I like the handles in the middle so one on the right and one on the left and honestly that is the only way to do the columns IMO I ahve no understanding of why both on the right would possibly be more functional.

The only reason we are considering both handles on the left is because our set up will be a little different from the norm. We are planning to have our refrigerator on the left and freezer on the right. One typically opens the refrigerator quite frequently and with the right hand (As would be the case when the refrigerator is on the right hand side.). I understand the look of the handles in the middle is best for appearance, but wondering if it would become annoying constantly opening the fridge with the left hand. Our kitchen designer has actually recommended putting both handles on the left-hand side, but I am still debating.

Considering your kitchen layout, will you usually be accessing the fridge from a certain side? For prepping meals, and for grabbing drinks/snacks? If putting both handles on the left made sense functionally in that context, I wouldn’t worry too much about the appearance of the handle location. I think it would look fine either way.

@jaja06, aha! Thank you for your insightful question. Yes! As I look again at our plans, I can see now why our Kitchen Designer is recommending that we hinge both on the right, with handles on the left. I'll post a snippet of our kitchen layout below to get your opinion, but yet, it looks to me like it would be very cumbersome to have the fridge door open to the left and then try to place things on the island. The door would be in the way, correct? I didn't even think of that, so thank you so much for your question. Please let me know your continued thoughts on this once you see the picture below.

Full disclosure, I’m not a pro :) Just going through my own kitchen renovation.

Yeah, I think just looking at that I’d prefer the fridge hinged on the right. Especially since I think I’m seeing a snack/beverage fridge over near the round table, so there shouldn’t be people coming into the fridge from the other side too often.

Now seeing the whole plan I’m curious about the placement of the two dishwashers and the extra fridge/freezer drawers? The dishwasher in the island will make a cleanup zone overlap with the prep/cooking zone.

Thank you @jaja06. Your input definitely helps! We essentially have a main kitchen and a back kitchen. You are right, the main kitchen island will serve as a cleanup zone and prep/cooking zone, but without a window sink, we don't really have any way around that. The island is 12' long, so the way I look at it, 4.5' on one side will serve as a prep zone and I think that will work.

The back kitchen is really a place to keep small appliances out of sight, bring large batches of dirty dishes to when hosting, and smoothie prep. My husband is a huge smoothie maker and often spends 15 minutes most mornings putting together his concoctions. The back kitchen will be used for him to do that and keep the mess back there. He will also use it for grill prep. We have a pretty expansive coffee bar (different grinders, espresso machine, drip coffee machine) that will also go back there.

The fridge/freezer drawers will be used for the smoothie prep supplies, as well as some refrigeration overflow. Our original plan was to have a standard size fridge/freezer back there, but it didn't fit as well in the space.

So cool, I love that you are taking advantage of being able to make this a kitchen so specific to your needs! We just added a coffee bar :D For us it’s my espresso machine, grinder, etc, and my husband’s Bunn. We have an under counter fridge for milk / freezer for beans, and a sink. Been using it about four months and it’s just awesome :)

I do have some other thoughts/wonderings, in case you’re interested. Perhaps these have already been considered by you/your KD. Sorry this is not super organized; I’m on my phone.

I think I’d swap DW and trash in island so that your “triable” of fridge-sink-cooktop is not interrupted by somebody doing dishes.

Large rangetop on an interior wall… do you have a good ventilation plan?

I wouldn’t like trash between sink and DW. Perhaps consider a different arrangement, keeping in mind that maybe sink doesn’t have to be centered here since it’s not a readily visible area.

Is pantry easily accessible for main cook/prep area?

Ok I’m gonna post this now so I don’t lose it and because my phone isn’t letting me scroll back and forth very well. I’ll let you know if I think of something else :)

Have you looked through the “new to kitchens” thread?

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5972404/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-2020-interim

@jaja06, thank you so much for your input! I'm glad to hear you are loving your coffee bar!

We've gone back and forth a few times in regard to the DW and trash in the main island. So far, I've ended up with the trash where it is due to the fact that I will be prepping on that side and often empty off my cutting board into the trash. Our family will also eat at the round table and it is nice to have the trash close by. Hmmm...I'll have to think more about this one.

I like your idea of off centering the back kitchen sink. I think I will do that, as you are right, the trash and DW should be alongside the sink. I think we were trying to make room for the fridge/freezer drawers, but if we off center the sink, we can still do that.

I'm not sure how many steps away the pantry is, but you've got me thinking about this. When I make kids' lunches, I definitely go back and forth to and from the pantry. I'm wondering if I have a built in counter in the pantry and keep lunch boxes and ziplocs back there, if that will help? The tall cabinet on the west wall is also available to house certain items like possibly baking supplies, so when baking, it would be less trips to the pantry. Do you think these sound like viable solutions? At this point we can't relocate the pantry, as all of our floors are planned out and rearranging the main level, rearranges the rest of the house.

