Freestanding or under counter fridge?

[leli]

DH and I live during the week in a one bedroom flat in London. We go elsewhere for the weekends. The flat is in a shocking state and we are renovating it. Next job the kitchen. Having a freestanding fridge freezer takes up a lot of space, sticks out and breaks up the line of under counter cupboards. I'm thinking of having a separate under counter integrated fridge side by side with an integrated under counter freezer. Trying to avoid wall hung cupboards so as to maximise the illusion of space because the flat's tiny. There's two of us. Should give us enough storage space right? Or am I underestimating our needs? Anyone in similar position? I do from time to time but not often cook up a storm for family and friends.

We have that for a family of four with no issues. I do however use plastic baskets / fridge boxes to fully utilise the shelf space available.

We had exactly that on our old kitchen but struggled with fridge space but we are a family of 4- I think for 2 it would be fine

Under counter side by side always makes more sense in a small kitchen. It gives you more counter space, you will be able to have a cupboard or shelves where the top of a tall fridge would be, and you can use another section of wall to hang pots and pans, leaving you space for a slim dishwasher.

Be fine for 2 people. Especially just in the week.

Thank you for the thoughts. I will give it a go and utilise a cool box for the cook up a storm days. I enjoy renovations because it’s a series of little practical conundrums. Sudoku for the everyday.

Given that you're in London with (I assume) easy access to shops, I think under counter will be fine and would give you more space. You could easily pick up fresh milk / veg / other food as needed on the way home from work if space is tight.

We moved into our new house a year ago, it has an undercounter fridge and a seperate undercounter freezer.

We were used to a larger integrated fridge/freezer with the fridge on top.

We ordered a freestanding fridge/freezer within a month and there's only 2 of us.

The freezer would have been fine for us, but the fridge was not nearly enough space. For a start, you get less room than you would expect I think. A couple of jars of sauce, a couple of cans of pop and it felt half full!! No way could we have lasted or put a full weeks shop into it.

And probably not a major issue, but it was actually annoying bending down all the time to look in it properly, and having dogs their heads were instantly in it.

It's now the drink, chocolate and condiments fridge....

Depends on you really. In our first house, we had an under-counter fridge and we found it very annoying to be constantly bending down and even more so to get down low enough to see what was at the back of the bottom shelves etc. We ended up barely using the bottom shelf. Same with milk in the door - right at the bottom so quite a bend down to reach it. We changed it within 2 or 3 months to a free standing one where we weren't having to constantly bend down. We also put up extra wall units for the same reason - far handier to reach at eye level to get your cereal or tins rather than reaching down to a low cupboard.

We're a family of three. We went from having freestanding fridge freezer to under the counter fridge and freezer side-by-side when we moved. I hate it. There's not enough storage. We're having to shop more often. And the bending, lifting, etc, is a pain. Plus it's difficult to see to the back bottom shelf.
Like a PP we use under-shelf caddies; plastic trays; fridge organisers. It's still rubbish and get a freestanding one in a second but all the wall space is already taken up with cupboards or windows.

I live alone and manage with under counter fridge and freezer as I like to have a decent worktop space. It's a compromise I was willing to make.

I didn't get integrated though as they have less internal space. it doesn't look quite as streamlined but the units are white too so that helps. A plastic tray for smaller things like mayonnaise jar etc. is a help.

For weekdays only it should be enough for two of you.

Hmm. Oh dear. Two sides to the story. Thank you everyone for your kind comments. We are possibly a maximalist couple.

Now thinking about 1 x under counter freezer and 2 x under counter fridges. Would like them integrated for sleekness. Very useful conversation.

Integrating will make the space inside smaller

You can get integrated under counter fridges with drawers that pull out when you open the door so you can see what's at the back of the shelf without vending down

This kind of thing

Thank you Bergmum. The drawers look very useful. Thanks for going to the trouble to find.

Funny how even the littlest decision when planning renovation works seems to be complicated.

For now, if I can find the space I do think, mad though it seems, I Weill have 2 x under counter fridges.

When I first moved back to this country I was shocked that people with kids had just under counter fridges! But for two just during the week should be adequate.

@leli

Hmm. Oh dear. Two sides to the story. Thank you everyone for your kind comments. We are possibly a maximalist couple.

Now thinking about 1 x under counter freezer and 2 x under counter fridges. Would like them integrated for sleekness. Very useful conversation.

OP -

Pull out drawer fridge works really well. No bending, manage space better, easy to see what you have and space. Same with freezer.

@Bergmum

You can get integrated under counter fridges with drawers that pull out when you open the door so you can see what's at the back of the shelf without vending down

Great minds etc!

Bosch do a freestanding under counter easy access fridge . Great quality standard size,

Freestanding.