I'm in the same boat, except with the JA version of the same fridge (I like the JA handles better). Even shaving off a couple of inches would be a plus for me. Plus I truly wanted the integrated (paneled) look. But I've been to three showrooms to see the Liebherr, and the doors have been really awful in the closing/opening... they rub together and pull on each other. Some have taken a shove to close. Not what I want to pay 6K for plus the panels/handles. I've emailed the American company that does customer service for Liebherr... last Thursday... for where I could see a new one with "fixed" doors. Haven't heard back yet. It seems like people are happy with this fridge once they have their doors fixed. But I wouldn't want to spring for it unless I see one that is a pleasure to use. We really love that it makes real ice cubes, not crescent ice! A family pet peeve worth some $$ to eliminate.

If I could get what I want  it would be the new Sub-Zero BI-36R All Fridge with 23.3 cf interior, and the BI-36F all Freezer with 22.8 cf interior  wouldnÂt all that space right in the kitchen be wonderful? I think these go for about $6,000 each. At the other end of the scale are the Frigidaire Twins. These are not really built-ins, but come with a trim kit so that they look like built-ins. They each hold apx 16.7 cf and sell for about $800 a piece. The price difference blows our minds. We may end up with a 42 inch combo like you are looking for which is why I will be following your thread. :-)

Why the need to match fridge to range? Especially if you panel the fridge, then there is no cosmetic matching issue to speak of. But: speaking as a Therm/Lacanche owner, it's hard to argue with the SZ/Wolf combo. I think Viking and GE are out based on your criteria numbers 1 and 4. I think 3 is pretty much irrelevant as it's a wash with most unless you raise the open vs closed burner debate. That leaves 2: my personal bias is that the Therm/Lacanche combo wins the Looks competition, but obviously that's totally personal. Even ignoring the range, I like the Therms much better appearance-wise: while the BI may be an upgrade vs the older 600's, I still find the overhead grill to be very obtrusive: I think it defeats the whole purpose of integrated panels. You see it and think "Oh yeah, that's the SZ" whereas with the Therms, depending on hardware, folks say "where's the fridge?" Of course reliability and service may be a Therm issue: I'll see. But at least I'd consider Therms plus a Wolf (or the LC :-]

just my 2 cents.. i currently have the set up of your first drawing. where you have the pantry i have a wall to the living room, i put a 6 inch deep 5 foot high free standing shelf along the wall (easy to make) and i keep anything in glass jars on that, i have a reach in pantry.(where your deck is i have a bed room with a bathroom next to it, door facing the kitchen, and the pantry is between the bedroom and bath), the shelf i have is narrow enough not to impede the entry next to the peninsula, and it keeps me from worrying about having a glass jar break in the pantry, everyone who sees it thinks its a great idea (i keep remains of boxes of pasta in canning jars etc). my kitchen is open to the dining room, which no one who i see with this design uses as a dining room because the walk way to the sliding glass doors eventually takes precedence (Florida = Lani), or if they do, the table is pushed up against the wall which leaves seating for 4. i also have a slim cabinet and a semi-corner upper cabinet(s) on the wall to the right of the sink,my dish washer is in the spot of your original drawing, i have a lazy susan corner on the bottom in the corner. The over hang of the upper cabinets makes a spot to park the appliances with a clean up area right next to the sink which keeps things from sprawling, i have a set of drawers instead of a cabinet on the outside of the dishwasher, very handy.. . It seems to me that some people are sit-down-at-the-table types and some are more casual island eaters.. when my daughter was younger we used the large area of the peninsula to make bread and such from the dining room side, that way she could sit up and reach and it was a nice area to use for lots of things. the actual work flow on this for me is parking the grocery's on the peninsula and on flat stove top to load fridge, the biggest problem i have is with the microwave. first had it on the Pinn but if two people were in the kitchen there would be an issue with doing anything with the sink, i moved it to the other side of the sink, between it and the stove, its a better location but it uses up a lot of room and its awkward to get things in and out, for that reason alone i liked the idea of a microwave area. it looks like you currently have a microwave installed in the wall next to the fridge? My neighbor put his on the counter and then made a huge space above for an appliance garage, (think just one big shelf), you'd only have to close off the underside of the stairs really; the cool thing is he used a painting hinged on the corner side as a door. i would say live with it for a minuet first, and then if you were going to do anything i'd put a pantry at the end of the room like in the 3-D model Anna has, also the peninsula, if you are not going to use that room then you might want to shorten it, mine is a bit tight and the other issue is where to put the trash.. if you are an under the sink person then fine, but otherwise i ended up putting it at the end of the peninsula, now its tucked under on the outer side with a stool in front. what is really amazing is that so many people spent so much of their time to help you with this, and that i actually sat here and read each post.. it had a coffee table conversation feel to it, very well done everybody :) best of luck with the new home, the only other thing i would say is, you have to decide if you and SO need a break from the stress of actually buying the house before you start tearing it up (warning: only do ONE ROOM at a time) or if you are the kind of folk who like to get it all out of the way so you can be done with it.. may your home always be filled with love (and big ideas).. Lin