Should I consider this look for a built-in fridge?

14 years ago

I am very happy with our layout, posted here:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1100134312329.html

except I feel we may be enclosing the kitchen too much. The cabinets will be stained and the family room to the left of the refrigerator is not large enough to compensate for the amount of wood so I am concerned about it looking too bulky.

If we had higher ceiling I would have definitely opted for an open cabinet above the fridge but with our 8 feet ceilings and 80" fridge that would be too narrow. We also can't eliminate the tall glass cabinets, they are covering a pipe from the 2nd floor bathroom behind the crown molding.

But just a couple of days ago someone posted a link to Hampshire cabinetry website where I came across this photo:

This looks like a solution to wanting an open space above a built-in fridge in a room with lower ceilings.

So I did some cut-and-paste with one of my photos and came up with this:

It definitely doesn't look as "perfect" as the original but seems to open up the place somewhat. I also like the display area for ceramics or holiday decorations. DH things it looks funny and defeats the purpose of the integrated refrigerator.

So what do you think?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

rhome410
14 years ago
I think one of the reasons (the main reason, maybe?) that the configuration in the photo works is the continuity with the style of cabinets to either side of it. Also, that's a very country-ish kitchen and that kind of unfitted modification suits it. I'm afraid your DH may be right that it would make the fridge stick out, rather than blend.
igloochic
14 years ago
I'll take a pic of my fridge cabinet today and post it later on. (I have to take my little guy to the doc first). I have 8' ceilings and a huge fridge, and added a thin cabinet above the fridge. While it's short, it's quite deep so I use it to store all of my decorative trays I use at parties. I left it open because an inset door would have been too small and I really like it. I think you should do the same if you're going to go with that look...it really finishes it off nicely, especially when it comes to the trim on the ceiling.
Related Discussions
Having containers built - what should I consider?
Q
Comments (6)
Lucky you and nice to meet you! I would also use a liner or buy some cans of wood sealer to protect the wood from dampness and eventual rot or discoloration, unless of course you like the worn out look. I love Patty's idea about planters and I must say that citrus do not like to share their space within the pots they are in. The gritty mix is a great idea since it will far outlast anything anyone has to offer for a potting medium which gives you the freedom to make the planters as big as you want without fear of compacted growth, a compacted medium and or root rot issues within a short period of time. The other mixes as mentioned will breakdown much more rapidly requiring extra attention to soil structure and water retention. Yet, these mixes are also good for short term plantings. It is really a personal choice, but if it were me, I would start with a mix that holds its structure for a much longer time. Lucky you since I also find containers, at least good looking ones very expensive and without character. Good luck and please post pics of the finished project. I would love to see it. Mike:-)
...See More
Fridge- who should I look at?
Q
Comments (6)
Make sure to doublecheck all along the pathway the frig will take to your actual spot to make sure you can install a Standard depth 36" wide frig. We nearly purchased one, only to realize that the space in front of the frig spot was not big enough for this type of frig. I also would recommend making up a list of your requirements and how you like to store things before going to look at frigs. And I do recommend looking at frigs in person to check the following: Can you reach the back of the frig? Can you reach the top shelves in the box and on the door? Are there any nooks and crannies that will get dirty but are impossible to clean? Does it have a closed deli tray drawer? amazing how many don't and thus how can you truly control the temp and humidity?? Is it easy to take the shelves and bins out to clean? Another way to look at it, is to make a list of all the things you like and dislike about your current frig and use that to eliminate possible frigs. Take a look at other threads and you will find lots of advice on which ones are worth the money or not.. And consider how good customer service is, too. It seems like they don't build things the way they used to... Good Luck!
...See More
36' Built in Fridge seems SMALL- Should I try a 42'?
Q
Comments (11)
If having the more integrated look is important to you, then you will accept the tradoffs of more cost and less storage. But, it sounds as though those tradoffs are not acceptible to you or your DH. Consequently, I'd challenge you as to whether or not you actually need a built in for your kitchen design. You have issues with both their cost and the space that they give you. Budget and built in are words that don't belong in the same sentence, and if you have large storage needs, they don't belong together either unless you have a large kitchen plus backups elsewhere. A plain freestanding fridge will be significantly cheaper (4-10K cheaper), provide more interior room (as much as 30 cu ft in a standard 36" space vs the 21 of a 36" built in), and can still be enclosed with cabinet panels on the side to make it look more a part of the room. You just give up the cabinet panels on the front----which isn't cheap either. The front cabinet panels will cost you another 1-2K. Seems like a no brainer to me unless you are in a pretty spendy part of town that requires a built in to keep up with the neighbors. Is this 30 cubic feet of storage "> worth 4-10K more to you than this 30 cubic feet of storage?
...See More
full depth fridge 'built in look' next to cabinet run
Q
Comments (6)
Here's a couple options. Pull the drywall put 1/2" ply to line the opening and it's now 28 1/2". Pull the cabs 4" forward with very usefull added counter space. Do the same recess and add a 2x4 and 1/2" drywall run the length of the wall to the left as needed to bring that section forward. Build the end panel you have to the right of the frig into an 8" end wall. Rotate the frig on an angle so the left side meets the counter depth pulled out to 26" and the rear right corner is recessed in the new wall. The left side trim panel can run straight back on that side. Add up the costs and see how it compares with this $5700 Liebherr FD. Here is a link that might be useful: Liebherr 36
...See More
laxsupermom
14 years ago
I agree w/ your DH. The inspiration pic works because it is flanked by open storage - the glass front on either side plus the plate rail around the window makes the top foot of the entire space intentionally a display space.
annab6
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, thanks for your honest responses. Igloochic, i'd love to see your photo if you get a chance to post it.

