If this is for a long term tenant - I am not sure an undercounter fridge would suffice as normally the freezer space is small and not really that cold. How would they freeze ice/store frozen products like ice cream etc,? Undercounter fridges with a good freezer are very expensive and still limited unless you do a freezer drawer with a fridge drawer. Personally I would prefer a small fridge like in your picture and forgo some counter space.

Tough call... When I lived in a teeny tiny studio in my younger years I had a below counter fridge and it was fine. I was cooking for one so I rarely had much on hand anyway. Now I have a 1b/b condo I rent out and through all the various tenants I have never seen the full size fridge have more than a shelf's worth of food in it. 250 feet is pretty tight so I think I vote for the tiny fridge. Your original photo has the full size in the range hood!

How about a skinny apt-sized fridge? I agree that your tenant will probably want to have some freezer space for ice cream or vodka or frozen meals. Here's an article from Remodelista about some refrigerators in that size category.

https://www.remodelista.com/posts/5-favorites-counter-depth-refrigerators/

Good choices in the Remodelista article. I’ve had 24” LGs in my small rentals for many years now and they are the perfect size and and have held up wonderfully. I believe a tall 24 is the better choice.

Most of the ones in the article are pretty high-end for the average rental. The LG is popular where I am, and GE has a very nice 24" now, too:

https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/GLE12HSLSS.html

But I think you'd probably be fine with something like this 22" summit, too:

https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/FF94X.html

for a lot less than any of the 24" ones.

the fridge pictured is 24 wide..just deep. I'm going to try to keep it for now. I have a few others I went with 28" Haier and love the space, light, and small modern scale. this fridge would be replaced with that when it goes.
I'm trying to decide if I should place the stove opposite wall or too tight?

Seconding the 24 inch LG. Plenty big enough for a studio and gets you real freezer space.

loving the get 24"

**LG

LG!

22 or 24 inch refrigerator with a separate door for the freezer. The single door refrigerators with a tiny freezer compartment in the refrigerator are not so nice.

Nice one Jillius!

That's nice, Jillius! (Reminds me of CarrieB's kitchen) If the fridge were just to the right of the opening, it wouldn't block the view out the windows, looking more open all around. It could have a pullout pantry between it and the wall.

Can you put the 24" fridge on the wall where the doorway is instead? Try and get one counter depth. It will make more counter space on that wall. That's too small of a kitchen for a washer dryer. Do you have a closet near the kitchen or bathroom to put it?

Jillius is spot-on. Re-configuring the exterior wall will pay for itself many times over in higher rent. Provide a well-designed space, even though small, and a tenant will stretch their budget to acquire it.

well that is some magic! LOL...
I do like the way that looks... right now the plan is to have a galley with leaving the door where it is...and leaving enough space for entrance...and placing the stove on that left wall. it's a 20" stove...
the house is block...

What’s the width of the room?

Pity, you're not able to shift the doorway over (nice job, Jillius!).

But since you can't...

I would move the fridge, not the range to the left wall and shift the range towards the window a bit. That might give you enough room to add an 18" DW between sink and range (I'd pay more for an appt with a DW). That also provides decent stretches of counter around the sink and range.

Put a shallow pantry cab on the left side of the fridge, facing the rest of the unit, and the washer/dryer combo on the other side of the fridge with a MW on the counter over it.

Jillius's and lisa_a's ideas are both great. Guessing at your room dimensions and the new opening into the kitchen, here's a mock-up of lisa's idea. It has your 20" stove, 24" sink, 18" DW, 24" fridge, and 25" W/D combo. If there is enough door swing space you can maybe fit a 12" pullout cab to the right of the W/D unit. Very workable kitchen for a studio.

The LG 24!

I had as similar situation in the faculty dorm apt in which we lived in Maine. I added a counter on the other wall, and used shelving above for my dishes. It worked very, very well and was quite inexpensive.

This looks like a pleasant little place to live!

Since it is very small, it's likely the tenant would place a dining table on the kitchen's vacant wall. Shallow shelving hung above would be a welcome addition. When I did this years back, I found it to be incredibly useful, and using my table as extra work space made my little kitchen work fine!

