Thanks for your input. A fully integrated refrigerator allows the �doors of the refrigerator to be completely flush with the cabinets next to it. The hinges allow the door to fold into the cabinet, rather than outside it. �A �counter depth refrigerator will stick out a couple of inches, and even if panel � ready, will still show an inch or 2 of the sides of the refrigerator. I've even been told counter depth panel ready will show a bit of metal on the front door. It has to do with the door hinges. I didn't think there was a difference between built-in and fully integrated, but I could be wrong. My issue with SZ is the lack of split shelves, which we occasionally use to stand taller items like opened wine bottles or pots of soup. We are a family of four, with 2 boys 10,12 who are definitely hitting growth spurts! �The SZ FD also only comes in 36" vs JAN 42", so there is smaller capacity. I'm wondering if we shouldn't just go with panel ready counter depth so we have more brand options and see if we can customize the cabinets to hide the sides. Any thoughts , has anyone done? _______________________________

I am going through this exact same decision. I am going to ask my salesman when we meet about how they compare, but I found out that the lead time is 6 months for Jenn-air and 1 year for Sub Zero. For the little bit of savings with Jenn-air, and if wait time were the same, i would probably go with Sub Zero, just because all sales people say it is the best. But if they are same in quality, and the wait is that much less, then I may go with Jenn-Air. Who's going to know what it is if the label is covered by a panel, except for if they ask, but I am now discovering that people DO ask, because they are looking for one themselves, and they DO know that they are a status symbol, which I totally don't care about, but maybe just a little. I haven't looked into Thermador, but I've heard its lead time is also a year. I am going to compare Thermador too.

We've had such a good experience with our Sub Zeros that we just ordered the 42" French door Sub Zero for the kitchen at our next home. Currently I have a 36" all Refrigerator and a 36" all Freezer. They are now 29 years old and going strong. We did have some of the typical problems in the early years - my ice maker worked fine, but every now and then I had ice build up in the back. Since it was out of warranty I used a hair dryer to melt the ice but that got annoying. When I called my local repair company they called Sub Zero from my house and discussed the problem. Sub Zero offered to cover the part and I paid for labor. It's now worked fine for over 20 years. The compressor only had a 5 year warranty when I bought the freezer in 1988. And of course it died in year 7 - again my local repair guy called SZ - and again they covered the parts while I paid labor. My impatient 10 year old son tried to force the freezer door open after it had just shut - anyone who knows SZ knows that when you close it, you have to wait a few seconds for the pressure to equalize before opening it again. Well he managed to break the metal handle. I called SZ and after the customer service rep laughed he asked if I had been entertaining a frat party at my home. I told him it was my 10 year old and that I had witnessed it. He immediately told me he'd send me a new handle - no charge. Well this same kid (who is now an impatient adult) managed to break off the handle on the refrigerator a year later. Again I called SZ - however by this time they had changed the style of the handle. The customer service rep not only send me a new handle for free - he also sent a new one for the freezer so that I would have matching handles. Their customer service has been fantastic. That's the reason we ordered another one from them. I know I'm going to miss my 301 R and 301 F when we move . We're empty nesters and down sizing and I don't need or even have room for those big units - but DH and I both love to cook and we often make large casseroles and freeze meals for our kids. The 42" should work fine for us.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I'd post pictures, but I'm having trouble finding a showroom with the Jenn-Air refrigerator on display. The model is JFC2290 with the Euro handles (REM), or the Pro handles (REP). Either handle would be fine. The ovens I'm considering are the Electrolux EI30EW45PS or the Electrolux Icon E30EW85PPS. I don't need an exact match, just handles that don't look too mismatched! I was hoping someone with the same issue had found a solution :) lindsey - I know many on the appliance forum share your views about finding the best in each category, but my kitchen is fairly small, so I'd like appliances located right next to each other to have at least some visual similarities. My current oven is a Frigidaire Gallery, and it is horrible for baking! My old GE Profile did a much better job at baking.