Sunday, May 12, 2013

Kitchen Update: Building a Refrigerator Cabinet


 Happy Mother's Day! I hope your day has been wonderful!

The last few weeks we've had a lot of rain, which has meant slow progress on outdoor projects, but we have gotten a few things accomplished in the kitchen.  Recently Justus built a cabinet to enclose our refrigerator.  I was particularly excited about this, since it means we're one step closer to additional countertop space (yay!), but it also helped our kitchen look a little more cohesive over in this corner.  

BEFORE:


 Our kitchen isn't necessarily small, just awkward.  When we bought our house, we moved our refrigerator all over, but because of doorways and walkways, this was really the only place for it.  So it sat freestanding like this the past few years.



 After Justus completed the framing, he installed these pine tongue-and-groove planks, which (lucky for us) were scrap pieces from my parent's ceiling.  They had a lot of planks they couldn't use or were leftover scraps, but they've been perfect for little projects here and there. 


We've had our fridge for nine years now and it's still going strong, so I'll doubt we'll replace it anytime soon, but we were sure to build the cabinet with standard dimensions so that another fridge would easily fit in this space. 

AFTER:


 After the planks were installed, Justus then trimmed out the cabinet.  I sanded (and sanded) and filled with putty between the trim pieces before painting so that the trim looked a little more smooth and more like one unit.


 Eventually our farmhouse table will move out and Justus will build a lower cabinet for this space so we can extend the countertop to the new refrigerator wall.



 I have to admit too that it's really nice not looking over and seeing all that black that was the side of the refrigerator. 


 I really wanted an open shelf above the refrigerator for extra storage.  For a couple weeks I puzzled over what kind of storage baskets to put on the upper shelf.  I even looked at some larger baskets online and then this week I remembered that Justus had made a passing comment about using the vintage locker baskets we had.  At first I placed two on the shelf, which didn't look right, and then I remembered I actually had another one sitting empty upstairs... and it was a perfect fit.  It almost looks like we built the shelf to fit these three baskets!


 Justus built a little lip with the trim in front of the shelf so that the baskets easily come out, but won't fall off the edge.


I couldn't resist adding this picture in.  While I was taking these pictures this afternoon, Justus was playing outside with the girls.  I heard the screen door slam and Rosetta proceeded to come in, climb onto the chair I had been using, stand in front of the camera, and say, "Cheeeese"!  There is not a second that goes by that I am not thankful to be a mother to our two precious girls.

Have a great week!

(Update: To see our finished kitchen, click here.)

47 comments:

  1. That looks really good. My fridge stands alone also and I'mtrying to figure out a similar solution.

    Hope you had a great Mother's Day!

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  2. IDEA: If you reverse your refrigerator door openings to open on the right side instead of the left, it looks like it would be more convenient to your upcoming new countertop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the idea! Unfortunately we can't reverse the handles as the wall on that side would prevent the doors from opening all the way. It sure would be more convenient though!

      Delete
  3. You know, the handle on the refrigerator can be changed to the opposite side,
    which would make opening it less awfward. Refrigerators are made so the handle
    is interchangeable. Blessings ~ Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  4. It looks amazing... so much more finished! Those baskets are perfect.

    Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day. Looks like the wee ones are used to having a camera around. Currently my two eldest run when they see the camera, and my toddler says 'Geee!' which is her version of 'cheese' and hams it up for the camera.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great project, labour but not a lot of expense.

    You can turn off accepting Anonymous in your settings page, under Posts and Comments if you get comments (like the Anonymous one above) that you may not want. Hope you don't mind me saying that.

    Anyway, love your kitchen and your sweet little Cheeeze daughter.

    Joy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Joy! I think the entire project cost us about $20! Not at all... so far I have put off turning off anonymous comments because a few legitimate ones are left, but the spam is getting a little heavy lately! Thanks for the tip and I deleted the spam comment that came through. Hope you have a great week!

      Delete
  6. Hi Andrea. That looks so nice. My fridge also stands just like yours did and I've been talking like a dutch uncle for my hubby to close it in, it would look so much better and part of the rest of the kitchen. Maybe if I show him how nice it looks he will come around. Happy Mother's Day..Judy

    ReplyDelete
  7. It looks fabulous! I love it! Tell your husband he did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have one talented husband. Nicely done. Love the baskets above. Your home just keeps on getting cozier..and cozier. Look at your little Rosetta. She is getting so big. What a cutie. Hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day Andrea. Belated wishes to you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That looks super! It's a wonderful design. And that's a little cutie-pie too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Andrea, that looks so good and looks like it was always there instead of an add on. Wish we could enclose ours. Happy Mother's Day to you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks incredible! I'm taking notes--we may do something like this eventually.
    Hope your Mother's Day was wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love what you have done, and the baskets look like that belong there. Precious little girl in the picture :) Hope that your Mother's Day was a good one!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This really adds cohesiveness to your kitchen, keeping the refrigerator from being the focal point. So beautifully done too!!
    Mary Alice

