Post a layout in the Kitchen forum for layout ideas. Those guys will find the room. Even if its undercounter.

Here is the rendering of the kitchen:

And thank you, plllog! That is exactly what I was thinking about the refrigerator. I do like the look of counter depth and like the idea of having less to dig through in the main refrigerator. The basement will be finished too.

The over + microwave combo does concern me...

Before I offer any advice, let me just say that's a beautiful kitchen rendering; the white is so classic. Good choice!

I liked plllog's comment; it was witty AND informative. I, too, had a combination microwave and wall oven, and when the microwave went kaput, it was more cost effective to replace the whole thing thus sending a perfectly good oven to the dump. If I had it to do all over again I'd definitely have a separate microwave (but not UNDER the countertop, which makes my back hurt even THINKING about it) because they really are just another "plug and play" small appliance--only bigger! I mean, I wouldn't buy a dishwasher/stand mixer combo, would I? (I know, apples and oranges...)

SO, what about a range instead of the cooktop, which would still allow you to have the microwave where you have it in the rendering? Or, you could extend the countertop to the left of the cooktop and have the microwave on a shelf. This would of course require that section of cabs which now houses the oven combo to be pushed back in line with the cooking area, but it looks like you could really benefit from that extra counter space for, let's say, your coffee maker or canisters. It'd also be a great place to put a stand mixer (unless you opt for the dw/mixer combo). ;)

BTW: It's not "shallow" to consider the form, in addition to the function, when choosing your appliances. Who doesn't like pretty things??

Thank you, Samantha (for the compliment on the kitchen and the advice)! I considered a range instead of a cook top, but really hate ranges. The stuff that gets down the sides of them, kids playing with the knobs, etc. Is it possible to just get a separate microwave and a separate oven and just mount them on top of each other (maybe a people of wood/cabinetry between)?

We have a 15 year old GE Profile combo. The microwave has lost its magnetron a couple of times. I had it serviced by the local GE dealer for a couple hundred dollars the first time. The second one I bought on the net and had my handyman install it and a new capacitor. Total cost was about 250 ( inflation). I see high end profiles for about $2500 new and $1600-$1900 refurbished at a Sears outlet. The latter only works if you live near one.

Yes, you have a structural shelf between them, and separate wiring. It costs just a little more, plus the 2" vertical, but even given Nerdyshopper's good experiences with refurbing the MW in place, I think it's a better way to go. You can get a 240V built in MW or a $100 Costco one (which you can also trim out to look flush if you want). The latter is best if you don't use the MW for much, the former for if you want it to do a lot of difficult tasks.

I will be the lone dissenting opinion. I have a 36" built in counter depth fridge now. There's only 2 of us, but with water bottles, condiments and a few other things - there's simply not that much room. So - we have a HUGE ASS Samsung french door fridge in the finished basement. And pretty much ALL the large things, sports drinks, sodas, leftovers or anything with any depth goes in there.

I DESPISE running up and down stairs for getting the crap, then I forget something, so I go back down, then I got back when I am done. One day of thanksgiving leftovers (4 trips - gravy, the turkey, mashed potatoes and the pans of dressing) and you'll be with me. Or - you'll get all your cardio in with your fitbit and be THRILLED.

Is there any space to recess the full depth huge french door so it's a little less "in your face"? Like - make a door frame in the back wall and then only have drywall on the room behind it? that gives you another 3" to push it back and it looks semi-built in?

I don't think you can have too much room in the main fridge. Up and down stairs for stuff like that gets OLD.

I'm with Jannicone. I'm continually disappointed with how little a counter depth French door refrigerator holds - especially one with an icemaker.

There are choices. Choose a huge fridge, devote space and budget to it, and then everything is in one place. Or, deal with what is on the market and is affordable.

I, personally, don't care for FD fridges. I don't like the clattering. I don't like the loss of door space. Certainly don't like a fridge with water in the door because it looks hideous (which I don't feel is shallow to consider) and the water always tastes horrible.

There are built in units that provide ample storage and are all fridge. There are built in all freezers in several configurations. Some are residential and some are commercial. I grew up in a house with commercial units like those. They were huge and they served a large family.

A non-counter depth fridge can be built to look counter depth. But the door will stick out -- per the look in the rendering. If that's ok then that's a conversation to have with the builder or whomever is designing the cabinets.

Jannicone brings up a good point. The interior of the fridge is more important than the exterior. I have a 30" built-in all fridge column. On the shelves above where a bottom freezer would be, I can store far more than will fit in some people's 36" counter depth (which is a little deeper than built-in as well). It's not only what will fit, but how you can customize the interior to fit what you want to fit where you want to fit it. I have the bottom shelf low for short things like jam jars, the next shelf higher for cantaloupes, pickle jars, etc., the shoulder height shelf for tall things like wine bottles, and anything else that's bulky, and the top shelf short because the top of my fridge is very cold. Yoghurt and cheese mostly go up there.

One thing that makes the shelves so spacious is that the door bins are narrow. They're great for condiments and sauces. Since the door is the warmest part of the fridge, it's a poor place for milk, even though a lot of people do that.

I have a flat pack drawer, which I love, and a full width butter box on the door, which I keep lower (warmer) and use the top of as a shelf. I don't have a lot of the single use contraptions like a hanging horizontal soda bottle cradle or fitted egg compartment. Those take up a lot of space!

So, make sure you like the interior of your looks fridge and that it'll fit the stuff you really want to keep in the kitchen!