Trying to decide how to move forward. Our cabinet people are now saying that they no longer make panels for the integrated fridge, but now it's also sounding like the built-in look we were going for isn't possible either, if we were to have stuck with the overlay built-in fridge instead. Conserve electricity with the LG Studio 25.6-cubic-foot built-in refrigerator. Do they only carry one vendor? They are going to want a design fee for that. A freestanding fridge also is about 30 to 36 inches wide and designed to slide into a pre-framed opening. These were medallion cabinets. The following includes answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about built-in fridges. Responding to the easiest first--the wine rack. Match the FINISH . ft. Smart Built-In Refrigerator. The fridge interior comes with the KitchenAid ExtendFresh Plus Temperature Management System, which is designed to maintain the optimal temperature to keep produce at its freshest. When maintained as suggested in the owners manual, a built-in refrigerator can last from 15 to 20 years, or perhaps even longer. Or am I doing myself an injustice here? It comes with glass shelves and humidity-controlled bins in the fresh-food side, and coated-wire shelving in the freezer side. A panel-ready overlay fridge will accept panels of the homeowners choice, for a custom look. I would think being on the end of the layout, it wouldn't be that difficult to make the fridge itself seamless with the framing around it? The Thermador hinges move outward before they pivot so overlay cabinets are not an issue at all. Information is power ;). I'm either going to go with a full size 36" wide fridge (and recess it into the closet on the other side of that wall so it's flush with the kitchen cabinets), or I might contemplate stand alone freezer and fridge columns in one of the higher end brands, either panel ready or SS (depending on cabinet fronts I choose), and split them up to balance out the kitchen. Doese it just make sense for me to leave that right side open then? The tag also lists the following information about the refrigerators energy efficiency: The primary purpose for buying a built-in refrigerator is usually to enhance the design of a kitchen. This smaller-capacity overlay fridge features a French door configuration and is panel ready, so a contractor can install custom panels on the front that match the cabinets. It was confusing at the time, because I always assumed integrated refrigerator meant inset but all my cabinets are full overlay so there was a bit of a disconnect between me and my KD. It also features a gallon-sized storage space in the fresh-food door. Would you recommend we find a cabinet maker who has worked with thermador and the paneling, or just someone knowledgeable enough to handle the specialized sizing? I guess my next questions would be.will the integrated fridge still work in just SS? BobVila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. BOSCH Benchmark 36 Inch French Door Refrigerator, LG Studio 42 Inch Built-in Smart Refrigerator, KitchenAid 30-cu ft Built-In Refrigerator, Monogram 36 Inch Built-In Panel Ready Refrigerator, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, The Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators for Your Kitchen, The Best Top Freezer Refrigerators for Your Kitchen, Here's the Standard Refrigerator Sizeand When to Go Bigger, The Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2022, High-humidity sealed crispers to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, A filter to remove impurities from water and ice, An air-purification system to keep unwanted odors at bay, A digital touch screen to control temperature and humidity, Smart capability to check the fridge temp from a smartphone or a tablet, A view-through window (offered in some stainless steel models), which allows the user to see whats in the fridge without opening the door. That was a fun call to get on a Friday night! I'm obviously not an expert and it must not be as easy as I assume. Boy this discussion is making me happy I went with kitchen designer who took care of this. By downloading the LG app, the homeowner can sync the fridge controls with a smartphone. Counter depth does not stick out 6 inches into the room, really it's just the width of the refrigerator doors, unless you are counting the handles and that isn't much of a protusion. The freezer side has an interior ice maker, and coated-wire shelves and bins. This larger-capacity fridge features KitchenAids ExtendFresh Temperature Management system to keep foods fresher longer. KitchenAid 25 cu. Measuring 36 inches wide by only 25.625 inches deep, it wont jut out into the kitchen space. It was a learning curve for sure. You have a standard panel ready Frig. We had the panel built 2 larger than the door on each side and it works perfectly. The label features detailed information, including the manufacturers name, the fridges model number, its inner storage capacity, door configuration, and whether it has an ice maker. There are three different types of built-ins that fall within that description: Built-in refrigerators are all about design. For a built-in fridge that will hold a lot of food, check out this KitchenAid 30-cubic-foot built-in model that has enough storage room for a large family. The refrigerator is Energy Starcertified and has an estimated annual electrical usage of 762 kilowatt-hours. Very frustrating, wish they would have told us at the beginning of the process what they would and wouldn't do when it came to built-in paneling for appliances. It also has adjustable, coated-wire shelves and bins in the freezer. It won't be loaded with heavy books or anything and likely food and small appliances. It worked out well and because of these hinges, full overlay is certainly possible. This means locating the fridge near the pantry and other food-storage cabinets. So I decided against the Frigidaire duo. I was referring to the hinges on the fridge door. At the time, I wished I had gone with someone more knowledgeable with Thermador, but my cabinets were