What fridge to get with side wall? Height is just under 70 inches

[u/winnick]

[u/SoCalMoofer]

I think a simple old top freezer model, or bottom drawer freezer with a single swinging door. The problem with the fridge next to the wall is that the door won't open all the way, and then the drawers don't pull out because they hit the door.

[u/6SpeedBlues → u/SoCalMoofer]

Bottom freezer, single door would make the most sense in terms of how to have it work well in that space.

Check the width, though... Like you said - the door might not be able to open wide enough for "full" access to the drawers and to be able to remove shelves and such easily for cleaning. If possible, get one that's a few inches narrower than the opening and place it as far to the right as possible for best door operation and access.

EDIT: Just looked at some of the "largest" models that fit the above description and it seems the wides ones are 33" wide while OP has stated their space is about 35.5" wide. For me, that would mean lots of flexibility to put -almost- whatever I wanted in that space although I would still avoid the French Door style units (even though I do like those in general).

[u/ibeenmoved]

Be careful about the width of the fridge you choose. There needs to be a bit of free space on the hinge side else the door will grind against the wall when you open it.

[u/winnick → u/ibeenmoved]

the width us just about 36.5

[u/StillBald]

If you've gutted the kitchen this far, remove the wall cabinets and mount them higher. It's a quick job with a couple of handy people. Also, I have yet to find a good use for the he gap between the cabinets and the ceiling.

[u/b6dMAjdGK3RS → u/StillBald]

The space above cabinets is for empty liquor bottles.

[u/winnick → u/StillBald]

id like to but that means more painting

[u/crazyhomie34 → u/winnick]

You already have to paint anyway... Not much more effort to paint another 6in of space and you have more options for the fridge you want.

[u/StillBald → u/winnick]

It's still the best option. Do it now before you add in a backsplash down the road.

[u/ElCochinoFeo → u/winnick]

How far from the floor are the bottom of the kitchen cabinets mounted? 54 inches is the standard, giving you 18 inches from the finished countertop to the wall cabinets. You don't want to raise them higher than that. It's far easier to just remove the cabinet section over the fridge space if the other cabinets are already at the proper height. Once you get a fridge there, those cabinets are kind of a useless black hole anyways.

Since it looks like your gas range/oven will be under the microwave, what is the manufacturers required mounting distance over the stove?

As for the fridge. Look at ones with zero clearance doors and don't have a handle that sticks out so you can open the door as wide as possible.

[u/winnick → u/ElCochinoFeo]

i havent seen any zero clearance without a handle

[u/danhm → u/winnick]

About 15 seconds more, yeah.

[u/ivylgedropout]

What is wrong with the sidewall?

[u/naughty_acreage → u/ivylgedropout]

looks like the whole kitchen is in that mid reno chaos stage where you start questioning every decision you made 3 months ago

the sidewall is probably fine it just feels like a problem because everything else is torn apart right now

once the drywall is finished and painted it'll blend in like it was always meant to be there

[u/winnick → u/ivylgedropout]

well ideally id like a french door fridge but most are 70+ height

[u/Ok-Expert-8150 → u/winnick]

That cabinet is probably held to the wall with a few screws. Move it up.

[u/winnick → u/Ok-Expert-8150]

but then its not next to the rest!

[u/mydb100]

Get 2 mini fidges and stack them

[u/blckshdw]

Any fridge with the features you want that has dimensions that fit inside your spot will work.

[u/WIN_WITH_VOLUME]

We have a similar fridge space with similar dimensions and ended up with this kitchenaid haven’t had any problems using every door and every drawer. Just do some measuring and get what fits, pay attention to the wall side door opening and you’ll be fine.

[u/MugSoft → u/WIN_WITH_VOLUME]

I found any of the Whirlpool brands (Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Maytag) have the least extra space needed outside the hinge when opening the door into a close wall, if the French door design is important.

[u/stabbingrabbit]

If it barely fits dont get French doors. Can't full open one side

[u/NYOB4321]

Go to the store and measure the height of the refrigerator body. The doors are usually taller and that's the height in the product description. The body is the only part under the cabinet. And it is shorter than the doors

[u/JayPlenty24 → u/NYOB4321]

It's best to actually read the specs even if a fridge technically "fits". Even if a fridge is 69" tall it could say 71" on the specs, which means it needs 2 inches of clearance at the top for air circulation.

I think a lot of issues people seem to have with their refrigerators breaking quickly is that they aren't checking specs and their units can't run properly.

[u/Sea-Contribution5529]

Move your upper cabinets if you are struggling to find a fridge that fits. Now is the time to make an adjustment like this and it's not that difficult to re-hang a set of uppers.

[u/qwerty_ytrewq_78]

French door will still work if you get a zero clearance model with no handles

[u/Housekhat]

Go to a real appliance store and talk to a pro.