Help - integrated wine fridge, end panels and quartz worktops

[DragonMamma]

We are so confused as to how we can fit this, I’d appreciate any words of wisdom! @PigletJohn - are you about?

We have a peninsula, with a wine fridge at the end of the run. We have to fix an end panel but can’t work out how to fix the end panel - it clearly can’t be attached to the fridge.

We can anchor it to the floor but can’t see how it can fix it to the tops, which is Silestone? Surely drilling or screwing in will crack the stone.

Can anybody shed any light? The end of the tops will be unsupported (or just resting on a wine fridge) which is clearly wrong.

Brackets into the floor will prevent the panels coming adrift if they are knocked.

stone worktops that I have seen are glued to the tops of the units underneath, using what looks like epoxy resin (like Araldite). Once stuck they are difficult to dislodge even with a very big hammer (I have tried). The worktops are immensely heavy.

If your top has not yet been fitted. you could level up the decor panels to the same height as the units, and make them rigid in some way. Perhaps adding battens at the back, or fixing them to the next units along. I gather that your peninsula does not have an adjacent wall you can fix them to, but surely there is a back to hide the rear of the appliance?

In a peninsula, I once ran a row of hinged doors along the back, giving access to some shallow shelves where you could keep glasses and bottles. The units were built with a "plumbing gap" of, I think about 70mm behind the false back. You can do this if the peninsula worktop is wider than the units and appliances. Ikea units do not have this gap.

Check the height of the fridge. If it is intended to slide into a gap, it ought to be a little smaller than the gap. There might be enough spare room to fit a top to the end panels and make a sort of hutch that will stand up on its own, then glue the worktop onto it. I think that would be best.

It's possible to get an adjustable foot, with a screw-up pad, that goes onto the bottom of end panels. Assuming they are made of mdf or chipboard, it is better if the bottom of the panel is not in contact with the floor, as it will soak up any spillages or floor-mopping water.

Thanks @PigletJohn - that’s so helpful. I thought we were missing something obvious but I think we will go with creating a structure around the fridge for the top to sit on.

Could you point me in the direction of the pads you mentioned? Seems sensible to stop the water getting at it!

I can't see the one I was thinking of, which is a "U" shaped galvanised stirrup, with a bolt screwed into it

but there are some other examples here

this one is near it

this one would do, but needs a threaded ferrule drilled into the base of the panel.

the stirrup type would be simpler, I just can't find them.

Thanks so much John! You were my first thought when we were struggling 😂

this vendor could make one to your dimensions and colour, but you'd have to contact him as he closed his online shop during lockdown.