Encase the fridge on both sides? Or leave as is?
Last kitchen question for me. Thank you for everyone that has given me advice. But this is nagging me as well.
Should I have a panel made to enclose the left side of the fridge?
The fridge we purchased has a 29" case and the doors stick out another three inches. This would put the surround at 30" deep to enclose the fridge with breathing room. I would also increase the depth of the glass uppers to 15" instead of twelve.
The current design has the upper and side fridge cabinet at only 24" deep which I think will look like we tried to fit the fridge and missed by a lot!
I've had a hard time finding photos of fridges not boxed in with panels so maybe boxing it in is the best way to make a fridge look fabulous? I found these two photos below to illustrate my dilemma. (Also I have 54" of space between my island and counter so walking space in front of the fridge isn't an issue) Recessing the fridge is not possible as it is on an exterior wall.
Option A.
or
Option B.
Another of Option B.
Comments (31)
darbuka
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Comments (23)Lynn, is that a new stove too? What I'm asking is, will it have higher BTU's? My new stove really "kicks out" to the sides when it ignites the burner, please be careful. The stove manufacturer usually lists the required minimum clearances for surrounding cabinets/walls with a diagram right in the front of the stove manual. Personally, I'd be worried about a fire hazard with everything in such close proximity. I think the new wood fridge cabinet is going to restrict the fridge's heat exhaust and to me, seems dangerously close to the burners. How about a stainless steel heat shield on the side wall (and behind the stove) instead of tile? Also, make sure your new microwave vents out enough of the heat from the stove. Some of those microwave fans are less powerful, or recirculating air back into the room and not exhausting out (I don't know what you're installing). Good luck!...See MoreWould you re-use this older side-by-side SZ fridge?
Comments (19)My subzero is going on 28 years now. And still going. Mine is also the model with the water and ice in the door. that wood in the kitchen looks beautiful and very appropriate for the PNW. So you may (probably) still get another 10+ years out of this. Some considerations are: If you did replace it now, what would you replace it with? If you were going to do, another subzero of similar size I would think about keeping this one until it dies. although making new panels would be an expenseI would check into the dimensions of panels for current models. What would the cost be for new panels that would tie into your new design. How does this size work for your new plan? Would you go smaller or larger.? If you plan on larger some day then your cabinets you put in with this one would not accommodate a bigger refrigerator down the line If smaller, say 36 inch fridge, you could either make filler panels around the new refrigerator later or even custom pullout spice racks. If you are not putting in another built in, the quality of a regular refrigerator would be very different. Plus you may not like the bulk of a regular refrigerator. if you do decide to replace it, I would definitely keep it in the garage as an extra frig. in my vacation house, I have gone through 3 frigs in 10 years. and they either die in summer when I have a house full of guests or in winter when there is nobody here and it leaks all over the floor. While waiting for repairs from the place i had bought #2 from, I was left without a frig for 6 weeks over summer. I hope you decide you love that warm wood, though....See MoreSmall 1 wall kitchen remodel: 6" between fridge side panel and sink?
Comments (11)Does your budget stretch to include extra deep cabinets? I pulled the base cabinets away from the wall by 5.5 inches on my stove wall so I could use extra deep counters. My husband likes to have all the spices and various items on the countertop so I wanted to be able to push them to the back and still have space to use I used standard cabinets and just put a removable panel to cover the empty space. My future plan is to use the space to store a slide away baby gate to control access to the basement stairs and back door. Not going to work on that project until the need arises, but the option remains open.Another thought is to use the cubbyhole to stash a folding step stool or tray table. Have you considered adding a pull out cutting board underneath the counter top? My previous kitchen had a wide pull out that I used as a spot to sit pans for the oven. My counter was shallow so I left my materials on the cupboard and used the pullout to hold the pans being prepared. While the pans were in the oven, I had time to clear up the mess and have clean counter space available for cooling racks. Another thought is a hinged countertop that would pull up to extend the length of the countertop and fold down when not in use....See Morelindac92
4 years ago
PROGreen Projects
4 years ago
PRONorwood Architects
4 years ago
Denita
4 years agoK H
4 years agoK H
4 years agoK H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoUpdated drawing with 15" depth uppers and 30" fridge enclosure.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years agoK H
4 years ago
Cadyren
4 years ago
bbtrix
4 years agoK H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoK H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoK H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago@mama goose_gw zn6OH how did you address the plumbing when setting out the sink the three inchs. I can’t move mine forward because of our finished basement ceiling. This is where ours is
mama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Nidnay
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agojupidupi
4 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years ago
acm
4 years agoIt's nice not to see the unfinished sides of the fridge, and having a panel gives you the option to pull the over-fridge cabinet forward (because it can hang from the sides rather than the wall) for a clean enclosure that looks built-in. Not obvious to me that I'd pull the side panel 6" past the fridge though...
Here are a couple reference photos I took from my kitchen during renovation, for reference.
Fridge enclosure · More Info
Fridge panel · More Info
New Kitchen 2016 -- wall 4 left · More InfoThe panel is a couple inches deeper than the cabinets, and that feels right on both sides.
K H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoweedmeister
4 years agoacm
4 years agoI just checked and it's... 30 inches!! rofl. I guess it doesn't feel like a ton, even with normal depth cabinets on both sides. and our fridge is a tank. I always enclose fridges in my rehabs too.
i think that's a little less than 30, but they may hae trimmed it a bit. As I say, doesn't require changing up everything around it to compensate.
K H thanked acmacm
4 years agoK H
4 years agoK H
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PROJAN MOYER
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
bbtrix