Yeah their stuff was amazing - here's their coffee table that opens up to become a hi-fi and a TV projector: But anyway, there's an estalished "grey market" in selling items intended for sale in foreign contries in the US by companies other than the company's authorized US distributor. It's completely legal, and it's how many of us bought our cameras in the '70s through '90s, but you can expect the manufacturer's warranty won't be honored in the US, so you'd have to haul the thing back to Canada to get LG to pay for repairs the first year. After that, since it uses virtully the same parts as a fridge that was sold for many years in the US, finding someone who can repair it, even authorized LG service agents, should be easy. Companies never like grey-market imports taking business away from their chosen importers, so don't expect LG to give you the green light. Instead, call an appliance store near the border, ask them to look at the placard inside the door (or in the use & care or installation manual) and see if there's any reference to American service addresses, phone numbers, or at least UL certification. Some will have US yellow "EnergyGuide" stickers on them, often reversible to Canadian energy guides. you can probably find a dealer along the southern border willing to send one across state lines - especially smaller mom & pop independent shops that need every sale they can get and are less tied down with corporate-HQ policies to follow. If all else falls, plan a trip to Montreal or Toronto - plenty of interesting things to do there besides scoping out exotic appliances.... just bring a truck, van, SUV, or some wagons large enough to hold a boxed fridge, probably on its side.

Thanks marcolo. I think I'll go over there w/ a big mirror and make DF stand where the appliance cabinet will go and I'll stand in the breakfast nook and see what is reflected because that is where most time will be spent, I think. mtnrdredux- I originally wanted a range and I agree with you completely that it would look much better! I looked at the fratelli onofri in blue and was very, very close to buying it, but I didn't like the brass. And I think a lacanche (or even its cheaper friends) might be a bit of a waste in a kitchen where no one cooks. In general, though, I didn't love the whole idea of the range w/ the low ovens either. Like I said, we do use the ovens to reheat b/c DF won't use the microwave or eat microwaved food. I don't want to bend down to get stuff in and out, and I really do not like the idea of a low-to-the-ground range with a really sniffy little doggy who sticks his snout everywhere. I'm afraid he'd get hurt when the range opened and I won't take any chances on that. And I know I'd have snouts pressed against oven glass and possibly paws scratching the door if he smelled something cooking (and being a beagle, of course, he'd always smell anything cooking!) So, it is ovens for me. Plus, we already bought 'em (a 42 inch miele cooktop only b/c it was a floor model and we got it cheaper than most of the "low end" cooktops) and the floor model jenn-air ovens.

remodelfa- I could do that (standard depth) pantry, but it would make the clearance to my island only about 37 inches or so...kinda tight. But doable..my main holdup is I really didn't want a deep pantry- wanted that very convienent 12 inch deep one..hmmm.... buehl- Can't recess into that wall, family room (not large) behind it. I am so torn. This is NOT my dream house. I figure we'll be here anywhere from 5-15 years (sorry can't narrow that down more!) :) So I have 2 choices: ECONOMY VERSION: keep OTR micro and recirculating vent (right now my Jennair electric cooktop has downdraft that I never use). Would be an efficient use of space- plus its the GE Advantium which I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be using a LOT- so I need it in convenient spot for me. To keep costs down I can also resist the urge to go induction cooktop w/a wall oven, and just get an electric slide in. LUXURY VERSION: if I move the micro elsewhere (say to under the island), then I'll need to purchase a hood, pay to vent outside (not sure how much that will be- if its possible to hook up to the vent that already goes outside from the downdraft part), buy induction, buy a wall oven etc... I'm already going to do hardwoods (~3500$ for kitchen and family room), granite (~3500 depending on which granite), I've already upgraded to stainless DW and fridge (spent ~$2400)...and good chances the cabinet guy plus install will end up being around 14...we're also extending the hardwood into the bathroom, so need to replace the toilet and vanity while we're doing that (~1K).. Eeeek! PS here are some pics to give an idea of what I have now: PS There's a bullentin board on the pennisula (held down by toaster oven) to try to mimic where my island will go...bulletin board is 36 in across...also I put a 48 diameter round glass top (from my patio) on top of my kitchen table to visualize the 'rounded end' of my imaginary island...

"This entire run of cabinets is extra-deep to allow for the fridge. The cabinets under the pass through were very deep, and sometimes difficult to reach the back." @Rachel it's good that you brought up this alternative solution with a full-depth fridge to avoid it protruding from the adjacent cabinetry. What has changed from that 1994 kitchen design is that people now have the counter be extra deep, and the base cabinets underneath it be standard depth of 24", but pulled away from the wall the additional inches. This accomplishes two things - (1) avoids the issue you mention of difficulty reaching the back, and (2) does not incur the big upcharge for extra deep base cabinets. It should be noted that this design would need the uppers to be 15" deep rather than the standard 12" deep. In addition, people today would install mostly drawers instead of the cabinet doors your 1994 kitchen had. I am saying all this in case people reading this thread are looking for design ideas for installing a full-depth fridge.