Built-In Fridges: KitchenAid KBFN406EPA or Liebherr HCB2062?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I am struggling to choose between these two built-in refrigerators -- or whether to abandon the entire paneled, fully built-in look and go for a counter-depth refrigerator.

As I see it, the Liebherr is the more stylish choice. It looks truly built-in and hidden with panels, and it feels luxurious on the interior with soft-close doors and clear-bottomed door shelves. But I have three main worries: (1) Given the location of the compressor on the bottom, is this fridge too tall for me? I'm 5'6" and while I can reach the top shelf, this is definitely higher than I'm used to reaching in a fridge. (2) The fact that the shelves can't be adjusted in a "split shelf" way means that there will be more wasted space than necessary, and (3) Will we have repair problems with this German refrigerator? Consumer Reports seems to not be a huge fan. But, boy, is this a beautiful fridge, and it has most of the features I'm looking for. Love the dual freezer drawers.

The KitchenAid is absolutely perfectly thought-out on the inside: split shelf (so fully adjustable), lots of room for gallon containers on the door, and everything's at the heights I'm used to, since the compressor is on top. On the other hand, perhaps BECAUSE the compressor is on top, and that panel will just unmistakably look like a refrigerator panel.... it looks clunky, at least from what I can see online. It doesn't look beautifully built-in. And I just can't help but notice that the parts inside are plastic and look like the parts of ANY KitchenAid. It doesn't feel like a luxurious, integrated refrigerator worthy of the price tag.

The KitchenAid would cost $1,000 less, so that's a consideration... I'd just love some advice on this choice. Anybody out there have experience with either of these built-in refrigerators (or consider them for purchase recently)?

Featured Answer

Nancy Trainer
Original Author

7 years ago

We did make a choice; we went with the KitchenAid. I'm generally happy we did. In the end, after much angst, we just couldn't live with the height of the shelves in the Liebherr. It seemed like something that could potentially be an issue literally every day and prove to be too annoying.

We felt like choosing the Liebherr could be like marrying a supermodel: Gorgeous on the outside, but potentially lots of hidden issues (repairs?) and not very practical on a day-to-day basis (shelf height, no ability to "split" shelves). Sorry if I'm offending you supermodels out there!

Here's a photo of our (nearly finished) kitchen with the refrigerator shown:

As you can see, it sticks out just a bit from the rest of the cabinetry, but honestly it does integrate pretty well; while no one is going to doubt where the fridge is -- guests ARE confused as to where the dishwasher is, by contrast -- the paneling provides good visual relief.

Haven't taken our professional photos yet, but for all you white kitchen haters, this one has a wall of natural cherry cabinetry:

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Comments (11)

Rob
7 years ago
Which choice did you make and are you happy with it?

-Rob
www.ahomefromscratch.com
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I would take the time to look at the KA, along with other Whirlpool Fridges (Jenn-air) for example. Most, if not all of these fridges use the same variable speed compressor (Whirlpool), that Jenn-air first came out with back around 2005. (But Double check that to be sure!!!) I'm not positive at this point that "ALL" the SZ's use this newer compressor as SZ tends to keep this type of info, Well Hidden, We do know that the SZ's that use the VSC use the Whirlpool compressor. So "most all" of these fridges are using the same "Guts" (compressor and controller board for it), so---- when you are paying that extra $1500 you are paying for ("extra fit and finish") and there is the "distinct possibility", you "Might" be paying for "Dated Technology" in some models of the SZ. You will be paying for 2 compressors in the case of SZ and I believe Miele. I have yet to taste ice cubes that taste like bacon or vice versa,(in any fridge) that I have had for the 50 or so years that I have owned fridges, so I have lived Nicely, all my life with single compressor fridges. You will see where folks claim that the produce last longer with the SZ's and Liebherrs "Biofresh", but you will also see the same type of comments from posters with single compressor fridges (Jenn-Air) for example. I think the reason for the produce lasting longer (along with some of the other "Magical attributes") of the dual compressors, is more likely due to the better insulation the newer fridges have along with the better and more even and consistent temp control--(Jenn-air, I believe, is claiming +/- half a degree (F) temp accuracy in their new ones,) and I have seen others claim at least +/- 1 degree (F). So big thing is, "Most all" have the same "Whirlpool guts",(Not positive about Liebherr). See if you really think the fit and finish and other "Xtras" are worth the xtra money. Back in 2006 when I bought my Jenn-air, it was much better lit inside, it had the adjustable shelves with crank handles, it had digital readouts for 3 areas of the fridge (each individually adjustable) along with another digital readout and control for the freezer. Back then SZ had none of this. It had Huge Gills showing at the top, and add the fact that Consumer Reports rated the SZ dead last for reliability and Jenn-air #1 for reliability made it an easy decision for me. Now fast forward 5 years, Jenn-air still quiet, efficient, and completely trouble free, plus back in 2006 I pocketed about a $4000 savings. Unfortunately Jenn-air is not the bargain it was back in 2006 as Whirlpool bought Jenn-air, and Price fixed it, like Miele and SZ, deciding to make it "High end" by increasing its price, close to that of SZ and Miele--- OH well, At Least Miele and SZ were first at that, even thou it took them a bit longer to compete "Technically" Good luck on your decision!! Gary
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Rob
7 years ago
Nice! Thanks for your response. We have a Thermador built-in now (www.akitchenremodel.com) and are generally pleased with it but want to move to a 42" hence the consideration for KA and related brands.

