Refrigerator advice please :)

11 years ago

Hi all,

we are completely renovating our kitchen and will be positioning the refrigerator on a separate wall surrounded by cabinetry. To me, esthetics is important so I want to go for a counterdepth fridge for a nicer look. My husband wants to save money and keep the standard fridge. so, a couple of questions:

- if we keep the standard fridge, can we build the cabinetry around it so that it still has the appearance of a counterdepth/doesn't stick out? And would that be a cheaper option than buying a new refrigerator?

- if we keep the standard fridge now, can we replace it with counterdepth down the line or would that require changes to the cabinetry etc?

Any inputs appreciated!

Featured Answer

DIY2Much2Do

11 years ago

With a deep refrigerator, you can make it look counter depth in several ways. One, install deeper cabinets on either side, say 30" deep instead of 24". Two, you could use standard 24" deep cabinets on either side, but flank the cabinets and refrigerator with deeper end panels. There would be space behind the cabinets instead of attached to the wall. Third, depending on what the construction of the wall behind the refrigerator is, you could remove the drywall and some studs (installing a header) and use the extra few inches of wall space to gain some depth. Fourth, if the room behind that wall allows, you could bump the wall into the adjacent space to give you additional depth.

If you install a standard depth refrigerator now, you could certainly replace it with a cabinet depth later, and there would just be some dead space behind the new refrigerator.

Whatever you do, you should research and get very familiar with the actual dimensions of models you are considering, as well as future replacements. Models of both standard and counter-depth vary quite a bit in dimensions of both depth and height. Also, if you are boxing in a refrigerator, check the door hinging and required dimensions to allow full opening of the doors. If the doors are recessed, they generally can't open fully. Even counter-depth will project the depth of the door, typically.

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Comments (13)

User
11 years ago
Can you post the design/footprint?
DC Reno
Original Author
11 years ago
It is like this, but the refrigerator will be on the lower wall instead, and there won't be an island. Sorry, I don't yet have the updated drawing..
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User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Are you happy with giving up the island?

What I'd really like to know is if you're changing the design of your kitchen, by moving the fridge and getting rid of the island, just so you can save the cost of a new fridge?

Or, would you have made these choices either way?
DC Reno
Original Author
11 years ago
We would have made those choices either way mimipadv!
User
11 years ago
Thanks, DC Reno.

If you have kids/family, I'd suggest trying to fit the full depth fridge in. I love my DC French door, but think it would be hard without our second fridge.
DC Reno thanked User
funkycamper
11 years ago
DIY2Much2Do gave you great advice on how to do it.

What is going where the fridge is now?

Is this the plan, basically, with the addition of cabinets on each side of the fridge? How wide will your aisle be from front of fridge to the counter edge across the room? Where do those doors in the corner go? I'm a bit concerned about congestion issues, especially if those doors are frequently used.
cholmemo
11 years ago
Thanks. It will be about 8 feet from the fridge to the counter on the other side. I think that is plenty? The doors are frequently used, one is the entrance from the living room, the other goes down to the basement.
funkycamper
11 years ago
It is plenty for walking around without getting into the space of the cook and clean-up people. But I think it will get annoying pretty quickly to have to keep moving around the fridge. It will be a physical and visual obstacle.

Why not keep the fridge where it is now? It really makes more sense there. Your current layout is quite functional.
DC Reno
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks funkycamper.

We have been going back and forth a lot on the design as the space is a bit challenging. I even posted a thread about it before :)

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3405365/inputs-for-a-kitchen-layout

I really liked ratrem's layout that someone posted a link to there so we decided to go with something similar. Now I am getting a bit concerned it will not look good..
funkycamper
11 years ago
Thanks for the reminder of your previous thread and the link. I think it should be fine depending on how far the fridge juts out into the kitchen. If it can be recessed and counter deep, it shouldn't protrude enough to be an issue. But a big, deep fridge, not recessed, might protrude too much and make that corner seem cramped. It's really hard to tell with your drawings.

Is it possible for you to give us a true overhead drawing of the space to scale? Even something hand drawn on graph paper would make it easier to help you fine-tune your plan.
DC Reno
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, I will post them, I am expecting to receive soon! Thank you again.
chisue
11 years ago
Also, remember that fridges *die* and will need replacing. Don't go too crazy building in something like this; appliance dimensions change.

I'm happy with my counter-depth fridge/freezer, but I think you need to go wider if you're losing depth. My 42" GE Monogram is 14 now -- no troubles...yet.