You want 1200 between island and fridge. Which way does your door open as that is also a consideration in terms of access

Thanks Kate, yep we’ve currently got 1200 between island and fridge.

The door handle is on the left (hinged on the right hand side). We can buy new door kit if necessary, if it means getting the fridge placement right.

Where do think the fridge would work best, aesthetically and practically? 🙏🏼

Hi Ben, I think the fridge looks better in the left hand position. My fridge is in the same spot and I find it works well, Having the island bench opposite provides plenty of surface for loading and unloading items from the fridge. I have a a french door refridgerator which means that there is more space between the open frodge doors and the bench. Your kitchen design looks lovely.

I would go on left and continue back bench into a L shape unless there is a door in that space

Thanks both. There is a wall panel heater in the space. The big cupboard next to the fridge is an appliance cupboard - coffee machine, toaster, etc.

A hand drawn 2D floorplan showing dimensions would be helpful plus a picture of the wall heater and current kitchen..

Hi Ben,

Definately on the left. It means people outside the kitchen can access drinks and snacks etc without interupting the people working in the kitchen. Good for large gaterings and family life.

Why don't you have the rear bench unit continueing into the corner? I understand corner units in kitchens are not the most useful but you do miss out on extra usable bench area.

C.

There's a wall panel heater on that blank wall space, which would be good if it could be moved. as that would make a big difference to the kitchen, ie the return corner could have the coffee toaster.

Unfortunately that is the only spot for what will be the second heater for a large open plan. We’ve got good bench space - I’ve marked the length of the island, and the wall bench is 2600 (incl cooktop)
My rough hand drawn layout is attached.

Can u flip the kitchen and have the fridge and pantry in opp wall?
If the pantry next to fridge is a breakfast station I would actually move the fridge to the other side of it. Think how functionally you and your household members will all work in the space and views from the adjoining areas noting the fridge sticks out a little

Working with the wall heater, and the dimensions given another suggestion for the Fridge, actual positioning will depend on the space your door needs to open, you may need a small filler.

Your Island is still 3M x 900 and includes drawers, sink, DW and trash draw

Hi Ben,

Are you able to reconsider the heater location at all? A heater in the kitchen just does not make sense and the kitchen is a heating source as well and presumably it is needed to heat the dining and living areas, not the kitchen!!! What about putting it out on the wall facing out from the kitchen, beside the fridge if it were on the left side of the pantry? Even if you need to make that wall a bit longer than 650mm to make it fit and lose a bit of width from the 940mm dimension at the other end of the island. You can easily run pipework or ducting in behind the fridge and pantry if needed.

I'd also make the 1050mm dimension between benches a little bigger. It is tight if you want more than one person in the kitchen working together. 1200-1300mm would be ideal.

If it was my kitchen, I would also look at making the island a peninsular, linking it to one of the end walls. Which end would depend on the flow from other spaces in the home. I'd not put any joinery on the closed end wall, just the open one with the pantry and fridge etc.

C.

Thanks Christine.
The end wall has ended up as 800mm, still not quite long enough for the heater, which is 950mm.
The other option would be to put it on the island bench where the stools will go, so as you’ve suggested the heat goes out into the living zone. We’ve got 400mm depth on the bench overhang.
The heater is very similar to a hydronic panel, except that it is filled with oil and heated directly.
Do you have any experience with these under benches?

Other constraints I didn’t initially provide, as my question scope was narrower:

• eastern wall is glass to an external deck
• the depth of the kitchen (ie. edge of island, wall for section with fridge and appliance cupboard) can’t be greater than 2500mm. This is so they are inline with the hallway walls
  I’ve attached the building plan for broader context, the build is under way.
  
  

Ok.can you change the swing door onto deck to a sliding door. Much easier to use and better access if do a wider sliding door or stacking slider.
I’m a big fan of island over peninsula. As gives 2 ways in to kitchen. I would have a drinks fridge at deck end of kitchen.

I think it's the general consensus by now, but I would also put the fridge on the left. It just makes more sense in terms of flow. What I didn't like about the 'right' option was its positioning between cupboards. However, the blocking of the thoroughfare would annoy me. Have you thought about moving the oven to under the stove and placing the fridge in the back right corner?

Thanks everyone for your considered feedback, this has been very helpful!

For next time (if there ever is) I will definately come to the 'brains trust' much earlier in the process.

We've gone for the fridge on the left. Our current fridge is right hand hinged, not ideal, but we'll see how we go with that. Although thinking we'll either get left hand hinged doors ($700 or so), or update our fridge (only 2 years old). We did consider moving the fridge to RH corner, but as the area receives direct sun, I was a bit worried about that.

We're sticking with the island.

Two heaters was what was originally calculated by the heating people and the room was smaller, so we'll stick with two.

Well done for making a decision. Love to see after pics in due course.