Under Counter Refridgerator

[Anonymous]

Considering replacing a traditional side-by-side fridge/freezer with three below counter units. One unit would be all fridge; a second would be 1/2 fridge and 1/2 freezer (over/under), the third would be an ice-maker.

Outside of the appliances, I see a benefit as being more counter space. I would, however, be exchanging low cabinets for high.

Any first-hand thoughts on below counter fridges for a family with young children? What negatives am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Well, my favorite style fridge is fridge on top (one door is better), freezer on the bottom. I actually own french doors on top with a freezer on bottom due to space constraints. I like this style because I use the fridge very frequently and the freezer less frequently. If you do below the counter units, obviously you will be bending down all the time to grab items. This seems like it maybe aesthetically pleasing, but impractical.

[Anonymous]

one more thing-- my 3 year old and 1 year olds are unable to open the fridge doors because they are too high and unable to open the freezer drawer because it is too heavy for them. I consider this to be a positive and would not want the fridge too accessible at this age. However, I could be missing out.

[Anonymous]

Do you like to bend over and squat ALL THE TIME? I would hate what you are suggesting. Like PP, we have a freezer on the bottom and love the eye level nature of our fridge.

I also think cleaning the bottom back of that woukd be miserable.

If this is your forever home, do what you like. If there is even a remote chance of selling, I think this would make your house very undesirable.

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with doing it the way you like. However if you ever plan to sell your home, you're going to need to get a full-size fridge into that kitchen somehow. I also can't imagine 3 mini-refrigerators are going to equal the capacity of a full-size unit. Are you European? I know they are more used to the small units there.

[Anonymous]

I can't comment not he overall practicality of your plan. But i will give my story about the undercounter 1/2 fridge freezer units. I assume you mean two drawers - one fridge, one freezer? We were going to do this a couple years ago and in the span of the year where we were designing our kitchen, the few brands that offered this almost all disappeared. And while they were available, they had bad reviews. We got nervous that maybe there was something inherently flawed about these units, and that's why the manufacturers started pulling all the models. So we went another direction just to be safe. Just something to think about.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned about the storage sizes and the hassle from bending. Your kids are only little a few more years. My six year old can open the fridge. Before that I would prefer they not be in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

The only ones that truly hold temperature are the commercial units and they are both expensive and loud. There only plus is that the commercial units will last a lifetime. This is not a plus, as I have been praying my commercial unit will die now for ten years so I can justify a quieter model.