Refrigerator Door Series Part Three: Pairs of Refrigerator Doors

Welcome to my refrigerator door series. This series will consist of several posts showing options for the design of the refrigerator door. My first post of this series focused on hiding refrigerators in a kitchen followed by my second post on single door refrigerators. Click here and here to see those two posts. 

In this post, I will focus on pairs of refrigerator/freezer doors; some are side-by-side while others are separated; some have drawers below while others do not; some match the kitchen cabinets while others are totally different; one has a glass door while the other is a solid doors. Lots and lots of options are shown in the photos below. Enjoy!

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

 ^In the photo above, is a standard side by side refrigerator freezer. The door panels match the maple cabinets. I think the stainless handles and stainless ventilation piece at the bottom of this refrigerator actually work well because this kitchen has touches of stainless throughout.

 

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Winter 2009

^The refrigerators or refrigerator and freezer shown above with the bank of drawers between is a great look for the right kitchen. This one could have been used in my first post of this series- disappearing refrigerators. I must note that when I see a bank of drawers that tall, I wonder what does one put in the the top few drawers that are hard to reach?

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette 

^The panels on these refrigerator doors shown above do not have drawers below but are designed to look like they are an upper and lower cabinet.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Summer 2009

^A double refrigerator door design that blends with the style of the kitchen- which has a lot going on. The upper cabinets are a different style and finish than the lower cabinets. The refrigerator is unique unto itself. There is wood panels on the upper walls and ceiling and some sort of stone or tile design for the backsplash. Again, I am not able to see the entire kitchen but judging from this one photo, it seems busy.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Winter 2009

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above somewhat disappears as if it is a piece of furniture. I love the thought of having such a wide refrigerator which takes a large kitchen to pull it off.

 

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas a book

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above is shorter than some others shown in this post which allows for the open shelf above. This is a good example of form over function. The design of the area above the refrigerator is quite handsome but in order to have this look one has to opt for a shorter refrigerator which means less storage room in the refrigerator. It is the preference of the homeowner who is building or remodeling. What would you choose?

 

Source:  Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Spring 2010

^When I turned the magazine page and saw this photo, I had to do a double take. This barn door design definitely makes the refrigerator the focus of the kitchen. What do you think about this one?

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above is narrow. They may both refrigerators with the freezer being in the four drawers below. Or they may be a refrigerator and a freezer. Another possibility is that this unit represents just refrigerators above and below and the freezer is located in laundry room or butler’s pantry.

 

Source: A New Smart Design Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Marney

^In the photo above, you will notice that not only is the refrigerator door that of a painted barn scene but so are the kitchen cabinets.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette 

^I assume the decision for this refrigerator to stick out from the wall unit instead of being flush is so that the door can fully open. Though cost is always a factor, I wish the sides of the refrigerator and the ventilation panel at the bottom that are showing were less obvious. I also think adding hardware to the refrigerator would have been an aesthetic plus.

 

Source: Beautiful Kitchens 2006

^Above is a handsome wall unit that holds either two refrigerators or a refrigerator and a freezer.

Source: Liebherr Advertisement, magazine unknown

^For a more contemporary look, the side-by-side refrigerator and freezer in stainless works well in this kitchen.

Source: Kitchens Book by Chris Casson Madden

^In the kitchen above, the homeowner opted for a more commercial/professional looking kitchen with their choice of refrigeration units.

 

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Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^Having a glass door on a refrigerator is a cool look, especially this one that has been styled with lots of white items. I am not so sure I would want to see inside my refrigerator on a daily basis. What about you?

Blessings.  …susan

PS Please come back for the 4th post of my series.

Refrigerator Door Series Part Two: Matching Single Door Refrigerators Panels with the Kitchen Cabinets

Welcome to my refrigerator door series. This series will consist of several posts showing options for the design of the refrigerator door. My first post of this series focused on hiding refrigerators in a kitchen. Click here to see it.

This post will focus on matching single refrigerator door panels with the cabinet style and cabinet hardware. Depending on the style of the kitchen, I usually like having a refrigerator door panel that matches the cabinets as shown below. What about you?

Scroll on down for ideas and inspiration! 

Source: Unknown. If you will contact me, I will note it.

^Imagine how different this kitchen would look if the refrigerator door did not match the cabinets.  A stainless refrigerator would totally change the look of this kitchen.

Source: Trend Magazine  Kitchen Issue Volume 25, No. 10

^Perhaps it is the angle of the photograph but doesn’t the refrigerator above sure looks extra wide? Do you think the lower door actually swings open or does it pull out like a drawer?

