Fridge: Left hinge or right hinge fridge in our Kitchen

5 years ago

We have an odd L-shape kitchen with a large island in the middle, under the renovation. Since the longer wall has all window we had to move the stove in an odd corner position so it is not so close to the fridge but now it has left us with a small space for fridge. We are looking at counter depth Fisher Paykel 31 inch to fit in that space you see in the below photos. The space is about 35.25 inch and we have a 3/4 inch panel on the right side. Now we have a dilemma to solve: given the wall on the left side we need >4inhc space on the wall side (based on the instruction) to be able to open the door more than 90 degree if the fridge hinge is on the left (wall side). The sales person said because of the kitchen design, the hinge should be on the left so the fridge door opens to the kitchen side. This way we don't need to go around the door or close the door and reach the counter to stove. However, my husband and I are concern that a couple things will drive us mad. The door keep banging to the wall. No being able to access food or put the food in the fridge as easy as we want since we will not have the full swing. Also, we barely have 3.5 inch on the wall side for the door to swing (door will be open 90 degree only). I know I would get more angry if I cant easily reach for stuff in the fridge or put stuff in the fridge than going around the fridge door or having to close the fridge door and reach the stove or counter. Please help us based on your experience. What is the best position for hinge here??

Note: the hinge is not replaceable in this fridge model.

Featured Answer

kathylawyer

5 years ago

i would put the hinge on the left (closest to the hall way)

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Comments (11)

Momof5x
5 years ago
Can you remove the wall? It will give you move space, I think you will also have an issue with the pull out drawer shelves, you could put drawers there instead for utensils and put the pullout Shelving elsewhere. If you haven’t bought a fridge yet you could either buy one with drawers or double doors which maybe shorter in width. Best of luck!
wdccruise
5 years ago
"Now we have a dilemma to solve: given the wall on the left side we need >4i [inch] space on the wall side (based on the instruction) to be able to open the door more than 90 degree if the fridge hinge is on the left (wall side)."

Install the refrigerator as shown in the drawing, "Flush with refrigerator chassis - full door rotation" which doesn't require any space between the refrigerator and the adjacent wall.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
Hinge on the left so when you open the fridge it is open to the kitchen work area. Too bad you come now for advice that stove placement is very bad
Nafiseh Masoumi
Original Author
5 years ago
There is no other space for the stove and I hated the stove to be right by the fridge. I have seen many nice kitchen with stove in the corner.

The fridge is counter top so there should be at least 3.5 inch between the wall and the fridge to have the fridge door open at least 90 degree
Stax
5 years ago
What occupies wedge space between frig and stove? Looks like a lot of lost space.
louislinus
5 years ago
May be too late for this but I am putting my stove under a window and have seen many beautiful examples.
User
5 years ago
Hinge to the left, so it opens towards your work area. Can you remove the wall on the right? it looks like it will majorly encroach on your working and standing room. removing it will also buy you at least another inch of width for the fridge space.

If you can't open the door with the hinge on the left, can you find a skinnier fridge? like this this GE GLE12HSPSS. Width: 23 1/2 Inch, Depth: 26 1/2 Inch
Nafiseh Masoumi
Original Author
5 years ago
@louislinus I wish we could, against the code in MA. It was originally under the window and the inspector won't pass.

There might be a chance to reduce the size of the wall on the left side of the fridge. @User, That is a panel that should be cut to the size of counter depth and will be only 0.5 inch to give us enough space if possible.
Nafiseh Masoumi
Original Author
5 years ago
@Stax True, we had to comprise and have this waste space to be able to have the stove positioned like that. Originally was promised by the cabinet place to make it a used space but they didn't deliver. It will be a triangle shape frame in that space but we cant move the cabinet much and the 35.5 inch space is all we got for the fridge :(
Olychick
5 years ago
will the oven door and stove drawer open fully with that wall there?