already installed when the issue came up. It is not about the door design, it is about the panel door availability based on the kitchen cabinet vendor. By Glenda Taylor | Updated Nov 1, 2020 9:33 PM. Again I encourage you to visit a good quality appliance store so you can understand the options and how they work. Unlike a freestanding appliance, a built-in refrigerator blends right in or appears flush with the cabinets. My my cabinet guy mentioned having the right gable stand on the counter but I've never seen that and I just can't see that looking good. Any pics you can share? The odd part is the Fridge is at the end of the kitchen, so it will be enclosed in a frame essentially, with uppers above it, and to the right there are uppers and lowers, so perhaps it's a depth issue? It syncs with a homes Wi-Fi and homeowners smartphone with a downloadable app to send alerts if the interior temperature drops, such as might happen if there is a power outage or if a child leaves the door open. They are designed to be fully-flush so overlay won't work on the sides. Not sure that makes sense, but it's not as if it is surrounded by cabinets on both sides and needs to look perfectly hidden.being on the end gives some room to customize? What may have happened is that you selected a vendor that does not provide panels for Refrigerators that is all. They should be online. To monitor the temperature of the fridge while out of the house, get the Cafe 25.2-cubic-foot smart built-in refrigerator. I've seen very few "built in" fridges that look halfway decent paneled. I think it would look fine to have just the fridge inset at the end of the run if it is counter-deep or close to it. I would try to get your hands on the design specs. Don't know how to make your cabinet company do what you want though. My fridge is (by necessity) basically in a walkway through the kitchen, and the counter depth fridge allows it to look completely in place and allow complete access through. This model stands 84 inches tall and has an interior ice maker, glass shelves, and easy-slide, humidity-controlled bins. With a BOSCH Benchmark 20-cubic-foot built-in refrigerator, the kitchen gets a seamless look and the homeowner saves a few thousand dollars in the process. Like freestanding fridges, built-in models are designed with one primary function: keeping food cold. You will be kicking yourself and wishing you had taken the little bit of extra time and effort to find and work with another cabinet company. In talking with a few other folks and appliance people, this has been an ongoing issue with the newer integrated fridges vs. built-in. The interior features bright LED lights, and the appliance comes with intuitive temperature controls. A built-in fridge measures an average of 42 to 48 inches wide, but its not as deep as a freestanding fridge, meaning that it can sit flush with the front of the cabinetry. The KitchenAids 25-cubic-foot built-in refrigerator features a side-by-side door configuration and a smudge-resistant stainless steel exterior. Built-in refrigerators are wider than freestanding fridges, but their internal storage capacity is about the same. I dont care for the builtin look either, as it just seems clunky to my eyes. Installing a built-in fridge will take up more linear space along the cabinet wall, which means the cabinets must be adapted to accept it. An integrated refrigerator is a type of built-in refrigerator. In any case, its a bit of a hassle to deal with at this point, but it will be worth it in the end. We're looking into other cabinet makers. Selecting the best built-in refrigerator for your needs will depend on how much space you have for installation, what type of door/freezer configuration you prefer, and what sort of additional features you would like. Even the SS will be inset. Thank you for pointing out the distortion in the photo. Thanks so much for the help, your picture was like an ah-ha moment for us, we knew it was possible but needed a pic to show it! Unlike other built-in fridges, which include overlay and stainless steel, an integrated model is indistinguishable from the cabinetry around it. I haven't taken a detailed look at the design specs, haven't purchased the fridge yet, just came across the problem last night. I'm not up on my current Thermadors. I tried to look at a GE Cafe matte white fridge (I think they're stunning), but I'm living in a small town in Northern Ontario, and such a thing cannot be seen in any store. This built-in unit measures a beefy 48.25 inches wide by 25.125 inches deep by 83.375 inches high. It will look identical to a cabinet. That I do not know. @nidnay That's what we're thinkingjust a hassle to find new cabinet place, been working on this for a while. In case you are curious, the appliance dealer told me that the Frigidaire duo's door swings cannot be switched. This Bosch built-in fridge is custom panel ready, meaning the front will accept panels made from the same material as the surrounding kitchen cabinets to create a seamless look. Are you sure it is an integrated fridge and not merely a builtin? They are different from your pick. If it's not integrated it's not worth it. But so worth it to get it right. Good luck. To which hinges are you referring? It has a well-organized interior with easy-to-clean glass shelves, pull-out bins in the fridge, and coated-wire shelves and bins in the freezer side. Look at the design specs in the manual. The refrigerator has a digital interior touch screen for adjusting the temperature. I'm just not feeling confident that our current cabinet people can achieve a clean enough look with the overlay built-in fridge. Cabinet people are saying they can't do overlay panels with the integrated fridge we selected. I feel your pain- this was such a hassle. Weve got just the workaround for you, Updating your kitchen? A standard freestanding fridge is approximately 32 to 36 inches deep, but a standard kitchen cabinet is only 24 inches deep (25 including the countertop overhang), so a standard fridge can stick out an average of 6 to 12 inches or more into the kitchen.