Hello! I'm new to Houzz and have spent time going through photos here and now hoping to get advice. We are in the middle of a major remodel combining a kitchen and living room. I have to place a 4" x 4" structural post (will be painted white---same as trim) from floor to ceiling somewhere between the end of the peninsula or a few feet to the left ---over to be in line with Wall E. You will see where the beam is marked on the attached. I have two places I can put this post as illustrated on the photo. This peninsula will have 3 chairs that look into the kitchen (from the existing living room) and one chair on the end as represented by the blue shapes with a C for Chair. I have only 22.5" between the end of Wall E and the small 1.5" overhang on the kitchen side of the peninsula, but they are not right next to each other so I think the only measurement I need to really watch out for is Measurement C. But this 22.5" is the measurement that concerns me....should I be concerned? Will I be able to get a refrigerator in through there? Here are the options:

#1 - insetting the post at the end of the granite on the peninsula. If I do this I plan to have the granite come out to surround the post so that the granite is notched for the post to be inset flush to the edge of the granite. This peninsula is 5' x 2' of cabinetry and then the overhang was planned to be 9" to 12" on the one end and the other side for the chairs, making it about 6' x 3; when finished If I do the post here, there will have to be a 13" overhang of the granite on the end of the peninsula (which is fine---will do steel brackets) but I have to bring it out that far to get the post nailed into a joist in the basement. Problem is that this starts to bring the granite top closer and closer to "Wall E" I already had to pull that peninsula 5 1/2" further than originally planned due to some other design challenges so I'm worried about getting it too long so it causes someone to enter the house and have to almost do a U-turn to get into the kitchen. This would leave measurement "C" at 39 1/2" . "Pros" - leaves area more open. "Cons" granite has to extend further to get the it out to where the post is to make it flush and could obstruct a little view for people sitting at the peninsula. This makes Measurement F 33"

#2 - Putting the post in where the removed wall used to intersect with "Wall D" This would let me keep the granite overhang at just 9" long on the end of the 5' peninsula since I don't have to bring granite out to meet the post which has to sit on a joist. It would get the post OFF the peninsula, but would then stick it just out in the middle of the floor, adding an additional obstruction to walk around, move things around, etc. This would make Measurement A (between post and end of granite) at 37" and Measurement B (between end of Wall D and post) at 47". "Pros" - lets me shorten the granite overhand at the end of the peninsula pushing it further back from Wall E, and also gets it off the peninsula where it could obstruct people who are sitting there. "Cons" - Puts another obstacle in the way when moving a fridge, etc, into the kitchen.

I also attached a couple pics of the space (excuse the building mess!) where I simulated the peninsula with a card table and simulated the post with a black plastic pipe---with a picture of it posted in BOTH of the spaces.

Would love to hear opinions on the best place to put this post! And if I'm going to run into any trouble getting a fridge into that room! Thanks!