IMHO, as both a realtor and KD -- do the end panels.

I think boxing in the monster steel freezer/refrigerator (which wasn't really meant to be seen from the side anyway, even though that's how we viewed it for the last four years!) helped to tame the beast and make it play nicely with the rest of the kitchen. Pics below:

{{gwi:1743606}}

{{gwi:1743607}}

It wasn't out intention to trim along the bottom, originally, then we decided it would look best for our job. But I did like the "feet" that came with the fridge.

lynn

Wow, Lynn -- that's a cook fridge.

Does anyone happen to know whether the Samsung French Door fridges are finished on the side? If not "finished" what are they? I have one sitting in its massive box right here but I don't want to open the box and then be stuck unable to move it easily. It's going to have to do some zigging and zagging before all's through.

Thanks. I'll post this q on a separate thread if no one knows ...

I know it's not quite the same thing, but I opted (because I had the space, taking a wall down) to put cabinetry on either side, so it was "boxed" but looked like it had a purpose. Not sure what your set-up is, but you could dress it up a little, maybe.. ?

Gosh that's pretty, annetta. No way are we that refined though!

Any Samsung fridge owners out there? What's the side of your fridge look like please?

My 30-inch Kenmore white refrig is out on its own. Poor baby.

Aliris, I don't have a Samsung, but am pretty certain the sides are a dark gray plastic.

Thanks, aliris... that was in my last house. I do miss it. Now, however, I DO actually have a Samsung fridge (french door) and flwrs is right... it is a dark grey. We have it open, as it meets a countertop. I tend to put magnets on there, so it gets very cluttered (another reason I would like a panel... to keep me from cluttering it up!). It isn't terrible, though, color-wise. To me, a panel just looks more complete. But there's no wrong answer.

I'll see if I can take a picture tomorrow.

I'm with Marcolo...IMHO, in most kitchens an "un-boxed" refrigerator looks (1) unfinished and (2) builder-grade. Yes, there are exceptions, but they're few & far between. If you feel it's "wasteful" and you want it "functional", surround your refrigerator w/narrow pullouts...maybe a utility/broom closet on one side and a narrow pantry pullout or pot/pan pullout (on peg board) on the other. Just some ideas!

Remember, though, that if you put your refrigerator against a wall or other object deeper than the refrigerator carcass, you will need some sort of filler b/w it and that object...so make it useful!

i always love seeing a bare naked stainless anything but like you, i was wondering if i might have regrets later. so i bit the bullet and went all out with paneled everything (except the range). i'm really glad i did it -it's such a great wall in my kitchen. the fridge (left) and freezer (right) are seamlessly integrated. i'm loving it!

{{gwi:1743609}}

Suddenly I don't feel grown up enough for this... that's a seriously grown up bank of cabinets, Kate. What's in the middle? (dare I ask?).

I think at long last I'm beginning to understand what's "porn" about all this. And the adage about knowing it when you see it really applies here: that's it!

I had a non boxed in fridge and when we replaced it I boxed in a 30" freestanding Liebherr. Much better finished look. I don't agree at all about "done, done." I feel that happens when there's cabinet overkill.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fridge

ae2ga -

Here is our before and after. We had a vintage fridge before, so it looked great on its own. Our "after" fridge is standard depth, stainless with black sides. We had enough wall on the pantry side to almost hide the sides, so DH built out the "alcove" wall on the left side of the fridge. We also bumped out the over-fridge cab to the front of the opening -- much more modern and custom-looking that way.

We then pulled the range-wall base cabs out 3-1/2" to make a deeper countertop and to utilize the now-deeper range alcove space. Since we were going without uppers in the range alcove, the separation provided by the fridge wall was perfect.

Before:

After:

I'm a fridge nook fan too. We even had one in our old vintage kitchen circa 1939 (although it was about ten sizes too small!) so I don't think it screams "new remodel." Our fridge is at the end of a cabinet run that transitions into our mudroom/breakfast area, so without the side panel, it would look like there's a refrigerator in the middle of that space. With the panel, you tend to forget that---even though there is!

