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Two Ikea Kitchen Questions (Filler and Countertop Support)

7 years ago

1. My fridge is currently sandwiched between a wall on the right and a dishwasher on the left. It's 33 inches wide. I'm putting a 36 inch fridge cabinet above, that opens with the hinge on the top. Given that, I wouldn't need any filler between the cabinet and the wall, right? The cabinet door doesn't need any clearance since it opens up, and the fridge is just fine in a 36 inch opening since that's what it's currently in. The Ikea planner has me questioning myself since I keep getting that dreaded warning.

2. As mentioned, to the left of the fridge is the dishwasher. I'll have a cover panel between them. The Ikea rep said for countertop support (likely quartz or quartzite) I can use a Fixa bracket attached to the wall at the back of the dishwasher and another to the right of it, attached to the cover panel. Is that sufficient?

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

7 years ago

I'd install a floor to ceiling panel between the dishwasher and refrigerator. Screw a cleat to the panel to support the top and pull the 36" cabinet over the fridge flush with the front of the panel. It looks much nicer and is more functional.

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Comments (7)

numbersjunkie
7 years ago
How are you planning to reach the top of the cabinet over the fridge when it is open and you need to pull it down to close it? Hope you're really tall!
Kathryn P
Original Author
7 years ago
I'm not really tall. Only 5'2" actually. But I'm putting items up there that rarely get used and plan to store a folding stool between the fridge and the wall.
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ibonnie
7 years ago
I have the same height challenge. I use my higher upper cabinets for items I don't use often, and then, I get out my trusty folding stepping stool.
Kathryn P thanked ibonnie
User
7 years ago
You always need a filler between any cabinet and wall, especially frameless. It doesn't matter if it is a top opening cabinet. Walls aren't straight. A filler needs to be scribed to the wall to provide a straight edge to fill in between the cabinet and wall.

Unless you plan a future 36" fridge, don't do a 36" cabinet. You need that room for fillers.
Kathryn P thanked User
Kathryn P
Original Author
7 years ago
I hadn't thought about using the filler to hide uneven walls. That's for that heads up Sophie!

I actually have about 3.5 inches extra on that run and am trying to figure out where to put the filler, so adding some between the fridge and the wall won't be an issue. I guess I won't be able to put a refrigerator cover panel against that wall though, for the same reason you mentioned.
Kathryn P
Original Author
7 years ago
New question... if I lose the cover panel between the wall and the fridge (sounds like I can't use it anyway in case of wavy walls), I gain 5/8 inch. That, plus the 3.5 inches extra I already have means I could swap out a 12 inch cabinet for 15 inch drawers and still have 1 and 1/8 inch filler. Think that'll be enough between the fridge cabinet and the wall?

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