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette 

^The black hardware on this refrigerator door as well as on the cabinets is a great accessory to this bead board look. I like the appearance of having four drawers below the single door  though there are only two drawers. I do not have a photo of the entire layout of this kitchen but it seems to me that the door handle on this refrigerator should be on the right giving you a counter to place items you have taken out of the refrigerator or plan to put in. Though there is one problem with the door handle being on the right which would be the short wall to the left. It would prevent the door from opening more than 90 degrees. A refrigerator door needs to be able to swing open more than 90 degrees in order to clear the door shelves when removing the drawers and shelves.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design a book by Susan Maney

^Another example of the beadboard look is shown above. The island in this photo blocks the view of the entire refrigerator. I wonder if there is a drawer at the bottom of this refrigerator or if the door goes top to bottom?  What do you think?

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas a book 

^I like how the painted panel on this refrigerator matches the kitchen cabinets. However, I wish the cabinet hardware would have been used on the refrigerator.  What do you think?

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^I like how this refrigerator tucks in next to the brick wall. The panels are a great compliment to the kitchen cabinets.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette 

^Above is an attractive kitchen wall unit with the refrigerator blending right in.

 

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette

^One thing that struck me in the photo above was the use of three different hardware styles. The drawers differed from the cabinet doors and the refrigerator door was yet a third style.  I feel the refrigerator door hardware is a bit small and would not be all that comfortable gripping.  What do you think?

Source: House Beautiful Magazine March 2010

^Yet another beadboard style panel. I especially like the matching hardware with the refrigerator hardware being appropriately a larger size than the cabinet hardware.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Spring 2010

^I ran across this magazine photo yesterday. It would have fit nicely in the first post of this series due to the refrigerator being hidden or disappearing.  I wanted to share it with you so I added it here. 

Without actually seeing the entire kitchen, what I do see in this magazine photo is a bit busy. You have upper cabinet doors lined with a print fabric. The cabinet drawers are a different color than the lower cabinet doors. There is natural wood that has been stained behind the open shelves. The island is a distressed black painted finish. The floor is natural stone pieces that vary. There is something on the other side of the island that appears to be a natural stained wood.  On top of all of that, you have distressed wooden beams in the ceiling. What do you think?

Blessings. …susan

PS My next  post in this series will feature double refrigerator doors. Do check back.

Doorway Transoms-Interior and Exterior

Whether they are part of an exterior doorway or used in an interior doorway, doorway transoms can be used both functionally and aesthetically.  The beauty of doorway transoms is that they can be custom made giving you a plethora of choices when designing a new home or doing a remodel. You can customize the height and width to fit the scale of the room. You can have an elaborate or simple design. Wood, iron, glass, barbed-wire, and metal are just a few of the choices of material that can be used. The material can be used singularly in a doorway that is the traditional depth. However, if your doorway is deep, you can mirror the material at each end of the doorway opening. Transoms can be used with or without glass and they can also be used in a  passage way without even hanging a door.

Functionally, they can be used as a light source.  An exterior doorway transoms bring light in from the outside while an interior doorway transom allows light to pass between two rooms.

Aesthetically, they add  height to a doorway giving the illusion that the door is taller. If you are building a home and on a tight budget this can be cheaper than paying for taller custom doors. Or, if you are remodeling and want to reuse the original doors but want more doorway height, this could be your solution.  A doorway with a transom will enhance the height of a room.  Additionally, you can use a doorway transom as a design element in your home.

The photos below provide different designs and uses for both interior and exterior transoms. Enjoy!

 

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas Book

^The photo above is a good example showing how a transom in a doorway adds height to a room especially with the large piece of artwork and the cabinet height. This doorway transom also serves as a light source between rooms bringing the deep color of the living room into the kitchen. I think the simple design element works well.

Source: November/December 2009- If you know the magazine, please contact me and I will note it.

^Although the photo above shows an interior doorway transom, it certainly cannot compete with the pair of Christmas floral design elements and the vases. I wish I could see the entire room and more detail of the pair of coffee tables. Back to the transom, I like how the height of the curtain rod relates to the transom.

Source: Veranda Magazine September 2007

^Above is a photo of an arched interior doorway transom with a Spanish wrought-iron design which I feel enhances the interior design of this home.

Source: Traditional Home Magazine July 2008

^This interior transom is used in the opening between two vanity areas in a bathroom without using a door (note reflection in mirror showing another vanity).  Though seeing the toilet, maybe there is a pocket door. It makes a strong decorative statement in both design and color. I do like how the transom design is reflected in each mirror.

Source: Architectural Digest date unknown.

^Though the photo above has far too many design elements going on for my taste, I do like the iron design of the interior doorway transom.  There also appears to be a door transom above the front door though it is blocked from view in this photo by the chandelier. 

 

 Source: Elegant Home magazine, date unknown.

^In the photo above is an example of a wider interior transom that has used a modified spider web design to make an elegant design statement in this foyer.

Source: Unknown. If you know the source, please contact me and I will note it.

