There will be day, at some point in time, that the frig dies and you will get a new one. But that could be 10 years down the road and I would not build a kitchen around that notion. Can you recess your existing frig? If not, and I assume from your post that the frig is at the end of a run against a wall, I'd build out the wall on one side and get a panel on the other side. Build out the over the frig upper so it's flush. You can absolutely stagger depths of kitchen cabinets.

Thanks, remodelfla. That's what I needed to hear! I can't get the upper cabinet entirely flush because of molding around the neighboring doorway, but even CD frigs aren't entirely flush- the door sticks out past the cabinets. I can get at least flush with the door.

Just make sure you have a filler or you'll be bonking your frig door into the molding.

I hope it's not goofy, cuz that's what I'm doing! :) I will have a panel 30.5" deep between my frig and the counter on the right. I have a pantry cabinet on the left that will be built out to be the same depth (30.5"). The cabinet over the frig will be also be 30.5"

Thanks buehl. That picture is similar to what mine will look like, except the molding around the doorway keeps the side of the frig from showing from the formal dining room, which is a good thing. But I think that picture looks great. Much better than what I have now, which is a small frig set into a space built around a frig from 1961 that was of entirely different dimensions. The new case will fit much better, and my cabinetmaker said he will make trim that can be unscrewed to fit a larger frig in the space. I can't wait to tell him I have another change to the drawings!

instead of dead fillers, is there room for pullout broom storage? there were a couple of really nice broom pullouts that I've seen. when dream fridge comes along, can always drop broom pullout

How much space does a broom pull-out need? That's an interesting idea. I only have about 2.5 or maybe 3" now, but it'll be custom cabinetry, so it can be changed.

I think 4" is the minimum I have seen for a broom pullout. It is basically on pegboard and with a piece that looks like filler in the front. If you picture a very shallow drawer on its side, that is how it works.

I think you need 5" for a 4" space. There's a link that I think is still active on IkeaFans that describes it...

Dianalo...your pics no longer are available on the thread linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: 4'' Broom Closet from Ikeafans

I'm afraid that won't work next to the frig, but it gives me inspiration to organize my existing broom closet. Thanks for the idea!

We have a 33" wide full depth fridge next to a row of cabinets and next to our pantry closet (regular, drywall constructed). We pulled the cabinet above the fridge out flush with the panels around the fridge (which end just before the fridge door). I also, had the cabinet panels around the fridge places such that I could replaces the fridge later with a full depth 36" fridge (I don't ever want a counter depth fridge). The opening is trimmed out on the sides and above the fridge so that there are no gaps now. We can remove the trim pieces later when and if we get a new wider taller fridge.

I also pulled the cabinets next to the fridge away from the wall about 2" (all I could do since there is a doorway limiting how far they could be pulled out). This reduced how much the fridge sticks out past the cabinets.

Here is a picture...it doesn't really show how much it the fridge sticks out past the cabinets but it is only 3-4 inches I think. We think it looks fine. {{!gwi}}From Kitchen

Thanks, itsallabout. I think it looks fine, too. It looks great, in fact. I measured my frig up to the door, and it's only 27", so it isn't even that big a difference. I'm going to build around the current frig, as you did.

Thanks to you all - this was a big help.