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesome job! I hate that my fridge is all big and black and out in the open. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really like the enclosed refridgerator. It makes the kitchen more custom looking. Neat project. Kudos for justus for beingnson handy :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. That's a great makeover! I love the look of the white painted boards on the side of the fridge. That was a great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is so beautiful- how wonderful that you could build it yourself! I love the way it turned out and the wire baskets on top are perfect for it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow that looks great !!! I'm glad you had a great Mother's Day and weekend ! Hope you have a great start to your week

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am sorry if my comment on changing the handle sounded negative.
    It was not intended to be. Until some years ago I had not realized
    that handles could be interchanged, and thought I may not be the only
    person that didn't. What I like best about your house projects is
    that you are (and hubby) are doing them yourselves and working with
    what you have. It is a gift.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did not take it that way at all and thank you for commenting! I am always glad when ideas are left... often they are something I would have not thought about. I WISH we could move the handles to the other side as it would be so much more convenient, but unfortunately we cannot do so because of the wall on the other side... the doors would not open completely which would also mean the produce bins inside would not be able to pull out, etc. Thank you so much for your kind words... it means a lot to both my husband and I. Hope you have a wonderful week!

      Delete
    2. Wow, I LOVE the new look! That makes a huge difference!
      The comment on changing the fridge handles is funny, as that is also the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture. I know what you mean tho, mine sits in the same corner area (wall on left) but I changed my handles anyway, as I always felt like I was stuck in a corner when getting stuff out. I left my fridge away from the wall a little bit more, and I still can't get the bottom left drawer to open completely, but it does enough to make it usable anyway, and it's worth it to me to get things out on the right side. You always have wonderful ideas & new things on here! :)

      Delete
  20. How beautiful your cabinet came out? Love it. It looks as if it was always there. Great job, both of you!
    Love it!
    xoxo
    Lisa
    Lee's hideaway

    ReplyDelete
  21. It looks fabulous, Andrea! Your husband is a handy guy! You two are turning your house into a showstopper for sure. How nice of your parents to send the leftovers to you :)
    And that sweet little one is too cute!
    Happy late Mother's Day to you

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love it. Thank you for sharing the idea.

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a simple way to make a big impact. Perfection!

    ReplyDelete
  24. First of all, Rosetta is just adorable...I see a great "career" in her future..and the cabinet surround is perfection.. You and you hubby did such a wonderful job...What a showpiece in your kitchen!..

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love it! Rosetta is so adorable Winston does that too whenever I have the camera out!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love it! Rosetta is so adorable Winston does that too whenever I have the camera out!

    ReplyDelete
  27. The cabinet around your fridge is gorgeous and so is your wee girl.

    ReplyDelete
  28. The two of you manage to turn an awkward arrangement into a fabulous feature of the room! I love the use of the tongue and groove wood in the design and the surprise guest is quite charming, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. It looks absolutely WONDERFUL and I am glad you let Rosetta steal the show at the end ! Perfect ending ! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a neat idea you two had here...it looks GREAT!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  31. That Justus is just too clever! What a talented husband he is! It looks fabulous. And Rosetta is such a cutie pie. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  32. You did a great job !! love your blog.....and your home and children too......love from me Ria...your new follower !!...come back soon !!...xxx...!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Always happy to see your cutie C: What a great redo, can't wait to see the next part!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your refrigerator wall looks terrific! FYI, you can change the swing on your refrigerator doors so that they open on the right instead of the left. I know because my husband and I did this on ours. I think they all have the option for this. Check with your Home Depot store or look for a tutorial online. I love your blog. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love this and need to show my husband! This would look great in our kitchen... along with a new refrigerator! ha! Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Just beautiful! I love the plank wall. Lucy you to have a handy hubby:). Happy Mom's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  37. It is amazing! what a clever hubby you have to be able to build that! It looks perfect and is so much nicer. Great job!
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. This looks lovely, it fits perfectly in your beautiful kitchen!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Gorgeous!! How wonderful to have such a handy husband, and your girls are so delightful!!! You have a great life.

    ReplyDelete
  40. thanks for sharing---we were thinking on doing something very close to this in our kitchen--love it!

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I'm your newest follower and so glad I found you! Love your blog and style.

    XO
    Ally from Home by Ally
    www.homebyally.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

I always look forward to reading your comments... thank you for taking the time to leave one!

Copyright @ Keeping It Cozy. Blog Design by KotrynaBassDesign