Perhaps the most controversial decision we made in our kitchen design was installing a smaller-than-average refrigerator.
Every 1950s kitchen remodel comes with its own set of challenges, and our biggest one, by far, was the layout. Due to the placement of windows and doors in the kitchen, we had few areas to put appliances like the oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher.
Notably, we couldn’t find a convenient spot for a standard-sized fridge, which usually measures between 29 and 36 inches wide.
Kitchen designers suggested we move our windows and doors to accommodate a larger fridge, but this would almost certainly break our budget.
Instead, we worked with the space we had. We installed an Ikea refrigerator that measures just over 21 inches wide. It fit inside a panel-ready cabinet that matched our other cabinetry.
Friends, family, and designers we spoke to said this was a mistake. They couldn’t fathom how we would fit our groceries into the narrow fridge.
After several months living in the new house, though, the smaller refrigerator hasn’t been a big deal. With the nearest grocery store a 10-minute walk from our house, we never shop in bulk.
Instead, we shop for fresh ingredients several times a week, and everything fits perfectly into our small fridge.
