haha I didn't even notice the misaligned doors/drawers; I was too fixated on the fridge. We're in the nutso CA real estate market; there is no way we're getting a new fridge out of this. But that's a good idea -- replacing with a 33" fridge is cheaper than trying to Frankenstein a partial reno.

yes, just get a smaller fridge that opens away from the wall.

maybe the contractor can just flip the fridge and the double ovens?

I would avoid @MommaB 's suggestion. If the ovens are where the fridge is, you have nowhere to put something coming out of the oven (without going around the fridge).

I think your best option is a smaller fridge. Even if you have to find space somewhere else (basement/garage/mancave) for a secondary fridge.

I see your point. My double ovens are next to a counter but I always grab the food, turn around and place it on the island across from the ovens. I guess I figured she could do the same since there would be a counter directly across and it's actually easier to set it behind me then walk to the side around the oven door and set it down, haha.

Here’s a radical thought… if structurally safe, open up the space between the kitchen and breakfast area by removing the wall and leave the fridge where it is.

Yeah, neither of the surgeries you mention -- shifting things over or replacing cooktop with a range -- will be simple or cheap. Get the narrow fridge and move on. After you've lived there a while, you can think about custom renos of a more substantial nature.

@djmbott I thought about that, but I like that funky little archway. It's a Spanish-style house (Saltillo tile on the rest of the flooring outside the kitchen), and there are all sorts of fun details I don't want to lose.

I think the solutions you have thought of are good ones. You might think about a counter depth refrigerator, though the one in the pictures looks fairly new. A good granite installer should be able to remove the stone at the front edge of the cooktop and the slide in range will eliminate the need to replace the stone.

All the appliances look new in the pictures… and old in real life. ;) I could move the fridge to the garage. However, I’m not actually sure a 33” fridge will open all the way, either. Going over tomorrow to measure.

Can you shorten the wall/widen the doorway next to the fridge? We had the same issue and did that. Though we werent worried about the flooring matching exactly or the fact that we now see the edge of the fridge door from the adjacent room. For us that was the easiest fix while we save for our full kitchen reno.

Eta: Nm! i now see your comment about keeping the arch/spanish style house.

I'd move in, live with everything for a year....................and then do as you will. You won't miss a meal in the interim. You really won't.. Annoying? Perhaps. Certainly not life and death, let alone a deal breaker.

You can cook on the cook top....the food will stay cold. Piggy bank : )

I sure as hell wouldn't spend money on a full depth 33 inch fridge. ..................you need a counter depth in any scenario.

If that’s not a load bearing wall, I would expand that arch. it would be simpler and cheaper than any other option. all you need is a bit of drywall and elbow grease. Also, wait til you live with it. you may be surprised at what does or does not annoy you.

eta: dont bust out the wall, just make a larger arched entryway, that extends from that break in the wall on the left to cabinet depth on the right. It can require a bit of creativity and patience, but you can diy.

I would open up that wall where the archway is. For now. The flooring shouldn't pose a big problem because it looks like there is saltillo tile in the dining nook...which can pretty easily be matched or gotten close to a match.

When you do a proper kitchen overhaul, you can always restore the arch. Perhaps a wider opening then as the passage looks kinda' narrow.

ETA: The base cabinets look like they were built in place so you will likely want to replace those with more drawers/ better functioning drawers. Appears that the uppers are newer factory cabs? Also, for now, you could replace the drawer fronts with wider fronts to get them to line up with the cabinet doors. Basic slab fronts that are painted. Easy to replace IF they now have attached 'false' fronts. I also suspect that the base cabinet doors are not the original doors.

Assuming there are no pipes or vital support posts in the way, I too would open up that archway. And I'd move it back on both sides. From what I see, I am guessing that this "arch" was created after the house was built. If this is a vintage house (don't know if it is) an original archway would have been better executed with true rounding.

@julieste You are correct. :) The original house is a 1939 cottage; and back in the 80s, somebody "Spanishified" it, adding the Saltillo and other decorative tiles, the plasterwork, some wrought iron railing, etc. It's not what I would have done, but it's a very quirky and not-modern-farmhouse, the overall layout works well for our family, and I've decided to just go with it. ;) The overall layout of the house is very functional and it's well-built. I think everyone is right -- it's not worth messing with the kitchen right now, esp since everything costs 3x normal.

Not worth the expense as you say... at least for now. What if you try to see how a smaller fridge would work, put the existing one in the garage. To make that upper cabinet have a purpose over the refrigerator remove the door and treat it as the existing open shelf there by the stove. (Paint out the interior of this cabinet, etc and have it resemble the open cabinet that exists. You could add a wine rack, basket etc. Not ideal but cheaper solution in the short term. If the smaller fridge does not work then live with it for awhile as suggested above.

@Catherine Thompson I hadn't thought of removing the upper doors -- thank you!! Will definitely do that.