Wow that is very similar to an issue I will have with an upcoming remodel. The 24" deep cabinet projecting over the fridge will look odd without a visible support, even if it's securely attached to the supporting walls. Like you I also don't want to settle for a 12" cabinet. Also have you thought about how you will get behind the fridge to vacuum? Will you have to pull the fridge completely out?

Not too concerned about vacuuming Ann, but I think I can pull the fridge out fairly easily if I want.

Thank you Joseph. Right. I'm sure they can fake it with 1/4". Paint match may be a little tricky though.

Does anyone else have s solution? I spoke with the contractor again today, and he is really pushing to just do a 12" deep cabinet. Says it would look bad and that building out the bulkhead would make the room look that much smaller. I'm really torn. Should I have them install the deeper one and deal with how to finish it myself later?

HI .... Can you show more of that drawing or the whole kitchen plan would help ....thanks

If I'm understanding correctly, my kitchen is like this and doesn't have any panel on the side to finish it off. It never occurred to me that this was unusual or problematic. I don't think it looks bad nor do I think it makes the kitchen look smaller. But maybe I just didn't realize this was the case. I'm too distracted by the wood finish that all I see is my plans to eventually have them painted white, ha ha. Anyway, here is what it looks like in my kitchen

And from the other direction...

Yours looks good artiesmama! Mine was s only going to be 12" high though so maybe it will look like it's dangling or floating more.

HI -- Putting in a full gable would keep things from falling down between and behind the fridge and counter top.... but it will look fine without . The gable would look cleaner and finished for the counter ending . I really do not see the need for the narrow upper cabinet and the lower beside the stove and it is only wide enough to be a pullout for spices etc. If I had designed this kitchen I would not have had those slivers of cabinets beside the fridge . If that end wall was removed then those small cabinets could be a wider size like 12 inch . Do not have the 12 inch depth cabinet over the fridge , you don't need to do that . If you do the full depth upper over the fridge - best advice is make it a pull out that you can access from the side --- this will make it easy to get to things at the back . Even a counter depth fridge will still stick out about 3 inches . A sub-zero one will be counter depth . You could add 3 inches to the end wall beside , if that is possible . Or if that left wall can be removed , that gives you 4 1/2 to 5 inches more that can be used in the kitchen , then that will give you the room to add the cable or it could be possible to replace that end wall and then gable both sides of the fridge . Make sure there is going to be breathing space around ... eg; 30 inch wide fridge then space should be 32 or 33 inches wide .

Thank you everyone for all of these great ideas!! I've got some thinking to do. That's for sure!

So after lots of discussion and thinking, I have decided to completely ditch the cabinet over the fridge. I wish I could push out the left wall slightly but unfortunately it's an outside wall in a townhouse. Lots of restrictions on this project but I think I'll find something on my own to make the space above the fridge functional and beautiful!! Thank you all again!! Much appreciated hearing all of your ideas!