Hi, I can appreciate your refrigerator "dilema" - it is one I share - with the added concern of needing to be solar power compatable! I'm a kitchen designer so I have a bit of awareness on a couple of your questions. The Bosch and Thermador units are manufactured under the same roof so the Freedom unit provides a reasonable footprint. Take a look at the Viking designer series french door unit. (made by Kitchenaide) Consider the Kitchenaide 36" single door unit and Sub Zero 650. Our current thinking is a Bosch 30" all fridge column with a Summit 2 drawer under counter freezer unit. Appears to be the most energy efficient of anything except a Sunfrost and has an estimated combined capacity of 21 c. ft. Cabinet details will make a huge difference with the success of a built-in 'look'. The high end appliance manufacturers do a good job with integrating their systems. Note the hinges and door swing requirements.

The ice can only be accessed through the door unless you remove the ice holder from the inside. I think since it sits in the fridge there is not an extra access panel inside like I had in my SxS. There are only 2 of us using this fridge and we have lots of extra room. I had to get used to reorganizing from a SxS to a french door. I know it is almost impossible to find a Bosch french door on a showroom floor, but the inside space is comparable to the KitchenAid french door. That was the other brand we were considering at the same time.

That looks very much the same as the Thermador. I suspect the shelves and interior pieces may be plain or trimmed in white plastic instead of stainless, but maybe not. The sides of the door shelves are solid white instead of the dark plastic frame around glass. And it looks like the butter keeper above may have one door where mine has 2 -- but this is a 24" and I have the 30", so that could be the difference also. As for the Freedom shelf, I don't really use it and don't care about it. Kind of like buying a car, it's one of those things that came with the package. You wouldn't be losing anything by not getting that in my book.

WOndering if anyone here has the Benchmark Ovens near an appliance with professional handles -- can you post a pic of how it looks? My husband likes the Benchmark ovens, Iam not sure. Thinking the Dacor Renaissance or Thermador. I know a perfect oven for under $5500 does not exist, but having trouble deciding.