Wood Magazine 136 by Bill Krier

Author:Bill Krier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Wood, Home and hobby woodworker
Publisher: Meredith Corporation
Published: 2001-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

Once you had to spend big bucks to buy kitchen appliances that harmonized with hardwood cabinets. Not anymore. Here's how to simply, and affordably, blend a refrigerator and dishwasher with all that beautiful wood.

f you're reading this, you probably have a passion for the warmth and beauty of wood. So, when it comes to your kitchen, don't you want the woodwork to dominate the appliances, and not the other way around? Fortunately, you can do a number of simple things to prevent appliances from overpowering your kitchen. As shown in the article beginning on page 45, you can hide a microwave in a cubbyhole, buy a slide-out vent hood, and install a drop-in range (one that rests on a wood base instead of on the floor). But what can you do about that enormous refrigerator and nondescript dishwasher? Plenty. Let's start with the refrigerator.

First, buy the right fridge

Most manufacturers of mass-produced refrigerators now offer reasonably priced models that accept wood panels. Make sure you buy one that advertises this feature, comes with a trim kit, and has an owner's manual with clear instructions on how to make and install panels.

The General Electric CustomStyle™ refrigerator that we chose meets all of those requirements. (See page 49 for more information on contacting GE.) Because the door edges, handles, and ice dispenser still show after installing wood panels, we chose a black version to match the black accents of the kitchen. Other colors, including white and stainless steel, are available.

Now, plan for the refrigerator opening

Before you build a single cabinet or countertop for the wall that houses the refrigerator, check the dimensions of your chosen fridge. Keep in mind that you'll need at least a W air space between the back of the refrigerator and the wall. You'll only need minimal clearance on the sides and top—just enough for the refrigerator to slide into. The 24-cubic-foot GE side-by-side model that we chose works with stan-

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WOOD magazine October 2001

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