Retrofit a pull out cupboard to a fridge freezer

ft23

Hi, we've bought a house and there is a pull out shelving cupboard (on rails) which I want to remove and replace with a fridge freezer as this is the only space for one in the kitchen.

The cabinet carcass is 60cm wide and 193cm tall, and is attached to the adjacent cabinets and worktop, so cant be removed without breaking the adjacent units - so I dont want to remove this carcass.
Can I use a freestanding fridge freezer in this carcass, or is an integrated one better? The carcass seems to be raised and there is a plinth at the bottom - can a freestanding fridge freezer sit on this?  Pictures attached.

I know I will need to remove the pull out shelving and rail, and the top cupboard - and probably replace the cabinet doors.

Many thanks for any advice

ft23

Pictures attached of carcass cabinet 

grumbler

Even ignoring the fact that you are unlikely to find a fridge with the width smaller than 60cm, I don't see how you can fit it into the cupboard, either free-standing or integrated. The latter will also require good ventilation on the back.

Kitchen units are normally screwed together with just few screws/bolts and can be easily disconnected. The worktop can be supported by a leg or similar in front and by a bracket on the wall.

Alderbank

grumbler said:

Even ignoring the fact that you are unlikely to find a fridge with the width smaller than 60cm, I don't see how you can fit it into the cupboard, either free-standing or integrated. 

I don't agree. Every integrated fridge is 54cm wide and that is specifically to fit into a 60cm cabinet like yours. As you are aware you will have to remove the middle shelf and cut ventilation holes in the plinth, which the integrated fridge will stand on, and the top.
Most integrated units have the door 'split' around worktop height so as you suspect I think you will need new doors.

scottishblondie

You’ll not want to put a freestanding one into the unit. They’re not designed for being enclosed and would probably cook itself. An integrated one could certainly be fitted, but you might need to add some ventilation to the cabinet. You would also need new doors, as I don’t think you would find any unit with that split between the fridge and freezer. 

ft23

scottishblondie said:

You’ll not want to put a freestanding one into the unit. They’re not designed for being enclosed and would probably cook itself. An integrated one could certainly be fitted, but you might need to add some ventilation to the cabinet. You would also need new doors, as I don’t think you would find any unit with that split between the fridge and freezer. 

Thanks very much for this. I'm not actually sure where to start - or how to install ventilation to the cabinet, is it a case of drilling holes in? 

Yes, happy to buy new doors - I'm not sure exactly where the fridge/ freezer height would come to so was thinking of buying the f/f first and then doors after when i can measure it. Are integrated fridges ok to be used without an attached cabinet door, in the short term?

Many thanks 

fenwick458

ft23 said:

Are integrated fridges ok to be used without an attached cabinet door, in the short term?

Many thanks 

Will be difficult to open the surface will be totally smooth with nothing to grab, so I'd recommend a temporary handle at least but yes they will be fine without a door

for ventilation I see kitchen fitters cut a hole approx. 200mm square out of the middle of the floor. and the back panel is completely removed. I've seen letterbox sized louvre vents chopped into the plinth directly below appliances loads before but it does seem less common now so I'm assuming it's optional

Alderbank

I did exactly this job in my daughter's kitchen. Still working perfectly five years on. The Beko fridge/freezer we fitted came with extremely clear and detailed installation instructions including the required size and locations of all ventilation openings. The letterbox louvre vent for the plinth was supplied with the fridge and was not optional.

Slinky

You can just see the 60cm  fridge/freezer we put in what had been a broom cupboard in this kitchen in 2006. It would appear to be unchanged last time the flat was sold in 2017.

Racky_Roo

Not all integrated fridge freezers need a vent in the plinth, thinking about my last kitchen and this one I have now, both have a gap at the back between the appliance and the wall and vent that way. The cupboard is standard depth so the fridge freezer must be a bit shallower than a non integrated one to allow this.  However, the issue is going to be doors. Looking at the split show in the pic, you will prob need new doors as that doesn't look like they would be the right size for a 60/40 split so definitely check that first.

ft23

Thanks all - I think we're going to need to get advice from a handyman/kitchen fitter as I'm not sure how to remove the back panel of the unit - and keep the rest of the counter etc standing.  I think the louvre plinth will be the same.

I'm happy to replace the doors, but not sure what height the fridge and freezer sections would come to - so think I would need to fit it first, then look for doors. Any recommendations of where to source the doors? Thanks