stainless vs. wood panel refrigerator
poolwebber
10 years ago
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Sms
10 years agopalimpsest
10 years agoRelated Discussions
All Stainless appliances vs. paneled?
Comments (7)If you go with the Thermador towers, you are already going the built in route, so it is not a substantial change to the design if you go paneled or stainless. The design is locked in to those spec's regardless. I am also biased about panels on Non built in units because you are pretending the sides don't exist. Same with a unit that has an external water/ice dispenser. The panels tend to emphasize that you are hiding it when there are sides or dispensers sticking out anyway. But if your units are fully integrated and thats what you want, I would go for it. The designer is designing for you, not for him/herself. One thing that bothers ME about the towers is that they are not the same widths, and so they are assymetrical unless placed side by side as a single unit, and this can stand out if they are stainless, since any set up symmetry would be "off". Thats my opinion, though. My opinion tends to be based upon what the esthetics of the kitchen are overall , and where the refrigerators sit. I have a built in paneled refrigerator because it is essentially in my living room, so I didnt want to see it. However, I am completely locked in to changing all the cabinetry if I have to replace it with something different. Other than that, I think these units look nice in the stainless. So, I am not giving you an answer, just a process by which you can think about why you may prefer one over the other....See MoreShow Me Your Wood Paneled Refrigerators
Comments (6)Here's my GE Profile side by side with wood panels. All the specs for making the panels are in the instruction manual that came with the panel ready fridge. In my case, nobody bothered to look at the specs, so we went thru three different versions of door panels. It would have been so simple for the KD to look at the instruction manual first. Duh. -Babka -Babka...See MoreOmega Dynasty vs Dynasty II Doors...and...wood vs wood veneer
Comments (9)Thanks everyone! I think the $7,000 difference also covered a few other changes we made...but some added some subtracted. However, the majority of it comes from the door change. I think about $1,000 came from postponing the 3 decorative doors on the side of the peninsula facing the DR + furniture base. By eliminating one of the single wall ovens (was going to be undercounter) and moving a MW drawer there, we actually added to the cost (~300) of that cabinet since it will now have at least one drawer + the MW. We also eliminated the breadbox (~400 savings there). Lastly, we postponed the Message Center on the end of the Pantry (~1,300). Over the next few years we plan to add the "postponed" items. One of the additional things we did to whittle away at the cost was to eliminate the backsplash. I've noticed that quite a few people put off the backsplash until later and, from what I've read here, it should be relatively easy to add later. I'm trusting all of you on that! Maybe I'll even try my hand at DIYing it (scares me though!) With the door & other cabinet changes made, postponing the backsplash, downgrading our appliances, and postponing other things (Vinnata faucet, new toilet, 2nd GD), we've managed to bring the cost down to something we think we can swing w/o going into debt...that's our goal, financially! Who knows...in a few years if I still want the Artesia door I can always buy them and replace the current doors! (After we "add back' the postponed items!) Again, thanks everyone for helping me feel better about this whole ordeal!...See MoreIs It Crazy to Put a White Wood Panel on a Refrigerator?
Comments (9)I think an integrated fridge (or, an integrated-looking fridge, like a built-in with an overlay installed, or even a stand-alone fridge that's inset into an opening in cabinets or into a closet-type space), w/ panels to match either the cabinets or perhaps plain to match the surrounding wall (for example, if the fridge is inset into a drywall-covered closet-like space), is fine. As long as it looks nice, that's all. Sure, it's nice to be able to stick stuff on the front of the fridge. But even w/ little kids, it's not necessary. There's a stereotype about "putting their artwork up on the fridge," but you can use any vertical space for that. Or, don't do it at all. There's a stereotype about "kids playing with the fridge magnets," but you don't need to do that either. (Often you can't w/ stainless anyway!) (Heck, you could rig a way to put Homosote on the fridge and have a bulletin-board front if you wanted to.) Me, I'm a big fan of a white fridge. I have dark cabinets and white counters and woodwork, so I decided that my white appliances are simply an extension of my counters. HERE ARE SOME IMAGES TO LOOK AT (I googled "integrated refrigerator") Look at this one: the covering panels only sort of match the cabinetry; they could be painted wood, or anything. https://www.houzz.com/products/miele-k-1801-refrigerator-fully-integrated-prvw-vr~816262-K-1801-Refrigerator-Fully-Integrated-refrigerators-new-york Here's another; the center one has the panels that are flat melamine/wood, and if you had a surrounding drywall closet-type space, you could simply put wood there; the closet frame would minimize the effect of the gasket showing. http://blog.bostonappliance.net/hs-fs/hub/308869/file-387359087-png/built-in-vs-integrated-vs-overlay.png And here's an interesting article about the terminology, etc. It might help you frame your thinking, or your questions. http://blog.bostonappliance.net/built-in-vs-integrated-vs-overlay-refrigerators#.VMJu4WTF9_g In the first picture here, where a stand-alone fridge has been set into a framed space. Think of what that fridge would look like if it had plain white wood panels on the front--it wouldn't look that bad. Note that it's the same depth as the opening, though--it doesn't stick out. That might look a little funny--even with paneling to match the cabinets. http://www.remodelista.com/posts/5-favorites-counter-depth-refrigerators...See Moredilly_ny
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