Small kitchen, small house but need a large fridge-freezer...

[Baalamooree]

Large enough for four, two of which are growing fast. I would love an American fridge or even a larder fridge and a separate freezer but when I say small, think narrow - just under 4.5 metres wide with a hallway that is only 97 cms wide. I can't get it in via the back garden as I'm in a terraced house so in through the front door is my only option.

I've had a look on Which but the freezer space seems too small for my needs. I cook everyday, more out of necessity as I would love to batch cook. My ideal fridge-freezer would have enough space for fresh veg/ salads, space to store a meal for the next day, a 6-pint container of milk, juices, leftovers etc- the usual, I guess. Oh, and need to keep my bottle of wine cold too Oh, I guess some space for DP... The freezer would be needed for frozen veg and fruits, bulk-bought meat, midweek meals, the occasional frozen treat.

As I said, would love an American style but it's just wishful thinking, it would probably get stuck on its way through the front door!

Any ideas?

Could you not just have a normal fridge freezer and an extra integrated freezer? May need to sacrifice a cupboard but...

I live in America and had an American fridge. Never again. We will redo our kitchen and do side by side full length fridge and separate full length freezer. Takes up marginally more room but gives you much more space.

Solution 1: Get a built in fridge above the built in freezer. You can then choose the size of each appliance and each one is 600mm wide. Ok, it is not ideal, but you can get quite a bit of storage this way, or

Solution 2: Have a built in side by side fridge and freezer. Each one is still 600 wide but can, potentially, give you lots more storage than an American style one depending upon the capacity you choose. You can retain your standard storage by having cupboards underneath and above. The built in cupboards and appliances are not cheap but at least all of this will get into the house.

Or get a wide drawer freezer with separate fridge above. They might be wider but are only 600 mm deep. The key is to have a separate fridge and freezer.

You can also have two built-in fridge-freezers next to each other but with the doors opening on different sides so has the same effect as an American ff. This may be overkill in a small kitchen though?

The only problem with non-integrated separate fridge freezers is that, whilst you may be able to get matching ones now, if one needs replacing before the other, you'll struggle to get another matching one. That might not matter to you though.

swedish that's what I will do with our home. If they are intergrated you don't need to worry about them matching.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Millymollymama solution 2 sounds interesting as I've not seen cupboards underneath/above - do you have a link so I can see what this looks like?

swedish I had thought about an additional freezer but would like it all in one place. My kitchen really is small, it is about 2.6 x 2.7m so would hate to lose a cupboard.

Can you store a fridge on top of a freezer? I've never seen it done.

Yes you get a full length fridge freezer. There are separate doors so you don't need to open both doors at the same time. If you have a small space I would go for intergrated though. Slightly smaller but it will give your kitchen a more uniform look.

If you are not very tall you might not be able to reach the top shelf of a tall one.

Sorry useless at links and I do have my kitchen on a manufacturer's web site but it identifies where it is, so I don't particularly want to publish it here. However, the fridge and freezer are integrated and are positioned side by side. Both appliances are about 1200 high, but you could have taller. Mine are Leibherr appliances and they are brilliant. I actually reused them from my old kitchen. Appliances of this size gives each unit a storage drawer of 300mm below and a cupboard of 500mm above, but this is quite high and not so easy to reach and you could alter the cabinetry to suit yourself. You can choose doors of your choice but obviously something to blend in with your existing units would work best. Each appliance has its own door and one is left hinged and the other right hinged. I am sure any bespoke kitchen manufacturer could help design suitable units for you.

I've just re-read my last post - oops, of course you can have a fridge on top of a freezer I misunderstood and visualised a fridge plonked on top of a freezer! Ok, it was a little more aesthetically pleasing and hidden away in cupboards, but still...

Millymollymama sounds lovely, I'll try Googling, I still don't really understand the setup but hopefully I'll find an image.

Have a 2 up 2 down with a 4m by 2.5m kitchen - no corridor space to stick things in. Space and access (tight corners) were concerns, so sacrificed the useless "breakfast bar" for separate 5' tall fridge and freezer. Still often struggle for space in them, particularly when I have a glut of something to freeze, but I can plan more easily around what I do have.

Forgot to mention, because they're 5', I can pile a load of containers etc on top for other stuff. Not pretty, but it works and I don't need to waste limited cupboard space on bread.

Didn't see exactly how small your kitchen it! Is there a dining room or outhouse where you can keep a freezer, leaving room in the kitchen for a better fridge? Not pretty, but might be more workable.

Yes ouryve it is small and I can't sacrifice any space in the dining room.

I think a freezer under the stairs may well be the best temporary solution. I'll rethink this when I finally get a new kitchen.