fridge help
#1
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fridge help
i'm remodeling my kitchen. Question is in regards to making the refrigerator look "built in". That is sides and deeper cabinet over the top. Is this the way to go? It's quite a bit more for those side panels and deeper cabinet. There will be top and bottom cabinets on both sides of the fridge. Not sure which way to go so any help would be appreciated.
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if i understand your question about top and bottom cabinet on both side of the frig. the answer is no you dont need it. the frig. end panels (panels that run from floor to top of cabinets) can be mounted to the walls with cleats (glued and nailed). they could be free standing with no cabinets on either side if you would want that. it would look better if cabinets where on 1 side atleast.
secoundly you dont need to buy a deep cabinet for above the frig. if you have frig. end panels on both sides or if the frig. has a end panel on 1 side and a wall on the other. you can pull a 12" deep cabinet out away from the wall and screw the face frame to the front of the frig. end panel. then put some blocking at the back of the frig. cabinet to fill in a gap between the cabinet and the frig. end panel. then either screw or nail and glue the back of the cabinet to the frig. end panel. the cabinet will look like it is floating in the air but it will be secured. when you slide the frig. into the opening you will not be able to see the cabinet from the bottom and no one will ever know
secoundly you dont need to buy a deep cabinet for above the frig. if you have frig. end panels on both sides or if the frig. has a end panel on 1 side and a wall on the other. you can pull a 12" deep cabinet out away from the wall and screw the face frame to the front of the frig. end panel. then put some blocking at the back of the frig. cabinet to fill in a gap between the cabinet and the frig. end panel. then either screw or nail and glue the back of the cabinet to the frig. end panel. the cabinet will look like it is floating in the air but it will be secured. when you slide the frig. into the opening you will not be able to see the cabinet from the bottom and no one will ever know
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not quite it
What I'm really wanting to know is how will it look if I don't use end panels on side of fridge? In other words won't look as built in. Just cabinets (top and bottom) on each side. Thanks for your suggestion about cabinet above fridge . . .
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alot of kitchens are done without end panels and they look fine. will it look built-in, no. it will look like a frig. in the kitchen. you must remember that almost all frig. that are made to be free standing (not built-in) the doors hinge in a way that the front needs to be pulled out so the doors will not bind on the frig. end panels. there are frig.s that are made to be built-ins and they are very flush, deep, and have the pumps on top of the units. they are big bucks and are mostly sub. zero frigs.
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Unless you already have the fridge, why don't you look at the new cabinet depth, non-pro refrigerators. I know both Sears and Kitchenade make them, and they are designed so that they don't bind up on the cabinets. (I only know this because its the last item on my renovation--Kitchenade makes a extra large version that is slightly higher than standard but much bigger)
#6
The increased depth and height refrigerator end panels do cost more, but you can achieve a built-in look for your refrigerator and the cabinet above (which can be pulled) and sides hidden by panel. These panels come with a stile which allows for easy opening of the refrigerator doors. Panels can be used if refrigerator is at the end of the row of cabinets or whether flanked by cabinets.