Probably a cheaper option is to just get a 26" depth cutout and hide the sides of the fridge. But the kicker is some doors, when fully open, rotate slightly behind the sides, so you can't fully hide the doors w/o them contacting the cabinet panel, even if you have the depth. I checked out a few tonight: Monogram has stainless sides, and doors do rotate back slightly but doesn't matter. Bosch (plain front w/ flat doors) rotates back about 1/4" so at least that much of sides must show Jenn air has a model with flat doors and doors rotate out so you could hide the sides Also kitchen aid has one too. I was going to get the Bosch but now I'm kinda annoyed they designed it that way

Thanks, palomalou. It seems like I read somewhere that the GE had a problem with the ice/water also. It's so hard deciding what's a good one to get. Laurie

I don't see anybody jumping in, so maybe I can help get a conversation started for you. GE had pretty significant reliability and parts problems with its fridges when it started contracting out (outsourcing), but it has brought much of its production back to the US a few years ago. CR's survey data shows that GE is now no less (and no more) reliable than most other brands of SxS models. In our area, GE also cut back on the number of dealers it works with and seems to be concentrating on the highest-volume retailers and big-box stores. Some friends bought one of the large new GE SxS models a month or so ago -- I think it is the one rated for 29 cut. ft. -- and say they are very pleased with its features and capacity. Something to else to bear in mind is that rated capacity is often overstated. Supposedly 25 to 28 cu. ft. SxS fridges sometimes turn out to have no more than 18 cu. ft. of actual capacity. Capacity is affected by the size of the through-the-door ice and water dispensers and some of the larger capacity models have two ice makers. If memory serves, CR rated the Whirlpool and Samsung SxS models as having more usable capacity than other brands with similar capacity claims. Samsung models have separate evaporators for the freezer and fridge compartments. Not the same as having completely separate compressors and cooling systems (ala Sub Zero) but still something of a marketing leg up because of the theoretical advantages. When I was fridge shopping, it seemed that the jury was still out on whether the separate evaporators made much practical difference. Doesn't the biggest Samsung SxS have an external display screen that connects to the internet or you smart phone or displays photos or something? Strikes me one more thing to fail. cascade to other circuitry and interfere with the primary functions. FWIW, some friend have had a Samsung 26 cu. ft. SxS (no screens) for three years with no problems. They make heavy use of the external dispensers. This post was edited by JWVideo on Sun, Jul 6, 14 at 15:48

Thanks brickton. That was my first thuoght as well - but I was at the plumbing supply/bath showcase yesterday and they thought the polished stainless was too dark for the chrome and the color was off. Interestingly, or not so, they did not have a faucet in either of those finishes. Seems the polished stainless is primarily used by Kohler for shower grab bars. Holding the chrome to those seemed to confirm the colors were a bit off. There was no brushed stainless in the place to compare to though. Kohler makes their HiRise faucet line in those finishes so I may search around to see if I can find one in a showroom somewhere. Anyone else have an idea on the finishes of brushed stainless or polished stainless please chime in. Maybe someone who has the HiRise series. Thanks much.