Here's full overlay next to cabinetry. The counter does stick out a tiny bit - maybe a 1/2" ? I can try and get a better picture if you'd like. This is a Miele fridge.

Marcy,

I would love a better picture. I am trying to convince the cabinet guy that I am ok with the counter sticking out and he keeps saying that it is not the way it is done.

Here is a picture of my full overlay fridge next to a cabinet:

And the subzero fridge/freezer drawers:

Here they are closed to, they are even w/ the other drawers in the run:

Lalitha

Beagles cabinets are from dutchwood who I am using for overlay also. They mentioned to me that they like to add a frame around the refrigerator which I think you see in Beagles last photo, which doesn't appear in Marcydc's photo.

Beagles, Marcy, 5years,

Thanks for educating me on this. Looks like the paneled door is a bit larger than the appliance to provide the flush fit that looks seamless with adjoining cabinetry.

How much overlay does your counters have? Did you reduce the overlay to make it easier to open close the paneled refrigerator?

Lalitha

Thank you all or the pictures again. I sent them to my GC who sent them to the cabinet maker - I am keeping my fingers crossed.

beagles, is your fridge made to use panels or is a regular fridge front with panels attached? If so, how?

I just had a frustrating conversation with my GC..he talked to the cabinet guy who basically looked at all the pictures and said it is not going to work because my fridge (Miele) is hinged on the right and there is countertop right next to it. So he feels that the door opening will be restricted if we install the overlay panels flush as it will hit the edge of the countertop. I cannot believe this. Please advise me on how to have this conversation. Should I call Miele or have the GC call Miele? See below for my cabinet plan. The refrigerator handle is shown wrong and should be on the other side- the fridge is hinged on the right.

lalitha - you should get the design guide for the fridge you are buying. They have instructions on how to create the panels for whatever look you want (inset, overlay).

Regarding the door opening: I'm pretty sure the Mieles are made by Bosch/Thermador/Gaggenau. I bought the Thermador integrated units; they have a special door hinge that opens OUT before swinging right or left, so they can easily clear any cabinetry next to them. On the design drawings, they have exact dimensions of the door swing and required clearance.

Here is a link to the Miele instructions for 30" right-hinged fridge. Not as detailed as the Thermador drawings, but it does show how the door swing works and the clearance required based on panel thickness.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miele design guide

In otherwords, you cabinet guy has a point. But the solution might be to ease off that corner of the countertop so that the door can swing as far as you need.

Soibean - I have looked at the design guide and I guess I just don't understand how to understand what it says about the panel thickness and clearances. I want the 115degree opening.

lalitha, as you can see from others' photos, the kind of thing you are looking for is done all the time. These units are meant to be installed flush with adjacent cabinetry. Unless you plan to have a very thick panel on the fridge (as opposed to a standard 3/4" panel), there should be no issue with install. The other possible issue would be if the adjoining cabinet has a handle that sticks out far and is directly adjacent to the fridge door.

If the GC/cabinetmaker don't think it can be done, I think you should have them speak to someone at Miele. It's possible they have better documentation. Try looking at the Thermador documentation - they use the same hinge, and it should give you a good idea of the clearance. When opened 115 degrees, a door with 3/4" panel would be 1.5" from the cabinetry. If you have a 1" overhang, that's still 1/2" clearance. Don't give up!