My kitchen remodel is a hodge podge. The new cabinets that were just built were made to flow with a pantry we had built over three years ago. That cabinet is 24 inches, top to bottom. When we had our island made last fall, we bought a counter-depth refrigerator to give us more room between the island and fridge. I LOVE that my refrigerator isn't sticking out in the kitchen so much anymore. Anyway, when we did new cabinets in December, I opted NOT to have a cabinet built over the refrigerator. I really don't like those deep cabinet so high because they just become black holes. So, my solution is to put a thick shelf over the refrigerator, bridging the two cabinets. There will be two different groove on it, at different depths, so I can just rest pictures against the wall and they catch in the groove. I will also put a tall vase and maybe a plant. Underneath I will likely put a few shallow baskets. Our carpenter is making the shelf now. Once it's in and I have some pics/accessories up there (and like it LOL), I'll share pics on here. Good luck finding your solution. Hopefully you'll get some good ideas from responses here.

I am going to be doing this Recessing Of My Fridge/Creating An Alcove For My Fridge Project in the next few days, just received Today an Estimate from my Handyman for the Project. Plan summing up everything I've read in this post is to Remove the Baseboard then cut into the wall & remove the Drywall on the Kitchen Side + Studs. Then Frame in a Header as it is a Load Bearing Wall. Cut a 4x8 Hole & install a Cold Air Vent in the Drywall on the Dining Room Side of the Alcove. Reinstall the Baseboard then Cut 3 ~1/2" Holes 12 Inches Apart along the Back of the Floor of the Alcove closest to the Wall. The left most hole will be for the Water Line running through the Crawlspace. The middle hole will be a Drain Hole with a Drip Pan below in the Crawlspace. The right hole will be for the Electrical Cord from the Fridge which will run to relocated Electrical which will be below in a Surface Mount Electrical Box on the nearest stud in the Crawlspace. Mud & Paint All then install Medal U-Channels Horizontally from Top to Bottom the Wall spaced 15" apart to add support & a ventilation gap. I think that's everything. Let me know if I've missed anything or any further suggestions/comments.

Maybe someday the kitchen will be done and I'll be able to post pictures. We've been planning so long it feels like forever. Our refrigerator will be the new colossal Samsung standard depth. It's at the end of a 10.5 wall of cabinets that includes the microwave. Our base cabinets will be pulled forward so the counter top will be 30" deep. 18" deep appliance garages sit underneath the wall cabinets that are pulled forward 5" from the wall (13" for the cabinets plus 5" to form the appliance garage underneath). It's too hard to describe the details but the general idea is that if you have enough room you can pull the base cabinets and the wall cabinets forward to the same line as the refrigerator. This way you gain counter depth and the the refrigerator doesn't stick out. Hope this helps.

I fought the full vs counter depth battle in my kitchen and lost to DH and the architect and ended up paying a lot more money for a lot less refrigeration space. I admit it looks better, but function wise it was a sacrifice. For some reason, the extra space behind the fridge so it could be full depth and recessed in the wall never happened. Anyway, I finally helped solve the issue with a separate compact fridge that I bought for dirt cheap (back to college sale) that we put downstairs off the patio area....works well for serving at parties and I can shut it off when not in use so it saves energy. But any time I'm faced with a big round platter, it's still a challenge.