Dressing up the bottom of an over the fridge cabinet

[scott vroom]

The last kitchen job I did had an over fridge cab set 72" off the floor. The new refrigerator was only 68.5" tall which allowed a clear view of the cab bottom (pre-finished maple veneer ply sides and bottom; knotty alder exterior). I didn't like the fact that the plywood edges of the sides were exposed, nor the contrast of the maple vs alder exterior. I'm doing another kitchen and this time would like to dress up the bottom of the fridge cab to match the exterior species (alder again). I thought the easiest way would be to cut the sides 3/8" shy of the face frame bottom and simply overlay a 1/4" alder veneer skin in the recess, glued and pinned to the bottoms of the cab edges and butted to the 3/8" inside face frame lip. Has anyone done it this way? What other methods should I consider?

Cutaway of cab showing 1/4" skin on the bottom

[Jim Becker]

A nice "show" panel like you propose seems like a good solution.

[scott vroom]

A nice "show" panel like you propose seems like a good solution.

Thanks Jim.

Here's a pic from a guy who adds a filler piece with cutout for the hinge:

[Bill Orbine]

Thanks Jim.

Here's a pic from a guy who adds a filler piece with cutout for the hinge:

Just make sure you follow the installation specifications of the refrigerators. Many refrigerators need certain amount of clearance.
Usually an inch of clearance space between cabinet and fridge. Sometimes the sides, too.

[Jim Becker]

Yea, that filler looks good. Relative to Bill's comments, if there's a need for airflow, that could be accommodated by a similar filler that's made of perforated metal painted appropriately. It blocks the view while allowing air to pass. So many ways.... This method is also easily reversible should the appliance get changed out for something with a different height.