifting all the cabinets to the right, but i'm still short 2 1/2'.

    These cabinets are 14 yrs old, i know i cannot get doors for them anymore, i've tried both lowe's and home desperate, so i'm thinking if i can find a carpenter to make them 9', and move everything down to the right, i might be able to hit it!

    I cannot modify the opening as the last poster was correct, it's a 8' tall patio door.

    Find a pic of how far (little actually) the door opens (while resting on the glass of the patio door)

    Here is a link that might be useful:

  • 15 years ago

    I had the same problem in another house. Just lived with it, but posed a problem for a turkey or large frozen pizzas, etc. Actually, the french door was always an issue for enough room of larger items even when it could be open fully. If you have room for a small freezer in the garage, storage of larger items in one works even better than trying to figure out how to move everything. The small freezers are very inexpensive and worth having beyond solving the door issue.

  • 15 years ago

    What is on the other side of the wall? Can you take it down and open the kitchen to the adjoining room and add a refrigerator surround panel?

  • 15 years ago

    Here are some other "crazy" ideas:
    Do you have space for a small chest freezer in the basement or mudroom or garage? Those are often not too expensive. That could be used as the "main freezer" and just use the side by side for smaller items that you could access easily. Maintenance would still be an issue but that (hopefully) does not happen often. You would need to move the fridge completely out for those times.
    Unable to see from your picture but what is to the right of the dishwasher? Can you swap the fridge over there?

  • 15 years ago

    I had the same problem in my house. I got a side by side and it was up against a wall. I couldn't open my freezer door any wider then yours.

    I lived with it for a few years, it helped that I had a second refrigerator in the garage. I now have a top mounted freezer refrigerator that works much better in the spot.

  • 15 years ago

    re: debinnh - it's a patio door, can't modify it :)

    re: swspitfire - no basement or room in garage for another freezer. even if there was room, i don't think i'd want to do that as i'm kind of stubborn! i paid for a fridge/freezer and i want to be able to get into it! The right side of the dishwasher is the some more is the entrance to the living room.

    Thanks for all the suggestions!

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