I once stayed up all night worrying about my choice of drawer pull!!
I like the look of the counter-depth refrigerator, but did not go with it mainly because I need as much refrigerator space as possible. The counter-depth is too shallow inside for my family's needs and I needed to be more practical.

Go with your gut. If you plan on staying in the house 7-10+ years, then go for what will make you truly happy. You're more likely to regret want you didn't get, than what you did!

IMO, it's only an inch you'd be paying 2,000+ for, and personally I don't really care about built ins. I don't think it's worth it. Would that money really be worth spending on that one inch of extra space/the look of a built in?

However, if you really want a built in, why not go for it? It's your kitchen, not anyone elses. You're going to be the one looking at, thinking how nice it looks.

I just started using my new kitchen for Christmas. I absolutely love my frig but it's a regular Amana with freezer under. Great meat drawer and 2 veggie bins. There is no way my kitchen would look clean. The frig is on the end of the line of cabinets with a door going to the future porch on the left. On the left wall we have a gorgeous brick chimney and an antique wood stove. I don't think anyone notices the little gap around the frig since nor how much it sticks out. I would vote for which frig provide the best storage space for you. There's only 2 of us but I always have lots of fruit and vegetables, numerous condiments, etc. The freezer under works out terrific. I love the meat drawer. The shelves on the door hold 1/2 gallon containers of milk and juice, etc. Best wishes on your new kitchen!

Like Agnes, I'm not fond of built frigs either. I do, however ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our counter depth. I find that it's easier to "find" things in there and keep it neater because of the depth, and I don't mind wiping the interior down more often. I should mention that we have our old frig (not CD) in the basement should we need more space at holiday time.

But, it's your kitchen and you know what is practical for your family.

Here's my story of regret:
I remember when we got new windows many years ago and I had the option of getting a bay window in our family room for, I think, $700-$900 more, instead of two plain ones. I didn't do it because of the extra expense and have regretted it ever since. Maybe someday I'll replace it but they cost ALOT more now. In retrospect, the extra money wouldn't have broke the bank.

Go with your gut.

Such a tough question--and such a personal one. :) I have never had a CD fridge or a built-in, so I'm in the same boat as you. I found a KA FD built-in 42" fridge that has 16.7 cu ft of refrigerator space and 5.6 or 5.9 of freezer space. I'm seriously considering this one instead of a regular CD refrigerator because of the huge refrigerator space it would afford. I might even bump up to a 48" side by side, but I need to see one first, and I'm a little house bound right now because of my daughter (surgery, SPICA cast).

While that doesn't necessarily help you, maybe the information on the KA might help.

I'm also going with the same 42 inch KA French Door built-in. I'm being so manic about every other detail, I think it'll just bother me to have an integrated smooth look every where else but around the fridge. The KA seems like a good compromise for me. I'm probably giving up some interior space, but I'm sure my eyes would dart to that gap every time someone came in to see the kitchen.

Having said that, I never particularly noticed it before I started working on my own kitchen. I've looked at many beautiful kitchens with the counter depth - especially, since you're starting from scratch, you really can build around the fridge and the small gap will probably not be very discernable. I think that it's even possible to get the kitchen guys to build filler panels around the fridge & it'll look even more built-in.

I chose to save the $2,300 extra a built-in would have cost and went for the counter-depth with wooden panels.

And I regret it.

It's funny that I read this after reading the Electrolux fridge thread and noting how wonderful and lovely I thought Zelmar's fridge looked...Not even CD, I don't think. No one can decide what will be a priority or future regret for you. I know, though, that 2nd guessing is a terrible thing, and I'm doing everything to try to avoid it in our building project. This means some things I have to learn and decide to 'let go,' but others it means deciding ahead of time that the money and effort is worth it to KNOW I won't have regrets... Especially if it's an amount of money I won't notice is gone a month or two from now. Try not to hurry the decision, though. Often things that attack us like this (particularly at 'last minute' moments) fade away in a few days and we wonder why we made such a big deal out of the issue.

