Create a Unique Look with DIY Refrigerator Panels

Personal Style Kitchens

Written by FridgeDimensions Editorial Team on April 22, 2013

When it comes to integrated refrigerators, there’s a lot of room for expression and customization. Here are some interesting examples of ways you can tie your refrigerator into the rest of the kitchen’s decor.

Incorporating Molding into the Refrigerator Panels

Traditional Kitchen by Los Angeles Interior Designer The Old Painted Cottage

Most of these appliances have basically one of a kind custom panels made from expensive materials and with intricate hardware. The Old Painted Cottage gives a great example of a DIY project with molding. She actually applied this treatment to an older fridge that probably didn’t look that great but worked just fine. The hinges are my favorite part and the beadboard details match the cabinets this way.

Pay attention to small details, like having a white fridge vent on bottom when attempting to DIY this project. Usually it’s recommended that you use a fridge that is meant for custom panels, but if you are just going to get rid of it anyways a DIY project may be in order.

Distressed Finishes

Traditional Kitchen by Dalton Interior Designer Simply Southern Interiors LLC

Finding appliances that match a shabby chic or cottage kitchen are the most difficult to track down. This will be one of the cheapest of all of the projects as it maintains a simple shape. The weathered finish would be too much on all of the cabinets but helps the fridge to look like an aged armoire.

With some custom panel fridges like the PSB48YGXSV you will still see trim or a water dispenser so it’s better suited for a more modern application. You will need more of a seamless appliance style for this look.

X Style Doors

Traditional Kitchen by Greensboro Kitchen And Bath Cabinet Concepts, Greensboro

There isn’t a lot of information on the actual fridge used here. The only information is that it’s a Sub-Zero with freezer drawers on bottom. The panels here have a farmhouse feel to them, and the faux legs or columns on the fridge surround help it to look more like furniture. The elevated height also contributes to this.

The x style pattern can be very elegant. You could have a cabinetmaker use a wider style of molding to mimic barn doors. That is a really hot design trend in 2013.

Contemporary Style

Contemporary Kitchen by Salem Design-build Kaufman Homes, Inc.

So far all of the fridges have had more of French or antique armoire feel to them. Kaufman Homes dared to try a more contemporary influence. Plus, this isn’t a built-in like most of the others. It may also look like a French door style but it’s just a top fridge style. I love the proportions of the molding on top.

Your refrigerator is one of the focal points in your kitchen, so making it look like an antique can be well worth the cost and effort!

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Chalkboard Refrigerators for Functional Kitchens

Doodles and Messages

Written by FridgeDimensions Editorial Team on April 20, 2013

Are you sick of stainless? Wish you could do away with stick-it notes? Want a unique refrigerator that will be as useful as it is interesting? Well then these chalkboard refrigerators might be right up your alley!

Contents:

• Vintage Green
• Black Chalkboard
• PSB42YGXSV
• Custom Panels

The trend in kitchens has been more of a pristine model home look than a style that is conducive to having a family. Appliance costs have skyrocketed and in order to showcase these purchases personal items like photos, notes, and magnets have fallen to the wayside.

A new trend of chalkboard refrigerators revives the usability of older refrigerators. It’s also the only currently popular way to have black appliances in the kitchen. It can be a canvas for your kids to draw or a place to leave messages.

Vintage Green

Eclectic Kitchen by Wichita Media And Blogs Keep Smiling Home

If you’re going to try to paint this yourself than start off with an older but reliable appliance, just make sure that it’s energy efficient. Have a backup plan (and budget) in place in case the paint comes out too streaky or you damage the fridge. You may be sick of the dust that this causes after a few years or the look may become incredibly outdated so don’t think that painting your refrigerator will be a permanent solution.

This refrigerator would probably look really outdated without the paint because of the square lines. However, the green finish compliments the great vintage stove beautifully. For this look you will want to keep white chalk on hand instead of applying a lot of neon colors to it.