Generally, I get the "done done" sensation more from the fridge front panels than from the side panels, which are pretty commonplace these days (and not very expensive, so you see them in all sorts of kitchens).

Wow; what a transformation, Jakabedy: beautiful!

Stacey -- your layout is a little like mine only the range is across from the island along the sink wall. So this is a *super-helpful* picture; thank you! Is it you with the all-non-VOC cabinets? They look just beautiful.

OK, I'm back to being of two minds about this again. I like the idea of magnetism on the side of the fridge; I don't think Stacey's is too done-done.

I actually like the setup of Staey's old IKEA box for the fridge.

Could I do this: Make a box for the fridge that deliberately sticks up too high so there's space to set stuff on top of the fridge (as in Stacey's old k photo), and then the cabinets set on top of the box?

Currently I have an open shelf framed out there, but that's kind of superfluous, isn't it? And if the top of the fridge actually showed, that might mitigate the done-done ness.

Stacey, it could be yours is toned down precisely because it's missing that panel up top.

Artemis - yup. But I was under the impression that the side panel was comparatively expensive because it's a large piece of wood. At least when I was trying to save money the cab maker brightened up considerably when I mentioned skipping the side fridge panel...

Check the fridge specs to see what's needed in terms of air space above. Mine required a certain amount and I went about 3 inches -- we store trays on top. Then I have an open basket storage above (visible on the link). I must prefer that to the other arrangement.

But you don't want too much space above, I think, as that takes on a "gap-y" aspect and can look like someone mismeasured.

In my old kitchen, we left that big space because
1) Ikea over-fridge cabs only came in that height, and
2) Our fridge was pretty short, and an old hand-me-down, and we figured somebody would probably want to put a taller one in there sometime.
I used the space to display some of my mid-century Scandinavian enamel bowl collection. That worked well.
The box is actually plywood... 2 sides and a top, with the Ikea cabinet mounted inside it over the fridge. But of course you could build it any old way :) I liked that the side panel (the plywood) went all the way up, and enclosed both the fridge and the cabinetry. But that's just my design sense.
(Of course, the raw plywood edges are capped with poplar and it's all painted...)

Hi ali..

Without the box you may be tempted to do what I use to do...use the side of the fridge as a command center..

now I can't do that...thank goodness!

KA:)

The top of a fridge is a magnet for dust and grime. I despised cleaning
that ick. When we remodeled our small kitchen 21 years ago, I swore
I'd never deal with that again. Best thing we did was get a built in Sub
Zero. I love the finished look the panel-surrounded fridge gives the
kitchen. To top it off, the fridge has been a workhorse; still purring
along!

Be careful. If the refrigerator is not designed to be built in, it must have plenty of air space so it will not over heat. If you box it in, leave room around all sides and if you can, put a 12" deep cabinet, pulled to the front, so there is air room behind the cabinet. Sometimes the panels are 27" deep, so a 24" cabinet will still allow air behind it. If that is the case, don't fill in the total gap behind the cabinet.

We had an extra 8" along the side of the fridge, so we paneled it in ourselves (cherry plywood) and built a shelf on top and little narrow-but-deep pantry drawers along the side. Holds a TON and we love the extra open storage in our small kitchen.

circuspeanut... i LOVE that!!!

do you remember where/what about the drawer hardware? also do you mind sharing the brand of your fridge and how you like it?

Of course you realize that the downside of leaving a full stainless frig out in the open is the increase in the amount of time you spend cleaning it. Much more exposed surface area to contend with. Just think f the amount of time people on here spend wiping fingerprints just off the front and mutiply x3.

I've seen some creative boxed in treatments of fridges that put a cork board, chalkboard, or message center on the side of the refrigerator, as part of the side panel. You get the pulled together boxed in look and still somewhere to put your magnets or to write a message. One could do this with a stock side panel with a little creative customizing. Just an idea.

aliris19... saw this on HGTV.com and thought of your thread.

