I use three ice cube trays that have covers (by Tupperware), and the ice can remain in the freezer for some time because of the cover. Quick and easy to use and it provides more than enough ice for our day-to-day demands. If we have a party, we can just buy ice at that time. I have an icemaker in my current refrigerator, but never connected it; and when I buy a new refrigerator, I won't connect the ice or water for that one either. I don't miss the icemaker at all, but I can't say whether you will or not. If you feel you will not, then just get some good quality ice cube trays with covers.

Clear ice makers, by design, don't freeze the ice. U-Line does make a combo unit, but it's effectively a beverage center and a clear ice maker side-by-side in the same unit and sharing a compressor. The ice bin in a clear ice unit is insulated, but not refrigerated. The older ice in the bottom of the bin is constantly melting and being replaced with fresh ice. (For this reason, clear ice is also called "wet ice".) This, plus the flushing action after each harvest cycle, requires a drain. All stuff that keeps the ice always fresh, but uses a lot more water. This is why restaurant/hotel ice is so different than the stuff you get from your fridge. Basically, there is no way to put a clear ice machine in a fridge, because it needs to be separate. Also do be aware that clear icemakers are much noisier than regular residential icemakers - this is largely because of the different technique used to make the ice and is not particularly model-specific. BTW, I have the CLRCO2075 (older version of the U-Line mentioned above) and it's moderately noisy but works well. Loud clunk during harvest, no one's getting around that. The water valve is LOUD during fill - definitely the most annoying noise it makes. Circulation pump's pretty quiet, only slightly louder than my Miele dishwasher. Recovery time on the fridge side is great - it maintains temperature in there much better than a "dorm fridge" even though it's a similar size of unit.

I've wrestled with this issue, too, in the design of our new home which will be in a hot, humid climate. I will have a standalone freezer in the laundry room with a French-door style refrigerator in the kitchen. From reading about French-door refrigerators with the icemaker in the door, they do not produce a lot of ice. So if you have guests in the summer, you'll run out of ice quickly. My current side-by-side refrigerator has a huge ice bin and we run out in the summer occasionally. The only solution I came up with is an undercounter icemaker. They are obscenely expensive because they are essentially a mini-freezer. Browsing online I think you can get a good unit for about $1300-1500. Also factor in that you will need a water line to the icemaker and a drain line, too. From what I have read, don't go cheap on icemakers because they can be unreliable.

Best of luck as you part with bucks for appliances which no longer are made to last. Chilling. 1). have a 501R sub zero 36" all refrig. No longer made 20+ yrs old. Had it serviced twice and it runs well still. ALL service folks tell me that for the price these days (5-6x what it cost in 1994) to NOT buy. So I went to liebherr on a second home remodel and LOVE it totally. 24" all refrig column with BioFresh drawers. Performance has been excellent, quiet, price is lower tier of upper end, unit is 5 years pls. 2) have had total misery with full freezers. Each one gets out of skew and frosts up around door. THREE of them so no more run of the mill models for me. Am looking and will either go Miele all freezer 30" 15cuft or Marvel 30" 19 (it is taller) if I can get some reviews... Noise and longevity performance being key... Not for the money but for the hassle of redoing things ! Cooking. 1) installed 36" iron grate blue star cook top 5yrs ago. Could not be happier. LOVE it. Heat, iron top cleaning, and yes that drip pan is old fashioned but the whole thing works, and the controls are away from the heat. 2). Super dislike the glass top 5 burner thermador gas cooktops. Mine is failing though in fairness it is old, but the cleaning a hassle and the BTUs are unimpressive, 3). Went to the capital factory in Calif when visiting there. Very good stuff comparable to blue star. Did not like that they mix st steel and iron on the burners and grates... Cleaning not as easy. Other features nice. IF I were choosing range vs components, then I would go capital over blue star on the range Baking. Disclaimer. I don't bake. Hence until 5 years I was a low use oven owner, (1) after Install of Blue Star GAS FRENCH door 30" wall oven that all changed. I can't tell you how super this huge honker is. The cavity is huge and don't discount that as you look at the high end ovens. The French doors are so damn convenient to get right up to a pan and turn or check it. The racks glide nicely. It has convection. I suppose the down side is not really a broiler of great acclaim. Do be aware that the unit, being nearly counter depth takes a lot of space above and below, (2) therefore am going with BLUE star French door wall oven again, in Electric also 30" in a remodel am about to start and am 'dumping' my traditional 30" electric thermador under counter (or wall I suppose) unit . The electric blue star French door is more compact than the gas I am not a range lover, Preferring to separate the large items (DW bake and cooktop) so that we can work in zones. Also drop down oven doors, wall or undercounter, aren't so convenient