Black Applications

Eclectic Kitchen by Oakton Interior Designer Lauren Liess Interiors

This application is again for an old fridge but this time using a darker color. If you are a neat freak, this isn’t the look for you. It’s fantastic in farmhouse kitchens because it will always have a worn or dusty effect to it so take the rest of your kitchen in that direction.

You will have trouble matching the rest of your appliances with this though. It isn’t safe to paint items like stoves that heat up. However, if you just have one really out of place refrigerator in an avocado green then it may be worth the risk.

Modern PSB42YGXSV Panels

Traditional Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen And Bath Rebekah Zaveloff

For a more modern kitchen you will need to get a new fridge. Look for a PSB42YGXSV because of the stainless trim and the water dispenser. Use black chalkboards to keep with a more contemporary feel.

Use It On the Panels

Contemporary Dining Room by San Francisco Interior Designer Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

If I was buying a new fridge I would go with a panel ready design and then paint on top of that so it could be changed if the chalkboard idea didn’t work out. Have custom flat panels built. Side by sides will give a lot of space for doodle. The important thing is it should be as flat as possible.

Some designers have used actual chalkboards on the panels while others have opted for cheaper painted options. Whether you have a new or an old fridge there is probably a way to get a chalkboard on it!

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Cabinets and Integrated Refrigerators

Uniform Style

Written by FridgeDimensions Editorial Team on April 19, 2013

With custom panel options, refrigerators can look like just about anything these days. Here are some great examples of refrigerators that have been fully integrated into the cabinetry.

Contents:

• Dark Wood Panels
• Fully Integrated Fridge
• Cool Blue Refrigerator
• Traditional Design
• Large Capacity Integration

When going with integrated refrigerators, you have a lot of options. Refrigerators that look like armoires tend to be more intricate and expensive than most choices. It may even be the priciest that you will find and it doesn’t work that well in smaller kitchens.

If you have a panel ready built-in refrigerator though you can get a similar look for a lot less money. This style works well if you want an upgraded appliance but stainless steel isn’t your thing. Semi-integrated or fully integrated appliances work well with popular farmhouse style rooms and in smaller kitchens. Here are our top five favorite refrigerators that look like cabinets.

Dark Wood Panels

Contemporary Kitchen by Los Angeles Architect Kirkpatrick Architects

Unlike appliances that try to mimic armoires this style is much simpler. Custom panel side by side fridges like KitchenAid KSSO42FTX and the GE Monogram ZIS420NX have traditionally been used with lighter wood cabinetry or painted panels. An update is a darker wood tone with more of a flat front style.

Such a style often uses a side by side refrigerator instead of a French door one. Side by sides are usually more affordable than similar French door models. Look for custom handles like those that are shown in this Kirkpatrick Architects design. The wood tones almost have a retro 70s feel. The stone countertops, pendant lights, and stainless appliances take it into a contemporary territory.

Fully Integrated Fridges

Contemporary Kitchen by Boston Kitchen And Bath Venegas and Company

Venegas and Company uses a fully integrated style here. They went with a fully integrated Thermador with the model number T18IF7ONSP. The other side boasts an all refrigerator style with the model number T24IR70NSP. The unusual part about this is actually the handles.

It has been popular to mimic the handles of cabinetry. (It will be easier to start with your appliance handle and match your cabinetry handle than working the other way). Typically we would see a white fridge with a white handle. These stainless handles match the appliances but more importantly; it coordinates with the cabinets.

Blue Paneled Refrigerators

Contemporary Kitchen by Saskatoon Interior Designer Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

This integrated refrigerator gives itself away a little bit because of the water dispenser. Blue is a really popular kitchen color so there may be a temptation to go with a dramatic choice like the Dacor PF36BNDFBU which is called Blue Water. Instead, get a panel ready refrigerator where it will be easier to change the color during your next remodel.

You will want to go with a water dispenser that is stainless or silver instead of black such as the GE PSB42YGXSV. This cool color will match the handles and also the blue tone a lot better. This fridge also has added height from the cabinets on top and the crown molding.

