Integrated fridge

[buckwheat]

We are designing new kitchen and I don’t know what to do with the fridge. We currently have American style fridge/freezer but it’s too deep, we made a mistake when bought it, I really hate. I am trying to justify buying a new fridge. Kitchen guy who is local (all neighbours recommend him for kitchens) drew a design with integrated fridge in the kitchen and separate freezer in the utility. I love his design it looks very modern but I am a bit hesitant about integrated fridge. Are they solid, will it be handy to use and will it last? I have a small ikea integrated fridge in the annexe and it’s so flimsy to open/
close. I wonder if it’s just this one or all of them are like this? Anybody with integrated fridge please advise!

Are you sure you can't keep your existing F/F? If you mean that it juts out beyond the line of the units, that might not be a problem depending on where it is located in the run of units.

I considered an integrated one for my renovation but decided against it. I open the fridge door so many times a day, meaning that the cabinet door might deteriorate, or be harder to keep clean. My existing F/F was a bit tatty so I bought a new black retro model, which I think it adds to the character of the kitchen as well as being practical.

IME they are a bit of a pain because they cost more and when you go to replace them it is always awkward to get one that fits in the same way in the same space.

We just replaced our Siemans integrated fridge - it lasted 19 years.

Didn't have much difficulty finding a replacement.

I’ve always had an integrated fridge and freezer. If I moved and had a new kitchen being put in I would always ditch (well, give away) an existing working one for integrated. They're so bloody ugly.

I don’t get it when you see beautiful designed kitchens with an eyesore of a fridge jutting out.

I loathed mine. Assuming it is undercounter. Not as much space, pokey shelves and having to bend over or kneel to get at stuff. It worked fine and never any faults but it was the one thing I was determined to change.

We moved into a house with full-size integrated F/F - looks far smarter than free standing. It is smaller than an American style though. Not had any issues with doors/ opening etc whatsoever, would never occur to me.

When we were looking at replacing it (it's pretty old) they all seemed to be standard sizes.

Can't stick fridge magnets on it though!

I hated ours - far too small and the thingy that attached the door to the upper fridge part snapped off so we had to open 2 doors every time. Happiest day when it died and we couldn't get one to fit the space so got to get rid of the carcass and have a free standing one.

Having had a fully integrated kitchen, I'd never do it again, apart from possibly a dishwasher. DH is obsessed with everything being out of sight but he's not the one who's cooking/doing the washing in there...

Was always against them but recently redid kitchen and got full height separate fridge and freezer from IKEA. If you build them carefully the doors are fine, really perfectly solid and I really like the look of all doors the same.

Feel the kitchen is bigger and has cleaner lines than before.

Just had a brand new kitchen and have gone for a free standing 70/30 fridge freezer as they are bigger. Carpenter has build a wine rack above it. Hate going into people’s kitchen and not knowing where the f/f is!

Built in fridges and freezers are pretty standard sizes. We have a Liebherr integrated built in fridge. It's 178 cm tall, and has an icebox type freezer section, plenty big enough for a few frozen bits, with a couple of drawers for fruit and veg and a meat/cheese/fish safe, and a drawer for little pots and bits and pieces. It was, I admit hideously expensive. But stuff keeps for ages in it, and because it's so well designed you can get loads in it, but still find it all. I'd recommend it.

When designing my kitchen I asked how do I get the drip tray out of the back if it is an integrated fridge say if I spilt cream. The answer was I would have to get the fitter back to remove it. So put my fridge in the garage.

I like our integrated fridge. I hate the integrated freezer though as it is so easy to leave the door open without realising and then the whole freezer stops working as the parts freeze up and you have to let it defrost for 48 hours. We have lost a lot of food through this.

I hated my integrated one- so small. So much wasted space. My American one is better, though bulky.

I’d like a French style one- double doors at the top, drawers below, but it didn’t fit.

I have an integrated fridge/freezer (Bosch 70/30) in a Howdens kitchen and it's very robust. I had one in my last kitchen for 8 years no problem there either. My problem is I'd like it biggger but don't have the space.
I would find it annoying not to have some freezer space in the kitchen however.

I hate american style fridges. When you research them the cubic capacity of integrated ones is much better for the size of them, compared to ugly,bulky american style. If you go for a good brand, Liebherr are good, you shouldn’t have any issues. We have a pantry fridge, from the corner fridge company, i can stand inside it. Its huge, never run outof space.

I have an integrated Liebherr f/f too. It’s very wide and of normal depth. Freezers are 2 drawers, so there are actually three integrated bits (panels with handles). The hinges are amazing, super solid and very strong. It’s brilliant now, but I think I can only ever have a Liebherr. That’s a pita because they’re verrrry ££££.

We have a 122cm fridge next to a 122cm freezer, both integrated and we love them. Doesn't feel flimsy at all.

If I was doing my kitchen again, I’d get a full fridge and full freezer integrated side by side. I find the normal integrated too small.
Luckily we had our American fridge freezer from our old house, so use it in the shed for drinks and extra freezer space. It’s a godsend at Christmas.

Thanks for replying everyone.

it sounds like we were unlucky with our under the counter from IKEA. All the negatives listed again integrated fridge do not affect us, the only concern is a price :)