2 or even 3 or 4 units would give you more flexibility of use and would be a hedge against failure. All 3 won't fail at the same time , so you'd have some cooling all the time. Depending on your config and choices it may or may not be less expensive, and may use more energy. You will have to look very carefully at the 3's on each unit you are considering. I personally, like an arragement of an all fridge coupled with a 2 drawer freezer and some type of beverage center. Usually drawers win out, but have also done a wine cooler/ glass drink shelf unit too. It really depends on YOUR habits, space, and budget.

What do you really want?

FIrst of all, what is your budget for refrigeration? There are certainly some all fridge units such as the monogram or thermador columns. But if you want an ice dispenser as well, and dont want a separate ice maker, than you are probably looking at the obscenely large side by side or french door. We have a 48" built in KA S/S and the fridge is certainly more than big enough.

The Whirlpool Sidekicks are all-refrigerators or all-freezers that are not too expensive. The Sidekick all-refrigerator would solve your fridge problem, while not breaking the bank. I've linked to the Sidekick all-fridge sold at Sears (it comes in several finishes also). However, I know I haven't provided a suggestion for a narrow or small freezer for you. But you said your deep freezer may be all you need. Anyway, take a look at the Sidekick.

Here is a link that might be useful: Whirlpool All-Refrigerator at Sears

I think your decision needs to take into account your budget, space issues and where and how you would use the unit(s). We put frindge drawers in a breakfast/coffee hutch in the breakfast room. Our milk and juice are right by the table and the coffee maker, the jelly and drinks are right where we make lunches. They hold a lot -- we usually have 2 gallons of milk, a gallon of OJ and several 1 or 2 quart bottles inthe top drawer and water bottles, canned drinks, juice pouches and some beer in the bottom drawer. My sister says it's her favorite thing in our kitchen redo.

Others have used fridge drawers for produce near the prep area. There are ots of possibilities, but the trick is making them work well for you. Look at where you need and use cold things. Does it make sense to have a couple of cold zones? Can you separate your uses enough to make them useful?

Look also at your space issues -- do you have room for mutiple units? Do two or more allow you to capture more counter space (ususally a premium in a kitchen)? Which one gives you the best options for the models you wnat now -- and how do those size choices limit you (or the next owner) down the road? In our kitchen, we have the fridge drawers and a second DW -- both are 24" and could easily switch out to a wine chiller if desired.

How about this puppy? Big ol fridge, built-in look for well under $2K.

Here is a link that might be useful: Electrolux Icon Professional Series

Thanks for the info. We did tons of research last night and have narrowed things down. They are very dissimilar choices but here goes:

Samsung FD (though I heard a rumor they are coming out with a bigger one that I'd be willing to wait for ...I can rent a fridge for a few months, right?)

Thermodor 30"Fridge 18"Freezer

GE Monogram 30"Fridge SZ Freezer Drawers with ice

Whaddayathink?

I know the french door refrigerators are very popular right now and I considered waiting for Liebherr's new 36" one, but the more I thought about it the more I disliked the idea of needing two hands to open and close the fridge (I wouldn't be capable of remembering which side I had things stored on and an 18" opening just seems too confined).

For that reason, I think a 30" all refrigerator and SZ freezer drawers is a wonderful option. I would love to do that too, but can't give up 27" worth of cabinet space. I could have done 24" but I couldn't find 24" freezer drawers anywhere.

I think if you bought two 30" or 33" single door bottom freezer refrigerators (at 18-21 cubic feet each) and had one hinged left, and the other hinged right, put them next to each other, and then just paneled them in with your cabinetry that you'd be about $6000 ahead in your appliance budget.

How about the Quatro from Samsung? It is the size of a conventional refrigerator but has four sections that you can choose to designate as either fridge or freezer. You could give yourself a freezer equivalent in size to about 1/3 of a side by side's freezer, and the rest could be fridge! And later if you decide you need more freezer space you can reconfigure your four zones with the touch of a button.

Nicole

Here is a link that might be useful: Samsung Quatro

If you're going to go built-in, I think the Thermador 30/18 is a great combination. That's what I have and we love them. :-) DH is so sold on them he wants to put a fridge column in the laundry room if we don't have room for a 36" fridge space.

Love my Samsung side by side, but like you I wanted more fridge space rather than freezer...look at the Samsung Quatro...from the exterior it looks like a cross between a side by side and a bottom freezer. The difference is that the two bottom compartments can be used for freezer or fridge. It was only about $25 more than my s/s...still kicking myself for caving to my husband on this. However, am planning a total kitchen redo, and no caving in on things this time! Best feature on the Samsung...they have a separately chilled meat drawer that allows me to buy from Costco and take up to 2 weeks to eat that meat or fish...it keeps it just a smidge below freezing.

Sue: I'm going to look at the Quatro this weekend and see what I think about them. Otherwise we're serviously leaning toward the Liebherr 3 door. It's almost like that fridge is calling out to me. And it's not as expensive as the Thermadors or any of the other options I was thinking of. Plus, hubby's smitten with them too.

Where can you look at Liebherr fridges in person?

I wonder if they are going to do a conventional door option in the 36", as well as the french doors?

AARRGGHHH!!!! I'm having frig confusion as well. Woke up at 3 AM last night worrying about it(I know...I need therapy). Speaking of Liebherr, went and saw them again today for about the 3rd time. There is something more "elegant" to me about them than many of the "typical" refrigerators. They just seem less "massive". I can't really put it into words. I don't think for now they are coming out with a 36" built in top frig/bottom freezer. It starts to get very confusing with the Liebherr as to what sizes/configurations the built-in, fully integrated or freestanding comes in.

I'm waiting to hear on a deal on a GE Monogram Built in 36" bottom freezer. If this comes thru with a good price, I just make take it. Sometimes it just comes down to price when I can't make up my mind.

Let us know if you go with the Liebherr. Are you looking at the glass door in the upper left hand side?

cheri127 -

Just wanted to let you know Perlick makes a 24" freezer drawer unit so you're not limited to a SZ 27" model.

Here is a link that might be useful: perlick freezer drawers

We've also been having Fridge Fright! I can't bring myself to pay bazillions of dollars to keep my food cold. I think we might get 2 F&P (not french door). It would give us 30.6 cf of fridge and 12.8 cf of freezer for a bit over $3k. We want lots of fridge and a little freezer in counter depth. Also want to raise them up like others on this forum have done - on a wheeled platform with false drawer fronts to hold it in place.
The Samsung Quatro looks great, but basically is a full depth side-by-side, which I hate (too narrow and deep). Nice to have the flexibility of changing temps, though.
I have only seen a couple of negative posts about "creaking" with the F&P. Anyone else have bad luck???

I'm also looking for more frig - less freezer space. My question is this: Looking at the 25 french door it says 17.7 cubic feet of frig space. The sites for just refrigerators above in this link show less than that. However, the electrolux looks much bigger in the pic. What's the deal? I like the idea of Samsung quad and also waiting for their larger model. Wonder what the price will be.

I talked to the appliance guy at Lowes yesterday, and he confirmed that Samsung will have a 29 cu ft FD fridge with the same footprint as the 26 cu ft. They're using a thinner insulation to create the space inside the fridge. He said the Samsung rep thought the price would be about $3K. Too rich for my blood, so I spent $1500 on a Samsung 266 floor model. 26 cu ft will seem like a football field after the dinky Amana I've lived with for 10 years.

I just came across this convertible fridge by Haier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Haier convertible fridge

Liebherr just debuted a 36" French door fridge with 2 freezer drawers on the bottom. Just saw it at a show last month and it's quite impressive.