Creative Uses for usable door refrigerator end panels

11 years ago

Today my contractor installed the refrigerator end panel. We ordered doors to go on the end panel to give it a more finished look. Up until today I thought they were just fake doors. I was surprised that they actually open. However, when you open them it is just a flat panel of the cabinet, only about 1 1/2 inches deep. So now I am thinking I can use the 2 bottom doors to create my own "message center" by getting either a cork board or a magnetic board, some pads that stick to walls and pencil, pen holders. My new appliances were delivered today and I absolutely love the counter depth refrigerator, which is right behind this panel.

I have an idea for the two upper doors. Directly behind the doors is the cabinet that goes over the refrigerator. This is a 24 inch deep cabinet so whatever I put in the back will be very hard to get to. I was thinking of maybe having my contractor cut out the panel when you open the upper end panel doors. This will allow me to access the over the refrigerator cabinet from the side, with easier access to the things in the way back. I ran this by my contractor today. After he laughed, he said, "creative.. could work, but I typically don't start cutting into nice cabinets i just installed." He said it could probably be done and may work good for us. Told me to really think about it and make sure thats what I want before he starts cutting brand new cabinetry.

Everyone has been great with my questions this week so I figured I'd ask everyone what they thought. Any thoughts or other suggestions??? Again, when you open the doors there is only about 1 1'2" deep, Maybe someone has a better suggestions of what i can do with this space. I'll post some pics so you can see what I'm talking about.

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Comments (16)

amhers104
Original Author
11 years ago
Here is a pic with the end panel doors closed.
amhers104
Original Author
11 years ago
and here it is with the doors open. Any creative ideas on how to utilize this space would be greatly appreciated:)
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Gary's picture is a very helpful illustration. It shows raised panels that do not have that puffy look that I warned against. I totally disagree with LWO, which is very rare. It is a designer's job, and LWO is a professional designer as is the KD you're working with, to say these things, but it doesn't sound to me at all like you're planning an "upper end kitchen". It sounds like a very nice kitchen, but more value oriented than high end. I definitely agree with your reasoning that the choice of fridge should be based on your ideas of form and function. You like your choice of fridge. Choosing a different one to suit what the Jones are doing in the magazines or what designers think is the latest hot look will take away from the rational choice you've made for yourself. I went into my own kitchen remodel assuming I was getting SubZero, and preferring integrated, and still looked at freestanding fridges like the KA to compare them and see if I liked them better. I didn't. I liked Miele better, so went that. You sound like you've done enough shopping and know what you want. If the look of what you want bothered you, you would have worded your post differently. There is nothing wrong with having the edge of the fridge showing like Gary has--it's a very nice kitchen, but not designery and it wouldn't change the look if the fridge were integrated. There's nothing wrong with having the freestanding panelled fridge you're talking about, and putting nicely made panels on it, and having the sides show a little in the opening with a couple inches of air space. It's not built-in, but it's decorated to match the kitchen. It's not a high end, designery look, but it's perfectly fine. I find the comments otherwise to show more about the snobbery of the people writing them than the look itself. Matching things are out, right now. That's a big part of the problem. The people who want to be "in" decide that it's wrong to match if you can't make the match indistinguishable. It therefore must be integrated. Some people really make the match perfect, with faux drawer fronts and all so that you really can't tell where the fridge is. People aren't advocating that. I think if you can tell by the size and shape of the panels, it doesn't matter whether it's integrated, built-in but frame showing, or free-standing. It's still a fridge, and a fridge is a fridge, and what you want it to look like in it's fridgeness is entirely up to you. I also disagree about the death of the work triangle. I cook. I walk that triangle constantly. I have two fridges and two sinks, so there are different versions of the triangle which overlap, but I would never, ever, given a choice, remove the fridge from the main cooking area. People remodel their kitchens just to correct this problem. A big reason I planned a full remodel from the time I placed the offer to buy the house was the distance from the fridge to the stove. It was massively inconvenient even in an almost straight line. Moving the fridge out of the kitchen just so you won't have to look at it is something that people may do nowadays, but it is greatly impeding the function for cooking. People also buy vastly uncomfortable chairs because they look good, and then sit on the floor with pillows because they don't like sitting on the chairs. For some people looks is the most important thing of all. I've always admired the Duesenberg, one of the best and most beautiful cars ever made. They designed the works first, then designed the beautiful carriage to fit over them.
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If I had it to do over again, I would have ordered both the panel and the cabinet on top of the fridge to be 28" deep. The granite would then just butt into the panel, and give a standard fridge more of a built in look. We used Shuler/Medalion Cabinets which allowed us to order custom sizes. Of course it would have cost more, but less than a "cabinet depth" refrigerator. Here is a link that might be useful: Standard 24'' panel
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1929Spanish You are so lucky you found that refrigerator for $900! I love your kitchen, the cabinet color is so calming and the knobs and pulls are perfect. Your point that you don't even notice it is well taken. I need to keep moving forward to get this project on track. Without refrigerator dimensions my layout order is at a standstill. Plus, I know that whatever I get will look better than what I have now. Green, you're right about the gasket. I hadn't thought about that. What, you don't think I can paint that too?? LOL :D You made me laugh writers block! That's a lot of personality for a refrigerator. Thanks for your comments everyone. I'm going to go refrigerator shopping and see what I can find. romy's got me thinking in a new direction...
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Ha! Forum, the loads of room statement was *very* tongue in cheek. Sophie, I think that option may have evaporated between the time I dropped off the cabinet plan and now. Those guys move fast. That is, adding the filler may put our over sink window slightly off-center. would you go ahead and do that anyway? do I need one and a half inch or would 1 inch do?
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CEFreeman
11 years ago
If it were in a different space, I'd say spices.
I like the idea of opening the end the way you described. I like innovative stuff.