Keep you thoughts coming. They are helpful!

Some years back Subzero had a competitor who made built-in side by side units and you could get single units hinged so that they both opened in one direction, or even back to back (which is rather odd), rather than the center opening.

I think both in one direction could be functional if you are never going to open them at the same time, but if you tend to open fridge and freezer together and pull stuff out that will not really work.

I was also in a kitchen where the door swung in the opposite direction that would be typical but there were reasons that it worked for that kitchen.

I agree @chispa, not weird at all 👍

Hi guys

i am considering a left hinge fridge too (will post pic showing where new fridge will go). is this annoying if we are right handed? there is counter space to the right of fridge but also across on the island…Note that wall adjacent to left of fridge will be moved to be flush.

I did a 36” over and under fridge on left and 30” over and under freezer on right I higed so the doors meet in the center. I have an island across from them for landing space. I put the fridge on the left as I assumed I would access it the most and it is closest to my main kitchen area.. I am left handed - I open the fridge with my left and my freezer with my right. Never even thought about that until now. No one that is right handed has ever mentioned a concern. I like being able to open both at the same time and not have a door in the way. Folks often get ice from the bottom of the freezer then open the fridge for water or get out a drink. If your fridge is hinged on the right - that becomes cumbersome IMHO.. A couple of pics below:

@Kim G, if you look at my kitchen plan above, does it seem cumbersome to have my fridge hinged on the left like yours? It seems like I'd have to sort of work my way around the door to bring items back over to the island prep space. If the fridge is hinged on the right, it seems like I would have more space to easily maneuver from fridge to island. You seem very logical, so I'm confident you can help me figure this out, in regard to my specific space. Thank you :)!

I am sure others will disagree but I think you are good hinging on the left. I have a very similar set up. I have an island across from my fridge/freezer and one behind me similar to your range top island. That second island is where my prep sink is. Most of what I prep comes out of my produce drawer so there is no door issue. If i need something in the top part of the fridge - I can usually grab them with one hand and close the door - if not I just pop them on the prep island or the island directly behind me. Easy/Peasy as I have plenty of clearance if I need to get multiple items out of the top portion and set them down with the fridge door open. I have almost 4 ft from the front of my fridge to the island directly behind it.

It seems you would just get the items out of your fridge/freezer and turn around and pop them on your island where you sink is. I assume that is where most of your prep will take place. You could swap your fridge and freezer in your plan and I think that would also work well and have the doors meet in the middle. If you need something out of the fridge from your dinette table - its a straight shot.

Another couple of pics below of my set up..

Thanks @Kim G! This does make sense. I think you are right, in that I could definitely still hinge the fridge on the left and the freezer on the right. Initially, I was thinking the fridge door opening toward where I prep would be a big deal, but now I see it's really not that cumbersome. Plus, yes, most all of my prep would be produce from the drawers. Your ice and water comment is what has gotten me thinking about this. I do agree it would be annoying to get ice out of the drawer and then have to set a glass down, to open the fridge to get water. So many scenarios to think about here! I do think I will still keep the fridge on the left, as I like those drawers being closer to the prep area.

And opening your fridge with your left hand is completely fine for you, right?

Sure left hand is great - I am left handed. 😀 When I had a side by side I opened the left hand side with my left and my right hand side with my right. Never ever thought about that.

@Suzanne Giomi, I would definitely hinge on the left. Looks like you will approach from the right, so the fridge would be open to your main work area. Hinging a larger door from the left will also mean that you won't have to worry about someone swinging the door hard and hitting the counter on that corner.

Before I remodeled my old house, it had a SxS that was even closer to the corner than your fridge. The fridge side was on the right and it was really easy to hit the counter edge and impossible to open the door enough to get drawers out.

We have the SZ 42" FD now and I use either hand to open either door. Depends on what I am looking for and what I might be holding. This is similar to the question of placing the DW on the right or left. I've lived in houses with them on both sides and never had a problem adapting to the location.

Hu again chispa

thank you for your responses. we are doing a flush installation and will have 1.5 jn trim on each side (in addition to cleats, etc,) the countertop to the right of the fridge will die at the edge of the trim piece (my countertop/cabinet person suggested thjs for the very reason you described above).

here are the measurements:

fridge: 26 3/8 deep

adjacent cabinets (inset): as close to 25 7/8 as we can get

countertop overhang: half an inch (standard for inset cabinets)

does this change anything about how you think we shoud hinge the fridge?