(I've written about my new fridge a lot.. sorry to repeat.. but since you asked...) It is important for me to mention what our last fridge was. A TINY apt sized Hotpoint that has a single fridge compartment and freezer on the top. The thing worked, never gave us any problems the 12 years we used it, but... it was very deep, things got lost in there, and the produce bins were on the bottom so I literally had to get down on my knees anytime I needed something from them. We didn't have a landing sopt next to the fridge, at all, so I would put food ON THE FLOOR as I took it out of the fridge. Major PITA. The freezer compartment was a box with no shelves, so stuff was literally just stacked up in there. Total nightmare. Anything had to be better! With that said...now we have a GE Cafe CD FD and we absolutely ***love it***. We are only 2 people, no kids. We find there is enough room in the fridge for all our stuff. No longer do I need to get on my knees for veggies, the fridge part being up so high is a major convenience I can't believe I ever lived without. (and we now have landing space on either side!) I can't really compare the CD version to a regular fridge cause we've never had a regular fridge... but I can imagine the CD maybe being a little too small for larger families. For us, it is perfect. I never ever get annoyed about having to open both doors. I'm happy to have the 2 doors to open!! The freezer is roomy enough for us. As someone else mentioned, how often do you even have to open the freezer, really? Maybe some people more than others, but I'm guessing there are some days I never open it once. The ice machine is in the freezer, but we don't use a lot of ice. People seem to complain a lot about GE appliances. I'm not a huge GE fan or anything, but it turns out that 3 of the appliances in our new kitchen are GE (Cafe Fridge, Monogram DW and Monogram Micro), and so far each of them has performed exceptionally well, and they all look great to boot. My sister has a Kitchenaid FD fridge (not CD) and not to be men, but the interior of the GE Cafe fridge is much nicer looking than the KA. So, in short, the CD FD fridge is working out wonderfully for me and my husband. We love it. Think about your family size and how you use your handing. If you are often carrying a baby, maybe a side by side is better.

Hi there - I could have written this request!! Thanks for posting it...I joined Consumer Reports for the month because of all the purchases we'll be making, and I also was looking at the KitchenAid fridge. After looking at the reviews, I'm shying away from that choice. Now, we're looking at Samsung...and I'm also thinking of Bosch, though it has ice/water in the door which I don't really want. Another possibility is the GE Profile 23 cf, though it won't be available until August.

Thank you for the reply. I've found three models that might work including the ones you mentioned. The Maytag/Amana version only has cubed ice. (I know for most people this is not important but it is for me.) The Kenmore Elite Trio is not counter depth but still more shallow than the GE Profile. GE Profile DOES have a counter depth one but it seems really small. I'm looking at the Kenmore which is on sale through today. There are multiple models online. I posted about them separately. I appreciate the help. Deb

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.