Panelling sub-zero fridges

16 years ago

I am putting a subzero all fridge in my kitchen. It has a door on top and two drawers below. In this (newer) model, there is no visible grill or hinges.

I want mine to look like an old ice box so I am facing it with oak and using icebox hardware.

Here's my question. To the left of my fridge is the wall (with a filler spacer). To the right, is counterspace and no upper cabinets. My kd has built an 1 1/2" upright sort-of filler panel that matches the cabinets, to go to the right of the fridge.

But if I had actually purchased a vintage fridge, there would be no panels to the left or right and no fillers. There would just be a fridge. Can you panel the side of a subzero? How would that look? Has anyone done it on this model? Do you see any metal?

Thanks in advance,

MtnRdRedux

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Comments (7)

plllog
16 years ago
Yes, you can panel the sides. It just takes a good cabinetmaker.

Have you checked out Roseland?
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, the wait for a vintage look fridge from Roseland is one year! I am getting the hardware from them.

Thanks
MtnRdRedux
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ofealia
16 years ago
You want to apply wood panels directly to the sides of the refrigerator?

First - the sides of the unit aren't finished at all, and aren't flat, either - so the amount of wood and pieces that you'd need would be pretty difficult to make look good.

I think the biggest issue is that with Subzeros - they are very tall and *very* heavy. They can't be "free standing" - the way that they are installed is by attaching them at the front to the side panels on the left and right.
If you don't have the filler to the left and the filler/return to the right and just tried to attach wood "panels" to the unit, not only would it be unsafe - it would most likely void your warranty.

You could decrease the size of the filler/return on the right to 3/4" and make the filler against the wall wider and maybe more decorative?

I actually think that with the panels on the front with the icebox hardware - you'll achieve the look you're going for, even if it's not totally "historically" correct.
plllog
16 years ago
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question?

I've seen SubZeros that were built in, but with cabinet sides. I don't know how the installation is done. i don't know if the sides are attached the way the fronts are or if they're a box around the unit. These are still built-in, rather than free standing. As I understand it the antitip bracket is the most non-freestanding part of it. There is a molding that fills the gap between the unit and the surround, but that's decorative. You're allowed to paint it too. That is, you can make your surround out of cabinetry. It doesn't have to be a wall you can anchor to. And your cabinetry can be full panel sides to give the illusion that it's a real icebox. It doesn't have to be floating filler strips. Those are just cheaper.
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
I want it to look like i bought an old ice box, free standing. Based on the subzero website, I think I can do it?

Go to :
http://www.subzero.com/livingkitchen/planning/kitchengalleries.aspx

choose "sort by appliance"

choose subzero - integrated

see these images: 33, 42, 47, 50
plllog
16 years ago
Go for it!
ofealia
16 years ago
ahh... that makes more sense.

Those aren't really "freestanding" so much as the refrigerator has cabinetry panels/returns on each side and the whole thing isn't part of a run of uppers and lowers.

The refrigerators aren't just standing there on their own - they are enclosed with a surround of sorts.

For instance - your #50 - see the ~2" wide strip going down the right side? That's basically a tall filler, with a return panel going back to the wall. See the ~4" piece above the door? That's just a valance that connects the right hand return panel with the filler that's to the left of the unit against the wall.
Same with #47 - there's columns on each side of the refrigerator.

So, to answer your question, absolutely you can do what these pictures are showing :)