PANEL-READY APPLIANCES
Panel-ready refrigerators and dishwashers are a great way to hide your appliances in plain sight. When you order a panel-ready model, it comes with an unfinished front, which is meant to be covered by a separate panel. Usually, this panel is the same style as the adjacent cabinetry, which results in a streamlined, seamless appearance, where the appliances are concealed behind the cabinet doors.
In this project, the Ritchie Rowhouse, the refrigerator is located underneath the stair, and is built in beside adjacent cabinetry. We used painted flat MDF panels on the Thermador fridge to match the adjacent cabinet doors. The pulls are Danish walnut, from one of our favourite hardware suppliers, Lee Valley.
The appliance manufacturer’s website will provide specifications for the type of panel to be used, calling out weight restrictions, and exact dimensions to allow for clearance of the doors when being used. The manufacturer should supply all necessary mounting hardware, but you will likely need to supply the handles/pulls to match the rest of your cabinetry. Pay attention to the type of pull you choose for the fridge handle - this usually needs to be a more heavy duty pull than for typical cabinetry.
You can see how the fridge blends seamlessly into the rest of the millwork and is completely camouflaged into the cabinetry under the stair. Beside the sink, there is also a dishwasher with a panel front.
Usually, panel-ready appliances are a bit pricier than their stainless steel/white finished counterparts. However, it can be worth the splurge to make your kitchen look streamlined, high-end, and beautiful - especially if you don't want the appliances to be the main focus of your kitchen.
One thing to note - most panel ready dishwashers will provide a seamlessly integrated look next to adjacent cabinetry, but refrigerators can be more complicated. For more information, see our post here.
