How to Add a Drink Refrigerator to Your Kitchen and Make It Look Built In

Cover your drink refrigerator with veneer to make it match the rest of the kitchen.

The addition of a drink refrigerator to your kitchen will free up more room in your primary refrigerator. A drink refrigerator can be added below the kitchen countertop, in a slot intended for appliances. The refrigerator door handle will be removed and the refrigerator door will be altered to match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The refrigerator can also be placed at the end of the counter. In this instance, the side of the refrigerator should be covered with veneer, since the side of the refrigerator will be visible.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Face mask
• 2-part epoxy
• Disposable bowl
• Paintbrush
• Wood or plastic veneer
• Razor knife
• Masking tape
• Wood molding
• Hand saw
• Polyurethane
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Open the drink refrigerator's door and remove the screws attaching the refrigerator door handle to the door. One screw will be at the base of the handle near the top of the door and a second will be at the base of the bottom of the handle.

2. Don a face mask and mix a 2-part epoxy in a disposable bowl.

3. Paint an even coat of 2-part epoxy onto the surface of the refrigerator door. Apply epoxy to the side of the refrigerator if you will be placing the refrigerator at the end of a row of cabinetry.

4. Paint an even coat of 2-part epoxy onto the back of a sheet of wood or plastic veneer. Use wood veneer if you have wood cabinetry. Use a plastic veneer if you have white or black-covered particle board cabinetry.

5. Apply the veneer onto the refrigerator door and trim away the extra using a razor knife. Smooth the veneer with your hand to remove air bubbles. Apply veneer to the side of the refrigerator, too, if you'll be placing the refrigerator at the end of a row of cabinetry.

6. Adhere a few strips of masking tape over the veneer and stick the ends of the tape strips to the sides of the refrigerator. This will hold down the edges of the veneer while the epoxy dries.

7. Imitate the ridges on wood cabinetry by applying wood molding. For instance, if there is a ridge of raised wood at the top and bottom of each cabinet door, re-create this using molding that's similar in appearance. Use a hand saw to cut two lengths of molding to the width of the refrigerator door, then glue the molding to the top and bottom edges of the door with 2-part epoxy. Place masking tape over the molding to hold it in place while the epoxy dries.

8. Remove the masking tape and use a paintbrush to apply tinted polyurethane to wood veneer. Select a shade of polyurethane that matches the rest of the cabinetry. Leave black or white plastic laminate as is.

9. Plug in the refrigerator and slide it into a space under the counter designed for appliances. Alternatively, place the drink refrigerator at the end of a row of cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're placing the refrigerator at the end of a row of cabinets, place a cutting board on top or adhere counter laminate to a cutting board to match the rest of the countertops. Use countertop adhesive to attach the countertop laminate to the cutting board.

• Do not place the refrigerator inside a cabinet. The cabinet interior has poor air flow and this can cause the refrigerator to overheat.

References

• Woodshop 102: Applying Wood Veneers