Building the Refrigerator Enclosure

Thinking of enclosing that big refrigerator that you have in your kitchen? Well, that's a great way to make that big monster look a bit smaller and to give your kitchen a more professional look.

This is the way that my kitchen looked at the beginning of this makeover, and that refrigerator seemed to fill half the space!

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The new stainless steel appliances arrived sooner than expected and that fridge looked even bigger than the one we had before.

My picture-perfect kitchen was traditional in style with moldings (I love them!), but with a modern feel.

This is the way I wanted it to look but doing it myself:

Ross Shingle Home by David Ludwig - Architect

The tools materials you'll need:

• 1 36 x 24 x 24 Above the refrigerator cabinet
• 1 Sheet of ¾” plywood - Cut in the middle (lengthwise)
• 2 12' Parting bead molding
• Wood glue
• 1-1/4" screws
• 2-1/2" screws
• 3 90-degree angles (L-brackets)
• Drill
• Paint supplies

Instructions:

The first step in this refrigerator enclosure project was to remove the cabinet above the fridge. This cabinet was only 12” deep and I needed one 24” instead. 

The most affordable and quick solution was to buy a 36" x 24" x 24" refrigerator cabinet, doors included. 

 

PREPARE THE SIDE PANELS

A sheet of ¾” plywood 4’x 8’, was cut in half/lengthwise at the home center to create the side panels.

Parting bead molding was installed all along the front edge of the plywood panels to cover up those rough edges. Use wood glue and a few brad nails to better secure this small molding.

Here you can see the parting bead at the edge of the plywood

ASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE

Attach the side panels to the top cabinet with 1-1/4" screws. 

We assembled it off-site, working on the floor and it was kind of difficult for me and the hub to make it stand up and bring it to its place just 5 feet away.

The next step was to secure this refrigerator enclosure to the left base and top cabinets and to the back studs on the wall, making sure it was level.  

It looked like a big cabinet with wobbly legs!  The left leg was attached to the base cabinet on the left with screws front and back, and the right leg was attached to the wall behind, and to the floor with L brackets. 

Make sure to drive a few 2-1/2" screws from the inside of the fridge cabinet onto the studs on the wall.

Finally, a small piece of wood was positioned at the bottom of the top cabinet just to the top of the refrigerator to close up this gap and make the whole structure sturdier.

Again, after caulking, sanding, and painting this is the final result:

Here's an updated picture of the top of this enclosure. On the right, a plate rack was installed recently.

And here, a front view of the fridge enclosure after other cosmetic changes that were given to this kitchen.

My next project: How to Build a Range Hood.

You might also like to see how to keep the cabinet above the fridge organized with a tray divider.

For more DIY Kitchen ideas check these out:

How to paint the cabinets.
Install a marble backsplash.
Add moldings to your kitchen cabinets 
Closing the space above the kitchen cabinets
Update the kitchen island
Tips about installing recessed lights
Final kitchen reveal
Kitchen cost breakdown
1 ½ Year Later How the Kitchen is Holding up
Build-in Plate Rack
Pull Out Shelves in Pantry
LG Appliances Review and Complain