How much cooking does your FIL do? Is he by himself, or will he have some help with the home and cooking? How much actual cooking will you do at the beach? Will you mostly grill? What about beverages? I usually just fill the fridge with assorted beverages and maybe grill the catch of the day. No making lasagna etc. A 30 fridge is fine for a couple of people. It's even fine for a family visiting the beach as long as that family doesn't plan to cook 17 batches of cookies for a fundraiser along with a leg of lamb and a giant dish of spanikopita. If you DO plan to do that much cooking on a regular basis then the 36" fridge is probably better for that.

How does it tie into the rest of the house?

Anyway, not only would I go with the wider fridge, I'd replace one of the wall/base cab combos with a pantry cabinet. If someone DOES want to bake cookies, that's what the island is for. (This would probably require an adjustment of stove/sink/DW of course.)

any place for a secondary beverage fridge[which would allow more space in the regular fridge]... or a small freezer that you can use for the stretch of time you are there??...perhaps unplug it when your heavy season of visiting is over. We are impressed by the farmers markets and local foods all around our setting and I love freezing things[and I don't mean bringing frozen things frome home] and then use them up over the next couple of seasons of visits. A predominately one person household doesn't warrant the big fridge but there is that swelling over the summer with visitors. I really dislike stocking up on canned stuff and grocery store ordinary this n that. You can make waffles and pancakes with fruits and freeze them/there will be local bread from local bakery/etc. The local stuff may be better and you can get it/use it and not have to "stock up." vacation or 2nd homes are an opportunity to do things a little differently which makes the whole experience a lot more interesting.

Depends on how you use the cottage. If you like to bring up lots of ready to go options go 36. If you go local and leave little behind a 30 is enough.

Thanks all

Hollysprings yes he lives alone and will have his own IL suite equipped with a kitchenette (sink, fridge, mv and induction hob). He can venture up stairs to the main kitchen anytime but he's not that interested. We tend to cook far more on vacation and when we have company that prefer more adventurous fare than hot dogs, chicken fingers etc. Drinks are pretty simple for us-- water, coffee, beer and wine and the kids get milk or water (because we are "so mean"). A cooler and some ice can cover other stuff I suppose

fori opens to DR/LR and hallway. Would love a pantry cab but the windows on the sink bank don't give us space but for a base cabinet. Been back and forth on ROTS vs drawers in the island but I think we are leaning towards drawers.

Herb and Dan we really don't use our freezer for much-- toaster waffles, pizzas and ice cream now and again and lots of ice packs for when the boys get boo boo's (often!)

I guess what is most concerning is how much cookware we will be able to fit into 4 drawers flanking the range. Considering a 3d set up 6" top and 2 9" below-- checked our pots and they seem to fit fine height wise but 27" bases have something like 23" of lateral space. Maybe it's time to make some cardboard mock up drawers