If you Goggle "Gardenweb refrigerator cabinet" and other combos of search terms you'll find many threads about this topic. (Don't do the search here on Gardenweb; the search function is clunky). I linked to one below, and while the topic is on what people keep up there, there are many examples of cabinets themselves. Most people want the cabinet to come to the front of the fridge. And yes, it would probably look odd to have it stick out above a counter-depth. If you think you'll go that route in a couple of years, choose a standard WIDTH for the opening and build the cabinets above to cabinet depth. Also, since it's at an end run, any reason not to leave the fridge free-standing until you decide what you want, then build the surround?

Here is a link that might be useful: Cabinet over Fridge: What do you keep in there?

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 did this in my last kitchen so we wouldn't bang elbows going around the corner. Held a lot of booze and a phone:

Fori, I really like your cabinets. Is your fridge standard depth or cabinet depth? Do you have a photo with the fridge in? Can I see a photo of all your kitchen???

Thanks, Belle. I moved and no longer have my kitchen (but am embarking on another remodel).

The fridge cab...well, it's 24" deep because I was planning on a built-in fridge and wanted the cabinets flush with the standard depth cabs instead of sticking out an inch as is standard. (Turns out one reason it's standard is so that fridges fit better.) But I forgot to change that with the cabinet guy when I decided to go with a freestanding fridge--put cabs on the top but forgot about the minor depth difference. So I had the GC put a hole in the wall to recess the fridge or a CD fridge would have been a little too deep. That recess would allow a counter depth fridge to sit back properly in a 24" deep cab. The hole (width and height anyway) is sized for the tallest 36" CD fridge of a few years ago (I think it was a KA).

We never got around to buying it so had our old 33" full depth stuck in the hole. Not an ideal look. Some people should not have magnetic fridges. Heh heh. And yeah, the electrician was an idiot.