CD Fridge vs Cutting Into Wall

12 years ago

Hi,

I am new to the forum and am enjoying reading all the great advice. We are in the early stages of a kitchen remodel. I plan to post pictures and draw a layout to get advice, but one of my first thoughts/questions has to do with the refrigerator. The fridge we had installed a few years back is much deeper than the cabinets. Since we have a small kitchen (15 x 8) it is fairly noticeable. When our GC came for a visit to discuss the kitchen remodel, he mentioned there were 2 options with the fridge. We could buy a new one that is counter depth or he could rip into the wall behind it to set it back approx. 4 inches. I think it would be cheaper to have the wall set back, but it would be easier to buy the cd fridge. I don't know which would be more aesthetically appealing.

Any suggestions? Our house is a 1915 arts and crafts. The room behind the fridge wall is the stairs to our cellar. The current fridge we have is stainless and matches the other appliances.

Thanks!

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Comments (10)

jeri
12 years ago
Recessing the fridge into the wall is a GREAT option! Ascetically, it will look the same, but you will have a larger fridge with less cost. It always bothered me to pay more money for less space with a CD fridge! This was one of the *many* great ideas we put into place thanks to this forum.
pam29011
12 years ago
Would you be making the stairwell narrower by bumping into that space? I have this mild phobia about tumbling down the stairs while carrying laundry ... so that was my first thought.

We went from a full depth to counter depth fridge this year. The only negative is that I can't stick a pizza box in there. So I slide leftover pizza into 1 gallon ziploc bags and voila, I'm done (and the whole fridge doesn't smell of pizza). I really, really like our CD but part of that is because we went to a wider fridge & got a french door style. The old fridge was a freezer on top model that was only 32" wide.

Good luck with your decision :)
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The fact that you want the wall to look as if it is all cabinets tells me that you want "full integrated", not built-in. Subzero makes semi integrated look with their built in but you see the door slightly and the grill cover above the frig. The best place to look at the options is the Subzero web site. They show you how the integrated and built ins look. One of the big difference is where the air intake grill is. The built ins are at the top which are often covered with panels. The integrated frigs have the grills at the bottom behind the door with a small gap that lets the air flow around it. When the door is closed, you see nothing. The frig is designed so that the bottom of the door is at the same level as all the other cabinets next to it with the toe kick where you should see the standard toe kick. If you think about it, it makes sense that the gill cover at the top is what gives it away. There is nothing else that can be up there (above 7ft) except the grill cover for the frig and it is a dead give away that it is a frig. Either you don't care or you do. The Liebherr has the toe kick vent so there are air vents cut into the grill, which makes it a not a "true integrated" Small difference but these things make a difference in the look AND if you know what to look for, it jumps out at you. Mieles and Boschs are integrated, not built-ins. The do not make a line where the grill cover is at the top. Thermador makes built-in line and integrated line. Subzero makes both also. There are people that want the look of the SZ built-in so that it "showcases" that there is a SZ there. (This probably helps with resale more than the integrated since more people know what SZ is but not what it takes to do the full integration.) There are people that go the extra mile to make sure that it is fully integrated. Do the research and see what you want. Good luck.
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Hi orangkitchenbgone, Sorry to say but I was extremely disappointed when I checked out the back of that box. Their pdf info states that depth including door was 23+, which had me excited about the prospect of a built in looking unit under 72" high. I went to Pacific Sales, pulled the unit out to check the back and was dismayed to see a FULL WIDTH ~1 inch deep box at the very bottom of the unit, roughly 6-12 " high or so ( I cant remember the height since I was so angry). This box was exactly where I'd have the line for water and recessed electrical. Also, the Mfr. wants a ridiculous amount of airspace on all sides. From the box to the gasket was over 24 1/2", about 1" more than most (23 5/8 ave) and the door added another 4 inches or so. For me, every inch counts when I want a CD unit...
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editionk
12 years ago
We're doing a kitchen addition and planning on cutting into the wall to recess the fridge. I can only see my family needing *more* fridge space as the kids grow so no way am I switching to a smaller capacity fridge.

Looking forward to your layout and design posts :)
Fori
12 years ago
I had to do both in mine. Woops. Making the hole really isn't a big deal and it's nice that your GC suggested it instead of you suggesting it and her looking at you like you had extra heads.

Since your fridge is still pretty new, for sure keep it and nestle it in not only so it looks nice, but so you can reach the cabinet above it!
editionk
12 years ago
This looks nice, doesn't it?

[contemporary kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

Though it will need to stick out a little to allow full swing of doors -- like this:

[eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by los angeles kitchen and bath Laurie Burke
Fori
12 years ago
Those do look nice, and that's an important side-view picture we usually don't get. CD fridges ALSO have to have their doors sticking out and people are sometimes disappointed when they actually look at the measurements.
dianalo
12 years ago
I agree about recessing your current fridge. Cheaper and more room in the fridge = win/win.
sjerin
12 years ago
I don't suppose recessing can be done in a load-bearing wall?
sochi
12 years ago
I think you should go with recessing the fridge, given how new it is. It is a great option. I love my CD though - less lost food at the back. We are only a family of four, so we don't need any more fridge space. Our CD is pretty wide though, so we're probably not losing that much space.

fori - my CD fridge doesn't stick out at all, it is completely flush with the cabinets.
Fori
12 years ago
What brand have you, Sochi? I admit I haven't been fridge shopping in a while but when I was, only a few freestanding fridges such as Liebherr had that option. Flush is always nice!

SJerin, it can be done--you need headers and um well you need someone who knows what they're doing. Obviously not me. It's the same as you'd frame out a doorway pretty much.

CD Fridge vs Cutting Into Wall

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jeri

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