A 12-inch or 15-inch tall wall cabinet fits neatly over a refrigerator. This provides a narrow space between the fridge and the bottom of the cabinet. The top of the cabinet will usually touch the kitchen ceiling and be attached to it.
Having too little space can greatly impact on the performance and life of your fridge, such as minimising over-heating. Generally, all Samsung refrigerator models requires a minimum distance of 50mm for the sides and rear of the fridge and 100mm from the top of the fridge.
In conclusion, we strongly suggest if you want your kitchen to look finished and modern, above fridge cabinets are the way to go. Depending on your height, they may not provide much storage value but they sure make an impressive statement!
By adding cabinets above your refrigerator, along with “fridge panels left and right of your fridge”, it creates a nice, clean look. It finishes off the space, instead of your refrigerator standing alone.
The standard height for upper cabinets from the floor is 54 inches, or 4 feet and 6 inches. This means the bottom of the upper cabinets should be this far from the floor. This comes from the sum of 34-and-a half-inch base cabinets, a 1-and-a-half inch thick countertop, and an 18-inch backsplash.
The two primary upper cabinet choices are 36 inch and 42-inch cabinets. If you are dealing with a ceiling height of 36 inches it is quite a safe bet to go for the 36-inch ones. They will not touch the roof of the ceiling so the option of adding a crown molding can be left for later on.
How much space should be left between the countertop and upper cabinets? The standard space between the countertop and upper cabinets is around 18 inches. This measurement allows for convenient use of countertop appliances and provides ample space for food preparation.
Should a Refrigerator Stick Out Beyond the Cabinets? Standard refrigerators stick out beyond the cabinets. They need some extra space for the door to open fully. If a counter or cabinet is in the way, you won't be able to open the door the full 90 degrees.
Standard refrigerators are typically 30 to 36 inches deep or more, and since countertops are normally about 25 inches deep (24 inches for the base cabinet with a 1-inch overhang), this means that a standard refrigerator will stick out from adjoining countertops by six inches or more.
Refrigerators over the typical 6′ height eliminate the need for ways to disguise or use the extra space above. The extra refrigerator space allows for more cold storage and helps eliminate many second refrigerators in the home which may be less energy efficient and not as cost-effective.
Generally, the sink, main refrigerator, and stove need to be near each other, allowing easy access for food preparation.
Plan Proper Ventilation
When you measure the space for the refrigerator, and compare it to the size of the refrigerator, leave at least 1 inch of extra room for the back and the top of the refrigerator.
Guidelines recommend 15” of space on either one or both sides of the refrigerator, 15” above an under-counter refrigerator, or if that is not possible, to have 15” of landing space no more than 48” in front of the refrigerator.
Store different foods in the correct areas of the fridge.
Store ready-to-eat foods such as cheese, yoghurt, cooked meats and leftovers on the middle and top shelves. Put raw meat, fish and poultry in sealed containers on the bottom shelf so they don't touch each other or drip onto other foods.
It all depends on your vision for your new kitchen. If you have your heart set on a certain stove or refrigerator, you might want to start with the appliances. If you're looking to do more with the space, it makes more sense to buy cabinets first.
The refrigerator should be at least two inches from the wall. Top — If you have back coils, you will need at least two inches of top clearance to dissipate heat, but for bottom coils, as little as one inch can be sufficient.
Generally, upper cabinets are mounted with the bottom edge being 54-inches above the floor. That means if you have 8-foot ceilings, your upper cabinets would be 42-inches tall, while a 9-foot ceiling has 54 inches available.
8 Ft Ceilings – use a 39″ or 42″ upper cabinet
It is generally recommended that wall cabinets be mounted 54 inches up from the floor, which means that for 8 foot ceilings, a 39 or 42 inch upper cabinet will reach the ceiling, depending on the height of the crown molding used at the top of the cabinet.
Also, you could use 12” cabinets above the 42” ones and then fill the gaps with crown moldings or other decorative work. → For 10-foot-tall ceilings, the best option would be to have cabinetry makers build the custom cabinets to fit the space perfectly.
The L-shaped kitchen is one of the most popular layouts because it's super functional and can be adapted for almost any sized space. As the name implies, an L-shaped layout features cabinetry and appliances along two adjacent walls, creating an obvious triangle path between work zones.
Generally, manufacturers recommend the front of the refrigerator to be approximately 0.25 to 0.5 inches (6 to 13 mm) higher than the back. This should be enough for the doors to close on their own with enough force to make a complete seal without slamming shut.
A dishwasher should be in close proximity to a sink and cabinets where dishes are stored with proper access to water hookups. Ideally, it should also be distanced from areas where cooking and food preparation take place to help maximize your creative potential through a thoughtful kitchen design.