How do people incorporate fridge freezers into new kitchens these days?

[Flump5]

Was planning on boxing in an American ff but reading the other thread worried about replacing in a short period of time and not finding a replacement that fits. Integrated just seems too small for our needs,free standing doesn’t look quite as streamlined….

All white goods should be free standing. Better value for money, choice, flexibility and easier to replace

We recently got a new kitchen and have an integrated larder fridge and freezer (2 separate units). The freezer is fine but I hate the fridge. I had an American fridge freezer before and that had way more space. If I had my time over with this new kitchen I would do a free standing American freezer.

I'd have other things integrated but just have the fridge/freezer free standing. Years ago my parents couldn't find a f/f to fit in the integrated space with the same door sizes and so Dad detached the doors from the old f/f, put a couple of small metal plates on the doors to attach them (so eith fridge or freezer door opened the pair of doors, you had to open the outside door & then the actual f or f door. It was a little annoying but we soon got used to it.

my friend has similar but it's attached to the fridge door, so open one door for fridge but you have to open the actual freezer door manually.

So are the larder fridge and freezer next to each other? And don’t they work out the same space?

I'd like to go integrated for the look but will probably go freestanding because they seem to fit so much more in, and are much easier to replace.

Starting to think I’m going to have to let my lovely boxed in design go. 😭

We have a free standing F&F with kitchen cupboards around and above it so it fits into the run of units but not integrated.
As F&F are standard width and depths, they can be easily replaced and fitted into the same space.

This was what we were going to have with an American FF but sadly are finding they vary massively with width height and depth and there are issues with doors opening. Have stories online of owners struggling to get new ones to fit. Is yours just a regular FF.?Are they all the same?

We removed our integrated fridge freezer and put in a free standing one. We were able to get a much bigger unit and it didn't matter it wasn't hidden in a cupboard.

I've got a full height integrated larder fridge, it has so much space.
Then I have an undercounter integrated freezer further along.

We have integrated tall fridge and freezer next to eachother and with the freezer (left) hinged on the left and the fridge (right) hinged on the right - this replicates the American fridgefreezer experience while keeping the clean lines of a fitted kitchen. Fitted kitchens have standard appliance widths of 45cm 60cm or 90cm so if you don't go off piste with a weird appliance size, replacement shouldn't be a problem - but buy expensive brand with high quality reputation to ensure it lasts a long time - I saw the thread that worried you OP but there's plenty of replies from people whose appliances have lasted a long time.

Full height larder freezer and full height larder fridge, each 60cm width, as all white goods are (washing machine, dish washer etc). They don’t seem to need to stick out as much as the American style FF and have loads more capacity esp the freezer.
I would post a pic but it’s outing - will see if u can find one online.

Edited to say, sounds like we have the same setup as @CrabSignalArmy

Yes they're side by side. They're the same width as the American style but much shallower so the shelves aren't as deep. (Out of curiosity I just looked up dimensions and an integrated larder fridge has about 300litres capacity as opposed to 400 litres in an American style fridge and has about 20cm less depth)

Do you have them next to each other?

Rather a sweeping statement, not all kitchens have room

Do you have issues with opening the doors if next to each other?

I have read that if you're interested in longevity then you should get a separate fridge and freezer, and buy the simplest models you can find, no water/ice dispenser or displays etc, less to go wrong.

Apparently fridge freezers with the freezer on top are better in terms of efficiency (but less convenient as it's handy to have the fridge at eye level) than the other way around because cold air falls down, but chest freezers are really the most efficient as the cold air doesn't fall out when you open the door.

We have an American style FF with a tall larder unit either side, they are joined by a skinny long unit that runs above the FF. So FF built into the kitchen, kind of, but enough leeway that we can replace easily.

So are your cupboards ceiling height. That was exactly our design but can only find one that fits. Standard Howdens larder cupboards so v twitchy re replacing further down the line

Yes, next to each other - freezer on the left, hinged on the left, fridge on the right and hinged to the right, so both handles are in the middle.
Each 60cm width so total width is 120cm.
American style FFs tend to be 90cm width.

All my appliances are intergrated I much prefer this.

Our quirky layout - Victorian being the most modern bit - means we have a medium/large square kitchen. We don’t have a utility, but do have a larder/understairs and fridge freezer is on that side of the room at the gateway to the wine/larder/understairs. Freestanding snd the flow works

Like this pic.
We have units either side and above in graphite grey so the F&F do not look so obvious.

All our appliances are free standing. The ff is in a corner on its own so doesn't affect the flow of cabinets. We did have a partly integrated dishwasher when we first got our kitchen done (the dw was already there and we got a cupboard door that fitted it) but once that dw died we've just had free standing ones in the gap.

Wow that looks great and could work! Will go back and ask if we can accomodate the extra width. I think it’s a safer option. I guess you could have 2 the same with the freezers on the bottom if you wanted too.