Here is a link that might be useful: See photo of Zelmar's non-builtin fridge

I may have the only built-in in my neighborhood and wondered if we were over doing it. I went to 48" and then changed models after the cabinets were ordered. Like you, e expect t be here for a long time. I love my fridge and don't regret it at all, but I didn't give up anything to get it.

My home is a custom home and in a neighborhood where I think built-ins will be seen more as homes go through more updating. In some of the other neighborhoods nearby, even in the same price range, I suspect that they might never have the same plus value as I suspect. But I bought the fridge for me and what I would enjoy using, and I do. Some of what I like is the shallower shelves and lack of lost science projects in the back. That would be similar in a counter depth. The full extension drawers that open with the doors at 90 degrees might be different. As far as the look -- some counter depths well fitted and trimmed out look better to me than some built-ins with metal trim around the panels and a grill on top. What looks good to you?

Wow, thank you so much for all the advice and opinions. I'm not worried about the storage space (I think they are both the same) it's purely from an aesthetic standpoint. I need to double check the outlet and check with the cabinet maker. If I could get them to make the space as tight as possible for the counter-depth fridge, maybe it will be okay.

I appreciate the different perspectives. I think it has helped me calm down and like many of you have said either will be perfectly fine and probably something I won't think about 6 months from now. Thanks for the help.

Ha! I just called GE and my appliances including my fridge shipped early and is on its way. I should have them by Tuesday.

I guess it's fate and meant to be that I get the counter-depth fridge and save (I'm sure I'll spend it elsewhere on the house) the money from not getting the built in.

Thanks again.

Well,

Glad to hear it. I was just about to type that you could just as easily end up 'regretting' spending the money if you had switched. We all have to make those judgement calls along the way, and not everyone is in the fiscal position or bent to spend whatever it costs to get whatever they want.

Now, on the other hand, My Mom, who fortunately IS in a fiscal position to pretty well get whatever she wants, regretted from the day it arrived, her SXS fridge that she had the builders 'build in' with drywall- she realized she wanted a bigger fridge. (Just her, but she entertains a LOT). I said Mom, don't complain, return the fridge, get them to take down the drywall filler, and order the fridge you really want- or I don't want to hear you complain one more time. Well, of course, she didn't. It is a year and a half later, and I bet you she still is complaining about her fridge (I don't live in the same town)- but it IS too late to change now.

Look at the thread running about photos of counter depth and built-in fridges. There are some counter depths there that look better that some I know folks have spent more on. I saw one in a house recently -- panels and all, and I didn't like it at all (IRL, so all you TKOs can relax and know it wasn't in your kitchen).

Here's an option that worked for us: we staggered the depth of the refrigerator cabinet and the two cabinets next to it. So, we have a regular depth french door refrigerator. To the refrigerator left is a 24 inch top cabinet that is 4-6 " shallower and to the left of that cabinet is a 12 inch top cabinet that is another 4-6" shallower. This gives a nice look (especially the top molding). These bottom cabinets to the left of the refrigerator are one depth and have furniture style feet.

This was the KD idea which we also used in another area. It adds visual interest and allows us to have the full depth refrigerator. I'm sorry that I'm unable to post a picture.

Raehelen - I think you are the voice of reason. You and others are very right that we make trade offs along the way and I need to simply be comfortable with my decisions and stop second guessing everything. Easier said than done, but I have to remind myself that ANYTHING we get in this kitchen is going to be better than what was in there before (1969 kitchen that had not been touched at all).

Ikremodel - I like your idea a lot and the staggering depth wouldn't draw attention to that clean line I was talking about. Unfortunately, we can't do that, because it would be too close to our island.

It will all be fine in the long run.

Lascatx, I know what you mean about the not so pretty built-in fridges. I'll probably have one of them, because I'm choosing function function function, and don't like other things about the prettier ones as well. That's something I'm still wrestling with. :)

Pdxgal, I like your attitude :)

We have a CD fridge & love it! It is not installed yet, we are in the middle of the renovation, our old fridge died and we moved up delivery of new one. I love the fact that the CD is taller and easier to see everything. Items don't get lost in back. I can't wait to see it installed with our new cabinets. My sister has a built in fridge and she has had many repairs, Consumer Reports doesn't rate them very well for repair issues. Save the $$ and splurge on something else.