How to disguise my kegerator?

[I-dont]

Hey all, I have a home-built kegerator in a pretty cruddy looking refrigerator. The thing fits a half-barrel, and has a freezer compartment, so you can imagine it's pretty big. I'm moving in with my girlfriend, and we won't have a basement or closet or anywhere to put it. What's the best way to make it look allright so she won't give me a hard time about putting it in our fancy new apartment? I was thinking something like those wood panels they put on refrigerators to make them look like cabinets, but I think they're expensive since I'd probably have to get them custom-made to fit this old refrigerator. Any ideas? That won't break the bank?

Thanks a lot!

[zoom6zoom]

Wood grain contact paper?

Seriously, I have seen a few that have been sanded down, primered, and given a nice paint job. Either extreme, or vanilla, your choice.

[BrewDog]

Weigh the costs, but don't rule out that one other alternative is to ditch the old beat up fridge, keep the faucet/lines/ etc, but put them in a new (read slightly used), possibly smaller fridge that SWMBO will approve. You are moving into HER place, after all.

You might not be able to keep 1/2 barrels any more, but at least you will still have your brew. The key here is to pick the RIGHT battles. "Honey, I'm really thinking that this old fridge won't look good in the <whatever room>. Will you help me pick out another one that will look better? I don't want to ruin the way the place looks." blah, blah, blah. Make her THINK she's part of the solution.

HTH-

[darylM]

Originally posted by BrewDog
Weigh the costs, but don't rule out that one other alternative is to ditch the old beat up fridge, keep the faucet/lines/ etc, but put them in a new (read slightly used), possibly smaller fridge that SWMBO will approve. You are moving into HER place, after all.

You might not be able to keep 1/2 barrels any more, but at least you will still have your brew. The key here is to pick the RIGHT battles. "Honey, I'm really thinking that this old fridge won't look good in the <whatever room>. Will you help me pick out another one that will look better? I don't want to ruin the way the place looks." blah, blah, blah. Make her THINK she's part of the solution.

HTH-

That is genius. If she is a beer drinker, ask her what beer she would like in there too. Maybe you can talk her into a double faucet.

[MrNate]

You could try the chalkboard paint they sell at Lowes. Might have to experiment with primers a bit, though.

[Mill Rat]

Another consideration is efficiency. The older refrigerators are electricity pigs. Often a new refrigerator will pay for itself fairly quickly in reduced electrical costs alone. "Honey, it'll be good for the environment, too,"

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by MrNate
You could try the chalkboard paint they sell at Lowes. Might have to experiment with primers a bit, though.

that stuff is pretty cool. we just did a 3x5 block in the kids' playroom. looks really cool. one thing we did too is a couple coats of the magnetic paint underneath it.

as for my old ugly kegerator... i covered it in beer stickers and such as much as I could (before it died). One recommendation, use some of those magnetic backers for the stickers so you can remove if you want to!

[MrNate]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
that stuff is pretty cool. we just did a 3x5 block in the kids' playroom. looks really cool. one thing we did too is a couple coats of the magnetic paint underneath it.


Getting ready to do the exact same thing as a matter of fact. I actually managed to get the drywall finished and primed yesterday.