Traditional Look for Small Kitchens

Traditional Kitchen by Woodbridge Architect Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC

Everything about this kitchen is very classic. The simple white cabinetry, the color palette, and the glass front doors will still be livable in ten years. The glass is highlighted by spotlights to make it a showcase which also detracts attention from where exactly the fridge is. The designer states that this is a Liebherr refrigerator but is unsure of the model number. The fully integrated counter depth Liebherr HC1001 would give you a similar feel but it has a bottom freezer door instead of two freezer drawers.

Large Capacities

Traditional Kitchen by Brooklyn Kitchen And Bath Fixtures Home & Stone

It becomes a bit of a treasure hunt when working with integrated appliances to see who can spot the fridge first. When you go with a larger capacity or two single door fridges next to each other it looks more like a pantry. Also French door styles will be better because the drawers on the bottom will more closely mimic the rest of your storage.

For a traditional or classic style home integrated or built-in appliances are the best. Stainless steel is more contemporary but it’s also more difficult to clean.

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Kitchen Decor with Custom Panel Refrigerators

Armoires and Ice Boxes

Written by FridgeDimensions Editorial Team on April 15, 2013

A traditional ice box isn’t very functional anymore, but the look is still in style. Why would you need an armoire in a kitchen? Well if either of these furnishings is actually a refrigerator, it’ll be right at home storing your food in style! Here’s some great examples of how to do it.

Contents:

• Armoire Panels
• Mahogany Refrigerator
• Build-In Columns
• Modern Ice Box

If you want the ultimate in integrated appliances then consider refrigerators that look like furniture. You will usually have to have the panels custom made and pay more for a built-in style fridge. The drama it creates may be worth the higher pricetag.

Armoire Style Refrigerator

Traditional Kitchen by Minneapolis Architect Charlie Simmons – Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd.

Charlie Simmons designed this fridge as a replica of an antique armoire and uses bronze pulls instead of traditional handles. He states in the comments that it is a 42″ Sub-Zero. The Sub Zero BI-42SO meets this requirement. I would make one small change though. The doors aren’t even. The freezer door is smaller on this model which will be a giveaway that this isn’t a real armoire. You will want more of an equal look like the KitchenAid KBFO42FTX provides.

Instead of just having the typical 3 custom panels it’s surrounded by a more ornate built-in. My favorite part is the faux drawers that help to change the dimensions visually so it doesn’t look as much like a side by side fridge.

Traditional Mahogany Door Panels

Traditional Kitchen by Louisville Kitchen And Bath Kenneth Fromme

Kenneth Fromme used Honduran mahogany and veneer. There are a lot of appliances that are built to look like cabinets and usually these blend into the cupboards around them. The intent here is different because you are spending a lot of money both on the built-in fridge and the door panels (especially if they are mahogany). A contrasting or darker tone makes this the showpiece of the kitchen.

Using Two Single Fridge Columns

Traditional Kitchen by Escondido Kitchen And Bath Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer

Even when you replicate furniture exactly usually the dimensions are what gives it away. You can tell that it is an appliance because of the size of the doors. However Design Moe Kitchen & Bath has a genius solution. Sub-Zero was again the brand of choice. Some commenters speculate that it was from the 700 series. The all refrigerator styles from the 700 series are 736TR and 700TR. Compliment this with the all freezer models of 736TFI and 700TFI. A column style fridge is IC-27R or a freezer IC-27FI.

If you can’t afford two fridges you could still try the double effect and then add in a pantry on the other side. This is a smart way to get a larger capacity fridge and I think it would help a lot for organization.

This is so different than the other appliances because of the niche in the middle which makes it feel more like an armoire and it isn’t something that you would typically see in an appliance so it fools the eye.

Ice Box Style Fridge

Traditional Kitchen by Hilton Head Island Architect Group 3

Since everyone knows that you’re going to have a fridge in your kitchen it doesn’t make that much sense to try and hide it completely. John McManus uses the 36″ Sub-Zero 736TCI to create this ice box feel. I was surprised that it had a bottom freezer style as most of the other versions have been side by side. The numerous panels and intricate hardware really make it convincing and the oak panels lend warmth to the room.

Are there other styles of furniture you think a custom panel refrigerator would do well to mimic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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