A build - in refrigerator bring home the bacon a custom , upscale appeal — but you may attain the flavour without the disbursal . Here ’s how .

Brie Williams

build - in appliances are a hallmark of eminent - end kitchens , and refrigerators desegregate easily into palisade cabinet to make a sleek , fit , flush appearance . However , since icebox that are ready to build - in can cost two to three times as much as their freestanding and counter - depth siblings , a true build - in is n’t alwaysin the budget . A motley of tricks can accomplish the integrated look without the cost .

black kitchen cabinetry

Credit:Brie Williams

David Greer

Types of Refrigerators

fix the type of refrigerator you need . In addition to cost , space limitations and lineament will act upon your choice . Here are the most vernacular types of refrigerators for the home .

Built-In Refrigerators

Designed to fit flush with locker and riposte , this type of refrigerator often has optional front panels that can match other elements in the kitchen . Built - indium typically come with a bottom freezer and side - by - side configurations . you’re able to also find disjoined icebox and Deepfreeze units .

Pro : Built - in refrigerators align with cabinets and can be stop with equal front end for a sleek , custom look .

Con : Built - Indiana are pricey , and they are n’t the most space - efficient selection , since they ’re wide but relatively shallow .

built in refrigerator

Credit:David Greer

Counter-Depth Refrigerators

Most antagonistic - depth refrigerators ask to extend slightly beyond the countertops to allow space for the doors to swing open . Read the manufacturer ’s induction manual of arms for specific requirements for door clearance . However , some young exemplar feature particular hinges that allow the doors to open completely even when wealthy with surrounding cabinetry . Counter - depth icebox are useable as side - by - side , bottom freezer , and Gallic - door framework . For an supernumerary monetary value , you may usually equip them with panels that match your cabinetry for an integrated look .

Pro : antagonistic - depth models offer the upscale expression of a built - in refrigerator for less money .

confidence trick : These refrigerators have less usable blank than deeper freestanding models , and they cost more .

built in refrigerator

Credit:John Gruen

Regular Freestanding Fridges

This type of refrigerator is the rich and come in in four conformation : top freezer , bottom Deepfreeze , side - by - side , and French - door versions . Although these icebox are n’t flush with surrounding countertops , trim append to the front can integrate them into the cabinetry .

Pro : Regular freestanding refrigerator cost less than progress - ins and locker - depth refrigerator , and they proffer the most usable storage space .

Con : Because it pass more than 6 inch beyond beleaguer countertops , this type of refrigerator is the most difficult to adapt to a built - in smell .

Carve Out Stud Space

Credit:Werner Straube

6 Ways to Design a Built-In Fridge

If you choose a counter - depth orfreestanding refrigerator , explore these ideas for making the gismo appear like it was built into your kitchen design . Once your icebox seem built - in , take the look further by making the refrigerator seem amply integrated . Using a passementerie outfit with a customs touch , such as beadboard , you may present your refrigerator with panels that coalesce the appliance into the surrounding cabinetry .

John Gruen

1. Build Cabinetry Around It

Surround the refrigerator with cabinets and/or matching panels to cover the top and sides . Choose a polish or a trim outfit that matches the cabinetwork .

Pro : build cabinetry around the icebox requires no demolition , making it a relatively easy and inexpensive selection .

Con : The refrigerator extends farther into the elbow room than a antagonistic - depth theoretical account — and beyond the countertop — so you do n’t get the same streamlined facial expression you ’d have when the refrigerator is recessed .

refrigerator with false wall

Credit:Kritsada

2. Borrow Space

Achieve a establish - in lookby using distance from an adjoining room to establish a recessed bay for a freestanding icebox . In this case , therefrigerator niche , with open video display infinite above , was patterned after the adjacent transom - top out doorway to create optical proportion .

Pro : The icebox becomes flush with the rampart or cabinetry , offering a custom look .

hustle : Building an alcove necessitate demolition and grammatical construction , and you ’ll lose outer space in the side by side elbow room .

Werner Straube

3. Carve Out Stud Space

Recess a standard - depth icebox a few inches into the wall behind it . The add together deepness might be enough to ordinate it with surrounding countertops . This refrigerator back into space carved from between wall stud poker . Before cutting into a rampart , inquire your builder or remodeler to check the paries ’s structure and add reinforcement if necessary .

Pro : The refrigerator is flush with the cabinet without stealing quad from another way .

Con : Some demolition and mental synthesis is call for to recess the refrigerator into the paries .

4. Make It a Focal Point

build up a cabinetwork wall around a freestanding refrigerator . Design the cabinetry with multiple depths to produce impact and the looking at of a build up - in refrigerator . The event transforms a basic appliance into a focal point with circle of wall store .

Pro : No demolition is required , and no depot quad is desolate .

Con : The cabinetry takes up a substantial amount of wall space , and the multiple profundity give it a less aerodynamic face .

Kritsada

5. Install a False Wall

Nudge the cabinet onward . Afalse wallbehind these larder cabinets makes the freestanding refrigerator look like a progress - in . The sleek , modular designing matches the kitchen ’s contemporary style .

Pro : A sham wall allows the cabinet depth to agree the icebox astuteness without cutting into the bulwark or requiring custom cabinets .

bunko game : Building a false paries requires construction work , and the distance between the two walls is unuseable .

6. Extend the Countertops

Add deep countertop , as this example shew , or else of move the icebox back . Stacking one or two 2×4s behind received - deepness base cabinets creates room for deep - than - common countertops . At additional cost , you could prefer for cryptic base cabinets and also gain more storage quad .

Pro : Deeper countertop offer a tumid work airfoil .

Con : stretch out the countertops and nucleotide cabinets film away floor blank space .