You' re missing that freestanding appliances have finished sides too :)

One notices differences in prices. Usually fully integrated models cost less than same featured prefinished front side slide-in models. True freestanding appliances may cost even much more in case they have a stainless steel finish.

This is a stainless steel frestanding fridge , this is a freestanding stainless steel dishwasher another one

One has to be aware about it while shopping :
this is a slide-undercounter prefinished dishwasher
while this is the very same freestanding version

The freestanding one cost 300 euro = 402 USD more because it has also stainless sides and countertop, despite they are both the very same machine

Compare slide-in version prices vs freestanding version prices

The fully integrated version
is less expensive (as it hasn't any stainless steel outside)

jbril375,
true integrated, not built-in, frigs have no trim, grill or hinges that show when installed. If you put cabinet fronts on the door, then you really cannot tell that the frig is there at all. Most of the time, it is that 1 inch that sticks out of the cabinets versus the true flush look that pushes people to spend the difference. This costs big bucks. I am close to spending alot of money to get this look. I did many hours of research trying to get the frig to be flush without spending the bucks and the hinges cannot be recessed without leaving a big gap between the frig and the adjacent cabinets. I am kicking myself if I really want to do this or not.

hidroman,
our choices of integrated good looking refrigerator in America is much less than yours in Europe.
In my research, integrated frig without top grill/panel led me to Subzero 700, Liebherr, and Siemens/Bosch/Thermador line and Miele. No more. They are all quite expensive! There is a new Jenair line but that still has grill at the top that requires a few inches of opening without a cover. no go for me. All others have grill up top that cannot be disguised or have either trim around doors, stick out 1/2 to 1 inch or so to from the surrouding cabinets. They look like built-in frigs, not integrated cabinetry.

I think this is because modern design is much more main stream in Europe and consumers have demanded clean look for many years. For example, American ovens and DW stick out 1/2 inch to 1 inch from the cabinets when installed where as European built in ovens are flush with cabinets. You can do a little trick here or there to make the appliances flush but the initial design elements is not the flush look from the appliance manufacturers.

I think the built in frigs are a thing of the past with the popularity of cabinet depth frigs. I think most of the companies will move to integrated look in the next few years. (I may be completely wrong...)

The missing fact is that flush built in or integrated fridges require much more expensive/complicated hinge assemblies so the door can open wide without striking the cabinet next to it. Add the fact that production numbers are much lower than other styles results in higher costs spread over fewer units.

laat2
I know why they cost more but the cost is driven by the number of units that they sell and the price that they CAN charge and have fools like me pay that price.

In Europe, the cost differential is not nearly as high as they are in the US because they are more in demand. I would like to see the cost differential come down in the US. Hard to believe that the hinges cost several thousand $.

Barthelemy, most of our fully integrated refrigerateurs are 24"/ 60 cm wide units. As Laats wrote, mass production allows lower prices

I guess Laats means "french door" designs (those ones we europeans call "american" fridges). These units may have much larger doors than ours, here comes the need of more expensive hinges, no matter of freestanding/built-in or integrated. Also here those fridges are much more expensive. Check the frestanding french door fridge price @ Ikea .

Kaismom - oddly the latest trend in Europe are freestanding kitchens (e.g. @ Ikea there's Varde and Udden). That's why those full stainless appliances i linked before are getting popular

For sure here is far cheaper to buy two separate 24" fridgefreezers (2 x round 1200 euro for Liebherr or Miele stainless models) rather than a single 48" side by side unit (round 5000 euro for both brands in stainless)
One can run both of them in the meanwhile when required, otherwise, if not so much food is stored, one can have just one unit in operation, also to cut 50% off from electric consumption/cost

Do the doors of the counter depth (CD) models extend much more beyond the cabinets than the built-in (BI) models? If they do, do CD owners find the amount they extend out bothersome in any way or is it a non-issue?

The dimension charts on the CD models IÂve looked at look like the door is an inch or two beyond the actual cabinets (which make sense for the hinges). BIs seem a little more flush with the cabinets. Does that inch or two seem to make a difference in reality? We just started looking at different models. WeÂre not at the "agonizing over a decision" phase yet.

WeÂre going to do some major kitchen remodeling later this year and IÂd much prefer the CD models (due to price and reliability). However, I just wonder if weÂll be happy with the way the frig will blend in with the cabinets on either side.

Any comments are appreciated since weÂre just starting to really look into this for our home.

Thanks.

dryslick,
only you know if 1 or 2 inches sticking out beyond the cabinet is bothersome or not. it is about the esthetics and not about the function. The CD refrigerators have hinges that show at the edges. The integrated frig's hinges are completely hidden. If the difference in the cost is going to matter to you, then you should not bother. The cost differential is about 3 to 5K between CD versus fully integrated. (the cheapest is Liebherr and they only come in FD 36 inch or various 24 inch options that you put together to make a combo) You also have to factor in the cost of the panel and more complcated installation.