Thanks, all! These fridges are just massive no matter what you do. But some definitely look more massive than others. What do you think makes the difference?

I think Stacey's looks least hulking, but then maybe it actually *is* less giant? The Samsung I've bought is 30" w/o the doors; the doors are an additional 6". Maybe since it can't actually snuggle inside of a box anyway, the curtailed panel wouldn't even work to de-emphasize or hide the thing anyway.

How'm I doing in this effort to justify mere cost-savings in a more high-brow, design-centric way?

I regret that this is a subject I didn't read enough about ahead of time. The cabinets surrounding our fridge were built based on the specs for this particular refrigerator, and it fits perfectly with the clearances required by the manufacturer, so the cabinetmaker and my GC are patting themselves on the back over it.

However, this fridge is 36" wide x 70" high, and I can see frustration and/or cabinet modification in the future when I may want to replace it with a 72" high model. Also, despite the clearances being correct, I can easily imagine that it would run better, longer, with better circulation. I'm considering looking into putting some holes in the wall behind it into the adjacent hallway.

No one around me sees why these two issues are potentially problems. You of the Kitchen Forum understand, though, don't you?

I am so happy this topic came up. I just took a wall down between the kitchen and living room, and the for some reason, the fridge that seems even more visible now when you enter the front-door (we have a very small house) is bugging me. I have been trying to think of clever ideas to cover up the side of the fridge so that it is not the first thing you see when you walk in the door. I never gave thought to the fact that I could a panel of some sort to hide the fridge. I am new to this whole kitchen remodeling thing. There is about 6 inches of space between where the fridge ends, and the end of the wall. My first idea was to purchase a CD/DVD shelving unit (since they are pretty shallow) and place it in that area at the side of the fridge. That is as far as I got with that thought, but now that I know there is a better solution, I will have to look into it.

Thanks!

aliris19... i'm sorry, but i missed wherever you described what your original plan is for your fridge. where were you thinking of placing it in it's "unboxed" state in your kitchen? and which medallion cabinets were you referencing in your opening post? thanks!

OK, first of all: I'm definitely going to regret writing "refrige" in the subject posting...

I think it was someone else who referenced medallion cabinets -- I remember some reference to them but I thought it was another thread ... will you look at that: I *did* say "medallion cabinets", didn't I?! I have zero memory of this. But I must have been referencing someone else's mention of them. There was a thread about it - when I find it I'll put it in the link below. I don't have medallion cabinets and never even looked at them. I think they're kinda out of my price-range. ;)

My layout has the fridge at the very entrance to the kitchen against one short wall and open on the other side to the start of a cabinet run beneath a passthrough, bending to the sink-range run. There is an island across from the fridge. The fridge is a SS FD monster, so overhead cabinets will be deep. There will be a low, deep counter to the right of it and deep upper cabinets to the side. The thinking is to skip the side panel that covers the side of the fridge (and supports the overhead cabinets too -- more on that below). My reasons are (1) cost (2) concern with "over-formality" (3) space.

Funnily enough, I think that these boxes can wind up making fridges and the whole space look *very* different under different conditions. I can't quite figure out why. Maybe it's just that some of these fridges are huge and there's no concealing that. Maybe it's that some of these fridge's *doors* are huge and they inherently stick way out (like mine, to accommodate the in-door water stuff). Or maybe it's the thickness or depth of the side paneling or fit of the wood species or the fridge's relative placement in the kitchen -- I don't know.

I know usually I don't love the look of the side panels, though sometimes they enhance the space, IMO. I can't figure out why or when. Stacey's, for example, looks great. OTOH I also love to use the fridge as a message center; I think its rightful place is as nerve center. I can't seem to move on from that leave-it-to-beaver mentality I guess.

