How does the height of the place where you grasp the refrigerator handle compare to the height of the doorknobs in your house?

@inox: That's a really good point! I hadn't thought of that. The height is pretty much exactly where the doorknob is. I guess the only difference is that the fridge door will be much heavier than a room door.

Today I started having second thoughts about this fridge. Every positive review I've read mentions how it's such a great fridge for a small space... but I don't have a small space! I do need a counter-depth model, but otherwise I can go as high as necessary (no cabinet above, at least not yet) and as wide as 36". The fridge location is not at the end or next to a wall, so I could easily accommodate a french door model. The only limitations really are my budget (So am I crazy to buy such a small fridge? I just *really* love the interior design, but even if I use every inch, it's still a small fridge. And we're not even going to get water or ice. I'm seriously starting to second-guess this decision.... wondering if anyone else bought this fridge despite having the space for a larger one, or if people love it simply because they don't have many other choices for their small space.

BTW, I went today to look yet again at fridges over lunch. The handle on the flat door is definitely higher by a good 2 inches. (Handle itself is a little higher, and the part you can grasp within it is higher b/c of the shape.)

If you generally like the F&P but don't have space constraints, why not go with the french door model? It's beautiful, and we'd get it except DH is vehemently opposed to water in the door. (It has just water, no ice.)

We don't have space constraints either, beyond counter-depth (in fact, the opposite---since we're doing a remodel, we're building the fridge cabinet to hold up to a 36" x 84" fridge in case it ever gets replaced, so we're bending over backwards to tailor it to the smaller one with shelves and such!) We actively did not want water, ice, SxS, or top freezer, which limited the options.

The other fridges I looked seriously at, in case it helps, were the KitchenAid 72" model and the Electrolux without water in the door. The E'lux has a similarly nice interior design; KA is pretty standard, though the drawer glides are nice. Both are nice, both have decidedly mixed reviews (I didn't find a fridge that didn't, even at the high end of the price scale!), and both are closer to $2800.

I had them make my refrigerator cab to hold a 36 knowing I was going to get the F&P? Mine backs to a pull out pantry, then wall so I keep it tight to the other side. Right now I have my 3rd oven rack in the space.

@artemis78: thanks for that info about the handle on the flat door, that is very helpful! I wish someone local had it on the floor so I could see the design in person.

@artemis78 and eandhl: If neither of you had space contraints, can you tell me why you bought the F&P versus the other models you were seriously considering? (such as the KitchenAid or E'lux?) I'm the type of person who needs to hear other people's reasons before I feel good about my own decision. ;)

*Thanks!*

Oh and by the way - we decided against the F&P french door model and in fact any of the F&P models that have water/ice. Certainly we could just choose not to hook up the water/ice, but the issue is really the electronic control board that comes with those models. Those type of boards always make me nervous (so much more likely to fail) and the F&P models that have them get so many more negative reviews and stories of high-pitched noises emitting when the board fails.

Sure---my reasons (and importantly, we have not yet actually purchased, so there is still the possibility that we will make an eleventh hour change---but in theory we are supposed to go buy everything tomorrow!) were:

- Liked the interior layout a lot---only thing I am nervous about is only having the two produce drawers since right now I love my cheese drawer. Love the glass shelves, though!

- Loved the ice tray drawer in the freezer since we opted not to do an ice maker---too many issues reported with all fridges for these, and the fridge is against our bedroom wall so did not want to listen to ice falling all night. Thing I hate most about ice cube trays is trying to stack them and find a place for them, though, and this is the only fridge we found that solves that problem effectively.

- Liked the freezer layout, and particularly the lack of wire drawers which are common in most bottom freezers at this price point. Unsure if we will like the freezer door v. drawer better or not, never having had either. Seems like there are pros and cons to each.

- The overall look of the white curved door model is a good fit for our kitchen, as our other appliance is a vintage white O'Keefe and Merritt range.

The one concern we did have was the energy rating for the F&P, though our appliance store insists that it is more efficient than the official rating reports it to be (guy there has a theory that the F&P uses much more energy when it's first turned on as it "learns" the settings, and then settles into a lower use pattern, but energy rating is based on first 24 hours---not sure if I buy this or not, though it's plausible).

We have a small house that would be unlikely to have a family bigger than four, and we shop several times a week rather than big Costco runs, so size wasn't an issue for us. If I ever start buying in bulk, though, I would opt to get a small chest freezer for the basement and still keep the main fridge/freezer stocked with just things we use regularly. We also currently have a 30" standard depth fridge, so the difference in storage space isn't huge---I think our current fridge is 19 cu. ft. vs. the F&P's (better designed, IMO) 17ish.

The main reason I still consider making a last-minute switch is because we are building a 36" wide space, and I worry that the F&P, at 32", will look like it's not the fridge that's supposed to be in the space. (We have a crazy plan for an adjustable bookshelf above it so that a future fridge can be whatever height it needs to be, and I love that feature---but the side space is harder to find creative solutions for, since it's only 2.75" once the width of the panels is factored in.) The 36" F&P got rejected for having water in the door and having a digital display on the door, both dealbreakers for my husband.

... and having a digital display on the door, both dealbreakers for my husband.Absence of a "digital display" does not mean there are no electronic boards in the unit. I've seen refrigerators (and other appliances) with fully-mechanical controls, but they still do have a control board that handles one or more auxiliary functions ... such as ATC in a washer or timing the defrost cycle in a refrigerator. Avoiding electronics in appliances nowadays is not always as easy as simply staying away from digital panels.

To be clear, my husband's issue with digital displays is purely aesthetic---he has no objection to internal electronics, as far as I know. Just can't stand flashing lights and numbers, which eliminated some number of refrigerators, dishwashers and even range hoods... :) I think all of our appliances save the vintage range have control boards of one form or another, though. (And even the all-gas range has wiring for a timer and lights!)

Be sure to review the installation instructions for the Fisher & Paykel to take into account the required clearance on the sides and back.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dowload Fisher & Paykel instructions