"However, a 36" SubZero integrated column fridge's width appears to in fact be 36". Taking into account a 1/8" reveal on each side and 3/4" cabinet panels on each side, the actual wall space needed for this unit would appear to actually be 37.75"."

The Quick Reference (page 2) and Installation Guide (page 4) for the DEC3650R do not show a reveal. I presume you are talking about the custom door panel which is 3/4" narrower than the door or 35-3/4" wide. This does not affect the width of the appliance, the opening, or the cabinet.

The 3/4" cabinet panel is for illustration only; Subzero does not know what cabinet panel widths you will use so the neither the Quick Reference nor the Installation Guide show the total amount of wall space you will need for the appliance and cabinet.

Apparently an additional 7-1/4" is required to fully open the door. It is possible to set the door stop a 90 degrees. I don't know what stopping the door swing at that angle prevents you from doing; perhaps you can't remove certain drawers or shelves. Ask.

IMO attempting to install this refrigerator and its cabinet on a 38" wall is risky. What if a wall isn't plumb or there's some other deficiency in the space? Use the 30" model.

-- amateur

@User and @wdccruise, thanks for the thoughtful feedback. Both of you have led me to obtain some additional relevant information. This wall is indeed not 100% plumb (house is built in 1904), but the minimum width I see when running a measuring tape up is 38". It is perhaps 1/8" wider in some spots. So, I think that risk should not be a problem here.

DEC3650R is indeed the model we are looking at. Pages 49-50 of the design guide (https://www.subzero-wolf.com/-/media/files/united-states/product-downloads/sub-zero-wolf/design-guides/subzero-design-guide.pdf) refer to the 1/8" reveals, but seem to link it to the 35.75" door panel indicated for this model, as that would leave 1/8" on each side. As such, it sounds like the reveals are already baked into the 36" width and don't need to be accounted for again. In other words, it sounds like all we need to take into account is the 36" width plus the side panels, which can be as thin as 5/8". Their website separately says that engaging the 90 degree door stop doesn't hamper access to anything (https://www.subzero-wolf.com/assistance/answers/sub-zero/common/integrated-and-integrated-wine-storagedoor-stop).

I do hear you that we are cutting it close by coming within 3/4" of the available space (if we go with 5/8" panels), but what is the actual risk we would be taking here - what could go wrong here where this wouldn't fit? We have a small kitchen space to work with and want to leave nothing on the table in terms of maximizing the space that we do have. I guess a 30" column would be big enough (same capacity as our current, deep refrigerator), but I would just hate to have space wasted on this wall by cabinet fillers when (if?) it could be instead used up by a bigger refrigerator.

Post some photos of the cabinet space and the rest of the kitchen.

The 90-degree hinge stop does not limit access to pulling out drawers and such like it does in many fridges. However, it is kind of a pain to have the door storage shelves overlapping the space in front of the interior of that side of the fridge, if that makes sense. You have no elbow room so to speak.

I went through sort of the same process and although I determined I could squeeze in a 36" integrated, I went with a 30" in a framed cabinet (total 33") and gained enough space for a narrow tray cabinet along that run. A few inches lost in fridge storage may be a few inches gained somewhere else (where the exact number of inches or parts of inches you get are not as rigid-an appliance needs exactly __ or it won't fit. A cabinet can be made a half inch narrower if necessary. )

The cabinet space doesn't exist today in its intended form and has an Ikea pantry unit in front of it, so cannot really provide a pic. But, I am starting to get convinced by you all that a 30" column may be the way to go. That would enable us to add a spacer in the corner such that the door can open the other way and not block the entrance to the kitchen when it is open. I do like the idea of getting some narrow, vertical storage for baking sheets or cutting boards and the like as well, although we would only have 4" to work with if we have 3" of space between the corner and the refrigerator. @palimpsest, I would be very curious to see a picture of what your "narrow tray cabinet" adjacent to your refrigerator looks like - any chance you can post?

The DEC3650R is refrigerator-only. Is there a freezer elsewhere? What's its size and what are you doing with that? Building in a $10K refrigerator seems pretty fancy-pants -- and expensive -- to me yet your house is from 1904. Is what you are planning consistent with the value of the house?