The day of the delivery was bittersweet.  After over a month of fetching milk, butter, cheese, eggs, leftovers, and such from the garage fridge, we were going to have a working refrigerator in our kitchen again.  That was the sweet part.  The bitter part was knowing  I would no longer have a built-in fridge that blended in seamlessly with the cabinets.  When designing our kitchen, one of the things I wanted most was hidden appliances.  Aside from the range, that would be a feature.  I worked on configurations and cabinet options to ensure that even countertop appliances like the toaster, electric kettle, and microwave were behind closed doors.

I knew that a panel-ready fridge that wasn’t a standard size would likely be a headache when it needed replacing, but I figured we wouldn’t have to deal with that for many years.  Three years later, the fridge is completely dead, and we have exhausted our options to have it repaired.  Jeff said it well when we were shopping for a replacement fridge.  “It’s a cryin’ shame, but let’s get it done.”

I wish shopping for appliances were fun, but it’s not.  I’m assuming that if you own a home and have gone through that process, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  All of the brands have bad reviews, and when doing research, you’ll find one horror story after another.  I always remind myself that people don’t usually take to the internet and post in forums if an appliance has performed exactly as expected.  So, we decided to buy the fridge that best served our wants and needs from a local appliance store that also offers a 5-year extended warranty and servicing.  That seemed like the best we could hope for.

A few days later, Jeff removed the panels from the fridge to ready it for removal.  We decided to keep the panels because the hardware could be reused and the panels could come in handy.  I’m not sure in what capacity, but there’s no harm in storing them in the basement.

To add insult to injury, we had to pay more to have the built-in fridge hauled away because it’s bigger and heavier than standard fridges.  I looked at the gaping hole with a twinge of sadness.  I didn’t have high expectations for the new fridge.  I prepared myself for disappointment that cost over $2,500.

The delivery guy looked at the opening and said, matter-of-factly, “You realize the new fridge is shorter than your opening, right?  There is going to be a big gap.”

I slumped.  “Yes, I know it’s going to look stupid, but we need a fridge.”

They hooked up the waterline and slid the new fridge into place.  There is one upside to having very low expectations – it doesn’t take much to exceed them.  I must say, after all of my sighing, whining, and resignation, the fridge looks pretty good.  To fill the gap, I put a couple of baskets on top.  Even though it’s a quick fix and you can still see the unfinished framing behind it, it doesn’t look stupid at all.

The fridge we selected was the LG Counterdepth 25.1 cu. ft. with a zero clearance hinge system.  I liked that the front was flat and clean, and the zero-clearance doors made it fit better in the opening.  We also liked some aspects of the interior organization better than the KitchenAid model we were considering.  In the back of my head, I also liked the idea that it would be possible to custom-fit some panels on these doors since they are flat.  It wouldn’t be built-in, but it could look integrated if it were a complete eyesore.

While the panel-ready fridge was better, this is decidedly not an eyesore.  It looks like a fridge, and a pretty subtle one at that.

We were planning on ordering a taller cabinet to fill in the gap above the fridge, but I’m glad we waited before purchasing one.  After seeing it with the baskets in place, I’m not sure it’s necessary.  We could build out a cubby and paint it to match.  I have a quart of the matching green paint from the cabinet manufacturer.  It would be a nice place to display baskets or store cookbooks.  And it would save us almost $500 for the cabinet and the work of disassembling the crown and trim to install the new cabinet.

I was so happy to move back in from the garage fridge!

So, first impressions…  Let’s start with the pluses: 1. The fridge is huge!  There is so much space on the shelves, in the doors, and in the produce bins.  2. So far, cooling and freezing seem good. Nothing is freezing in the fridge.  3. We like the look of it and learned we don’t mind using the “hidden handles.”  4. It has a large ice bin, which is nice.  Our last one was pretty shallow.  5. I thought I would be wiping it down multiple times a day, but it’s done a pretty good job staying smudge-free.

The downsides: 1. The zero clearance doors make it feel a little tight when the doors are open, and you’re reaching inside.  It’s fine for us, but I can see that being problematic for someone with an offensive lineman’s physique.  2. The shelves in the doors aren’t adjustable, and it would be nice if they were.  3. The meat/cheese drawer is a little awkward to open, since it barely clears the door shelves.  4. The ice maker is a little slow.  I’m the big ice user in our family, so it keeps up with me just fine, and the large bin means we have plenty on hand, which balances out.

When we discussed getting a regular fridge for this space, we thought it might stick out ridiculously far, but this one doesn’t.  It does stick out a few inches, but it helps that the doors are slim and don’t have handles.  We even considered moving the fridge and pantry to the wall where the antique pine hutch is currently located, so it wouldn’t be visible from so many sightlines (the front door, the hallway, and the living room), but that feels unnecessary.

Here’s a look from the side.  It sticks out a bit, but again, it’s a fridge.

An Instagram follower sent me a DM while I was sharing my fridge angst, and she gently encouraged me, “It really is okay for a fridge to look like a fridge.”  For over 15 years, our home has not just been our home, but a part of my business.  It’s been a backdrop for photoshoots, a place to showcase products, the subject of freelance tutorials, books, and brand partnerships.  We’ve always had a liveable home, but I must admit I have made many decisions over the years to make our homes as photo-friendly as possible.

As my work has continued to shift more towards fine art, I’m finding that I’m loosening my grip on that approach.  I would want our home to be beautiful, whether I shared it online or not, but photogenic doesn’t have to be a top consideration.