Strange things I see in houses with appliances

[fan-of-fans]

Often I see things in real estate listings that make me think "they must have no idea what they're doing."

1. Installing a range with a rear control panel in an island or peninsula which causes the back to stick out above the counter top, instead of using a proper slide in range with front controls. Do people have no idea they make ranges without rear control panels, or are they being cheap??

2. Not reversing doors on top or bottom freezer fridges. Makes no sense to have a wall next to the fridge and have the doors open on the opposite side, so you have to be in a dark corner to put things in or out and maneuver around the doors to place items on counter top. This shame on the delivery people also for not suggesting to do so.

3. Having a range right next to a doorway instead of having a narrow cabinet between the range and doorway. This seems to be common here in homes built in the 70s. It just bothers me, seems a little unsafe if somebody comes through the doorway right next to the hot stove. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.

 

[arbilab]

It often seems to me that houses are designed by people who have never lived in one.  Sure, not everyone can be Frank Lloyd Wright.   But Frank Lloyd Wrong certainly gets around.

 

[chachp]

I couldn't agree more...

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">And on #1 to add insult to injury some take some nasty old piece of panelling and try to prop it up behind the control panel to try to hide it.</span>

 

[whatsername]

Agree with all of those pet peeves and a few more:

1. Non-reversed dryer door, most commonly seen with stacked front loaders
2. Enormous fridge that dominates the kitchen, or a standard fridge where a counter depth model would have looked much better.
3. Microhood too close to stovetop where it was clearly just swapped with a normal hood without considering the clearance. Love those new low profile models by whirlpool that solve this issue.

And yes I think in any case where these can be attributed to cheapness, that’s your answer.

 

[chachp]

OMG Yes...

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Another two good ones.  The huge frig and the microwave.  The other day I saw one where the frig stuck out so far it looked like you could barely walk past it with the island where it was.  I'm not sure I could see how they got it in the spot.</span>

 

[fan-of-fans]

"And on #1 to add insult to injury some take some nasty old piece of panelling and try to prop it up behind the control panel to try to hide it."

From what I've seen lately it's been fall decorations used to hide them.

"2. Enormous fridge that dominates the kitchen, or a standard fridge where a counter depth model would have looked much better.
3. Microhood too close to stovetop where it was clearly just swapped with a normal hood without considering the clearance. Love those new low profile models by whirlpool that solve this issue."

#2 - another thing that's annoying is when the fridge is recessed into wall or between cabinets and they leave 0" of additional space so you're stuck with a top or bottom freezer fridge, there's no room for anything else.

#3 drives me crazy too. In some cases you'd have to bend over just to see the knobs because the microwave is so low.

 

[petek]

I'm surprised how common it is to see a stove placed right next to a door. It would drive me crazy..
Strangely the people next door (not the original owners) re did the kitchen and spent quite an amount of money on it.. Where the stove was originally against one wall with counters on both sides, they moved it to the adjacent wall and placed it right beside the doorway into the diningroom. That along with a few other changes they made actually wrecked the work flow of the kitchen

 

[chachp]

No words...

 

[ea56]

Re: Reply #7

Now these people are jus plain damn clueless! The stove is bad enough, but over the range MW just takes the cake. Have these people not seen how this appliance is commonly installed, or are they just trying to make a “statement”, that we just don’t give a sh*t?

Eddie

 

[tnmike]

I have installed a couple of these microwaves. They are bolted to studs on the back wall, if memory serves me correctly. This is asking for an accident. I can't imagine how unstable it would be by just opening the micro door. Crazy people.