Regarding the fridge, I'd also stay with what's there, assuming clean and functioning. Even if it had to be replaced, people generally don't like the under-counter style. Very limiting.

Regarding washer/dryer, how nearby is a laundromat??

If it's nearby, and your tenant is likely to be a young able-bodied person, I wouldn't do it.

But if it's for an aging parent, then yes, it's absolutely worth it.

I've been in the rental business since 1980. If I've learned anything, it's that "nice ideas" require serious examination before leaping. People forget the big expenses they don't see behind the walls, etc. It takes some honest consideration, knowing you have to look at the income/expense columns at the end of the year.

I had this in my small kitchen and loved it. I brought it when I moved out to be used as a drink fridge.. also a wedding cake fridge when I do cakes. I paid about $750 for mine 3 years ago. The one thing I don’t like, a gallon of milk doesn’t fit in the door, and barely fits in height depending on your layout of shelves. Was great for 1 person. 2 people made it a little snug. But I lived in the city and went grocery shopping as needed every few days. Now I live in the country and do 1 costco trip a month and then 1x a week for fresh veggies.

Make sure you change the direction the door swings :)


https://m.lowes.com/pd/LG-10-1-cu-ft-Bottom-Freezer-Refrigerator-White-ENERGY-STAR/1000343601?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA_ONLY-_-Appliances-_-SosRefrigeration-_-1000343601:LG&CAWELAID=&kpid=1000343601&CAGPSPN=pla&k_clickID=9769a77f-79c2-4c7a-a1dd-28daa3282051&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7LuQhP-U3QIV0sDACh0DDAXPEAQYAyABEgJlufD_BwE

Oh ya... and top fridge allows you to see everything and it’s tall and nice and bright!

Bigger fridge as will always come in handy for sure, just add a small kitchen workbench with storage underneath as an small island for extra counter space or even a table.

Undercounter fridge. You need landing space on both sides of your range and you could put a cabinet above for extra space.

That LG is the one I have in my rentals and is pictured in my post above. I've been in the rental business a very long time also, but take a different approach. I believe that with providing a nice looking environment with creature comforts they rent very fast and tend to have long term tenants. The fact that I did not use the cheapest home store cabs, provide nice appliances and include a washer/dryer makes my apartments go fast and provide me with a lot of applicants to choose from. I'm not sure if the OP stated this reno was for a rental, though we have assumed so. I believe a little investment goes a long way in the rental business. Since you are going this far with a renovation, I would reconfigure as Lisa suggested above to provide a nice, sleek look and plenty of storage and counter space for prep and laundry. It will work even if you keep the current fridge to be replaced later.

wow... didn't expect so many thoughtful suggestions.
so this is my 3rd small Reno. seems like everyone is mostly on board with the larger fridge. I agree. washer and dryer combo will be new for me. I have typically received higher rents and better quality of tenants with higher end conviences. I would not rent personally without laundry.
ordering cabinets this week...white shaker...door and window to be replaced next week! I'll post a picture...
this studio in central Phoenix. I've owned for 15 years.

this is the last I did... about the same poor door placement..the pics are during..but turned out so super cute

You've made a beautiful space. Absolutely lovely! Someone will be very lucky!

Might this studio be behind your own home? I kind of hope so. If it is, then you've increased your value a lot, and will most likely get a tenant you can trust!!

I have found for my area that it's too dicey to spend, spend, spend. Often the time, effort and love put in isn't respected. At all. Horrifying at times. Other times it has been an awesome and lucrative business. If you aren't there all the time, you won't know till the end of the lease. So I tread lightly in what I'm willing to do beyond necessities and cosmetics.

You really have done a great job. I hope you get someone who appreciates it :)

Finally finished the studio!

It looks great! I would totally live there. Nice color choices, and I like the spot for a stool on the end of the counter.

It looks lovely!

Well done!

Oh, yes. That works. I'm so glad you chose the full refrigerator.

Normally, the stove should be flush with the counter tops, not below.