..to be fed up with American-style fridge-freezers?

[AFridgeFreezerMadeForTwo]

My 10 year old fridge freezer is showing signs that its useful life may be nearing an end (i.e. it's knackered) so I've been looking round for a replacement.

Current one is medium size and I don't think we have ever filled it. There are only two of us; most of the time it's about 1/4 full so we bulk it with bottles of tap water in an effort to save energy.

For obvious reasons, I now want to go as small as I can with a replacement. But since I last bought one, the market seems to be dominated by enormous American-style models. Even the non-American style models seem to be mostly about 6ft tall!

I can see why they'd be great for families but my point is, surely there must be a significant market for small ones? Especially now people will want to conserve energy. Does everyone have an enormous kitchen - no. Does everyone have a large family - no.

It looks as though I am going to have to go 'basic' all round to get a smaller one, but given the chance I would pay extra for many of the useful features you find easily on the large ones - auto-defrost, integrated wine-rack, built-in ice trays, for example.

Only a rant really, but I would be interested to know if anyone else has found this problem.

Also, if you are a single person or one of a couple, what size of fridge/freezer do you have?

Separate under-counter units?

We've got a six foot high frost free hotpoint with 50/50 split between fridge and freezer.

It's a pita to reach to the back of the top shelf, but does help me moderate my alcohol consumption. 🤦‍♀️

Rarely fill the fridge, but the freezer is always pretty full.

www.johnlewis.com/samsung-rb31fdrndsa-freestanding-70-30-fridge-freezer-silver/p3194103?sku=236834194&s_ppc=2dx92700070984466752_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRehwkXFBEnhOLAajJz8K-pAkmXq3nab32QmAzazcAKIoHPMoIjXwJbYaAg7AEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Where are you looking? The John Lewis website has considerably more bog standard fridge freezers than American style ones….

BretonBlue Not without getting a new kitchen, sadly, as we have no under-counter space in the present layout. We could put one separate unit where the existing one is, but then the other would have to go, e.g. in the dining room which isn't ideal. Thank you for the suggestion, though.

Also, if you are a single person or one of a couple, what size of fridge/freezer do you have?

I use one of these (or at least an earlier model):
www.currys.co.uk/products/essentials-cuc50w20-undercounter-fridge-freezer-white-10205744.html

A lot of theirs which at first glance appear to be smaller are integrated ones or out of stock. I'll keep looking, though.

Can't you get a single stacked fridge on top freezer below and alter the space where the side by side one would have been to add extra storage in your kitchen?

@AFridgeFreezerMadeForTwo how tall and wide is the one you have now? BTW, there's just me n DH, and there's loads of space in ours.

I would consider the size of your house as well (if you think you could possibly sell it in the next few years, that is)

My inlaws bought a smaller than normal (to fit very nicely behind a panel) fridge/freezer for a house with 4 rooms 😬 now with the house filled with people, that thing is beyond ridiculous and we all dream of an American style fridge/freezer everyday

Sorry, probably being dim but struggling to picture what you mean. The one we have at the moment is 50/50 fridge freezer, freezer on the bottom. We only have the width for a single (double-height) appliance in the corner of the kitchen, everything else is taken up with kitchen units.

We're looking for aa new fridge freezer too, and there are absolutely plenty of them available.

It would be useful to know the space you have to fill.

Could you look at the under the counter ones, and then have someone put a plinth halfway up the space so fridge on top, freezer underneath?

Height is 180cm and width is 55cm.

AO have all of these in stock which should fit.

ao.com/product/fdr2213c-amica-fridge-freezer-cream-68602-28.aspx?ef_id=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRejT_NsmZFsj6ahzrrfI1W8bAkV_9b5SknCrRM7yPhP-OHOnrNHeTUYaAqnUEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8149!3!541340744588!!!u!1433897204562!&&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=mda%20-%20fridge%20freezers%20-%20smart%7cfridge%20freezers%20-%20smart&utm_term=smartshopping%7cFDR2213C_CR&utm_content=pla-1433897204562%7cpaidpla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRejT_NsmZFsj6ahzrrfI1W8bAkV_9b5SknCrRM7yPhP-OHOnrNHeTUYaAqnUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We had a swan retro fridge freezer in our old house and it was pretty compact. Not much freezer space though so it depends how much you use that. It was similar in size/style to the one I've linked, it seems the swan one isn't around anymore (unless it's been taken over by the one I've linked).

I could look at that option, yes - not sure it would work out as less internal space overall than a combined unit, though, which is what I am looking to reduce.

There are plenty on ao.com. how many choices did you want

Thank you for the recommendations! I'm not too fussed about aesthetics really but I do have a liking for 'retro' given the choice, and I prefer white to match other appliances.

Just looked at their smaller ones, and the only two with auto-defrost are out of stock at the moment! I will keep looking, though.

Haier?

www.currys.co.uk/products/haier-hdw1618dnpduk-smart-6040-fridge-freezer-platinum-inox-10242221.html

In my old house I only had the width for a 'normal size' undercounter fridge/freezer but plenty of hight as it was an alcove type space.
We bought same brand fridge/ freezer as separates and stacked them with a piece of ply in between.

You Anbu to not want one but to dump it all on ‘American’ style is being ridiculous. Another thing to hate ‘us’ for?

We have a 150cm tall one as it had to fit in the pantry door. I have a tiny, tiny kitchen and had side by side undercounter fridge and freezer for years. Didn't mind the freezer with the pull out drawers but the fridge used to drive me nuts not being able to see what was on the top shelf without being right down.
When we relocated the boiler I decided to get a f/f and installed a dishwasher and extra cupboard in the space. It's a 60/40 fridge on top and it's on a 3" raised plinth for a bit more air flow. I am only short but can easily reach the back of the top shelf. Plenty of room for 2-3 weeks in the freezer (2 1/2 drawers) for 2 of us but I do buy bigger packs of meat then split it into separate bags so can get much more in if I want to. Fridge is only full for a couple of days after shopping.