No trim around that fridge please.

I don't understand why you wouldn't have planned for panel clad doors on the fridge in such a very traditionally styled kitchen. Too late now. Is the cabinetry new? Or did you paint existing cabinetry.......? There seem to be some styling mis matches.

Ya want a toe kick, plus the ventilation is important.

The columns were installed professionally in cutout as specified by Thermador. But it was framed in as opposed to using cabinetry. There is a toe kick, I was referring to the baseboard placement on the (unpainted) wall space to the left and right sides where it would interfere with opening the doors.

Leave it alone. I would have done cabinetry vs. a drywall cutout for the fridge to keep the look consistent. But it's too late now. What you have currently is a very modern look in contrast to your very traditional cabinets. Door trim would look funky and weird.

The cabinetry is new, we didn’t want panels on the stainless appliances. I agree the light fixture over the sink does not match the pendants and we are still debating those. What else do you consider mismatched? The tile or hardware?

There was no room for cabinets on the refrigerator wall because of a closet behind and pantry to the right. We could have inserted a cabinet “shell” for the refrigerator, but I’m not sure how that really would look much different (unless we clad the doors). We had planned to use some sort of moulding, but wanted advice. Our kitchen designer left her position after we ordered the cabinets and we have been on our own since. Is there another solution?

The refrigerator and adjacent door moulding are the same height. I wouldn't attempt to put moulding at the top or sides of the refrigerator as the top moulding would stick up higher than the moulding on the adjacent door.

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"if we use the same base moulding then the doors will hit it when opened"

Are you saying that if you hold a piece of baseboard against the wall (with the end of the baseboard at the edge of the refrigerator opening NOT extended into the refrigerator opening) that the refrigerator door will hit the baseboard?

Yes, I think the door would clear if we could install the existing baseboard and miter it back for a nice edge without wrapping into the toe kick. Or we could use a lower/shorter baseboard and wrap inside the opening.

"Or we could use a lower/shorter baseboard and wrap inside the opening."

Don't do anything that obstructs removal of the appliance when service is required.

"Or we could use a lower/shorter baseboard and wrap inside the opening."

Unless you could be absolutely sure that baseboard wouldn't prevent pulling the refrigerator out -- remember that it can only be pulled straight out and there's no wiggle room -- I wouldn't do that. I'd just prep and paint the exposed drywall and caulk the gap between the drywall and the floor.

I'm going to be beat up for telling you everything you don't want to hear.

As to mismatch- Designer error in letting you plan that fridge, that way. I'd have stomped a foot for cabinet match cladding.

I think your wall paint is too harsh, too dark, and too cold for the cabinetry.

There is nothing "wrong" with having a very traditional style. But the UN clad dishwasher, farm /apron STAINLESS sink ( Fireclay better here ) and that particular fridge...dilute the very look you may have been going for.

First thing I'd do? Paint the wall in flat finish to match cabinet paint

I'd have run the granite up to cabinets, and skipped the tile......ESPECIALLY under the sink window and extend the riser match to granite all the way across.

First? Paint those walls : ) at the very least a much, much softer and warmer gray.....

Maybe post some inspos of what you were going for

Hi Julie - I’m no pro and I can’t offer any good suggestions. I just want to say you’ve made some lovely choices! I love your countertops, backsplash and the light above the sink. I know you didn’t ask, but I think a lighter wall color would really make your kitchen sing. I do not like cabinet panels on appliances so I think your appliances are fine. I cannot address the fridge issues.

This photo was taken in natural daylight. The paint was selected to pull out the glaze on the cabinets, but I’m open to repainting. With so many gorgeous tiles I personally would never consider a granite backsplash behind the range, too much sameness when it is intended to be an accent. Our backsplash is a bit of an expensive disappointment, the color is far more green than expected (we did obtain a sample). We still love the tile, but somehow need to make the color scheme more cohesive.

I would be concerned if the refrigerator had to be replaced and a new refrigerator of the same size was not available to fit into the space with such tight tolerances.

