I have a galley kitchen with a full size refrigerator - but I have the refrigerator at the end of the cabinet run so although it does stick out a little, it looks fine where it is. Even CD refrigerators stick out a little. Only fully integrated fridges are flush with the cabinets. In my case, I couldn't see paying nearly $1k more for a fridge with less room in it.

You can see pictures of my setup in the Finished Kitchens Blog. I tried linking directly to the most relevant photo but the link goes to the whole album. The third picture is the one that shows the best view of the firdge.

Here is a link that might be useful: fridge picture

This post was edited by weissman on Thu, Nov 28, 13 at 15:07

I wouldn't miss the extra space. You say you don't use it all now anyway. Do you think there is still sufficient freezer room? Sometimes those can be restrictive. Mine is small but I manage. Try eliminating a shelf and however less freezer room there is to see how you do.

Having a refrigerator sticking out in a small kitchen is an eyesore for me. I guess it also depends on the layout. So it depends how much of a difference it makes visually. Freezer bottom was another choice that made a world of difference for me. Hating your refrigerator is not worth it, imo. We spend too much time using and looking at them. I now love mine and it functions 1000 times better. (Now mine was $1000 total, not $1000 more).

This post was edited by snookums2 on Thu, Nov 28, 13 at 14:37

We went from a full size to a counter depth. It's just two of us and we don't entertain very much - 2 or 3 times a year for small parties. We got the Frigidaire counter depth that is only 28 inches deep (smaller than most) and 36 inches wide. We like it so far. 17 cu ft or so (I think)

The part I think I'm most worried about is the freezer space. But I'm thinking if it becomes an issue when/if I start cooking more, I could get one of those compact little freezers and put in our garage.

But so far I find it more a positive than a negative. I like being able to easily see what's on the whole shelf and not have to shuffle objects to see the items in the back. Freezer visibility is much better too. YMMV

I can't imagine that as two people it would be a problem.

We're a family of (very nearly) six and we're going from full-size to CD.

(Of course I have a full size AND a chest freezer in the garage, but there are a lot of us!)

There are some CD fridges that only have 1 sq ft less usable space (per consumer reports) than other full sizes.

We decided to go for it since the stuff in that last six inches of fridge is typically moldy and forgotten anyway.

Now, check back in six months and I may have decided I hated it, but right now I'm really excited about it.

I will say that it now pains me to see a full-depth fridge in nearly every kitchen.

I went from standard depth 24 cu. ft to a FP 17 and I am surprised at what I can fit in it, organized. I kept an older refrig for 4 years thinking I would need it but finally gave it away. Not once did I need it. We use a lot of fresh fruits and veggies every week.

I also have very small galley.

I am planning on getting a 33" wide bottom freezer fridge.
The kind with one big door. I've cut out the wall where it will go so the 30" depth will reduce to 27ish. I think it's like 22 cu ft. I think the 36" fridges are an eyesore in a small kitchen. Whether it's CD or not.

Well, I find that much of my fridge is like an archeological site in the back 5 inches or so, so a CD fridge may make it a lot easier to find stuff.

We had a full-size fridge in our last two kitchens and with just 3 of us at home, it was rarely full. In our new kitchen ("galley" of sorts - one wall and an island almost the same length), we chose a single-door 30" wide counter depth fridge. We don't need more, and this is an apartment - no one we ever sell to will need more either!

For reference: new fridge arrived today. We're moving from a classic "freezer on top" full depth unit to a CD side by side.

I had weeded a lot of stuff out of the fridge so it's not a good metric, but the freezer was packed full. The freezer contents fit in the new freezer with room to spare. And I'm giddy about having shelves and bins!

I went with a samsung side by side cd, I think it's 24 cu ft. Plenty big enough. I was worried about not enough freezer side as my old side by side had little. The samsung freezer side is wider, and because the ice maker is on the door there feels like a ton more space. I went with the side by side because it was only 36" wide and counter depth and the right price. The bottom freeze French doors were just too wide and too expensive.

Now I wish I had a counter depth refrigerator as I like the look better and I have short arms so I do not use the farthest away back of the refrigerator. I was warned to get a counter depth when I asked questions at the end of 2006 but I was knew to the kitchen forum and had not seen too many kitchens yet and formed what my taste was. Thank goodness for this wonderful forum teaching us a lot and letting us make our own decisions on what is best for each one of us. Everyone is so accepting and caring.

Very happy with our 48" CD sxs Craigslist SubZero. It worked beautifully with everything I had to cram in it for Thanksgiving. Not sure I'd be quite as over the moon if it wasn't 48" though. Guess we'll never know now!

It's mostly my DH & I and we have our current 25 cu ft regularly crammed to the gills. We shop COSTCO a lot as we prefer the quality of their fresh fruits and vegetables. When we make our weekly visit, we end up with things out since their is no room left. We literally have to eat our way to more room. Rarely does anything go bad. In our new plan we found a spot to have a full size frig in a 30" deep area so it will give the appearance of counter depth. I wouldn't want to be going to another frig in another area, to reload the main frig. That use to work when all 4 kids were at home but now I want all my food close at hand.

If you truly have enough room the majority of the time, you can always improvise for those exceptions a few times per year.

Here's my small galley with a 36" CD....the one thing I don't like is that it is against the wall....we have a 3" filler but even with that you can't open the right door all the way...it's just something we've gotten used to...there was really no other good place to put the fridge.

Joaniepoanie, I love your kitchen! I love the color of the cabinets, the appliances, the gorgeous floor with the staggered look installation of your beautiful tiles, the beautiful counters,, and the color of the wall. Sorry about the door problem. Thanks for letting us know to be careful.

Joanie,
I like that you used same material for backsplash and counters.