Will my fridge doors open enough without hitting the counter?

last year

last modified: last year

Hello knowledgeable people,

I'm wanting to put a 36" fridge (no model yet) in this recess. I just don't know if the doors will hit the counter tops when fully open. How do you figure that out?

Once the fridge is moved the stove will slide over and a 24" cabinet will be on that left wall. There is 9" from the opening to edge of the counter. I was thinking a side by side would work best but I really like a french door.

The opening is 36" wide and my carpenter has pulled the trim off and determined there is another couple inches available. The area inside is large 48 deep 52 wide so plenty big for any fridge.

Thanks for the advice. My fridge now only opens a bit over 90 and it's horrible, so don't want that in my new dream kitchen. Thank you so much!

The space is not a closet it's an old porch that was closed up and made into a pantry.

My carpenter said a 36" would fit and still have an inch and a half clearance on the sides. There will be room for a cabinet on top.

no, fridge will not be blue btw.

Featured Answer

chicagoans

last year

When researching refrigerators that you like, look for the Specifications sheet for each one. In there, you should be able to find a diagram like the first picture below, which will tell you space requirements for height, depth, etc. (For example, you may need an inch or more behind the refrigerator for venting/airflow.) Within that diagram, to answer your question about hitting countertops, look for something like the second picture. That will tell you how much space you need to open the doors fully, which you will want to do so that you can remove drawers for cleaning, etc.

And plus one to comments above to create a to-scale diagram of your space; folks here will help you plan a functional layout.

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Comments (7)

millworkman
last year
Need to draw out a floor plan, both existing and potential with all dimensions drawn in. Pictures without context are not really conducive to getting good advice.
denise boyce thanked millworkman
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
You get a dream kitchen via a scaled drawing of wall to wall in the kitchen to include every window, passage , opening etc.

Feet and inches for every single thing as it is right now.

That is where you begin.

Upload it in jpeg format, in a comment box. Neat and very legible.
denise boyce thanked JAN MOYER
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User
last year
last modified: last year
Nope. Not going to work. Terrible location for a refrigerator as well.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
First if you want help we need a to scale floor plan all windows , doorways marked all measrements clearly marked . Your carpenter is not a kitchen designer and just because physically somethings fits somehwere does not make it right. Post the plan here in a comment in jpeg format and you will get lots of free actual kitchen design advice Do not start another post
denise boyce thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
denise boyce
Original Author
last year
Thanks chicogoans, that is the info I needed. The door swing measurements. thanks much!
Buehl
last year
last modified: last year
Be aware that in addition to the room needed on either side of the refrigerator to ensure the doors open fully, the doors will need to stick out beyond the trim/walls on either side.

This also means that you need to make sure the refrigerator doors do not interfere with the cabinet drawers/pullouts/doors on the perimeter cabinets on either side of the refrigerator.

Note: IF you open up the wall completely counter-to-counter, you may be able to recess the refrigerator completely into the alcove. However, if you leave the opening only a little over 36", you can only recess the refrigerator BOX into the alcove, not the doors.
denise boyce thanked Buehl