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Do you like your island refrigerator???

15 years ago

I never planned to spend $1100 on a kitchen island refrigerator, thought the Magic Chef Beverage cooler ($350)would be sufficient.Now I'm debating that purchase due to cooling complaints. I'm hoping a frig will be handier for the island, we are using this for our kitchen table. We have a bar in the basement,so I really don't need the wine cooler. Am I making the right choice??

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Comments (5)

sewwhatsnew
Original Author
15 years ago
{{!gwi}}

heres the frig

Husband insists the handle must pull open from the right side, to the right of the frig there will be 18" drawers. I feel the island would look better to have hinges toward the middle and pull at the left. Functioning might be a bit awkward, but it seems to look more balanced to me.
Anyone with the same setup?? Is he right???
idrive65
15 years ago
I love having my island fridge. I wanted the handle the way you want, but it came the way your husband wants and I actually like it better for traffic. We keep soda and water bottles in ours. I don't like the particular model of fridge we have (ugly!) but that's another story. There's a lot of sun glare in this photo but you get the gist of it.

{{!gwi}}
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palimpsest
15 years ago
Without knowing the layout of the kitchen, I would have a hard time deciding whether it was really necessary.

There is a big difference between $350 and $1100, and even the best undercounter units have some problems in terms of their efficiency and repair records, and once its there, as a built in, its not easily reversible.

I know someone who stores extra pots and pans in their no-longer functioning and too expensive to replace small built in. Just something to keep in mind if your main fridge in all reality is going to be steps away.
bbtondo
15 years ago
I LOVE my beverage refrig in my peninsula. I keep water, beer, soda and wine in it. It frees up my regular refrig. I have the Magic Chef from HD. I was lucky to get it for $299. and then a $50 rebate. I knew before I bought it that it would not get beer as cold as I Like. When I have an extra $1,000 and more hanging around, I may replace it with a refrig that keeps things colder. For now, it serves the purpose and looks good. It is not cold enough to put perishables in. The coldest it will get is between 39 degrees and 42 degrees. Good luck with your decision!

Barb
sewwhatsnew
Original Author
15 years ago
Idrive65, handle on the right, like yours is how I felt it should be, the frig is in a 24" cabinet and can be replaced, not essentially built-in. I could start with the Magic Chef, thanks bbtondo, but since its spring my money tree will be blooming, I'm going to spend $1059, really its only $650 more, and it will match the Jenn-Air appliances. There are 2 sets of 24" cabinets on one side, and the other will have frig with 18" 3 drawer base next to it. The walkway is only about 36" so I suppose I should
open the handle from the middle, or I'd be standing in the walkway to open it, right???
Thanks all, tomorrow I place my Jenn-Air large order, hope I made the right decisions, getting black glass doors on CD FD frig and dishwasher. Dual fuel range, and microhood and this undercounter frig too.

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