We finally decided to get a larger fridge. We were tired of putting pizza boxes in sideways and cramming the door shelf back on once a week. We ordered this Amana 25 cu ft fridge from Sears last week. Its big. Its 35 1/2 inches across. I had measured our opening and it was 36 inches, so I was proud that we were maximizing our investment and getting the biggest one that would fit.

Well, when it got here yesterday, I learned something. Irwin, the delivery man, taught me a little something about measuring the opening for appliances. You can’t measure from wall to wall. You have to measure across the floor, from the edge of the baseboard trim to the other side of the opening. Aha. Well, so my opening was more like 35 inches, not 36 inches. BAGD, Irwin and his 2 helpers had to chisel the trim boards off the wall in order to squeeze the fridge in. It fits, but its tight. I was also reminded that almost nothing in a house is perfectly “Square”, so the cabinet just to the right of the fridge almost had to come out, because it tilts a bit to the outside, making the opening cock-eyed.

But in the end, the fridge fits and looks great. Now we just have to replace the trim boards. I guess BAGD also “chiseled” the floor boards a bit. I do not want to know. As long as its behind the fridge, I can ignore it. Its not like anyone is getting back there to look at it…trust me.

Take a lesson from Irwin, when you measure for a new appliance, include the space taken up by the trim boards. It could be enough to sink your dream of a 25 cubic ft fridge. It almost sunk mine.