flush inset - Beautiful, beautiful flush inset application! I'm wondering if you've done the flush inset with any of the wolf products as well? I'm on my first application of flush inset with a wolf mw24/30" trim kit and SO30 below. I'm nervous on how to engineer the cabinet. Any tips? »
Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer Hi Priscilla- In regard to that ½” gap all the way around the doors, you are going to need that clearance to allow for proper door swing and airflow all around the unit. In other words, if you were to try and get rid of that reveal by enlarging the door panels, the doors would probably bind –up as you pivoted them open. (Eliminating the gap may also cause overheating issues.) If you look on Page 22 of the current SUB-ZERO DESIGN GUIDE (dated 5/2011 on the back cover), under the heading “Flush Inset Application” you will see a set of general bullet points, and the 5th one down explains why the ½” gap is needed.
Appliance manufacturers understand that space is at a premium in most residential kitchens, and as a rule they don’t specify extra spaces (or gaps) unless there is an actual, meaningful reason to have that gap or space there. So it’s risky to stray—even a little-- from their suggested clearances. Perhaps you could consider changing them if you had already installed that particular model fridge several times, so that you understood the why and how—but even then, I’d hesitate before I would advise anyone to, say, adjust the panel sizes.
I have to say that I applaud you, however, for doing the right thing: you took the time to review the fridge sections, and you clearly understand them well enough to realize that there will be ½” reveals all around the perimeter of the unit when it is correctly installed. (Just FYI: although a ½” reveal sounds huge, it really doesn’t seem to stand out in the finished installation.)
Priscilla Tucker Hi Heather,thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I was just wondering how did you get these fridges to not have any gaps around in your design? Merci!
Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer Hi Jockmag, I'm afraid these stools were purchases some time ago from the catalog store "Frontgate." I'm not sure if they still sell them.
Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer The appliance handles in this kitchen are by a high-end firm in New York called Edgar Berebi, in the Antique Nickel finish. The style is "Nantucket." We went with the 12" pull on the fridges on top and the 8" pull on the freezer drawers below. The 2 cabinets in the middle have 1.25" knobs from the same collection. Should you decide to go ahead and order similar appliance pulls from Edgar Berebi, make sure you order the 8" appliance pulls and not the 8" cabinet handles: although they look the same in photos, there are substantial differences between the 2 products that you will notice immediately when you see them in person. The cabinet handles are skinnier, less expensive, and unsuitable for appliance applications. And if you do order, please tell Jenny you were referred by me...
Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer This is a high-end installation. The cabinets are from Christiana Cabinetry, a custom cabinet company out of Pennsylvania, and the 2 integrated fridge-freezers are from Sub-Zero. The total cost for both cabinets and appliances is about $20,000 installed. If needed, one can get a similar look for less money, but it won't be as seamless (the fridge panels may not be flush with the cabinetry, you may see the metal trim on the appliances, etc).
An interesting application of this concept is to make your refrigerator look like a built-in armoire. The intricate details and multi-paneled symmetrical design goes the extra mile in hiding the fridge beyond.
Why would you ever hide the eggs where your child last saw them? Exactly! This is what makes the fridge so fun for hiding Easter eggs. Don’t leave them in the carton, though: Disperse them throughout, maybe in the vegetable drawer or next to the ketchup. Your child will surely get a kick out of this discovery.Tell us: Where's your best egg-hiding spot?More:10 Ways to Set the Table for an Amazing EasterGuest Picks: Easter Entertaining
Some of the fully integrated units have drawers as well. Another benefit of this style of refrigeration is that you can create furniture-style cabinetry.
Appliance manufacturers understand that space is at a premium in most residential kitchens, and as a rule they don’t specify extra spaces (or gaps) unless there is an actual, meaningful reason to have that gap or space there. So it’s risky to stray—even a little-- from their suggested clearances. Perhaps you could consider changing them if you had already installed that particular model fridge several times, so that you understood the why and how—but even then, I’d hesitate before I would advise anyone to, say, adjust the panel sizes.
I have to say that I applaud you, however, for doing the right thing: you took the time to review the fridge sections, and you clearly understand them well enough to realize that there will be ½” reveals all around the perimeter of the unit when it is correctly installed. (Just FYI: although a ½” reveal sounds huge, it really doesn’t seem to stand out in the finished installation.)