I bought the Jenn Air 42 inch French Door Refrigerator JF42NXFXDW for my complete kitchen renovation. We put custom cabinetry throughout and added the custom panels to the refrigerator as well as other appliances. I wanted the refrigerator to be built-in with the cabinetry fully integrated so that you weren't able to tell there was a refrigerator there. That has not happened. The hinge is definitely a flush mount hinge. You read correctly. The Jenn Air has a flush mount hinge. You need to know that the Kitchen Aid Refrigerator does NOT have a flush mount hinge. (though Jenn Air and Kitchen Aid are owned by the same company). They LOOK like the same refrigerator, but the hinge assembly is different. Problem: After going round and round with my contractor, we determined that the online specs for the Jenn Air panels are incorrect. The panels don't cover the hinge and are about 3/4" too short. So you submit the specs to your custom cabinetry company, they make them to Jen Air specs only to find that the custom panels aren't wide enough to cover the hinges. At that point, unless you Redo your custom panels (expensive proposition) there is no way can they be fully integrated into your cabinetry. The Kitchen Aid 27" warming drawer specs are incorrect as well. I am currently in conversation with Jenn Air (Whirlpool Corp). We'll see where this goes.

Okay, so I am driving myself crazy. I'm trying to find a freestanding panel ready french door counter depth fridge that has a white cabinet. I like the Jenn Air, but it doesn't accept customer purchased handles. I like the GE Profile, but it has the built in visor handle, and I love the Kitchen Aid (thanks to Gary), but the cabinet is in black. Are there brands/models I'm missing that I should consider? Also, for those of you with a cabinet paneled counter depth fridge (french door or not), would you post pics and also let me know how deep is the space in which you have your refrigerator and how far it sticks out beyond that space? Thanks so much!!

The first version of my new kitchen layout needed a CD FD fridge. After much research, I had decided on the KA pro. Now, my layout has changed to being better with a single door bottom-freezer. I chose the KA again. It's sitting in my garage right now awaiting install next month so I can't give it a review. KA is well-regarded here. During my research, my trusted family friend/appliance salesperson told me she does not recommend Elux appliances because of reliability issues. I was planning on the Elux non-icon ovens despite her advice. She said whatever I do, don't buy one of their fridges. Hard to know as many here like their Elux fridges.

I have what KristianCO has, but without the wine slots in between. At least at the time, that required ordering a panel that goes between them -- an insulation panel, I think? She mentioned the ice -- another reason I liked the Thermador over the SZ. The SZ had the ice down at the bottom, nearly on the floor. That just doesn't work for all the ice we can use here in Texas. Fori, it's not having a second fridge to make up for the failures of the first one. People who spend $3 million on a house as well as the guest who walk into one expect a certain lifestyle to go with it. Even if they don't cook, they probably entertain. If they don't entertain, they want to look like they do -- or at least they could. In my area, people look for a space for a second fridge in homes by the time they hit $250-350K. By $1 mil, they expect a second fridge regardless of how big the one in the main kitchen is. Beverage fridge somewhere in the house or in an outdoor kitchen is probably also desired if not expected. I've seen homes below $1 mil (at the time) that had built-in fridge, second fridge space in the utility, a wine fridge and a small beverage fridge in the master suite. Those homes are probably between $1 mil and $2 mil now, but they give a clue what folks look for when they reach a certain price point. Yes, you can design for change and tear out a pantry, assuming you also left the upper clearance, and maybe it won't make a mess of flooring and cabinets, but in a $3 mil home, I don't think you are going to save a lot of money in the long run. First, you have to plan the layout to include a tall pantry and cabinet above the fridge that would be lost or have a 12" or greater opening and dress that off. That would all be lost when changing the fridge and you could have the cost of cutting down the above fridge cabinet and doors or a new cabinet. All the crown on that wall will probably need to be removed to change the upper cabinet. Your toe kicks will have to be removed and adjusted. Not a big deal, but another detail. And if any of these trim pieces split when being removed, you have to match trim and finish. This won't break the bank for anyone living in a $3 mill plus home, but it is enough that you can see the savings may be negligible or non-existent. Not to mention that after suffering through an entire build out, the last thing you will want to do is any reno any time in the reasonably foreseeable future. Most folks are exhausted well before the build is done. Ok to do it - but be honest with yourself about the cost, especially if you are not a DIYer.