has a beautiful post with lots of great images of refrigerators blended into the cabinetry, mirrored, made to look like armoires, etc.
One thing to note about paneled appliances, typically dishwashers and refrigerators, is that eventually you will have to replace the appliance.
We HAD a paneled refrigerator until it died and we had to buy a new one.
Even though we bought the same make, size and configuration refrigerator, the panels would not fit and could not be re-used. A $1000 investment, useless and in the trash.
I LOVED those panels too >:-C
I actually kept them in the garage for months before I would let my husband dispose of them...And we are not keepers of "stuff".
Our cabinetry is stained wood. Perfectly matching old stained wood is difficult if not impossible. In a kitchen it has been exposed to all those vapors and such for years.
The cabinet company was no longer in business.
For all of the above, we now have an un-paneled refrigerator.
Imagine if it was and armoire investment...With TASSELS no less.
A further note:
Refrigerators have been growing in height ever since I became a kitchen designer.
Back in the '80's they were no more than 69" high. Nowadays more like 72" high.
Sub-Zero is the only company that still makes their refrigerators the same height as in the '80's - 84" high.
That means the "built-in look" your designer so carefully tried to achieve with the cabinet over the top coming right down to the top of the fridge, won't allow you to install a new fridge without replacing that upper cabinet.
I learned my lesson on this issue years ago and started specifying a space above, with a removable valance to close the gap that could be easily trimmed.
In spite of what you are thinking about the longevity of your appliances when you plan your new kitchen; they are never going to last forever.
What a shame to have to tear out a perfectly good kitchen just to replace your armoire...oops - fridge. Kinda shows where we are as a society. Doesn't it?
Peggy
