I would want a step stool and a broom and dustpan and paper towels and such. I would make something easily removable down the road since anything but built in refrigerator dimensions vary over time.

you would have to order the fittings for inside this box . so I'd look over the offerings.. You mentionned a wide variety of usage. You will have to pick one specification..so do that ..then youll know how to complete your construction details. cookbooks is different than brooms for sure. .

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Something like what herbf posted would be easy to build. And versatile. I guess I can build it and see what clamors to live there.

The narrowest shelf for standard books is 9" and lots of cookbooks are slightly oversized so I don't think cookbooks would be a good fit

I'd build a pull out unit like @herbflavor posted. I'd make it a huge pegboard. That way you can add hooks and baskets made for peg boards to hang and situate whatever you want.

How about a 4" Broom Closet (similar to what you were thinking & HerbFlavor)? Several years ago several then-regulars posted an IKEA hack using 7" of space. I think that was the minimum needed for the hack.

• https://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2467902/4-broom-closet-from-ikeafans
• Scroll to the bottom to see the instructions and pictures.

The Broom Closet hack is in the following thread, which is part of the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread (starting post/message):

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4306128/ikea-hacks-compilation-of-ikea-hacks

Thank you! Fun to see a thread from Ye Olden Days of KF.

Looks like metal pegboard panel in 71” x 24” sizes is readily available. I’d lose 1” to the thickness of the pegboard panel, but the panel is probably stiff enough that it can be the large side of the box, so I’d save the thickness of the plywood that would otherwise be there.

Yeah, no cookbook shelves :-( Maybe I can hide away a collection of trashy romance paperbacks.

Or - design so that the box only pulls out halfway in normal use to expose brooms and suchlike ho-hummery, then release a hidden catch to pull it out the rest of the way to reveal the “secret stuff”. Like when the secret agent lifts the false floor of a drawer or suitcase to reveal the hidden gadgets and weapons. Here it could be the really good booze.

The space is there because the drywall was hung for a 36” fridge but mine is only 27” wide, and on casters too. Sadly, even removing the whole drywall nook won’t give enough room for a second 27” unit.

I have a tall pull out next to my fridge/freezer pair, just as you describe. It was built with stainless steel pegboard which has worked well for changing configurations over the past few years. The steel allows use of both pegboard hooks, and magnetic containers that sit flush on the surface. One thing to recall is that the heat exhaust from the fridge/freezer will affect what you store, for example my windex concentrates over time from evaporation, but the metal polish pastes stay nicely soft and ready. I'd advise full extension slides.

A hint to share is using the scissors-loop pegboard "hooks" for several things; they work well for holding spray bottles, either singly in the case of Febreeze cans, or 2 loops side by side to hold the larger spray bottles such as windex (sitting flat against the pegboard). It also helps to buy brooms and such with good size holes in the handles for hanging.

I actually found a diy for something similar. They used it to store cleaning supplies and a mop/broom/dust pan but one thing they did was put it on casters. Seemed smart to support something that tall vertically. Might be cheaper as well, and less likely to have issues.

Thanks everyone! Off to exercise my indifferent carpentry skills!