I don't know much about kitchen design but I can relate to the kids and the fridge! I think placing it to the left of the range does make more sense. Can you install a cabinet depth fridge so it doesn't extend out into the room as much? What is under the short peninsula? Taking that out would improve the traffic flow. It looks as though you could add base cabinets along the blank wall between the stove side and the sink side and have "lazy susan" inserts installed in the blind base corner cabinets; I got one of those in my new kitchen and it holds a lot. And/or put a microwave in one of those base cabinets if that's what you have now in the peninsula. And be sure the dishwasher is in spot that won't prevent opening its door.

I agree, I would not want my refrigerator there for the very reason you mentioned!

But, I don't like the alternative, at least, not at first glance.

What's behind the Kitchen wall on the range side?

Where's the table? What rooms are to the left and the bottom?

Are you trying to get a peninsula so you can have seating?

A sketch of the entire floor would be very helpful!

If you can recess the refrigerator into the room behind the Kitchen, you could make it look counter-depth. (With 4 children I would not get a counter-depth refrigerator unless you have a second full-size refrigerator elsewhere. With 2 children, we still needed the 2nd refrigerator!) The doors do need to stick out, so you should only recess as much as it takes to make the refrigerator carcass/box line up with the counters and cabinet doors on each side.

I would also fully enclose the refrigerator -- the finished end panels should be as deep as the refrigerator carcass/box and the cabinet above it should be pulled out so it's flush with the panels. Ditto about the doors sticking out past the end panels.

*updated the original post with another photo.

@anne - there's a microwave drawer in the peninsula. We plan on having a lazy susan in that corner and trying that out this time around. we put a peninsula in to have more counter/cabinet space; I agree that it cuts off the space. it's hard to tell in this photo but there are two dishwashers on either side of the sink. I'm really looking forward to that. =)

@cindy - we originally had a stove in that location but then found that the corner counter space was somewhat wasted cabinet space (didn't have lazy susans). So we're trying to leave that wall empty so that the corners have more functional use.

Definitely post a sketch of the entire floor.

Fridge as close to the "entrance" of the kitchen as possible :)

Sorry no pic to Illustrator the following thoughts

- remove peninsula

- slide pantry + fridge all the way to the left

- put uc micro to right of fridge

- add cabs to the blank right wall (maybe just shelves vs uppers to keep it from being too heavy)

- could you add a bit of counter space on the dining room side of the jutting wall? For ie serving the dining room

Out of the options posted this 1

or remove peninsula & put pantry or built in fridge on end.

F=fillers needed.

At least a 3" filler if pantry against adjacent wall. Even more if put fridge against wall. Check fridge manual for door swing clearance.

Out of the three choices I like number two. One and three box in the kitchen to me.

I like damiarain's suggestion, and if you need space for the MW, you could extend the counter on the sink wall. (ETA, or it could go in a cabinet beside the fridge.)

I'd suggest making the bases on the range wall deeper--flush with the fridge box, for extra counter space.

GW discussions--deep counters.