Buying Guide · Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops
How to Measure for New Kitchen Appliances: A Practical Checklist Before You Shop
The most common appliance headache we see at our Vernon showroom has nothing to do with the appliance itself. It is a measurement that was off by an inch, a door that swings into an island, or a fridge that fits the opening but not the delivery hallway.
Measuring before you shop takes about twenty minutes. It saves you from returns, installation delays, cabinet modifications, and the particular frustration of watching a delivery crew try to make something work that was never going to. This checklist covers everything worth confirming before you commit to a model.
Measure the width, height, and depth of every appliance opening. Add notes on door swing, drawer clearance, and walkway width. Check the ventilation space above your cooking area. Then confirm your delivery path from the street to the kitchen, including any elevator or hallway constraints. Bring all of this when you shop and you will spend far less time going back and forth.
What to Bring When You Come In
You do not need anything fancy. The goal is to walk in with enough information that we can match you to the right models without sending you home to measure twice.
- A tape measure. A flexible one works for most spaces, but a rigid one is more accurate for openings.
- Written measurements for each appliance opening: width, height, and depth. Take them twice and record the smaller number if they differ.
- Photos of the space, a wide shot of the full kitchen plus close-ups of each opening and the area above the range.
- Your delivery path details: building entry, hallway width, elevator interior dimensions if applicable, and any strata rules about delivery access.
- Any renovation drawings or cabinet plans if you are mid-project and selecting appliances before installation is done.
The Full Measurement Checklist
Go through each area of the kitchen and record what you find. If anything is unclear in the space, photograph it and we can help you interpret it in person.
| What to measure | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher opening | Width, height, depth, toe-kick clearance, and proximity to cabinet door hinges | Built-in dishwashers need a precise fit and the door needs to open fully without hitting adjacent cabinets |
| Range or cooktop space | Opening width, depth, side clearances to adjacent cabinetry | Affects safety, airflow, and how comfortable the space is to cook in daily |
| Ventilation area | Width between upper cabinets, height from cooktop surface to underside of cabinet or ceiling | Determines what range hood depth and CFM rating will actually fit and perform correctly |
| Refrigerator opening | Width, height, depth, door swing direction, and handle clearance to walls or adjacent appliances | French door and drawer-style fridges need more clearance than a standard single-door model |
| Walkways and aisles | Aisle width at the narrowest point and any pinch points near islands | Prevents doors from blocking traffic or colliding with each other when two are open at once |
| Delivery path | Front door width, hallway width, elevator interior dimensions, and any tight corners | A fridge that fits the kitchen but not the building entrance is a serious problem on delivery day |
Three Spots People Almost Always Forget
These come up regularly in-store and they are easy to overlook when you are measuring a space you see every day.
- The sink run and countertop edge: If your dishwasher is next to the sink, confirm there is enough clearance for the dishwasher door to open flat without hitting the counter edge or the underside of the sink basin. This is tighter than it looks.
- The space between upper cabinets above the range: This determines your range hood options. Measure the width of the opening and the height from the top of your range or cooktop to the bottom of those upper cabinets. Hood depth matters here too, especially if the cabinets are not very deep.
- Fridge door swing and the wall behind it: Many people measure the fridge opening correctly but forget to check what happens when the door swings open 90 degrees or more. If there is a wall, a pantry cabinet, or an island nearby, you need to know how much clearance you actually have before committing to a door configuration.
If You Are Renovating: Pick Appliances Before You Finalize the Cabinet Plan
This is the advice we give most often to people who are mid-renovation and have not locked in their appliance choices yet: pick the appliances first, then design the cabinetry around them. Doing it the other way around is one of the most common sources of expensive last-minute changes.
A few examples of where this matters:
- If you want a pro-style range or a 36-inch range, ventilation planning needs to happen before the upper cabinets go in, not after.
- If you want a wall oven and separate cooktop, the cabinet layout needs to accommodate both openings at the right heights.
- If you want a beverage fridge or a second refrigerator zone, confirm the opening dimensions and airflow clearance before that cabinet run is built.
- If you want a built-in dishwasher with a custom panel, confirm the panel attachment method for the specific model before your cabinetmaker builds the door.
Our team works with contractors and homeowners on new builds and renovations across the Okanagan. If you are at the planning stage, our renovation and new construction page has more detail on how we support projects from early selection through to delivery and installation.
Ask About Rebates and Current Promotions
When you are buying multiple appliances at once, especially for a renovation or new build, it is always worth asking about current manufacturer promotions and package offers. These can be time-limited and are not always advertised prominently.
Check the current rebates page for active manufacturer offers, and the clearance section for floor models and discontinued stock at reduced prices. Both change regularly so it is worth checking before your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What measurements do I need for a new refrigerator?
You need the width, height, and depth of the opening, plus the door swing clearance on whichever side the hinge is on. If there is a wall, cabinet, or island nearby, measure from the edge of the opening to that obstacle. Also confirm the delivery path from your building entry to the kitchen, including any doorways, corners, and elevator dimensions if you are in a condo.
Do I really need to measure ventilation space?
Yes, and it is one of the most skipped steps. The width between your upper cabinets and the height from cooktop to cabinet bottom both determine what range hood will actually fit and perform properly. If you cook at high heat regularly, getting this wrong affects both comfort and air quality in the kitchen. Measure it before you choose a cooktop or range.
What if my measurements are slightly off from a standard appliance size?
Bring what you have and we can work through it in person. Sometimes a small gap is fine or can be handled with trim kits. Other times it signals a cabinet modification is needed before delivery. Either way, it is much better to find out before ordering than after. That is exactly the kind of thing we sort out in the showroom.
Do you help Kelowna and Kamloops shoppers, not just Vernon?
Yes. Genier's Appliances is based in Vernon and works with homeowners and contractors across the Okanagan, including Kelowna and Kamloops. Bring your measurements and photos and we can usually narrow down your options quickly without multiple trips.
How do I measure for a built-in dishwasher?
Measure the opening width, height from floor to underside of counter, and depth from the front of the cabinet face to the wall. Also check the toe-kick clearance at the bottom and whether adjacent cabinet doors or drawers will interfere with the dishwasher door when it is open. If you are fitting a panel-ready model, confirm the panel thickness is accounted for in the depth measurement.
Shop Kitchen Appliances with Confidence
Genier's Appliances in Vernon has a large showroom where you can compare fit, finish, and controls in person. If you are shopping from Kelowna or Kamloops, bring your measurements and a short list of must-haves and we can narrow things down quickly.