Look at Thermador also if you are in that category. That's what I have and they are completely flush, no vent, and not a noticeable toe kick. It is my understanding that the Miele is made by BSH/Thermador. If so, it should be just as flush if properly installed.

I'm looking at Miele for a job I have coming up (I design and build high-end cabinets and interiors). Miele is completely flush and completly invisible because of the type of door hinge they use. SubZero requires a space around it for the doors to open. The Miele rep told me they make all of their own componets in house, so I don't know about the Thermador thing. Here in Los Angeles, Miele has a working showroom where you can see and try all of their products.
John

Hi lascatx,

I had looked at a Thermador in the showroom that was 30" wide and it seemed dark, but on their website, they show great halogen lighting. I think the showroom one was not well-installed.

Thanks for the tip, I will have to go check out 36" wide models by Thermador.

How long have you had yours? Any service issues? Are you pretty happy with its performance?

Either will fit the bill. The Miele/ BSH cousins all fit flush with no visible toekick or hinges or grilles or big gaps.

The Miele is state of the art. While the SZ 7xx stated the category last century it's getting bit tired design and feature wise. It's still a solid capable unit, and if the 2 drawer layout suits you it has no comp.

All fully integrated units have carcasses of 24" which mate with standard U.S. depth cabinet carcasses. Add to that a door/drawer front and gap which is normally 3/4"- 1" and you get the 25" on the Miele tear sheet.

With all , it's best to have a resourceful and seasoned installer as this makes 50% + as to whether the elevation works well. Walls are wavy and crooked and cabinets are made out of square. All of this has to dealt with or your $10k fridges is going to look like rot.

jdesign - the 700 series DOES NOT require space around it for operation. Sub Zero's BI series in the flush inset application does require space as well as xtra depth, but it's not a FULLY integrated unit in my view.

jdesign and antss,

jdesign, we posted at exactly the same time so I didn't see your comments earlier. Thanks for the input - it is good to hear that you are a cabinet maker and found the Miele to be completely flush.

antss, thanks for the explanation about the depth issue and the tip about installation. Before looking into this and falling in love with the Miele, I assumed we'd go with SubZero. Our contractor told us he had installed many SubZero fridges. We went to several of his current work sites and older, completed jobs before hiring him and all of his installations of SubZeros looked great. Last week, when I asked him about Miele, he said he'd installed a bunch of dishwashers by them but not fridges.

Maybe if I cross my fingers, become a micromanager (who am I kidding? I already am a total micromanager) and make both the cabinet guy and contractor "get it" it'll come out the way it should.

The 36" Miele is around the $7K mark, so it is worth the extra effort for me to make sure it looks perfect.

Thanks for the advice and input!

I have the Miele and it is flush, but I have custom cabinets. I think there are some cabinet lines that don't fit the formula, but my cabinetmaker said the same thing as Antss about the specs and depth. Just make sure that your cabinetmaker and GC have the specs for all your appliances (download and print them yourself if you have to), and they should get it right. :)

Since my coolers are next to cabinets with toekicks we decided to end the doors at the same height. it would have looked funny elsewise. I don't like that because I'm used to built in refrigerators that are truly built in, and the Miele stand on little feet on the floor. But that's minor. I have the 30" all fridge and freezer. There is some toe warming air that blows out the bottom.

I have similar opinions about the interiors that you do. I love the way the doors open. I don't know about this year's new SZ models, but one of the things I didn't like about the integrated ones when I was looking was that they didn't open as far as I wanted.

Hi plllog - what do you mean about the Miele standing on litle feet?

I am including the link to the photo on the Miele website that I referenced above - it looks like they have the toekick going all the way to the floor and no space at all....

If you don't mind posting a photo of how yours is installed, I'd really appreciate it.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1452355}}

pllog - all fridges , built -in or not all have some sort of "feet" or wheel system that allows for install and/or leveling.

If you can see the feet on yours, then your designer failed to design a proper toekick or the installer didn't put it in correctly.

Dandylandy, if you're happy with the appearance of the one on the website, we're fine. I thought you were talking about the door down to the floor kind of integrated, rather than with toe kick. Yes, an applied toekick will cover the feet. I meant that it didn't set in a box that is continuous and flush. Actually, this is probably because of the bottom vent as well. This is my first toasty toes bottom vent fridge.

Thanks, Antss, I'm just persnickety.

Just saw your question. I've had the Thermador coming up on 4 years. Only service has been me replacing the water filter in the freezer -- not a repair. It has been everything I'd want a fridge that price to be -- gorgeous, silent, cool and consistent.

dandylandy,
how small is your small kitchen?
do you have room for another fridge somewhere else too?
are you going to separate the freezer functions and the fridge functions.
or, do you want both functions in a single appliance?
You only mentioned a paneled fridge and dishwasher. Not freezer.

When searching or talking to salespeople, to make it fully integrated ("FI"), be sure to use that term and not "built in".

Hi davidro1, it is 10x10 and I won't have any other space.

I should have specified fridge/freezer! The models I was talking about above both have the fridge on top and freezer on bottom.