^Using an hour glass design to create a design element, this exterior transom also allows light to filter in from what appears to be a porch.  Put your finger over the transom and imagine the room without the transom. Don’t you think it is an excellent example of a transom giving height to a door in a room with a tall ceiling?

 

Source: Traditional Home Holiday 2009

^Above is yet another example of door transoms adding a design statement, creating door height and being a light source. Doesn’t the transom height create a perfect area for the artwork? Imagine how different and less pleasing the artwork would look if it were taller than the doors.

It is my hope with this post that somehow I have positively touched your design process. Please share your thoughts with me in a comment. Blessings. …susan

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Five-Miscellaneous

Continuing my series on bathroom towel storage options- in this post I will share scanned photos showing a miscellaneous assortment of options. One option my daughter-in-law used in her previous home, sorry I do not have a photo, was to hang a metal decorative wine bottle rack on her bathroom wall. This rack had three or four U-shaped hooks. Instead of wine bottles she put rolled up towels. Blessings.  …susan

 

Source: Great Baths Collection

^Can’t you imagine sitting on the cushioned bench in your robe drinking coffee and reading a book in front of the fireplace? 

 

^I did not run across this photo of a short chest with a drawer until after I had published the second post on storage in furniture, so, I am adding it here.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

Above and below are two examples of storing towels on a “ladder”. Both become a piece of “art” for the bathroom.

 

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

In the photo above are some interesting wall mounted bins for storing towels which are in keeping with the contemporary design of this bathroom.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

If you are short on storage space, you can always use a basket to store your towels.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

Attractive wall mounted towel hooks are another way to store towels and at the same time create a nice visual as shown above.

 

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

There is nothing more luxurious than a warm fluffy bath towel to wrap yourself in when stepping out of the shower or bath tub. Not only does this warming drawer serve to warm the towels but it is also a great place to store towels.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^I have never been a fan of a pedestal sink in any bathroom except the powder room because there is no place to put the items used on a daily basis. However, the long counter with shelves below solves that problem. I like the rod that protrudes out of the front of the counter which is a perfect place to hang hand towels or a bath towel as shown. Note the lighted wall mounted magnifying mirror.

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^If you run into a situation where there is no place to put a towel ring or towel bar for towels, here is a possible solution.

I plan for my next post to be my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post and then I will do one on mistakes to avoid with towel storage.

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Four-Cabinets

Welcome back to my bathroom towel storage option series. This time the focus is on storing options for towels in cabinets/closets. Enjoy the variety of cabinet/closet designs shown in the photos below. Glass shelves with a glass door, wooden shelves with a wooden framed cabinet door with glass, pair of doors with mirrored fronts, solid wooden doors, and double closet doors with glass mirrors mounted on the door.  What are  your thoughts?  Blessings.  …susan

 

 Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Glass shelves behind glass doors.

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Wooden cabinet with glass door.

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Glass window panes on cabinet doors.

Source: Great Bath Collections

^Solid wood cabinet doors.

Source: Bathroom Book by House Beautiful

^Double door linen type closet with full mirrors on front.

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Three-Open Shelves

Welcome back to my Bathroom Towel Storage Option Series! This time we will look at various options for storing towels on open shelves in a bathroom.  Enjoy the very diverse designs shown in the photos below.  Blessings.  …susan

Source: Bathrooms by Chris Casson Madden

^The built-in shelves seen in the photo above serves many functions including a shelf for a television, audio controls, books, towel storage, and toiletries. I like how they used different colors of towels to enhance the shelves. I am not sure how functional and safe it is to have a lamp on the vanity counter. I do like the wall mount of the faucet instead of it being mounted on the vanity counter.

Source: Timber Homes Illustrated

^I am assuming on the opposite end of the vanity which is not seen is the same medicine cabinet with open shelf for towels as shown above. This will provide a generous amount of space for towel storage. Note on the left side of the photo is the bath tub and there is a basket with wash cloths.

 

Source: The Bathroom Idea Book by Andrew Wormer

^I like the thickness of the glass shelves shown above though I tend to shy away from glass shelves due to the fact the dust they collect is usually quite noticeable.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

I like these cubby holes created in the stone. Also not the side wall above the vanity is on an angle.  I like the long hardware handles used on the cabinets.

Source: The Bathroom Idea Book by Andrew Wormer

^An interesting design using an aquarium instead of a fireplace. Note there are more towels in the chest on the shelf above the aquarium which I assume are the wash cloths and hand towels.

 

Source: Bathrooms by Chris Casson Madden

^The glass shelves filled with floral printed towels shown above is a bit too busy for my taste though it offers another option for bathroom towel storage.

Source:  Bathrooms by House Beautiful

^An interesting and different kind of bathroom design that on first look appeared to me to be a his and her side with the towels and seated area dividing the two sides. Upon further inspection the wall behind the seated make-up area is a mirror. Note how the drawers are on an upward diagonal. Those look like some powerful lights mounted on the mirror above the make-up table.