Not if you build out the cabinet and pantry to match the depth of the refrigerator.

If the frig isn't on an exterior wall, you could recess the frig into the wall.

Our refrigerator is in the middle of a wall with a pantry on the left and cabinets on the right. When we did the remodel, we kept the white refrig & stove because we wanted to save money and because they were still fairly new. I feel the refrig does stick out like a sore thumb and I can not wait until we someday can replace it with a ss one that does not stick out so far!!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Maybe someday the kitchen will be done and I'll be able to post pictures. We've been planning so long it feels like forever. Our refrigerator will be the new colossal Samsung standard depth. It's at the end of a 10.5 wall of cabinets that includes the microwave. Our base cabinets will be pulled forward so the counter top will be 30" deep. 18" deep appliance garages sit underneath the wall cabinets that are pulled forward 5" from the wall (13" for the cabinets plus 5" to form the appliance garage underneath). It's too hard to describe the details but the general idea is that if you have enough room you can pull the base cabinets and the wall cabinets forward to the same line as the refrigerator. This way you gain counter depth and the the refrigerator doesn't stick out. Hope this helps.

We did almost the opposite of that, but to a similar effect. We've got a galley kitchen, that gets wider at one end. So we put the fridge in the deep section, and then used 18" deep (rather than 24" deep) base cabinets next to it, with the fronts flush. It gives us more walking space through the narrow part, and the look of a cabinet depth fridge but the space of a standard one.

I have read many suggestions about recessing a standard depth fridge into the wall and considered this in my own situation however the cost of the labor involved in busting through a wall should be factored into the decision.... it isn't free to pull off such a maneuver (unless it is DIY). Just wanted to play devil's advocate on that.

Very good point mamadadapaige. I originally bought a standard and realized that I wanted a CD thanks to this forum. We "returned" the standard (it wasn't delivered yet) and got the same exact fridge (KA french door) in a CD and I love it. You do lose space but it fits so beautifully with the cabinetry that it makes me smile everyday. Totally worth the extra money to me since this would've driven me nuts. My dh didn't want to hear my complain for years!

Laurie, your refrigerator would look fine if the cabinet above it was built out and the side panels were the width of the unit. Simple, no need to sacrifice with a counter depth refrigerator.

We opted against the CD because we didn't want to lose the space or like your DH pay more money to have less space. We actually have our old fridge in the basement and need it for the overflow freezer and drink items. Our setup of fridge, counter, and pantry is kind of like Laurie's so on one side the fridge panel is deeper so the panel sticks out a few inches beyond the counter but it is the same color as the cabinet. I think the cabinet above the fridge are deeper than standard and the pantry depth matches up with the standard size fridge. We basically built the cabinets to accomodate the depth of the standard size fridge.

Our old fridge was 30" wide. The new CD depth one is 36". They both have the same capacity, but I really do like the new one. I don't have to push stuff around to get at the things in the back of the fridge. It is taller than the older one too. We have a small kitchen and I cannot believe the difference just a few inches in front, where it protruded, make in the overall feel of the kitchen. I guess it depends on how much room you have to play with.

I like my CD fridge too. It may be smaller, but the space is used far more efficiently, IMO. Plus it just looks so much nicer to have everything flush. (We have the JennAir FD SS fridge).