The first version of my new kitchen layout needed a CD FD fridge. After much research, I had decided on the KA pro. Now, my layout has changed to being better with a single door bottom-freezer. I chose the KA again. It's sitting in my garage right now awaiting install next month so I can't give it a review. KA is well-regarded here. During my research, my trusted family friend/appliance salesperson told me she does not recommend Elux appliances because of reliability issues. I was planning on the Elux non-icon ovens despite her advice. She said whatever I do, don't buy one of their fridges. Hard to know as many here like their Elux fridges.

>>>"Only thing that would fit"Fit how? Height? Width? Depth? Is that "fit" still a controlling factor or will your kitchen remodel allow you to work around the fridge? I ask these questions because any counter depth fridge over 19 cu. ft. is going to be about 36 inches wide (actually 35 and some fractional inches). CD fridges also tend to be slightly taller than similar capacity standard depth models. I just bought a new fridge a week ago and went through some of the same searching you seem to be slogging through. AFAIK, all of the available BF fridge models with capacities over 19 cu. ft. are FD models except for (I think) a GE model that sells for about $2500. Getting a FD model will expand your choices for larger capacity CD fridges. I looked for Counter-Depth (CD) models, and focused on FD models because my kitchen is so narrow. (How narrow? Well, the door of a conventional fridge almost touches the countertop on the other side of the room.) The problem that I ran into was that I wanted/needed a 22 cu. ft. capacity fridge and the CD versions with that capacity were significantly beyond my budget. FD fridges are not everybody's preference. Some people do find them annoying. Do a search here and you'll find several recent threads that discuss the pros, cons and personal preferences on this subject. Basically, choosing a FD design means giving up some storage space on the doors. It also means paying attention to a pair of doors rather than a single door. Bottom freezers also tend to have less capacity than top freezers. I looked at the KitchenAid Architect Series II KBFS20EV, which you mentioned. However, at 19 cu. ft., the capacity was a little too small for me. The models that were the next size up (21-22 cu. ft.) were more to my liking but at $2600 to $2900, the models were too expensive for my budget. (My budget was less than yours, I might add.) I wound up getting a standard depth KitchenAid KBFS22, instead, for a little over $1400. The link below is my review. A lot of what I said applies to the KA CD models. It may answer some of your questions. There are a number of 20-22 cu. ft. freestanding capacity CD fridges but all of them are over $2k in price. LG has a 20 cu. ft. one for about $2150, and there was a Frigidaire Gallery model with 22.6 cu. ft. capacity (FGHG2344MF) that was about $2100 at AJ Madison but rather more expensive elsewhere. The GE Cafe you mentioned runs somewhere between $2300 and $2500, but I think it is a rebadged LG from when GE stopped making its own fridges, and the out-sourced GEs had a terrible reputation for quality control. (Consumer Reports surveys showed recent GE fridges with a 25% problem rate up through last year.) GE started its own production last July at its new plant in Louisville but I did not see any of the line in the local stores when I quit shopping a couple of weeks ago. I suspect that the larger capacity FD/CD units will be outside your $2k budget. As for Whirlpool, all the larger-capacity CD models I saw were models that had through-the-door dispensers (which you do not want) and were only marginally less expensive than the models in the KitchenAid line. (BTW, Whirlpool owns KA, Maytag and Amana, and makes all of those FD fridges in its plant in Iowa.) Up until the most recent CR survey results, Whirlpool was far and away the most reliable line of fridges with an 8% problem rate. THe latest CR survey results came out a couple of weeks ago. They show WP has slipped some as the members are now reporting a problem rate of 12% (which may be a result of WP and KA selling a lot more fridges with through-the-door dispensers which seem to be problemmatic for all makers and cause a lot of the reported problems.) As for Kenmore, my recollection is that the only FD/CD models all had through-the-door dispensers, were made for Sears by LG, and were over $3k. Here is a link that might be useful: kitchenaid kbfs22ewms7 22 cu. ft. fd fridge review

I purchased the KA CD FD 72" high model last fall and so far I really like it. I seriously looked at the Liebherr but in the end I really needed white not stainless - wish the Liebherr had come in white. Whilst I really liked the Liebherr produce drawers (much bigger than on the KA) I also like the split shelves on the KA that I can adjust as two columns. I thought this unit was vastly overpriced relative to the shorter model and the standard depth units, but I really liked the upgraded interior and the hidden hinges etc on the 72", and especially the better sliding produce drawers, so I sprung for it. It would be great if the produce drawers were were larger and deeper like on the Liebherr but I use the veggy green bags and store the extra produce on the glass shelf just above the drawers. It is reasonably quiet, but then I have it where the noise is not an issue in any case. The ice maker seems to work fine for us - but this is my first fridge with ice and so that is already a luxury for me. I could do without the water dispenser - the water tastes disgusting and plasticy. We do not use it and I wish it were not there. My ideal would be to have only the icemaker, no water! For me this was the best fridge outside the Liebherr. However, I could not justify the expense of the Libeherr when I would be compromising on the stainless vs the white. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply. We are in Canada, Ontario, and our prices are significantly higher than the US prices. There is very little difference between Benchmark and 800 series range - Benchmark has 20,000 BTU middle burner vs 18,000 BTU for 800 series. Benchmark has one telescopic rack - 800 series does not have it. Price difference is about $300. Best deal I found for Bosch fridge in Canada is $3300 (this is with Bosch rebate going on) and I can get ELUX for $2200 + 3 year part warranty from Electrolux thrown in. I would prefer Bosch even though it's smaller than Electrolux, but the price difference is huge, Bosch is almost $1000 more. Another dilemma is how interchangeable these fridges are. The cabinets will be custom made, and the fridge will be in the wall of cabinets. Bosch / JA are 72" high, and Elux is about 70" high. I already accepted the idea that these fridges will not last more than 7-8 years, and then I will need a new fridge to place in the same opening. Would you buy extended warranty with any of those appliances? Is it worth it? Thanks