Can't wait to see what you do!
gr8daygw
11 years ago
While I see your contractor's point in cutting into new cabinetry, I think it's genius! Is the opening big enough to put brooms, Swiffer etc? If you hung them on nails they would be flat. Also thought of ironing board with putting the iron on the open part above. But your idea of it being a message center or place to keep those things that I usually tape to the inside of my pantry or cabinet doors is a great idea. I can't stand clutter but want to keep certain business cards in plain view or coupons I mean to use, invitations etc., this would be a perfect place for those. I love "found" space! Good luck, love your new fridge and it looks great in it's new home.
corgimum
11 years ago
Possible ideas if you do not cut the cabinet:
vitamin/prescription/otc drug storage (add some shelves to it)
towel storage (add a dowel or two and hang the towels over them)

Cool space! Love the message center idea. If you get a piece of magnetic sheet metal and paint it with chalkboard paint you could have neat message center. Add some cork squares on top of that as needed.
marcolo
11 years ago
Might be a good place for that Williams-Sonoma Ultraslim Step Stool.
mmhmmgood
11 years ago
what a great little space! I like all the ideas so far, depending on if there's enough depth: broom, ironing board, step stool, message centre. I'd probably consider hanging some aprons, maybe BBQ tools too? How about large cutting boards/pastry mat/plexiglass cover for your marble countertop ...
lyfia
11 years ago
I like the idea of access to the back from the side there. Only caution I'd have would be if it would affect the structural functionality of the cabinet? Guess it depends on how it is cut and hung too.

I think all my ideas have already been mentioned.
localeater
11 years ago
Hmmm. First I would hang a broom and dustpan. Then I would hang my apron(I know I am an anachronism). Next, would be dog leashes and brushes. It's possible my floppy garden hat would fit. I would definitely cover the interior of the doors with cork to use as push pin boards, school lunch menu, pool open lap swim hours, etc..... I covet your shallow cabinet.
a2gemini
11 years ago
Wow - creative - ours doesn't do this but we have our pantry behind ours
cindaintx
11 years ago
Beautiful cabinets and what fun to discover the hidden spaces!
The main panels on our refrigerator side panel don't open, but the one above does. We put a TV over our refrigerator (compromise to keep my husband happy and the TV out of my way). Our cabinets are dark so it blends in unless it's on. Anyway, that left us with the back half of the over-fridge space with only end access. We got some narrow sliding baskets stacked in a metal frame at Container Store. We use them for lightweight items -kind of our "junk drawers". ..... Picture hanging supplies, all the different types of tape, a screwdriver, etc. the baskets are mesh so even though they are overhead I can slide one out and look at most of the contents. we really use them a lot.
If you really needed the space, you could get a full depth pullout unit , but that seems like overkill to me.
lalithar
11 years ago
I love this super skinny shelf.. My suggestions

Thin peg board to hang cleaning stuff like the Williams Sonoma step stool, rags, broom etc. I would add some shelves for a single row of chargers, vitamins etc. Install a message board with a nice fabric over a padded cork board and use push pins for messages. Or use a painted metal sheet with magnets. Those cute kitchen list pads with magnets on top can also go there. . What about a flip down desk.. See plllog's kitchen. You can keep the pen on a strong..
amhers104
Original Author
11 years ago
So many great ideas!! Hubby is not thrilled with the idea of having the side cut outto access the back of the cabinet so at this point I have agreed not to. It can always be done later. I wrote down a list of some of the ideas that may work for us. We already have a closet off the kitchen that we use for brooms. I am going to go shopping tomorrow to get some things to create my own little message center. I'll be sure to post some pics of what i come up with. Thanks for all the responses!! :)
amhers104
Original Author
11 years ago
lalitha- new to GW so I'm still trying to figure out how to find certain posts. I would love to see pllog's kitchen but am not having luck finding it. Any tips on how to find it?? Thanks
angela12345
11 years ago
You can email from Plllog's member page ...
http://www.gardenweb.com/auth/nph-logincheck.cgi?action=public_profile&user=/plllog
marcolo
11 years ago
You can find plllog's kitchen here.

I love the way she labels everything on her blog. Hugely useful.

Creative Uses for usable door refrigerator end panels

Comments (16)

amhers104
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amhers104
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amhers104
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amhers104
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angela12345

marcolo

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Creative Uses for usable door refrigerator end panels

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