Fit Outer Doors to Your Integrated Fridge

An integrated fridge is one that blends seamlessly into your kitchen by hiding the ugly appliance behind a door that matches the other cabinets. It's an appealing design choice for some kitchens, but a permanent one that should be considered carefully before proceeding. Once you have decided to go down the integrated route, if you change your mind and remove the outer door to expose the fridge, the fridge door itself will be blighted by marks.

If you do decide that the integrated look is for you, these step-by-step instructions can help you install the covering that will hide your refrigerator.

Step 1 – Measure Up

Once the appliance has been set into it's permanent space, make sure that it sits “deep” enough to be concealed when the outer door has been fixed on. Make sure also that the appliance does not interfere with the opening of the doors on either side.

Step 2 – Check the Level

Check that the appliance is level before you attempt to fit the doors. If it is not, the fittings will not match up properly and you may have to drill multiple holes. Also, if the outer door is hung crooked, it will look unsightly and stand out in an otherwise uniform kitchen.

Step 3 – Check the Manufacturer’s Kit

Compare the manufacturer’s kit against the instructions before you go any further. Does it contain everything it's supposed to? Are there any additional parts or tools you need to purchase for the installation? If not, take your instructions with you to your local home improvement store and get anything you are missing.

There are two main systems for fitting integrated fridge doors. One is a sliding system which uses a sliding rail to connect the cabinet door to the refrigerator door. When the cabinet door is opened, the sliding rail opens the fridge door as well. A kit for this should include screws and the sliding rail itself, in addition to a template showing where the holes should be drilled.

The other system is a straight door-on-door. Here the outside doors are fixed directly onto one from the fridge, so the latter will be marked and holes will be drilled into it. The manufacturer’s kit should include screws and a drilling template.

Step 4 – Drill the Holes

It is essential that the holes are drilled with precision to avoid unnecessary damage to the integrated fridge and to the cabinet doors. Follow the template provided with the manufacturer’s kit and double-check to avoid mistakes.

Step 5 - Screw the Door into Place

The measuring and the drilling are the difficult bits to this task; actually hanging the door is the easy part. Use the screws provided in your kit for this task and you should be finished—easy as that. Now your integrated fridge is hidden from view and your kitchen has a uniform look all around!