We are still in the pre-construction phase of our dream home but we have decided to go with Thermador Freedom towers for our kitchen. They are available upto 36" wide. I've seen the 24" wide at Expo, seemed pretty roomy. This is the size I'll be getting, along with 18" wide freezer. Bosch (which owns Thermador has it's own very similar version).

I have the Thermador towers and I don't hesitate to recommend them. I haven't seen the Bosch versions yet, but I love the Thermador.

We are in month 7 with a Sub Zero 48" SxS and are very pleased. Not a hint of a problem so far-certainly no infant mortality issues. Even the dreaded ice maker works! I had the same experience as you researching SubZ-picking up general currents of discontent but no specifics. However when I posted here asking for specific instances of problems in recent purchases of Sub Zero, I got no responses. So I am not sure what causes these general alligations, but based on my experience, so far so good. I would recommend them.

I have a fridge-only Northland that was installed 15 months ago. I am very happy, after a slow start with some installation problems. I can't vouch for the energy efficiency but it is very quiet and beautiful. (I am not a SZ fan so this was my alternative.

I have refrigerator drawers--4 of them--only, with a full fridge in the pantry for party trays and extra grocery storage. Love this set-up, and it seems to work for me.

Hi,
I have posted a lot in the last 2 weeks here about my Whirlpool Sidekicks, so some may be groaning already, lol.

I have the all fridge/ all freezer set, but you can just buy the fridge if you'd like. It is energy star rated, 30" wide with over 17 cubic feet of storage. It is normal depth and very well laid out inside. The price is great and the reviews show no complaints (that I have found, at least). You should be able to get it for $1k with delivery as they are very simple units, however, well designed. The quality is evident as they feel solid and sturdy. I liked being able to get white, but you can also choose stainless.

Most places don't have them in showrooms, so I ended up just buying them off the internet specs and pix and ordered them over the phone. Some places had to order them and then ship them to you. I found a place that had a great price and could get them to me asap. We had planned on getting them for the remodel in a few months, but decided last minute to get them in time for our Memorial Day bbq and to use them in the garage until the reno.

I have had them for over 2 weeks, so it is not a long time, but I am so happy with them.
HTH

We've had the SZ 650R for about a year and it's been great. So far, no problems and the SZ has kept the vegetables really fresh. I saw the Thermadors when they came out 6 months after we got our fridge and they look really substantial and beautiful. Good luck on your decision.

Dianalo:
Where do you find the Sidekick specs and pix on the Interenet? I've been to the Whirlpool site and can't find anything.

Hi,
I did a froogle search when it came time to buy. I probably did a google search when first looking for information. I will link to where I bought mine in NY, but I am sure you can find places all over. You just might need to wait until they get them into stock. My place had them in the warehouse. I could not find a place within reason to see them in person.
I just peeked at the WCWood website, which is the affiliate with Whirlpool, and found these specs as well.

http://www.wcwood.com/cgi-bin/ListProduct.pl?loc=usa&prod=combin

The 2nd & 3rd ones are the SKs. If you click on the zoom feature, it shows you the interior layout. I hadn't noticed that before I bought. I had to go on faith about the inside. I have to say, that mine seem bigger than the pic shows. I guess because I have put large trays, a Costco sheet cake and other bigger objects into them and still had room to spare. They are showing very little food stored in the photo.
HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: Sidekicks source in NY area

Thanks for the links, I finally found a picture!

Apparently no one in my state carries these! I emailed the local appliance person (who is usually very good) and she emailed back that they could get them but they were "short, tiny and looked cheap". She doesn't usually try and stear me to more expensive products (as a matter of fact, usually the opposite) but what's up with that?

We're driving down to Dallas next week for a meeting. Hoping I can find some showrooms or something down there.

