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Small Kitchen: need 30 inch wide fridge counter-depth

14 years ago

We are doing a reno on our cottage which includes the small kitchen. Currently, we have a 30 inch wide bottom freezer that is almost 35 inches deep including the handle. We are thinking we should replace it with a counter-depth so it doesn't stick out as much. All I seem to find are 36 inch wide and 30 inch deep. Anybody with a small kitchen solve this problem? Would appreciate any help! TIA

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Comments (5)

davidro1
14 years ago
This is hard to resolve.

In the far distant future, kitchens will have one wall with a deep counter, i.e. 28" or 30" deep. Not today. Too many people cutting a 4' by 8' sheet in half to make "standard" size cabinetry....

Are you aware of Cabinet depth and Counter depth ? These are two different terms for what you want. One meaning the entire appliance including door is flush with your 24" deep counter -- but that loses So Much space I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Another term means the box before the door is 24" deep, and a thin door adds another 2 or 3 inches.

If your layout lets you use a French Door fridge without making you open both doors all the time, you have one more option and a more regular depth. The minute you look at a shallower depth French-door fridge you have to spend $500 more just for a basic model.

French-door fridge-bottom-freezers
LG
and another brand too, but I forget which one it is right now.

Single door fridge-bottom-freezers that are not as deep as Amana Whirlpool etc :
Miele KF1801 (84" tall).
Summit FFBF285SS 26" deep (75" tall). Only 28" wide so the door doesn't need as much space as a 30" door.
Liebherr has a couple.
Fisher Paykel is about 31" wide and 26" deep

Consider cutting into the wall to make a recess to stick the back of the fridge into.

-David
live_wire_oak
14 years ago
If you can go to 33" inch, you have multiple choices, including LG, GE, and the Maypool/Whirltag conglomerate.
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Counter depth is a little of a misnomer -- the box will likely be approximately the depth of your counter, but it can vary a bit. The door will stick out beyond cabinet depth. This is the version most folks are looking at -- budgeting $1,500-2,500. Built-in may be counter depth or flush. They will also be taller than standard fridge openings as well. And they run $6-7k and up, give or take. Outside of this forum and similarly obsessed folks, most who ask about counter depth are not asking for a built-in fridge. crl_ gave you my best tip for starting your search for either -- got to ajmadison and search by size. If there is a model to fit, they will probably have it there.
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If the standard depth is just visually intolerable in your kitchen (and probably would be for me, I just hate the sticks out like a sore thumb look), go with the counter depth. It will be smaller, but people tend to use what space they have, so I think you could make it work. If you need more space, put a standard fridge in the basement/garage for overflow. Or make a beverage center in another room with a mini or undercounter fridge. It's good for kids' drinks and social gatherings and doesn't impact kitchen traffic.
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I have a beach home with a 33 inch refrigerator. It is not counter depth. We built the house in 2011 and we are on a second one. The ocean environment is not kind. Ours is a second home that we rent so a different dynamic since you didn't mention renting. But rust was not the renter's fault - at least not entirely. It doesn't help to leave windows open in the summer which I am sure some renters do - or at least the shoulder seasons. So the 33 is a bit of a pain since the variety of replacements is less. Supply effects price. But no way would I be putting a counter depth one in - the replacement cost is too high especially if you are not using it everyday. This is what I see - 20 days a year, replace every 5 if you are lucky. So you only get 100 days of life from a fridge. So buy the $1000 model not the $3000 model. I have Subzero columns in our primary house - it is really hard to spend more on a fridge. Then there are the hurricanes. There is a reason why most beach houses are not all that fancy ..... Our house is 2100 sqft, 5 bedrooms. It will be full Memorial Day. With multiple kids per bedroom. We don't do bottled drinks much but our guest do. But every brings coolers anyway. But a 33 standard is bigger than a 30 counter - and we run out of room. FIshmarket + sports drinks + everyone bringing eggs - so there are 3 dozen in the fridge.....
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kulagal
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks David and LiveWire! I will look into these brands that have the 33 inch depth and see what comes up. For David: Unfortunately, there is no solid wall we can cut into to recess - the LVRM is on the other side. And, not sure about the FD idea (would like it though) because we only have counter space on the right side of the fridge and the right door would open up against the cab/counter thus limiting access.
alexrander
14 years ago
Liebherr makes a great 30" that is counter deep.
rnest44
14 years ago
Sub zero makes a 27" that is 84" tall and 24" deep. Big price tag like the Miele.
10.2 fridge and 5.1 in two freezer drawers for space. 700TC is the model and it's integrated.

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