One advantage to having the box is as support for deep uppers. However because there is a side wall we can support the uppers on two sides, obviating that need for the box. *But* - that won't allow for the nifty suggestion of drachiele's to utilize deep uppers by pulling shallower uppers forward and allowing space along the back for air circulation. That seems really wise to me, but I need the attachment the wall affords. However, someone else's thoughts of drilling holes might make sense (actually, that was in another thread). We could attach and then drill. baby drill. I'll let the teenager drill. ;)

But another concern is for sufficient air circulation around the fridge. I can't seem to figure out what is "sufficient". And the manufacturers are no help. They state a minimum of 1" all around, but also say more is better. How much more? How much better? Is the ambiguity a function of the fact that the parameter of interest is actually 'air circulation' rather than 'airspace left'? That's my suspicion -- that is, who's to say how much space to leave; what matters is how much throughput of air there is -- how cool the air surrounding the fridge stays. At least that's my guess.

In the meantime I can't figure out how much space to use: 1", 1.5", 2", 3"? What will happen if it's 0.99"? Samsung won't say. And what I'm wondering from any errant physicists or engineers wandering around this forum is: does it matter? Is 2" twice as good as 1"? There must be some threshold beyond which it doesn't matter -- what's it all depend on?

OK, that's what's keeping me up at night most recently. There'll be another over-thought question coming down the pike soon. In the meantime, thanks for any clarification, thoughts or instructions....

Here is a link that might be useful: inspirational medallion cabinets

lol, aliris, thanks. but for the record, there isn't a picture of a fridge in that thread! ;)

it's okay... i understand. it's mind-boggling.

i empathize with your not wanting the whole box thing. i don't either. in fact i'm looking at my cab quotes wondering what i can trim out. i kinda resent having to order the expensive panel and the big box overhead since i don't even use the one that came with the house.

but i have to in case we sell.

sorry i don't have a solution. i'm a wimpy conformist.

well, let us know what you decide! be bold. :)

There isn't? Yeah there is -- you have to scroll down...

No way do you _have to_ because you're maybe selling. No way. Unless you know for sure you're selling, and for sure that you won't be able to sell without said wood hunks -- unless you know these things for sure there's no way you haven't a choice in the matter.

And you can't know these things for sure. You can't know the latter and it sounds as if you don't even know the former!

I think it's part of the remodeling overkill rampup, but I really don't think that particular piece of it could possibly kill a house deal -- or even affect the asking/getting price. There might be some slight fleeting overall initial impression that's relatively sightly diminished by its absence among those who care to see such things. But any house will have little somethings here or there. An absence of this piece of cabinetry would just be a little something - no way is it a deal breaker.

My problem is that I'm so wishy-washy and see advantages to either way. I can't feel a strong intuitive sense of what would be better as I see its effect so variable in various kitchens.

But if you know for sure it's something you don't like, then skip it! It sounds as if re-reading this thread might afford you the courage to do so, hopefully? We're obviously not alone in not loving the things, though our voices are quieter than those who looooove em. For some reason their adherents feel very strongly about the addition while the less formal are perhaps less committed.

I wish I could get some colored elevations to help me decide! But guess what -- after talking with a dozen places about cabinets, all of which had this software and ways of visualizing what was going on -- the one I chose happens to have a rotten computer program and/or familiarity with using it (and/or computer): she can't produce color elevations for me! I'm not particularly happy about that!! grump. Not sure what to do about it.

actually, it's not that i don't like it. i just have no use for it.

i know it wouldn't kill a real estate deal not having it.

but my kitchen is very small, so it will literally look half-done without a cabinet there. like, why did they stop?

kind of defeats the purpose of a remodel, no?

just remembered another picture i saw.

maybe the trick is to position the fridge where it won't seem out of place to not box it in? lol, or have a very expensive fridge? that's a liebherr.

from apartment therapy:

anyway, i'm finally off to bed!

