I wanted one fridge and one freezer but needed the fridge to be left-hinged. It doesn't exist except in really high price models. Mid-range and lower end are all right-hinged. The freezer is left-hinged but I don't want them next to each other and if I used a right-hinged fridge I would have to closet the door in order to get to the counter landing-spot. I currently have 2 18 cuft bottom freezer fridges - identical except for hinges. It is 60" of total fridge/freezer. A huge amount for us now that the kids are gone so I want to replace it with something smaller. I will have to go with a French door because of the handedness problem. And I will still need a separate freezer as well, because one bottom freezer is not enough. I do wish the doors were reversible the way they all used to be!

We went last night to Costco, Lowe's, and a smaller local appliance store (not big box). Costco didn't have the Whirlpool models on site, but we played with a lot of fridges at the other 2 places. I think we're going to go with French door, as the single door models we saw didn't have the freezer configuration my husband prefers. We both like the solid plastic baskets as opposed to open wire baskets. He also liked the Samsung's "auto-open" tray that pulls open with the freezer drawer so you don't have to pull it open yourself. The one thing we noticed, which chipshot points out, is that many of the French door models don't close well when you close the right door first and then the left door. The Samsung, the Maytag, and some higher end ($2000+) models had some built-in feature that barely "popped" the right door so it shut again, as opposed to staying open when you closed the left door second. Still, I think I'm neurotic enough to either check every time or always close the left side first. Hald: I think you make an excellent point about food loading/unloading that we didn't realize until last night while standing in front of both a french door and a single door model. The single door model completely blocks off using the island as a loading/unloading spot, since the angle of the door and where I'd be standing means I can only use the counter next to the fridge. Thanks again everyone! I think now we're thinking it's either the Samsung French Door or Whirlpool French Door given the Costco return policy.

We are considering all the same issues as this poster. Our fridge will be on the far left of the row of cabinets in a galley kitchen, so it seems that opening a single door left-hinge fridge will be more convenient than an FD. I also am very concerned about energy efficiency and durability, so I have some questions about how well the FD models will seal long term. I have no interest in throwing my $2000 fridge out in 5 years! We did find a GE model that seems to fit the bill: PDCS1NBWLSS GE Profile Energy Star 21.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator - Left Hinged. We have not bought this yet but are still shopping around. We want a modest sized one like this (again to avoid wasting energy for space we rarely need), but there may be something similar in a larger size. Good hunting! Good luck!

Angry customers tend to write more reviews than happy customers. I have a 24" All-Refrigerator Liebherr for over 2 years without a single problem. The only real concern IMO with Liebherr refrigeration is their icemakers. They don't make enough ice for typical American families. If you don't use that much ice then they may be ok for you. Liebherr units do make higher quality ice than your typical GE/Whirlpool units just in lower quantities.