Struggling with appliances? Things you need to know when shopping!

Most of us have kept the same appliances for many years and haven’t really thought about changing them up until one of the pieces either needs replacement, or you are doing a kitchen update and desire to purchase new. At that time, you will discover the vast number of options on the market for kitchen appliances. I recently had the opportunity to assist a few clients with their kitchen renovation, which included the purchase of all new appliances for their kitchen and discovered a few key details worth sharing.

Dishwashers and stoves are fairly consistently the same size and do not pose much of a concern, although styles and functionality will vary. Fridges and laundry machines, however, vary greatly in size. When it comes to the fridge, terminology you will often find is “counter depth” . This term is very misleading as one would assume that a counter depth fridge is flush with the countertop at approximately 25″ deep. This is in fact not the case. Counter depth fridges can actually range up to 32″ deep or more. If you are tight for space , even while allowing the recommended 3 feet of space between the fridge and the island and your fridge is 7″ deeper than you anticipated, then your fridge would open up into the island. Should you happen to plan on bar stools on that side of the island where the fridge is located, you would be interrupting your guests each time you needed access to your fridge.

In addition to sizing, there are other decisions that will need to be made. French door fridges vs. single opening fridges impact space restrictions. Freezer on top or bottom create easier access. Water and ice dispenser options are also a convenient and environmentally friendly consideration. These are all important items you will need to research during the planning stage for your kitchen.

Although doing a kitchen renovation on your own is entirely possible, considering working with a professional designer who brings objectivity and experience to narrow down the options quickly and with ease, is a wise idea. If you are struggling with appliances and want to know more, email us to book an appointment for your kitchen planning.