Here is a link that might be useful: Before & After: A Cellist's Beautiful Kitchen

I do not have my fridge boxed in. I thought it would feel too cramped. I have tiny kitchen, but I think the cabinets around it help. I also have the smallest french door fridge I could find that wasn't too expensive. I did my remodel on a tight budget. I do have my washer and dryer in my kitchen and I chose to build that in, there are all those hoses and such you could see, and didn't want 2 big appliances built in, in such a small space.

Here is a link to my blog, I am not sure how to upload pics ;0

good luck with what you decide. there are soo many decisions to make. I am trying to decide on hardware now.

Here is a link that might be useful: living on live oak

hi ironcook,

thanks! My fridge is a 30" Liebherr. LOVE it madly, can't recommend the brand highly enough despite its $$$ price. The hardware we used for the pullout pantry drawers were Blum self-close slides, purchased at Rockler Woodworking. At something like $50 a set, they were by far the most expensive part of building that whole fridge wall.

When I was renovating my first bathroom, a young architect told me that I could get around any constraint imaginable, by using money.
Higher quality components ($$$)
Higher quality workmanship ($$$$$)
Higher quality anything ($$$ to $$$$$$).

Spend quadruple the money in any one area, and it will be deemed nicer than the other areas.
Obviously, a few caveats apply, and a few assumptions are implicit.

So, I conclude it is true that an expensive fridge "needs" boxing in LESS than a cheapie with exposed coils needs it.
I think several already said this, in other ways. circuspeanut drachiele staceyneil and rococugurl among others.
The uglier older fridges looked terrible even when boxed in. (!).

aliris I will subscribe to any service that sends me your musings. Your thoughts are good.

Are you the one who posted about a recess in the wall? In that thread I said that once you recess the back end of any fridge into an official cubby hole designed to receive the fridge back end, you now have "made a statement" that allows your visitors to know that this is the official treatment.

The Big Question is whether or not the fridge looks like it was placed there with no thought given to how it would look, or whether the fridge looks like it was placed in an official place made for it. To toss out another idea, that corresponds to the money + consideration equation I mentioned in my first paragraph, consider this: A Short Panel of Frosted Tempered Glass. As short as you can imagine. Six inches, eight inches, nine inches, whatever. It shows intent. It lets the fridge breathe. It crowds the counter less than a full panel. It costs money. It is attractive to the eye. ETC.

HTH

"aliris I will subscribe to any service that sends me your musings."

Let me know where to sign up, too.

Originally DH was adamant we had to have the faux panels on the side of the fridge and so glad we didn't go that route! It's pricey, so glad we just went with plain panels with deeper cabinets above.

My (awesome) KD just repositioned the fridge so it didn't stick out as much,stuck our pantry and some cabinets next to it.

circuspeanut... thank you so much for that info. :)

alison... your house is delightful! it's odd how omitting the fridge panel can make a difference in a small kitchen, isn't it? i came to this same conclusion using photoshop last night!

davidro1... The Big Question is whether or not the fridge looks like it was placed there with no thought given to how it would look, or whether the fridge looks like it was placed in an official place made for it.

exactly!

Ironcook; Could you provide a link to that blue kitchen from HGTV? I love that color and I'm trying to find out more about it but I can't find it on the site.

Thanks so much.

hi cjzimmer...

i can give you the link, but it's just the photo in a slideshow.
HGTV Blue Country Kitchen

i do remember this episode though. it was on Candice Olson's "Divine Design". maybe try her website to see if the episode is archived. i have not had a tv in three years, so i know it's got to be at least that old!

Divine Design Episodes

Yes, mnerg; we understand! A "perfect" fit just might not be. I do at least: I would actually really like to see some efficiency curves on those fridges as a function of clearance, say 0.5", 1", 1.5", 2", 3"... Kas? I just bet this stuff gets published but how on earth would one find it?

Alison: WOW is that pretty! Those glass front well-light cabinets are so riveting! No wonder you're thrilled.

