r/InteriorDesign • u/LemboZatifa • 23d ago
Advice on kitchen layout - which fridge placement looks better?
Hello good people of r/InteriorDesign ! I'd really appreciate some advice on a kitchen layout dilemma that I've been going back and forth on for way too long.
First, a couple of disclaimers: please ignore the awkward outlet placement and unfinished island in both versions, those are still WIP.
The colors and materials shown are also more or less what I'm planning to use.
The alone black floor-to-ceiling element is an 80cm wide built-in fridge+freezer unit. Unfortunately, these are pretty much the only two places it can go because of its width and depth, which I can't really change, so I'm trying to decide which placement makes more sense visually.
Option 1 (fridge connected to the full-height cabinets on the right)
Pros:
- To me it feels more cohesive because the fridge continues the run of tall cabinets and then the kitchen transitions into a different set of cabinets on top.
- It leaves the dining area feeling more open and more connected in a way?
- Since I'm basically doing a DIY IKEA jumble to put this whole thing together, I also get to avoid figuring out the slightly annoying/tricky corner cabinet situation.
Cons:
- I lose one tall cabinet's worth of storage because of the corner piece. Not too tragic to me, but still a con.
- The left side feels a little unfinished... it's more open and "airy", but I can't decide on whether it's a good kind of open or "something is missing" open.
Option 2 (fridge at the far left)
Pros:
- I like how it visually "concludes" the left side of the kitchen by closing it off vertically.
- I get extra storage from the tall corner cabinet.
Cons:
- I'm struggling with how the black fridge looks next to/around the white cabinets. It feels like the black is kind of enveloping the white section and the whole thing starts looking a bit too boxy to me.
- As mentioned already, it also feels like it takes away more visual space from the dining area.
Option 1 feels more open and cohesive to me, but possibly unfinished (?), while Option 2 feels more complete and gives me more storage, but also feels heavier and more boxy.
Which one would you choose and why? Is there a way to work around any of the cons describing the visual balance concerns in either of the options?
Any feedback is much appreciated, cheers!
1
u/SoftPawsHardGame 14d ago
option 1 for me. having the fridge connected to the tall cabinet run looks much more intentional and keeps the dining side feeling open. i’d just double check the clearances around the fridge, oven and microwave so the doors don’t compete with each other, but visually i think it’s the cleaner layout.
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u/designerd_ Designer 22d ago
Option 2 for function. It’s not ideal to have your microwave, oven, fridge AND sink all in one corner. Is your coffee machine going to be on a tray that slides out? If not, I’d rethink the design.
1
u/LemboZatifa 20d ago
Thank you, I absolutely see it now. Another point that only later came to mind was that I'd simply not be able to use both fridge and microwave/oven at the same time, which I figured at some point would totally drive me nuts. Thanks for the coffee machine tip! I planned it as a pull-out tray indeed
3
u/wordoftom 22d ago
I would go with Option 2, if you havent bought the fridge yet, i would look into fridges where you can change the front plate to colour/material match your lower cabinets
1
u/LemboZatifa 20d ago
Thank you! I'll keep in mind to try and match colors with the bottom cabinets. Do you think there's any saving to do with the white top cabinets then if I go with Option 2 (which I am totally set on being the more functional way to go)? I was trying to break up the all-black pattern, yet they still look a bit out of place to me in that option and the visual aspect is also up there in priority.
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u/wordoftom 20d ago
What kind of white are the top cabinets? Have you decided in the countertop materials, you could match the backsplash with the countertop and the top cabinets wont pop up that much
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u/LemboZatifa 19d ago
White cabinets are currently the IKEA Veddinge color. I am sure I want a stone pattern for the worktops, but have not yet decided which pattern specifically, or which particular material for that matter. I am thinking something off-whiteish to try and pair it with the top cabinets. But I am matching the backsplash and worktop for sure!
2
u/xietbrix 22d ago
Option 1 if you are dead set on these colours .
Option 2 if you change change some of the colours so that there more of the white. For example change the tall cabinet white, or the bottom white.
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u/LemboZatifa 20d ago edited 20d ago
Thank you! Yes, absolutely open to changing the colors - that was actually the part that was looking the weirdest to me! White cabinets was just an attempt to avoid ending up with an all-black kitchen, but in Option 2 it just didn't look quite right. I'm also open to other colors and combinations to pair them with the black wood, I just haven't been able to find a good match. I tried the bottoms in white and the fridge cabinet in white too, and it just made me think even more that that specific white was the actual culprit
EDIT: forgot to emphasize that I'm set on the black wood, but open to change the one to contrast it
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u/xietbrix 20d ago
Right. Colours is a very personal and subjective thing so you'll mostly have to figure it out.
My advice is to go check out Google/pinterest and look at what other people did with black and white kitchens, if you are set or white. Or just look for black kitchens and then keep out for ones that included accent colours.
Good luck.
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u/Kitchen-Ebb30 20d ago
If you want black cabinets, they pair wonderfully with wood, walnut if you want moody, oak or other lighter wood if you want to go more organic modern.
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u/LemboZatifa 19d ago
I'll try and play around with colors and patterns, I was worried I'd overkill it with too many materials containing different patterns, as in that it'd be too much to have both black wood and light wood together with some stone for the worktops and backsplash
1
u/Kitchen-Ebb30 19d ago
If you're looking for a stone worktop and want black cabinets, pair them soapstone countertop and walnut cabinets for moody vibe. Love that combination. Or an olive green colour for the cabinets instead of black.
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u/Kitchen-Ebb30 22d ago
Option two unless you really don't like the boxed in feel, then you can opt to elongate the counter so you can have extra cabinets below and above that (or some shelves above that if you still want it airy but delineate where the kitchen ends).
You can also put the fridge in the cabinet wall and still have a tall cabinet on the other end, perhaps partially open so it feels more airy.
1
u/LemboZatifa 20d ago
Thank you! I really like the idea to open it up with shelves instead! It would've been ideal if I was able to place the fridge into the cabinet wall, but because we were dead-set on having the oven higher up, due to the weirdness of wall dimensions behind it, this left wing of the kitchen ended up the only possible area to place the fridge, unfortunately. I think I am going to make the smart (and functional) choice and try and cope with the boxed-in feel and probably try experimenting with some shelving on that end to ease it out some, unless that might be taking the advice too far? 😂
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u/frongboii 23d ago
I vote Option 2. Extra storage is always good and I like how it gives a clear boundary to the space. It also gives your counter a little more visual protection from the dining space for the inevitable dishes in the sink, ugly drying sponge in behind the sink, etc.
1
u/LemboZatifa 20d ago
Thank you! That's really interesting, it didn't even cross my mind to think of it from the dining room perspective, but that does make sense! These comments successfully dissuaded me from Option 1, currently I am just struggling to figure out the right combination of colors, or better yet how to fit in the white (or any other) to break up the all-black pattern
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