I am building a cabinet for a client who now wants to alter the design, making 60% of what has been done, throw away.

The issue centers on the space around a mini fridge. The manual for the mini fridge recommends a specific minimum space around the fridge for ventilation. After seeing what the space looks like, in person, the client is not happy.

The client did sign off on the initial design. My concern is the mini fridge prematurely failing due to lack of ventilation and having the client seek a legal remedy.

My options are:

1. Have the client sign a statement saying they want to limit ventilation and take full responsibility - knowing the mini fridge may fail.
2. Walk away, refunding the initial down payment.

Any ideas on how to best handle this situation is greatly appreciated.

Dave,
There is too much open space surrounding the mini fridge, according to the client. Unfortunately the opening for the fridge drives the size of the bank of drawers to the right of the fridge.

A new carcass, face frame and drawers will need to be constructed. There is the loss of fabrication cost as well as material cost.

The client picked out the fridge and the location is in an alcove in the master bath, so it will be a warm and humid environment. The cabinet depth is limited by a wall outlet on the right side, limiting overall depth to 23 inches.

All the under counter mounted mini fridges I've seen are vented through the bottom, but are too deep for this application. The client wanted a mini fridge that was only 15-17 inches wide and 18 inches in depth.

The current design allows 3 extra inches on the sides and top.

I think the client's mini fridge choice just will not work in that environment.

- Carl

Build it as the client wishes. Re-price to cover the cost of the rebuild. Have a single sentence referring to bar fridge ventilation. It is not your problem. Remember this is not your house you can only provide advice.

Could you build a sub assembly of some sort to narrow up the current opening? At the end of the day how much does this little under counter fridge cost? I have never had or heard of a client going after a cabinet maker for failed appliances. If they did come back in a couple of years, maybe just offering to buy a new one or pay half would be less expensive than starting this job over. IMO, you shouldn't worry yourself with any potential legal issues (in this scenario), it would cost the homeowner substantially more to hire a lawyer and pursue you than it would be to just go buy another refrigerator.

This is the coffee bar with the mini fridge and the ventilation space as specified in the product manual.

View higher quality, full size image (1024 X 768)

As you mentioned, I recommend having the client sign a statement for the redesign. Alternatively, could you not include a wine rack design within the space and around the fridge with gaps/mesh/ or another to allow for wine bottle storage and ventilation?

Something like this? - But with spacing...

View higher quality, full size image (750 X 1124)

Do the drawer fronts sit against the frame or are they inset? If they are overlay style and sit against the frame, a simple solution would be to make a pop off bezel or trim ring the same thickness of the drawer fronts (3/4"?). Then you can sell them on the idea that if they ever decide to look for a larger unit, all they have to do is remove the pop off bezel.

I pretty much know that exact fridge. One of my clients picked it out (or similar) and I alerted them that the appliance required insane spacing for ventilation. I'm sure they are being over cautious but never the less that's what the instructions made clear for clearances.

He decided he didn't like that look and found a new fridge that only needed 1" on the top and 1/2" on the sides. It was more expensive, but solve his issue with the look.

This type of problem should have been stopped before anything is built. A drawing should have shown the issue. And I know some people just can't see it until it right in front of them.

Making some ventable spacers to cover up the space is an easy way to go. Some screening that is the same color as the cabinets or the refrigerator which will still allow airflow but hide the space.

If they are regretting the smaller drawer sizes that's an entirely different issue that can only be resolved by rebuilding.

At least it's not finished and installed yet.

I want to thank everyone for the valuable suggestions.

The client has now signed off on having only 1/4" gaps on the left and right of the mini fridge as well as not holding me responsible for failure of the appliance.

They have also agreed to pay extra for materials and labor incurred.

After a lengthy discussion, it turns out they want the maximum drawer space possible. The alcove is 51" wide and I have included 2" filler strips.

I don't know what I could have done to prevent this from happening. I provided detailed drawings with measurements and they signed off on the original venting space. I frequently send clients status pics so they see the progress of work. I'm just glad this was caught now and not on installation day.

I do the same thing with progress pics. Not sure I would have included the fridge in the pic though. Good thing you did.

I would send them an invoice for the current labor put in, then give them a new estimate if you can't modify your existing work. It's not up to you to warrant the appliances put inside a box, it's the designer's responsibility. But I have never been that rigid, I guide them all the way through the design.

Client is a little nuts. Who needs to eat in the bathroom? So much that there needs to be a fridge? If they are that crazy, time to raise the price.

Benefit of the doubt, maybe the fridge is for meds. However, I keep mine in the kitchen fridge.

"I don't know what I could have done to prevent this from happening. I provided detailed drawings with measurements.."

Learn Sketchup. Most people cannot understand drawings. 3D images solve problems like this in the design phase.

Hi @CarlNolte, how did the project get on?

"Customer is always right" even if they are not.
To avoid too much conflict and bad reviews, choose #1 - Have the client sign a statement saying they want to limit ventilation and take full responsibility - knowing the mini fridge may fail.

The best route may be to split the difference with the customer for the redesign since they weren't technically aware of the major ventilation gaps when they initially signed off on the project.

The coffee bar was installed today, 6/20/23. The client was extremely pleased with the look and how it matched other pieces in the room. We discussed the cost of changing the refrigerator opening size. The client agreed to pay for the extra cost of materials and labor.

This was the best outcome I could have hoped for.