One of the strangest things about me is that I have a favorite refrigerator. Not just a favorite brand of refrigerator, but a favorite brand AND model. I know you all want to know what it is so you can rush out and buy it. So here it is...the Sub-Zero IC-36RID (shown below).
In this picture the refrigerator is to the left of the ovens and has a custom panel on the front to match the cabinets. It also comes in stainless steel.
It might seem weird to have such an obsession with refrigerators. But my liking of home refrigeration is deeper than an obsession with home appliances.
Whether it's a Tupperware, a car, or a kitchen, I love things that are designed well. I also like to buy things that are high in quality and provide good value. And, maybe most importantly, I appreciate things that are simple and help keep things organized.
This refrigerator is all of those things. When looking for a refrigerator I look at the following criteria:
Fully integrated or counter depth
Custom panel ready or stainless steel (depends on your design)
High quality
Good value
Door layout (preferably full column or French door with 1 freezer drawer)
Inside shelf and door storage configuration (I prefer shallow door shelves)
The answers to these questions will change based on the layout of your kitchen, your design, and your storage needs. For example, in the picture above you will notice there is no freezer. This is a picture of my parent's kitchen. When I helped design the space we evaluated how often my parents used the fridge versus the freezer. And we found that they didn't need as much freezer space in the kitchen since they have a full size freezer in their storage room. So we did a full column refrigerator with Sub-Zero freezer drawers nearby.
Now I realize not everyone can afford the Sub-Zero IC-36RID. MSRP for this model is $8,745. So what about the rest of us that can't afford this fridge? Here are some tips:
ALWAYS go with a counter depth option instead of a traditional fridge.
In this kitchen they chose to use a counter depth French door refrigerator (always a good option). The fridge is positioned right in the main walkway of the kitchen, and doesn't stick out into the walkway. It only comes out far enough for the doors to open without hitting the cabinet box surrounding the fridge. That is as far as a fridge should stick out past your cabinets.
Avoid gimmicky features.
Pictured here is a Samsung fridge with 4 separate doors. If you follow along with the blog you'll catch on that I'm not a huge fan on Samsung. I think they have good quality products, but they often add gimmicky features to try and reel you in. Regardless of the brand, always avoid refrigerators with screens, cameras, and (until they have a better reason to have it) wifi connectivity. And, we might be able to add 4 doors to that list. I like that Samsung tried to be innovative with this product. You can change some of the sections to be either a fridge or a freezer. But I don't think that passes my "good value" check. There are better ways to spend money.
Simple is best.
At the end of the day, what I really like is simplicity. You don't want your refrigerator to be the focal point in your kitchen. Save that for your range and hood, cabinets, or countertops and backsplash.
My last tip is to make sure the door layout and inside shelf layout match your lifestyle. For example, if you meal prep and use the freezer a lot, you may want to consider a side-by-side layout. If you host lots of parties and often have large trays in the fridge, go with the French door design. I tend to stay away from fridges with multiple drawers, because that takes away real estate from the inside of the fridge. I hope this helps for the next time you have to buy a new refrigerator.
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