After MUCH research , I bought a Kenmore French Door w/ice & water in the door. I previously had 3 different side by sides. My last SBS was two years old and ruined by Hurricane Ike. I also had a separate freezer in the garage that wasn't replaced. I discovered that I didn't need a separate freezer due to the extra freezer space gained with the French Door model. The French Door style accommodates larger items that will not fit in the narrow side by side freezer. I love the french door style. The ice and water feature on the outside causes the loss of some fridge space, but I was willing to make that sacrifice. My first SBS was one of the very first made by Sears, a Coldspot. It lasted 26 years or so. I hope this Kenmore will last as long. (I know I won't last that long)

Thanks! rhome, your lower shelf setup sounds like what I'm envisioning...even if the shelf is only 12" deep, it will be pulled out so that it's flush with the 24" side panels (we'll have panels on both sides of the fridge). It's just the space behind that would be dead. I could just put some boxes or bins back there, though---maybe an easier/cheaper solution? @chris45ny, I've seen some super creative wine storage options for that space, including one (on IKEAFans, I think?) that even included a hanging wine glass rack. :) We don't need wine storage, though, as we have a separate storage area for that in our dining room (and DH is busy converting our basement into a wine and beer storage space, since it's a lot cooler than the house). Cookbooks are definitely the front runner as they're the only thing that's really unaccounted for in the kitchen layout (well, that and dog food, but I'm thinking over the fridge is not such a hot plan for that!) Just trying to get my head around the logistics of it all!

Appliances nowadays can last as long as they did in the past ... except that people now are loath to repair them largely due to service costs. The 1962 Whirlpool washer that started my family needed *many* repairs in the 15 years we had it, including the bearings replaced. Bearings bad again is what led to a new machine ... which was another Whirlpool that had considerably fewer repairs (no bearings) in its 18 years of use ... which led to another Whirlpool (also 18 years) which also had considerably fewer repairs than the 1962. Newer machines, design improvements, longer service life. My GE refrigerator being 13 years old and still running in my kitchen doesn't mean there haven't been repairs. The typical consumer would have thrown it out 7 years ago when the motherboard went bad and complained "arggghhh, it only lasted 6 years" ... but I am not a typical consumer, and I can DIY almost any repair (got the board for $125 from an eBay seller). Assuming someone else would have opted to have the first repair done (probably ~$300+), then perhaps it would have been tossed 3 years later when the ice dispenser chute solenoid malfunctioned because "that's two problems in 3 years, it's no good." I got the part from an online vendor for $24. Then two months later the ice maker water inlet valve went bad ($22). So yeah, it's 13 years and still running. And I haven't spent $1500+ for a new SxS stainless steel finish refrigerator like most other people would have done. My EnergyStar dishwasher is 14 years old. I don't know what are the current requirements on power consumption for EnergyStar qualification on refrigerators. I have clocked the GE with a Kill-a-Watt meter as pulling only 100 watts with the compressor running (throttled down to low speed). A compressor properly sized to the load will run close to 100% of the time, maintain a more consistent temperature, and pull lower wattage when running than one that's oversized and runs for shorter periods with wider temperature swings. This also applies to home air conditioning, and is the premise of two-speed systems. Story: My parents 15-ish years ago had a Lennox two-speed heat pump installed to replace a 1972 York. Electric bill dropped enough that the electric provider came to check if there's a problem, LOL. One of their neighbors decided to have his system replaced with the same after talking to dad, then got upset because the new system ran for much longer periods of time (at low speed). He had the installer rewire it to run only on high speed, so it would "cool down and shut off like my old one did" which completely negates the benefits of the two-speed system.

Hi simmtalker, I have the Maytag MBF2258DEM which I think is the same (at least looks the exact same) as the model you are considering. I love this refrigerator and have had zero problems with it in the 4 years I have owned it so far. I had to work with size constraints as well--but I am so glad I went with the single door vs French door. I agree with you, however, that refrigerator drawer quality for this model is obnoxious. But the drawers have not broken down at all for me either--though I was definitely expecting them to. No too warm or too cold spots. Door holds ALOT. Also, I love the ice "bucket" in the freezer so much more than an ice dispenser through the door. It is easy to clean; and easy to remove for parties or large quantity ice dispensing. Lighting for upper "fridge" portion is lovely. Honestly--the reviews are what led me to this refrigerator--and now I am raving along with the rest of them :) Let me know if you have other questions.