Switching to a new 'side by side' Fridge Freezer style. Anyone tried it & been happy using this layout? Will my brain explode?

[FridgeFunster]

Has anyone here bought the 'side by side' style of fridge freezer & was happy with it? With the freezer compartment on the left & a full size fridge on the right?

I've always had the traditional design with freezers at the bottom & wonder if my Muscle Memory will explode trying something new

My husband likes this design & thinks we won't lose stuff in deep freezer drawers, if we go for this one. I'm suspicious that the top part of this freezer doesn't even have drawers 😳😅

Shall I walk on the wild side & try something new? Any flaws to the plan I haven't spotted?

NB. Life has been super-stressful for a few years & I can't believe I'm overthinking this damn fridge 🤣

I would love that!

I had that design, but then we got this one and I much prefer having all the fridge space at the top as that’s what we use most frequently. https://ao.com/product/rf65db970e22eu-samsung-bespoke-american-fridge-freezer-black-100673-27.aspx?ef_id=CjwKCAjw14zPBhAuEiwAP3-EbwsMgauqxxfwsPkNEiUOUY6Ujzy5o2boPg87gaR4FEFHZa_aEYr_IxoCSAAQAvD_BwE%3aG%3as&s_kwcid=AL!8149!3!304779080825!!!g!325834242158!&gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=shopping+-+mda+-+brandname+-+standard%7cshopping+-+mda+-+brandname+-+standard&utm_term=shopping%7cRF65DB970E22EU_BK&utm_content=pla-325834242158%7cpaidpla&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=1602873991&gbraid=0AAAAADmq13_WMrqfxS8Fhcyg2iQel1djO&gclid=CjwKCAjw14zPBhAuEiwAP3-EbwsMgauqxxfwsPkNEiUOUY6Ujzy5o2boPg87gaR4FEFHZa_aEYr_IxoCSAAQAvD_BwE

Got one. Hate it.

The freezer is too narrow, so it's a constant juggle. It's also not very easy to contain bags of stuff in there. It's quite good if the only thing you store is frozen tupperware leftovers.

HOWEVER... The god tier is having the narrow side as a temp controlled wine fridge (other drinks are allowed I guess), and a standard fridge freezer on the righthand side. Or full width fridge at the top and full width freezer at the bottom, like this: https://ao.com/product/kf96rsbea-siemens-iq700-american-fridge-freezer-black-101959-27.aspx?ef_id=CjwKCAjw14zPBhAuEiwAP3-Eb_s73Ltwk8VUmQkGba8bufKfSPOmaA6LBF3TpRFI049TwtrFFraaYhoCLkcQAvD_BwE%3AG%3As&s_kwcid=AL%218149%213%21%21%21%21x%21%21&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=shopping+-+mda+-+premium+level+-+american+-+fridge+freezers+-+performance+max%7Cshopping+-+mda+-+premium+level+-+american+-+fridge+freezers+-+performance+max&utm_term=shopping%7CKF96RSBEA_BKG&utm_content=%7Cpaidpla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21533939226&gbraid=0AAAAADmq13_eqGg8UEUemXqpMf-K4Zox7&gclid=CjwKCAjw14zPBhAuEiwAP3-Eb_s73Ltwk8VUmQkGba8bufKfSPOmaA6LBF3TpRFI049TwtrFFraaYhoCLkcQAvD_BwE&mm_rf=mm_1bf7ea8ef84aa5010629

Have one that looks exactly like the one you have pictured, had it over 20 years now and no issues. (Samsung - tho memo to self may be time for a new one?)

I really wanted the fridge on top / freezer below style but DH loves the US style (is N American so had them growing up) and a very wise friend pointed out that we live in city centre with a high street of shops at the end of our road - so realistically we don't need huge amounts of cold storage, Sainsbury's have it covered.

I have to say I have got used to it. It's a bonus being able to see everything in your freezer, minimises stuff getting lost at the back etc, and it all at hand height. Plus with Sainsbury's etc I have given a drawer over to my cashmere (whole other story of the last 20 years)

We’ve got a side by side and I love it. You have to get on top of your freezer organisation as things can get lost. We have 3 shelves and two drawers - do get things falling out sometimes from the shelves!! 😜

I much prefer it. I can't bend down due to my disability so providing the stuff I need in put on middle or upper shelves, its much better for me.

This is fantastic feedback!

Exactly what I needed, thank you everyone! Experienced minds to really dig into the advantages & disadvantages of this style. I'd totally forgotten about freezing traybakes or trays of things first. Mmm.

Getting the gin out & going through all the comments again now

We have had one for about 12 years and love it. On a couple of the freezer shelves we have plastic baskets so we can still organise what's in there but fit a pizza or whatever on the top.
We didn't have to leave masses of space around it and the doors open fine.

My daughter inherited a side by side fridge freezer when she moved house and hates it.

We have one. The freezer side is just bloody awkward and ends up with jenga style stacks of food in it.
Next I'm going to go for the double door fridge on top and freezer drawers below.

We have a Samsung side by side and it’s great, had it for 16 years and still going strong. Gonna have the French style double width fridge on top and freezer at the bottom next time though.

We inherited one in our current house that looks almost exactly like the one in your photo, having previously had the sort with a fridge stacked over a freezer. Happy with it, don't find any of it irritating, we find it easy to use as a family of 2 adults 2 teens (so lots of food to store!).

No my In-laws have one and then still use a back up fridge and freezer in their garage. The freezer is very thin so restricts use.

they are two people in a house and find they don’t have enough space in it for the things they actually buy.

I put my frozen veg in tubs on the top shelf

We have one like that, American style. Absolutely love it

I've had a side by side american style fridge/'freezer and wasn't mad about it. Freezer side is small as it's narrower than the fridge, only had drawers at the bottom and then shelves which are a pain but main draw back was when we had an issue with it, it meant we had no fridge or freezer as it's one unit.
I then bought a separate larder fridge and separate larder freezer which is way better as both are independent and both full size and they are integrated.
We will be moving later this year and I will be putting both of them in the large "pantry" room and am going to get one of these for the kitchen as I love the look of it
Fisher & Paykel Series 7 90cm Built-in French Door Fridge Freezer | RS90AU3 | Ireland

I've had this lay out for 20 years,it's great.

Same for me - I love this style. Lower freezer section has 3 drawers each side. Means I can easily store stuff that is so easy to find - a drawer for veg, meat, fish, potatoes, batch cook, etc.

I have one like that - it's fine but I find the freezer part a bit small, and because it doesn't have drawers (except 1 at the bottom) things fall out.

If it needs replacing, and we can afford it, I think I would prefer a double door fridge on top, with wide freezer drawers underneath.