Love your kitchen and the wall of cabinets is beautiful.

Question for you about your recessed lighting between the island and cabinets - is one row of them at the edge of your counters and the other row centered in the aisle? Are they all 6", or 5"?
Nancy Trainer
Original Author
7 years ago
The lights are all 3-3/4"; Lightolier 2000LV. I like the smaller aperture of the recessed cans, but to be honest these were chosen by our architect and not us. This was one of those things where I figured a recessed can was a recessed can and I didn't need to do the research myself. In retrospect, if I were choosing, I'd go with something the same size, but a can that (a) didn't have an MR-16 lightbulb -- they are a pain in the @(# to change, and (b) was a wider floodlight so the pool of light spread out more. But I'm really nitpicking when I say this. One more factor -- these are halogen. I'm kinda nuts about wanting halogen lights rather than LED.

You're seeing correctly; one set of cans is centered in the aisle. The row of lights that's at the edge of the counters was something I added during the renovation because I'm very nuts about lighting. I like a kitchen where you don't have to turn on the under-counter lights in order to cook at night. To me, adding those cans made a huge difference, but your mileage may vary. I'm sure some people would be perfectly content with just the aisle lights -- perhaps particularly if they had a wider flood angle.

We considered the Thermador built-in as well. As I recall it didn't have the capability to have split shelves (so... less flexible interior), and also had the compressor on the bottom, so it was high, like the Liebherr. There was something else regarding the door shelves that we didn't like, as I recall... perhaps they weren't adjustable, either, or the opaque bottom... but it's a well-reviewed fridge, to be sure. These choices are so personal!
Devorah Kan
2 years ago
@nancy trainer- I’m considering the kitchen aid built in. How has yours been all these years? Any repairs? Do you recommend?
Nancy Trainer
Original Author
2 years ago
It's been quiet and reliable, no repairs at all. Yes, I'd definitely recommend it, though (as you can see) it isn't exactly the most stylish fridge. On the other hand, it's been a workhorse and we get the style in our kitchen from our (blue) range. :)
Devorah Kan
2 years ago
Why do you think it’s not stylish?
Nancy Trainer
Original Author
2 years ago
Oh, well, it's not truly built in and so it sticks out a bit into the kitchen, plus having the compressor on top makes that panel much more noticeable.
akrogirl32
2 years ago
We have had our Liebherr for about ten years now, and it is still completely silent. I am only 5’4”, but I have never had any problems with the height. We bought it because we needed a fridge with finished sides, which didn’t give us many options at the time.
Ybrik Uil
2 years ago
Nancy -- I came across a post you made years ago about movable "chandelier" track lighting. I was wondering if I could DM you to ask some questions?
Nancy Trainer
Original Author
2 years ago
Ybrik,

I don't know how to give you personal information in this public forum without revealing it to everyone on Houzz (which I don't want to do). Happy to answer any question you may have but I'm not sure how to do that privately.

Built-In Fridges: KitchenAid KBFN406EPA or Liebherr HCB2062?

Nancy Trainer
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Built-In Fridges: KitchenAid KBFN406EPA or Liebherr HCB2062?

Nancy TrainerOriginal Author

Comments (11)

Rob

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