Recessing the fridge into the wall is a GREAT option! Ascetically, it will look the same, but you will have a larger fridge with less cost. It always bothered me to pay more money for less space with a CD fridge! This was one of the *many* great ideas we put into place thanks to this forum.

Would you be making the stairwell narrower by bumping into that space? I have this mild phobia about tumbling down the stairs while carrying laundry ... so that was my first thought.

We went from a full depth to counter depth fridge this year. The only negative is that I can't stick a pizza box in there. So I slide leftover pizza into 1 gallon ziploc bags and voila, I'm done (and the whole fridge doesn't smell of pizza). I really, really like our CD but part of that is because we went to a wider fridge & got a french door style. The old fridge was a freezer on top model that was only 32" wide.

Good luck with your decision :)

We're doing a kitchen addition and planning on cutting into the wall to recess the fridge. I can only see my family needing *more* fridge space as the kids grow so no way am I switching to a smaller capacity fridge.

Looking forward to your layout and design posts :)

I had to do both in mine. Woops. Making the hole really isn't a big deal and it's nice that your GC suggested it instead of you suggesting it and her looking at you like you had extra heads.

Since your fridge is still pretty new, for sure keep it and nestle it in not only so it looks nice, but so you can reach the cabinet above it!

This looks nice, doesn't it?

[contemporary kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

Though it will need to stick out a little to allow full swing of doors -- like this:

[eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by los angeles kitchen and bath Laurie Burke

Those do look nice, and that's an important side-view picture we usually don't get. CD fridges ALSO have to have their doors sticking out and people are sometimes disappointed when they actually look at the measurements.

I agree about recessing your current fridge. Cheaper and more room in the fridge = win/win.

I don't suppose recessing can be done in a load-bearing wall?

I think you should go with recessing the fridge, given how new it is. It is a great option. I love my CD though - less lost food at the back. We are only a family of four, so we don't need any more fridge space. Our CD is pretty wide though, so we're probably not losing that much space.

fori - my CD fridge doesn't stick out at all, it is completely flush with the cabinets.

What brand have you, Sochi? I admit I haven't been fridge shopping in a while but when I was, only a few freestanding fridges such as Liebherr had that option. Flush is always nice!

SJerin, it can be done--you need headers and um well you need someone who knows what they're doing. Obviously not me. It's the same as you'd frame out a doorway pretty much.