If it wasn't for the drain pipe sticking out, i'd go without the tall cabinets to save floor space. Just can't think of any other way to cover it. Just in case, here are a couple of pictures of it:
ci_lantro
14 years ago
If it wasn't for the drain pipe sticking out, i'd go without the tall cabinets to save floor space. Just can't think of any other way to cover it.

Pull the refrig down to where the tall cabs would have started and go with the idea you posted in the photo at the top of the thread. You'd need to frame out a wing to cover the back of the refrig & the pipe on the backside & then the cab/ shelving would conceal the front side of the pipe...

Or, the more usual approach with a soffit but maybe an angled soffit to mimic the underside of a staircase? That way you could limit it to being only 36'' or so wide. Or continue it to die into the far wall.

We have a soffit in our family room that conceals plbg in the bathroom above. Ours is the usual rectangular thing & pretty large...9 1/2'' tall & extends out from the wall almost 18''. I'd rather it wasn't there but, for some reason, I don't mind it nearly so much as I minded the soffits that were in the kitchen.
igloochic
14 years ago
I had to do some fancy searching to find this thread LOL

Ok remember please that our kitchen is NOT finished. Included in the not finished group would be the fridge cabinet which will have a bead on the inside like the rest of the inset doors do when I hire a new contractor. The doors on the right will also have full cherry (the ones over the entry) verses the little holes they have now. And, because I know this space has to be emptied soon, I have't actually arranged the platters and bowls up there as they will be. The future arrangement will have one big white platter in the front with a couple of pretty farm house bowls on top and then all the other stuff stuffed back behind that (which you can't see because it's so deep).

What I like about this cabinet is it's storage ability, but also it kills the akward little space people end up with above a tall fridge. Having cabinets to continue the molding around makes it fit in really nicely, even in a small space like mine:

I was trying to get in all views but my chandelier blocks that last one a bit...I wanted to show how the molding flows....oh well, use your imagination :oP
loves2cook4six
14 years ago
We had a similar pipe. The plumber ended up moving it into the wall and ceiling. It was totally worth the expense. Have you looked into that option?
vicnsb
14 years ago
igloo,,, I have never seen these pics of yours posted before...
it looks great! Are your ceilings 8 ft? I am looking at your hood
and would like to know the dimensions and I am assuming it was
built custom, right?
Thanks so much

anna...putting that pipe up into the ceiling sounds like a good idea, did
you look into that?

vic
annab6
Original Author
14 years ago
igloochic, thanks a lot for the pictures, yours looks great! The only reason I am still not sure about it is we get a good amount of dust in our house (my theory is the dust is one of the consequences of the forced air heating system but I may be wrong on that one) and I can see how it can get old to dust inside this open cabinet on a regular basis. But do like the crown molding flowing around the fridge so you got me thinking here.

loves2cook and vic, the pipe is actually new for our new bathroom upstairs. The reason they had to run it this way was to achieve the necessary pitch in the drain. There wasn't enough room between the floors to have it hidden. So nope, can't move it.
madeyna
14 years ago
Igloochic, I love the creativity you have shown in your kitchen design. My last kitchen had its frig. inset like yours except it had two narrow doors. I think the insperation pic would work well in the posted design . Its hard to totally get around something as large as a fridge,so you might as well get creative with that upper space.

Should I consider this look for a built-in fridge?

Comments (10)

rhome410

igloochic

Related Discussions

laxsupermom

annab6
Original Author

ci_lantro

igloochic

loves2cook4six

vicnsb

annab6
Original Author

madeyna

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Should I consider this look for a built-in fridge?

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

annab6Original Author

annab6Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

annab6
Original Author

annab6
Original Author