Depth Dilemma - Fridge doesn't fit!

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

Our issue is how to get the cabinets flush without downgrading the fridge. When we bought our house the previous owners replaced all the appliances with these brand new ones, but they don't fit into the spaces they were meant to. the cabinets on the left are a different depth than the ones on the right, and the fridge exceeds them both. Can we fix this without setting a big budget, or downgrading our appliances? (the coffee cart on the right is the only non-stationary item).

Featured Answer

PRO

PPF.

12 years ago

Thanks for showing the plan. The simple solution is to move the flanking cabinets forward.

Several ways to do this. Move the cabinets forward and fill the gaps with new side panels finished to match the cabinets (no need for new cabinets), or build new walls that create a recess for the refrigerator. You may also be able to create a recess in the wall behind by removing drywall and framing. You might be able to gain 3" this way, depending on how the wall is built.

The refrigerator will still need to extend past the cabinets so the doors will fully open.

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Comments (9)

86redvette
12 years ago
sell the fridge and then install refrigerator and freezer and beverage drawers.
Antonia Perry thanked 86redvette
User
12 years ago
The alcove is meant for a counter depth fridge.
Antonia Perry thanked User
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PRO
PPF.
12 years ago
What is directly behind the refrigerator -- as if you cut through the wall, where would you be?
Antonia Perry thanked PPF.
Antonia Perry
Original Author
12 years ago
There is a half-bath directly behind it
Antonia Perry
Original Author
12 years ago
here is the house layout
armchairshopper
12 years ago
The choices are:
1. Counter depth refrigerators are much more expensive than deep box refrigerators. If you sell the refrigerator and buy a shallow one, it will cost a lot of money and you will lose storage space in the refrigerator.
2. One option would be to construct new deeper custom cabinets to match the depth of the refrigerator. Since the the cabinets on the left are a different depth than the ones on the right, that is one way to insure a good match. You might get some quotes on the cost to do that.
3. If deeper custom cabinets are prohibitively expensive, then another option would be to build walls on both sides of the refrigerator to fill the space (e.g. 4" or 6" framed walls.) Then you could use install less expensive lumber yard stock cabinets on the new walls on each side of the refrigerator.
4. The last option would be to learn not to sweat the small stuff. In life's great scheme of things, this is small stuff. Look at homes for sale online. You will see that in many kitchens, refrigerators are like big, awkward, oversized elephants.
Antonia Perry thanked armchairshopper
86redvette
12 years ago
ANTONIA I'm glad you read it....I want to update also, its always a work in progress like yours.
Antonia Perry thanked 86redvette
Antonia Perry
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
No rest for the fixer uppers, right 86? :) Also, thank you ppf. I do like the less noticeable idea of bumping it up from behind, like adding filler/panel/drywall the space behind the cabinets so it isn't obvious that its been corrected. Looks like I'd be able to do that without changing the existing wall shared between the kitchen and half bath (I imagine it'd be less expensive, even if it means not gaining extra space on the other side). Also good call about leaving room for the doors to open, would be such a headache to go through all that effort and then find that I've limited the fridge door functionality. Hopefully I'm not overlooking anything.