Our island is 900 depth, 2400 wide, with a sink in the middle (opposite the cooktop), which works well for us. Plenty of prep area either side of the sink (mind you, it's a single undermount sink, about 500mm wide, with no drainboard). If we were going to use the island for actual meals, ours is only deep enough for a person either side of the sink. So, if you're thinking of having the island as a dining area, go to the 1200 depth. Just walk around it to clean it. On the other hand, if the island is going to be for prep, and a place for guests to prop up a glass of wine and chat while you're getting dinner, 900 is fine. Our dishwasher is to the immediate left of the sink, and we have pull out waste bins underneath the sink. We have 1200 mm space from island to the wall side and the range top, and about the same to the other ends. Our fridge, which isn't huge, is in a 900 mm+ cavity which would be big enough for a deeper fridge. It's in relatively the same place your fridge is, and works fine there. Hinges are on the non-kitchen side of the door, so it opens into the kitchen. Cabinets beside it are a bit more in depth, so fridge and cabinets line up nicely. 850 for your fridge seems reasonable to me. I wouldn't put that study where you have it: I think you'll need all of that butler's pantry for butlering type storage. My 5 cents worth based on new house, new experience, absolutely no kids in the equation!

Unfortunately Erina, your best bet sometimes in this industry is to cut your losses and if it important enough to rectify, outsource a separate contractor/company to come in and re-do it at your own expense.....you just have to look at it as part of the cost of your project.......many people will have stories of deciding pay twice (sometimes more!) to eventually achieve the satisfactory results - ultimately you have to live with it long term and sometimes it's worth it to get it right....ultimately only you can make that decision one way or the other........it's not necessarily right or fair, but unfortunately these are the risks (& hard lessons) of building Best of luck Erina, PD :)

Thanks Wild Heart for the feedback. I think ideally we'd like to keep the butlers pantry as it just gives that extra area to keep things out of the way when guests are there etc. Especially things like kettles, toasters etc. In terms of the fridge depth I hadn't noticed this, I've just looked at our current fridge and with the space for ventilation its 740mm deep....... We'll need to come up with something as this will look ridiculous with the fridge coming out at least 140 mm. I'll post up the rest of the plan for the lower floor but really wanted that open living and dining area flowing into the alfresco area. So I think realistically, based on the feedback provide above (which I really appreciate!), there maybe some more pressing issues. Should we keep the 900m gas and then look at the following: 1. How to increase depths between island to 1000mm 2, Where is the better placement for the dishwasher 3. Look at the opening on the butlers pantry door and if we need a door on there at all 4. How to better place the fridge so that it's not sticking out nearly 140mm Thanks again for the feedback everyone, kind of raised more questions that answers!!!

Thanks Kate. Okay I can make that work w the pantry. So with that in mind, with the hinges on the correct side, you don’t think the fridge on the northern wall facing south will feel too cramped? It will come out 300mm more than if the pantry was there. But the win would be that the practicality and flow of the kitchen is there despite it coming out further.