American fridge freezers in open plan kitchen

[mothergooseinnorthwest]

I am planning to have a free standing American fridge freezer in the new extension but I can’t find one that’s 60cm deep, I have seen a few Pinterest photos where the fridge freezer sticks out to the kitchen run. Is that what you have to compromise if having one?
Keen to hear from people who have done this. Thanks in advance

Yes we did in our last house (we’ve just moved into a rental). I’ve been thinking sadly about my old, free standing fridge freezer- it seems much bigger than the one we’ve got now which is fitted. That extra couple of inches depth makes such a difference (no laughing at the back there). The fact that the free standing fridge stuck out beyond the line of the cupboards really didn’t matter or notice. I would DEFINITELY not buy a fitted fridge freezer.

We have a freestanding one - we had extra deep cupboards built around it. I love our fridge!

Our new one is slimline so it sits with the units. I think the brand is haier. Very good fridge freezer, no problems at all with it and the thinnest I could find. Easy to get into the kitchen without them having to take the doors off as well so the delivery drivers were happy with our choice too. It has two fridge doors on the top and two freezer doors on the bottom instead of side by side and I find it much easier

Thanks all, I think I am more convinced practicality is more important than the look. We desperately need a bigger fridge now.

@Sam1815 thanks I will google hai’er. Familiar with that brand as my mother has their fridge too. Thanks

@cherrypiepie thanks a good idea, will see if we can make it flush against at least one side of the units if we fail to find a shallow one, thanks

Yes our freestanding American style f/f also has extra deep units next to it - well actually the units are standard depth, they’re just placed a bit further away from the wall so the front of them is flush with the front of the fridge. And then we have an extra deep side panel along the side of the fridge.

Fisher & paykel and I think Samsung make ones that are designed shallow to fit flush with normal cabinetry, they also don’t need a ventilation gap around the edge, so it all looks very neat. But they cost an absolute fortune and also are less spacious because they are shallower.

Ours sticks out a bit, it's not flush, but it's next to a pull out larder with a long vertical handle, so sort of almost doesn't seem as sticky-out in my head...?

It seemed absolutely massive when we first got it (had a dinky little retro Smeg before) but we got used to it really quickly and I really love it now.

I knew someone who had a wider-than-usual fridge, which was no deeper than the standard kitchen units. It was amazing. Shallow and wide meant that there was room for everything, yet small things did not get lost at the back. I want!

But, yes, American FFs generally stick out. Everyone I know with one has positioned it at the end of a run, where the protrusion is less in-yer-face. Alternatively, you could bring the run of units forwards if you have the floor space. Deeper worktops can be very useful.

Mine sticks out but is at the end of the run so it's not really noticeable. It is only the door that juts out - the actual body of the fridge is exactly flush with the front edge of the work top. Like you I worried about this but once it's in place you forget you ever gave it a moments thought. Mine is a Bosch - which is not a deep as some of the monsters out there.

The American fridge freezers all stick out a bit because the doors need space to swing open. You need to have a gap either side of around 5cm for clearance and venting. The Fisher Paykel has the best doors and I think only require 2cm clearance. We opted for a single tall fridge and tall freezer next to each other instead and have 70cm deep counter on that run to allow for vent at the back

I've got one and it is amazing (Samsung). What is great id the temperature control is so good that food lasts so much longer.

With our, it could not go flush to units at the side as the doors are chunky and would not open wide enough to remove drains etc. Don't think about pulling it out to clean either as they weigh a ton...is a big job!

It will need to stick out a bit to be able to have the doors swing like they need to to open properly. There is a brand- think it might be F&P- who do one specifically for fitting flush with cabinets, but I’ve only seen it in situ in high end kitchens so presume it’s £££££

The other option I’ve seen is to have a surround built around it that allows the space for the doors to swing and then to place extra deep (or not flush to wall) cabinets around that. Sort of like this: www.appliancecity.co.uk/splashbacks-and-accessories/accessories/fisher-paykel-25615-special-order-surround-kit-for-rf540adusx4-stainless-steel/ surround that F&P sell, only cabinetry. I wonder whose kitchen it was I saw it in where it wasn’t SS?!

Alternative - we have a freestanding fridge in the dining part of the kitchen and freestanding full height freezer tucked away in the utility-area/alcove. I couldn't find a place for the width (let alone the depth) of an American fridge-freezer and I love our arrangement!

It is the door clearance due to the depth of the doors. So the doors protrude past the cabinets. Mine is encased by larder units either side and is at the start of a run.

Ours was a compromise, I wanted an integrated larder fridge and an integrated larder freezer but Dh wanted ice and filtered water so we went with the American fridge freezer. He was right, we have never drank so much water. Even at dinner we have water jugs on the table. We have had it 7 years. My sons are teenagers and still drink a lot of water every day.

Is there a particular reason for the American fridge freezer? We have a larder freezer in the pantry due to just how small the freezer is.

We have this one. It’s brilliant. You don’t notice it sticking out after a while.

www.johnlewis.com/samsung-rf24r7201sr-eu-american-style-freestanding-75-25-fridge-freezer-a-energy-rating-real-stainless/p4123353

I think they need to stick out beyond the line of the cupboard so you can open the door?

Mine sticks out but it has pull out larders and then a top box built around it.that combo is also at the end of of a run so it's not particularly noticeable / intrusive. When I first got it (before kitchen was done slot just stood alone) it seemed enormous!

We have a fisher and paykel one and I love it. It sticks out very slightly but needs to for the doors to open

Yes ours was Fisher & Paykel, in a very smart Neptune kitchen. In fact we had one in the middle of a run of units and another in a utility room next door. Both stuck out past the line of units. Honestly it matters not a jot. Don’t compromise on fridge space for one that’s sits flush because honestly it doesn’t matter!

Curve ball question but do you have room for a 'back up' fridge in the garage?

Then you can have a normal one in the house but still get masses of space.

You soon learn what you use every day and what can be relegated to the garage.

Then every couple of days I go 'shopping' to the garage and pull out stuff that's run out / coming up on the meal plan and put into main fridge

Its interesting to hear lots of people have F and P fridge freezers and like them. I am keen to get a fridge freezer with an external water/ice dispenser but I can't see how the FP ones work. The dispenser is so shallow I don't know how you can avoid the water going all over the floor Unfortunately I have only seen them in shops so never in action. Can someone explain please? Do you put the glass in at a strange angle or something?
I'm also agonising about the FF sticking out and how to get round it.
Thank you

We are currently in the process of getting rid of our old Samsung American ff and getting an integrated full length fridge and a full length freezer to have side by side. The fridge will have similar space and the freezer will be a bit bigger. We just couldn’t make the old fridge work in the new kitchen.

Thanks all, a very clear picture it won’t go flush now. I sort of guessed it will have to due to door opening. DH and I are keen on American Ffs because of ice and water dispenser.
We have a fridge and TWO separate freezers at the moment. One freezer in garage but I think I prefer them all in one place.

Sister in law has a big fridge freezer in the utility and a small drinks fridge in the kitchen. I am not fond of that as it is a much bigger triangle than I would prefer.

Bringing the kitchen units out to 70 cm might be a bit tricky with a range cooker and we only have 70cm of wall at the garden end of the kitchen. So it think it will have to stick out a bit.

Thanks all, very useful hearing everyone’s views