I'd be concerned the plan was bad from the get go........ A cabinet salesperson. NOT a "Designer"

The fridge is in a bad spot if you ask me. Love to see the cad cabinet plan with all walls and cabinetry and passages with feet and inches

Its a beautiful kitchen, but, there are a couple of things, that really bother me. One is the wall color. I would like to see a color similar to your backsplash on the walls. The second is that the refrigerator is not in a great location, but, too late to do anything about that, however, it seems like it is buried into that wall, which is why you are having a baseboard problem. Caulking like has been suggested, rather than a baseboard, is going to look way off to my eye. It needs a baseboard. I would pull that refrigerator out of its hole just so that doors are free to open a bit, and keep it from looking buried in a hole, then, you will also have no more problems with the baseboard that needs to be there. I guess, what I am trying to say, is that it is recessed into that hole too far.

The incorrect design, or understanding, of the specs, is what is creating the install issue. There is nothing you can do but tear down the wall and design it correctly, sooner or later.

I am so sorry. I was going to comment yesterday but did not feel I could offer constructive advice. I don’t think there is much you can do with the fridge at this point since it was built to be recessed into the wall unless you could relocate it which doesn’t sound like an option. If it were my kitchen I would paint the walls a much lighter color, almost the color of the trim. That will blend your cabinets and backsplash better and make the fridge not stand out as much.

You could do recessed base the same height and the same color as your other base on each side of the refrigerator that stops at the opening. It would be the same height and color so it would be visually similar but not identical.

@cat_ky: "Caulking like has been suggested, rather than a baseboard, is going to look way off to my eye. It needs a baseboard. I would pull that refrigerator out of its hole..."

Paint and caulking were suggested ONLY inside the refrigerator opening, not for the adjacent walls to which baseboards would be attached. She also wrote earlier that she could trim the baseboards near the refrigerator opening so the doors would not hit them. She spent a small fortune for this built-in refrigerator so she could flush-mount it.

My understanding is that problem is only at the lower corners of each door where the Base installed in the Rest of the Kitchen is Taller than the Toekick of the refrigerators so the lower corner of the door would Bind on that base.

The entire kitchen is not going to be entirely redesigned on the basis of this issue, the new fridge is not going to be put out on the curb because someone else would have picked a different one, no matter what someone on a forum thinks is wrong with the the fridge and the rest of the kitchen.

There needs to be problem solving for that 3/4" thickness of typical base at those particular spots. (Which is why recommended recessed or flush base at the appropriate height, above)

I agree that the same base used in the kitchen be applied to this area with the edge beveled at the corner so that there is no problem with pulling the refrigerator out for servicing. The bevel, once painted, won’t be noticed by anyone but the homeowner!

@palimpsest: "...problem is only at the lower corners of each door where the Base...is Taller than the Toekick of the refrigerators so the lower corner of the door would Bind on that base."

Yup.

@ptreckel: "same base...beveled at the corner"

Yup.

I used some scrap to assemble the suggested base moulding where it terminates at the corner and confirmed that it clears the door during operation. The exposed area on the insides of the cutout could be prepped, painted and caulked.

Apparently I don’t know how to reply to or cite a specific comment as other users have, maybe it’s because I’m on mobile.

It seems unanimously that wood moulding surround is not recommended. Our thought had been maybe a minimal stainless or brushed aluminum trim might be appropriate, but no one has suggested such. Relocating the columns are not possible, but reinstallation could be attempted.

Re: “The fridge is not installed correctly is the major issue here.”

Some have commented they were installed incorrectly and I don’t believe anything is physically “wrong” with the installation as all manufacturer specifications were followed and it was performed by professionals, although aesthetically it may not be as desirable as hoped. Are there any helpful suggestions to modify the installation? Thank you!

I would not add anything around the doors opening for the refrigerator. I don't think two different trims, one around the fridge and one around the adjacent door would look very good, especially so close to each other. Just leave the fridge as a flush installation.