Afr66,cpovey, bluekitobsessed, live wire oak, emagineer, palmalou, antiquesilver: Thanks for the help. Re (1), my effort to get a standard-depth refrigerator to look built in: It's clear that when I first asked the question, I didn't go into enough detail. So: I don't have the problem of getting the refrigerator to be flush with cabinets, because I am not going to have any cabinets on that wall. But I do need the refrigerator to very much look built in to the fake wall we plan to build, because this is hopefully going to be a very modern minimalist kitchen, i.e very stripped down. (I find it very odd that the most minimalist kitchens, Minotti and Bulthaup, are so expensive: It seems to me that so far as money is concerned, less ought to be less.) And meanwhile, afr66, yes those built-in suckers are way too expensive. I am going with your third alternative, having the refrigerator cabinet -- in my case, wall -- built to fully enclose the fridge, but you said that it will not be as perfect as a true built-in. Is that only because the cabinet doesn't extend beyond the case of the refrigerator, or are there other differences too? Cpovey, you wrote "The good news is that you don't need a lot of room to vent-generally one inch on all sides is sufficient," and, antiquesilver, you pretty much said the same thing: Did you both mean I have to leave a one-inch gap between the fake wall and the refrigerator on both sides and the top of the refrigerator? I am having trouble visualizing, but what I come up with doesn't look so attractive. Would it work to position the refrigerator out an inch or two from the real wall, to provide venting space, and build the fake wall edges to be flush with the top and sides of the case of the refrigerator? Bluekitobsessed: It looks as if the solution you wrote about is the same one I am working towards, but I couldn't find the relevant threads in the kitchen forum. Can you perhaps remember any parts of the subject lines so I can search? Re (2), the finger print problem: Live wire oak, I had no idea that those models were made out of fake stainless; thanks for the info. And live wire oak and emagineer: How often do you wipe down your refrigerators? I ask because I am a lazy slob and might be less willing to work at keeping the refrigerator presentable than you are. Palomalou: So Electrolux Icon may be the only SS fridge with a smudge-proof finish. Antiquesilver: Thanks for preparing me with regard to the length of the cord. And I'm curious: Are you doing a silver kitchen or do you collect silver? Sorry to be such a pest, Observer1 .

The Frigo price isn't a bad one. Really. You'll have to find an industrial supply house, have the capability to transport large sheet stock, and have the right cutting tools (plasa cutter or LARGE shear). Stainless stock isn't cheap. You'd be looking at a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials, and that's if you have the right tools already. If you have to buy tools, well you're well well over that price. (You really can't cut stainless well with a hand shear. It warps too badly and can't be knocked back into place like copper can.) You could try to find a metal fabricator who can custom fabricate to your dimensions. They're usually located in the less savory parts of town and cater to restaurants and industrial plants. That will be somewhat cheaper, but you'll still have to transport and install.

Love your KD! It's so rare we read on this forum a KD advising to buy what you love. Usually they are forcing their own ideas on the client, or worse, pushing what will get them the better spiff (a commission). You got a good KD. A question for you: will your fridge have a water/ice dispenser in the door? If so, then I wouldn't get the wood panels. To me, it always looks weird to have wood panels to match the cabinetry, to make the fridge blend into the cabinetry, but then have the water dispenser sharply outlined due to the wood panels on the fridge. Regarding stainless, you know, there's always pros and cons to everything. I would be more concerned with fingerprints and drip marks on stainless than I would dents. Usually I read about dents on this forum from delivery and installation, not once it's installed. Also, not all stainless fridges are the same; some are fingerprint resistant, though I am not sure which--perhaps post that question on this forum or the Appliances Forum. I think you should decide what aesthetic you want. I am not a fan of black fridges cause I think they look like black dark holes in a kitchen - sorry I know I am offending some people, but it's just MHO. White is easiest to keep looking clean, light and airy looking. But some people think white looks dated, and if your kitchen is more high-end, doesn't fit with the high-end look. So you have some more decisions to make about your aesthetic. Also, why do you need stainless "panels" at the higher expense? Why not just get a stainless fridge that comes stainless, so it won't cost as much. Your OP is a little harder to advise about cause you didn't provide info about which fridge, what is the size, is it a side-by-side, french door, etc., are you going for an integrated counter-depth look or not, is your kitchen contemporary or traditional, etc. More info please!

My situation is somewhat unusual. This is my home, yes. I personally don't need a built-in fridge. I could care less for myself, although the Maytag I bought when I bought the house is a POS total waste of money. The reason for this reno, though, is that the bulk of my income comes from renting my house to vacationers, primarily in the summer. I am not on or near the saltwater beaches, so I have to rent on the strength of the house. This summer, I had an invasion ants (it's an old house, as well, 1880, the part where the kitchen is). As well, mice have constantly come into the kitchen via the crawlspace below because no one really sealed the kitchen off from the crawlspace when they built the kitchen. I've plugged everything with steel wool, though, and that has taken care of the mice, although they're still able to get in behind the cabinets, just not into the kitchen proper any longer. But with the ant invasion this summer, I had to refund some rent money as an act of goodwill and apology to a few of my guests. I don't want my guests to have these kinds of problems, obviously, and I don't want to have to reimburse rent (my income/livelihood). I had sealed the window on the outer wall and never had a problem with ants, until this year. They are now coming in from behind the dishwasher...long story . My cabinets are horrible. Two drawers have completely fallen apart, and one door split, which I glued back together. They are scratched up, sagging shelving and backing, particle board stapled cheap you-know-what. So, to get the kitchen fully sealed off so critters can't get in there, I have to pull everything out to get to the walls and underfloor. If I'm doing that, I will replace the cabinets, floor and counter (which is now a laminate). My kitchen is a very small, u-shaped kitchen. I can't open the fridge door all the way because it hits the oven door, so cleaning the vegetable bins is very hard because it's very hard to get them out and back in since I can't open the door all the way. But my house has two wings to it, which makes it very appealing for two families who want to vacation together and split rental rent. Each family has a lot of privacy since there is a queen bedroom in each wing, each with its own bath. But with two families, a tiny kitchen is problematic. With the fridge jutting out into the floor, as it does now, two people cannot work in the kitchen. Hence my need for a 24-in. depth fridge. And then you get into, if you're going to spend that kind of money for a refrigerator, get the right one, even if it costs a bit more. You're already spending a *^*(&)ing fortune. I'm getting the paneling for three reasons: I really dislike stainless steel; I am terrified of tenants scratching SS; a SS fridge would look gargantuan in my tiny kitchen. I move out when my house is rented.