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Built-in refrigerator for 30-inch deep counters

14 years ago

I'm building a kitchen with 30-inch deep counters and am trying to figure out what is the right refrigerator. All the built-in models I can find are "counter-deep", i.e. 24" deep. While they're nice enough, wasting 6" of space in the back seems like a real shame.

Does any have any recommendations for large refrigerators that have a nice built-in look that will take advantage of the 30" depth?

Thanks!!

P.S. The other appliance I'm struggling with is the microwave; I'll have 14" deep cabinets, so the GE Spacemaker that my designer recommended seems like a poor choice...

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Comments (7)

weissman
14 years ago
The GE should be a perfect choice - with a trim kit it will fit perfectly - I had to recess mine a few inches to get a flush look.
weissman
14 years ago
fyi - I was referring to the GE MW in my previous post.
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johnlar
Original Author
14 years ago
Weissman, by "MW" I assume you mean microwave? Is there a particular GE model that looked good to you? I've seen their SpaceMaker models, but they're shallower than the cabinets (11-12 inches vs. 14 inches).

Any thoughts on the fridge conundrum?
weissman
14 years ago
Take a look at my pictures on my homepage - you'll see the GE Microwave built into my upper cabinets with the trim kit. If you use a trim kit it will add a bit to the depth. With normal 12" deep upper cabinets we had to recess it into the wall a little - if you have 14" cabinets it should fit just fine - remember you need an outlet in there as well. By the way, my model is GE JEM31 but it's now been superceeded by the PEM31 - same size. I believe it's the only one that's shallow enought to fit in an upper cabinet.

As far as fridges, you could go with any full depth fridge - mine is 30" deep including the door - but unless you get a truly integrated fridge with special hinges - the door needs to extrude beyond the counters so that it can open.
wa8b
14 years ago
As far as I know, built-in refrigerators are all designed to fit into a 24" deep space -- the standard counter depth found in most kitchens.

That being said, I also have 30" deep base cabinets with 15" uppers. I have a Sub-Zero fridge, so there is a 6" empty space behind it. Frankly, I wouldn't want a deeper refrigerator. One of the major advantages to built-ins is their shallower depth. You don't lose stuff way in the back, you can readily see everything in the fridge. Even if there was a 30" deep model available -- I'd still go with a 24" depth model.
mcmann
14 years ago
Unfortunately I can't recommend a specific refrigerator for you. But I wouldn't want to waste that 6" either. I have counter depth Sub Zeros at home (36" wide, one all freezer, one all fridge). At my vacation home I purchased a standard GE refrigerator and since the kitchen is small we recessed it a few inches into the wall and built out the one cabinet next to it a few inches. There are cabinets above it and on the outside is a floor to soffit panel that matches the cabinets. It certainly isn't the same look as my built in Sub Zeros but you sure can't beat the price and the look isn't bad at all.

Most of us grew up with standard depth refrigerators and I don't think you'd lose track of items that are in the back. Plus you can still fit a large pizza box or large serving platters in them- and they don't fit in a counter depth unit.
User
14 years ago
The simple answer is to use that 6" in the adjacent room for some type of built in. That way it isn't "wasted". You'll have to header the wall for the opening, but it should work great to give storage space elsewhere. Maybe it backs up to a pantry?

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