Have you looked at hardware on Lee Valley? Not sure if you're wanting something more unique but I've liked their stuff in the past; haven't looked recently. But it's a great company if you're not familiar with it.

Droll David: thanks! You really lifted my day with your nice words. Because funnily enough, I have dreaded my postings imagining anyone who might read them to be rolling their eyes in annoyance. I've been chastened more than once about "overthinking things", which is simultaneously humiliating and annoying since after all, what's a forum like this for if not to obsess? If given permission to be obsessive is it possible to 'overthink'? (Evidently, yes). So anyway -- I completely appreciate your kind words as I do feel immensely self-conscious warbling on about this stuff. People are dying by the thousands on the other side of the globe and I'm spending my time wondering whether to box in my refrigerator; I'm even erasing and retyping it when I spell it wrong.

And you too, mnerg: thanks for the seconded booster. As I said, though it's kinda pathetic, you'se-two's kind words really floated me through hours today.

Methinks it's time to peruse the FKB since I still haven't got an answer. I agree with that droll David about some essence of intention being transmitted. But since all these kitchens actually are designed, why do some look more-so. And if non-formality is the aim, that's different from haphazard planning.

BTW functionally, I should think those boxes would do a number on stagnating the air. And I wonder whether the presence of a mega-hood would assist in air circulation and therefore refrigerator efficiency?

Thanks Ironcook. I'm hunting through her site. Hopefully I'll find it.

We're not done yet but we boxed. I was dead set on having a box and pushing our standard depth fridge back into an interior wall so it could look cabinet depth(ish). We didn't really get to choose our current fridge. We had an old second hand fridge that served us well for years (from the classifieds) and we were waiting to do the kitchen and buy new appliances then. Well, the fridge from the classifieds had other plans and DIED in July a couple years ago so we needed a fridge and quick. We live in a small town with one local appliance store and he had ONE stainless finish fridge. It's huge to me. This big, stainless box. So tall and deep that I pushed the darn thing into EVERY, and I mean EVERY, possible position in my kitchen before finally deciding on a location for it in the final design. It's like a big, silver monument to food. I had to try to hide some of it. I love the stainless. Like the fridge but it's just so darn big and square. Like a huge silver saltines box in my kitchen.

Now that it's in it's little box it looks smaller and more under control. As someone said above, it's been TAMED. Thank goodness. I love the little fridge box my hubby built for me.

Below is the beast...

Here is the beast tamed (excuse the tools, we're still working on the space)...
{{gwi:1716690}}

I know it's a matter of preference but I just think she looks a lot better with a little clothing on. Less prominent. Still a big feature and highlighted by the color around the box but less like a sore thumb.

just saw an article in today's paper stating trend is moving towards smaller appliances, thought of this post!

here is a pic, shows fridge slightly hidden

My fridge isn't boxed in. It is at the end of the run, has black sides (stainless front)and also the black side faces a doorway.. My KD wanted to put a panel down the side - I agree it would have made everything look more finished. But... we had the fridge for a few years before the remodel & it was the only place I allowed my toddler to put his beloved alphabet magnets (I didn't want them on the stainless front). I just didn't have the heart to take that away from him... lol... oh well - helps my kitchen to look lived in I guess :)

keptoz... i love that. one of the best, sweetest reasons i can imagine for not boxing in a fridge. :)

Hi y'all -- we ended up not boxing. The panel was hugely expensive and when push came to shove it was an easy way to save money at the cabinet store. It was actually a rather nifty bargaining tool -- helped them to feel we were really cutting down on costs and I didn't actually care all that much about it.

I think. Truth is, jury's still out but getting ready to make a decision. The cabinets are up and look good, but there's no fridge in the space yet! I'm happy to report the overhead deep cabinet does indeed stay put on the wall with afixing on two sides without a supporting box underneath. I had at first been told this was a no-go structurally. I think not-boxing will be better functionally in terms of allowing air better circulation about the fridge. I'll post pictures anon. In the meantime others might weigh in if they've new data!