Hi again,
I know the local Lowes can get them for you as well. If you get the 20% coupon from ebay (Lowes will take their own or competitor's coupons, like HD's), you won't pay an arm and a leg. You can order from out of state on the web, but you may pay more in shipping. It can't hurt to check into it.
FWIW, I believe the SKs are taller than the Kenmores, but there is no trim kit to make them look quite as tall. The trim kit adds no storage and wastes space, so you are ahead with the SKs.
As for tiny, that couldn't be further from the truth. With a combined storage space of over 35 cubic feet, I'd like to know what she is comparing them to! I also don't buy that she has ever seen them if she said they look cheap. People who have seen mine (had a huge bbq with about 50 people) were all impressed with the look as well as the size. I know it impressed me and I was pleasantly surprised because I figured I might have give up some of the look to get the function. When they were unpacked, I was delighted.
I would ask her if she has seen them in person and make sure she is referring to the Sks and not the basic all fridge/ all freezer that were not designed as side by side pieces and look boxy. You can buy cheaper versions meant for the garage or basement from many mfrs. The SKs were designed to be front and center in the kitchen and to sit well next to or near each other fashion-wise.
HTH

She said she saw them and they looked "cheap" like an apartment type. The bit about short really puzzled me. In my current kitchen I have a GE Profile over/under and it's only 1/2" taller than the specs on the SK. Of course my current house was built in 1939 and has 8 ft ceilings. The new house will be cathedral. I looked at someone's finished kitchen (maybe yours?)with them in place and they looked gorgeous. I'm still hoping I can get a look at the and kick the tires, slam the doors while we're in Dallas next week.

To throw my 2 cents in, I'm with the KD. They look short and squat. They are normal fridge height, but they are almost that wide: 60" wide vs 66" tall. Whole thing looks square. Proportions do not seem correct. 48" SxS units typically run 84" high for example, and the SKs are even wider. We looked at them when we were planning, but they just didn't look right somehow, even with the grill. Probably would look ok with something in between like cabinets or a countertop. And we really didn't need 17 cu. ft of freezer. But you can't beat the price.

Thing is, I'm not planning on the freezer. I have two freezers now and they will be just steps away in the pantry. I'm actually toying with the idea of getting two of the refrigerators and separating them with a counter so anything taken out would have a "landing space". I am getting a bit apprehensive that if I get this then I would be locked into that size if/when I replace it in the future. The cupboards and counters will be built. 30" is a bit narrow.

Inhardin: What did you end up doing with your all refrigerator? I'm in the early stages of shopping for one; however, I want it to have a water dispenser on the door.
try_hard

Our former kitchen had a SZ 600R 36" all refrigerator for almost 20 years when we sold the home. It didn't need servicing until year 17, and was for the ceiling light cover and the door seal. We have installed two SZ 600R units in our new home, one a glass front unit for beverages & big group gatherings.

I think I will do the Thermador or Bosch towers in my new home. They will not be placed togethr as side by sides. I like the looks of them, and I don't believe they cost as much as the sub-zero. I also want the custom panel since I hate fingerprints on stainless. I don't think the side kicks allow for custom cabinets.

Bumping this to see if there are any other alternatives out there. . . I would like to have freezer drawers too with an icemaker (we will have a freezer in our laundry room as well) for everyday things. I have yet to find any freezer drawers which are well reviewed that are not the SZ and those are expensive! With a 36" all fridge fully integrated we are in pretty pricey territory!

I could care less about name brands. Do want function and looks (will be paneled but not sure I want something that looks squatty - will have 10 foot ceilings).

Research for best bang for your buck all refrigerator and all freezer matching stainless combo is the Frigidaire units. They have great reviews, much better than the Whirlpool equivalents. It's either something like these, or about 7X the price for units listed above - notice all these "happy" buyers above were pre-housing 2008 crash folks. (: I'll get these two for $1800 and keep $12,200 in my pocket.

Freezer: FPUH17D7KF
Refrigerator: FPRH17D7KF

Both of these cost around $850-900 each and look great too, especially with the door trim kit: DUOTRIMKIT ($300). They are 32" wide, and about 26" deep, around 17 cu ft capacity.

Found ours here: http://www.ajmadison.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: AJ Madison

scottvd, have you been happy with those frigidaires? we are looking at those, the whirlpool sidekicks or the pricey thermador and subzeros. my head is spinning. the difference is $8000 so this matters, but I don't want to be sorry with my purchase, or spending $2K only to have to replace it shortly down the road.