OK,

You know that with two toddler boys, your 'fridge' requirements are only going to increase with each passing year!

Though I understand and appreciate the aesthetic of the counter-depth, I think that the function of having so much more useable space, (Everyone I know with a S by S fridge/freezer complains about lack of storage space especially in the freezer side), would clearly outweigh the extra few inches of stainless showing. It looks like you have lots of room - can't see the other side, but I'm guessing you have over 4-5 feet to the wall/counter opposite the fridge?

Aren't you lucky to be able to return your lemon? Now you get to make lemonade! :>)

If it were my decision to make, I would keep it counter depth. Are there no other refrigerators that will fit your space and have a freezer at the bottom? Many people dislike the side by side models.

I also vote for staying with the counter-depth fridge. It looks like you have a very pretty kitchen, I think aesthetics are sufficiently important. Also, counter-depth fridges, while they have less space, are also less deep, which makes all of the space more accessible. Things won't get lost in the back of your fridge. Can you bump out the area to the right of the fridge to gain an additional 6" or so?

I vote counter depth. My monster of a frig is going to the basement once our remodel is complete.
You know what you have with the CD. If you decide to get the larger frig, and you regret it, what will you do then?

I have had my CD for a year. Even with two little boys, I've never regretted it. We have a fridge in the basement that provides extra freezer space, but I rarely use it. Have you had the CD long enough to know whether its too small for you? If it's been fine, I'd stick with it.

I have a counter depth KA french door. I like it very much, sometimes I think I would like it bigger, but all in all it is fine and it really looks pretty. It think you should stay with a CD.

I have the 24.1 counter-depth Samsung side by side and I love everything about it so far! I think you should definitely stay with a counter-depth fridge in your kitchen. I personally prefer a side by side freezer vs. French door freezer, more things are eye level. I think I would prefer the fridge part on a French door model though, but we have an island in front of our fridge and with the freezer of a French door open, it would not have left enough room to stand in front of it! Good luck, but I definitely think your refrigerator looks almost built in with a counter depth model and the Samsung one has great features and is really roomy inside! By the way, we are a family of 5 with an extra fridge in the garage for extra milk, water bottles and such.

I would also stick with CD. We had a FD fridge at the last house and I despised how it stuck out. I would get an extra fridge and/or freezer to put in another area (basement/garage) for extra storage. Plus I think with a little less room, you tend to clean the fridge out a little more often and it doesnt get cluttered with leftovers and other unused items.

We just got back from an appt. with our KD and keep going around this same thing. I have been wanting a reg depth and it is so hard trying to decided to settle with the counter depth. Our KD says that building out the pantry to 30" will look way too big. So it is either a panel and reg depth or a more pleasing looking counter depth. It is a difficult decision since CD certainly looks much better. I guess if you are used to counter depth already is sure does look better to stick with that instead of a big fridge poking out. Good luck!

jillkins: The full depth Samsung fridge you are considering has grey plastic sides, so if you don't like your current fridge pulled out (which doesn't look horrible, due to the SS side panels) you'll really dislike the Samsung.

hailysuper: In the end, you have to live with your kitchen and your fridge should be most of all useful. You can pull your fridge cabinet forward of the surrounding pantry cabs (like a pulled sink cabinet) or make the entire pantry extra deep.

idrive65- She says that pulling forward the pantry will just look terrible and that 24" is the standard pantry size and that it is not possible to have a deeper pantry- these are semicustom cabinets and they don't even make a deeper pantry. I guess I am just really unhappy with how today went. When she started our design we told her that we wanted our pantry and above the fridge cabs to be deep to the end of the fridge and from what we could tell from the design they were. To get an actual copy of the design and measurements to take home you have to make a deposit of half down and that is when we saw more the pantry problem. I guess I am just really frustrated and venting because I feel that I've made a very poor choice with going with this company and that I was somewhat misled by what we told her we wanted and what she actually was able to do. I have learned from this mistake the hard way because even though nothing has been ordered they will not give my money back. Sorry to take over the thread. I am just venting my frustrations. The fridge was just the beginning of the problems.

I may be the lone voice....

I too like the look of the CD, but I have to go with function over form (and my budget won't allow for a high-end CD with the storage space I need). I will be putting the massive Samsung 26 cu ft refrigerator in my new kitchen. It will be at the end run of a counter against the wall and this should make it less noticeable (I hope). I have a fridge in the basement now and find that I prefer to have what I need in my kitchen.

How large is the current fridge and has that met your needs? If not, then a larger one might be better for you.

If you don't mind going back and forth to the basement, you could always go with another CD fridge and depending on your need for additional refrigerator or freezer needs, get an extra freezer for the basement as well or a larger 2nd refrigerator.

Personally, I don't enjoy going up and down the stairs (I'm not that organized - it always seems that what I need is in the downstairs fridge). I will be putting our current fridge in the basement (I try to keep extras there - milk, OJ, fruit) and anticipate at some point purchasing a freezer as well. I have a DS who is only 6 and on some days has quite an appetite. I can only imagine what it will be like when he is a teenager and he and his friends raid the fridge.....

A friend who just redid her kitchen did a CD but also put in refrigerator drawers (2) in her island where all the beverages are stored - could this work for you? It really freed-up space in her fridge. If I had the $$ and the space I would have done the same thing.

Good luck, this isn't an easy decision.

I have to agree with kitchenredo2. Consider how long you expect to have this fridge. Toddler boys grow up awfully fast and pre-teen boys eat like horses! I chose function first, have the biggest honking fridge I could fit in my kitchen and I still don't have enough room to feed my boys. You might still go with the look you prefer, but start them young learning to go to the basement fridge!

Thanks you everyone for your opinions! As of this moment, I am leaning towards the CD. I think it will look better and the Samsung is larger that most CDs. I do have a butlers pantry area that is in the hallway from the kitchen to the dining room, and I could easily convert one of the cabinets to accomodate a refrigerator drawer or beverage center. I also have a frig in our kitchenette in the basement, so I think we should be covered. Now, as an indecisive female consumer, I reserve the right to change my mind!