Wall of tall units with panel-ready refrigerator, twin ovens, coffee machine and pantry

Features · Appliances

Panel ready refrigerators and integrated appliances

A panel ready refrigerator or dishwasher takes a cabinet front, so it disappears into the kitchen. Planning it is mostly about one thing: matching the appliance’s exact cut-out to the cabinet housing — and US and European sizes are not the same.

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01Integrated vs built-in

What a panel ready refrigerator really is

A panel ready refrigerator is designed to carry a decorative front that matches your cabinets. Fully integrated models hide completely behind that front; built-in models sit flush with the cabinets but keep a visible appliance face. Both need a housing planned around the manufacturer’s installation drawing: width, height, depth, ventilation path and the weight of the panel.

Nolte plans refrigerator housings for integrated fridge heights of 88, 102.5, 123, 144, 159 and 178 cm (about 35–70 in) — European sizes. Many US panel-ready column refrigerators are taller and built to different widths, so for a US model we check its drawing against the tall unit and plan the housing, fillers and panels to suit before anything is ordered.

02Sizes to check

US appliances in a metric kitchen

Dishwasher: US standard 24 in (61 cm); compact 18 in (46 cm). Panel and toe-kick height checked against the Nolte plinth
Integrated refrigerator: Nolte housings for 88–178 cm (35–70 in) units; US column models confirmed against their drawing
Wall oven: Nolte housings are standard for European 60 cm (23.6 in) ovens; US 24, 27 and 30 in wall ovens are housed to their own cut-out drawings
Tall units: Up to 215 cm (84.6 in) high in Nolte’s planning tables
Cooktop: US 30 or 36 in models; cut-out and ventilation confirmed with the worktop

Black island and white tall units over a herringbone parquet floor — Nolte Küchen design

03Tall-unit wall

Wall oven cabinets and coffee columns

Ovens at eye level are easier on the back and keep heat away from children. We usually group them in a run of tall units: a wall oven cabinet with one or two ovens, a compact oven or steam oven, and a built-in coffee machine, with drawers below and a pull-out larder or refrigerator alongside.

Built-in coffee machines generally go into a compact niche around 18 in (45 cm) high, with a socket and, for some models, a water line. Placing the column next to the dishwasher or a cup drawer keeps the morning routine to a few steps.

04Small appliances

Appliance garages and hidden helpers

Appliance garage
A cabinet planned down to the worktop, with sockets added by your electrician, so the toaster and blender stay plugged in and out of sight. We confirm which Nolte units suit it at planning.
Pantry & appliance cabinets
Tall cabinets up to 200 cm with room for a microwave, a mixer on a pull-out or charging stations.
Wine climate cabinets
Built-in wine coolers can be framed by the fronts or shown behind glass, as in several Nolte designs.
Ventilation
Hood, ceiling extractor or downdraft cooktop — chosen early, because ducting decides cabinet space.

05Choosing appliances

Your appliances, our planning

We plan the kitchen around the appliances you choose and ask for their installation drawings early, so cut-outs are confirmed at planning rather than discovered on site. Nolte now also makes its own appliance line for European markets; for US projects, you choose US-market appliances, and our Glendale team can tell you which options are available for your project.

Appliances sit inside the bigger plan: the layout decides where the tall-unit wall goes, storage organizers fill the cabinets around them, and hardware and gadgets cover worktop power. Back to kitchen features, or bring your appliance list to a consultation.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Still deciding? Call +1 (213) 776-0000 or send us your plan.

Ask a designer

Can I put a US panel ready refrigerator in a Nolte kitchen?

Usually yes. We take the refrigerator’s installation drawing and plan the tall unit, fillers and panel around it. The cut-out is confirmed at planning, before the kitchen is ordered.

Will a 24-inch US dishwasher fit European cabinets?

Usually, yes. The opening is planned to the dishwasher’s specified width, height and depth. The point to check is the toe kick: the appliance must suit the Nolte plinth height, which we confirm with the model.

What is an appliance garage?

A cabinet on the worktop, often in a corner or between tall units, with sockets planned inside by your electrician. Small appliances stay plugged in and ready, and the door hides them when you are done.

Do you sell appliances?

We plan your kitchen around the appliances you choose. Ask our Glendale team which appliance options are currently available for your project.