I'm sorry, but perhaps the refrigerator as bulletin board is a larger issue? It's what I see first.

Personally, I don't mind the pictures on a fridge. For me, it gives a warm feeling of a happy family.

I wonder if you could just add 2 panels looking like cabinet doors just like you have above the counter except with no handles. It would just give texture to the side view of that cabinet.

Thanks Suzanne! I agree :)

I think that is a great idea. I actually have two spare doors (long story) in my basement...wonder if I could repurpose them somehow. Thanks!

One idea I have been toying with is painting it. What if I extended the white baseboard from the living room (the right side of the photo) and then painted the panel the same color as the walls.....so it almost looks like a half-wall instead of an end panel. Could that work? Or is that a bad idea?

Painted wood will never look like the adjoining drywall, especially oak, even with added base.

Add the fake doors, or cover the wood with thin drywall, texture it like the adjoining wall, add a corner moulding stained to match the cabinets, and add the white base.

Somehow, with no real explanation, I feel it would look strange. However, I must say that my first idea was to cover it with paint chalk and let your children have fun with it.

Thank you oliviag55. That is incredibly helpful advice. I think I might actually try that because I am really hoping to lessen the amount of oak in the kitchen. I have two really good solutions to try....thanks so much!! So, so helpful.

Thanks Suzanne....that was my fear too....that it might look strange. I just so want to get rid of the oak color and am so stuck as to how to do that. Chalk paint is a really fun idea, thanks!

Thanks Lisa. That is another great idea. So I would paint it white? Or the same color as the wall? How would I "end" the beadboard? Would I put some sort of corner molding so it blended into the oak cabinets on the other side? Here is a picture of what it looks like on the other side.

If you have little kids/grandkids, making it into a magnetic board w/trim around it might be fun.

Take the stuff off the fridge and make that your "message center". Add a stainless steel panel and you can use magnets there.

If the upper is wood then that small portion should be wood too imo. Maybe your doors could be made to look 'on purpose' somehow....

Must agree with Kathi Steele. The refrigerator looks cluttered, it is pretty and should shine thru. The message center is a great idea!