Help! Need undercounter bar fridge

16 years ago

that won't break the bank.

We are finishing the basement and are including a bar area. We had purchased a bar fridge that we thought would work but finally read the installation instructions and it says it must be used as a freestanding fridge. Now after checking most of the inexpensive ones cannot be used under counter unless there are a gazillion inches of air space around them.

Are there any that are not ridiculously expensive? I would rather not spend a ton for such a fridge. I had a space of 21" set aside but now I don't know if I need at least 24". I had also hoped for stainless or stainless look. Should we consider a beverage cooler? I know that HD had one that had vents on the bottom so I think that would work. It was pretty pricey mind you and I wondered if I would miss the small freezer some have on top?

Any that you can think of? (Oh and I did try to convince DH that we should revamp the layout and go for a fridge drawer but his eyes starting bugging out of his head and I worried about a heart attack so I told him I was kidding...

I wasn't really. :) )

Thanks.

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Comments (7)

karen_belle
16 years ago
We're probably going to get a Summit UC stainless freezer. They have fridge models, too, and not nearly as expensive as the drawer models out there. But not cheap either. You'll pay close to $1000 for this I think.
User
16 years ago
21" is not enough.

Most units take up 24" minimum.

there are a very few @ 15 & 18 but none of them inexpensive.

what would you use that smallish freezer compartment for ?
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hedygs
Original Author
16 years ago
For ice? But I realize it is not necessary. Will any of the beverage coolers actually make a soda cold enough? I see that GE makes a spacesaver fridge but it only comes in black. I guess I better get back to the drawing board and revamp that bar area. I have found, in my searching, that if you want to build in any of these units that they are expensive.

DH suggested we could use the fridge we bought for $100 from Costco and when it burns out just replace it. It cost 1/6th of the price of the units that we probably should use. He figures we can replace it 6 times and by then we'll be out of the house.

Grrrrrrrr........so typical.
trixieinthegarden
16 years ago
I've had a little Sanyo undercounter fridge that I bought from target for $150 for four years now. It requires 2" of space between the top of it and the bottom of the counter, and the space is about 21" wide. I've had no problems. My bar area has legs, not toekick, so that allows for lots of air circulation which probably helps considerably.
remodelzombie
16 years ago
Check out Marvel.
ulinesalesguy
16 years ago
Both the U-Line and Sub Zero beverage centers come from the factory with the ability to reach 34 degrees. I believe a fix can be done with both the Marvel and Kitchenaid pieces to make them go to 34 degrees, but a servicer in required to do the fix.
eteinne
16 years ago
I replaced a SZ with a GE Monogram. I was going to replace it with another SZ but when I went to look at it the ice maker was 6 inches off the floor. What is that about?! How stupid! Go to GE appliances.com. This is not easy to find on this site as I had trouble finding it every time I was looking at it. I looked for an hour before this post to find it. GE Monogram Bar Refrigerator Module #ZIB524OPSS. Great unit! The ice maker is a fully sealed, suspension unit which pulls out past the edge of the counter top and is waist high. You can use an ice scoop due to this and poeple don't have to stick their hands in the ice to make a drink. I leave the scoop in the bin. I am able to open the door as many times as I want and the temp in the ice bin is unaffected, it does not shrink or get stuck together as it is sealed in the freezer. You are able to turn the ice maker off with a switch and not have to deal with that wire bail handle which the others have. The vent is in the toe kick and then look at all of the specs and the PDF file. The bottom pull out wine shelf holds 36 cans when turned on the side. I love this thing.