Check out Liebherr. Similar to subzero. Half the cost. Per the appliance forum it is reliable. I am getting a 30in cabinet depth built in. The 36in is to come out in June. Their website does a good job answering your questions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Liebherr

OK, let me take a shot at this. We've ordered a Liebherr 60" as we'll soon have 3 teenagers. People seem to love Liebherr and they are highly energy-efficient.
Cabinet-depth means shallow, usually not quite as shallow as the countertops though--these are readily available at mainstream stores. Integrated, in the Liebherr sense, means it sits inside your cabinets (I'm having a hard time imagining exactly how that works out mechanically with the doors). Built-in means true cabinet depth, permanently installed. Panel-ready means your cabinetmaker supplies a panel that attaches to the door of the built-in frig. That's what we've ordered--the idea is that it blends in with the kitchen. HTH.

I think, or at least the way I think of it

integrated = built in = flush.
These are typically shallow units like Sub-Zero, Monogram, and high end Kitchen-Aid. These units are designed to be flush with the surrounding cabinets.

Cabinet (or counter depth) freestanding units are those were the body of the fridge is the same depth as the cabinets (typically around 24") but they will still project beyond the edge of the countertop because of the depth of the doors. One critical thing to look at with counter-depth units is the total depth with the doors. I think some ppl here have purchase counter-depth units that wound up being deeper than expected when installed because of door depth.

Panel ready fridges are available in both types (built in/integrated and counter-depth). The built-in/integrated fridges, in my mind look much more finished than a counter-depth freestanding unit mainly because the integrated look accomodates the dispenser better (and many integrated/built in units don't have a dispenser because owners want the fridges to blend in completed with the surrounding cabinets.

HTH.

How I've understood this (any someone correct me, please, if I'm wrong):

Counter depth: A shallow refrigerator that is the same depth as your lower cabinets. The DOORS to the fridge may extend past this, just to the depth of the thickness of the doors.

Built In: True cabinet depth and permenantly installed. Very flush with upper cabinets and surrounding cabinets. Most of these units are taller than a standard fridge to accomodate the condensor on the top or bottom instead of the back. These can be paneled and the truly blend in great with surrounding cabinetry. However, even with panels, you can still see the edges of the side of the doors and the edge of the hinges or maybe the grillplate is still exposed.

Integrated: Only a few manufacturers make a truly integrated fridge. This refrigerator completely looks like cabinetry. It's not just built in and permenant, it's SO flush you see no hinges, edges of door or grills. It can be disguised to look like a pantry or an armoir.

My kitchen is directly in front of you when you enter my house, with the refrigertor straght ahead. I decided I didn't want to see stainless steel and I wanted a built-in paneled fridge. I fell in love with the integrated look and that was my big splurge for my kitchen. Mine is half installed and I'm already thrilled with it! We're waiting on the panel for the top, but when it's done, it will just look like another cabinet in the kitchen.

HTH! Good luck with your choice!

thank you all! I really love this forum, you are so kind. I especially appreciate the "half installed" picture, mo_sgal, it really shows how a fully integrated appliance is put together. It's ironic but our fridge is one of the few things that doesn't need replacing (it still works fine and it's the youngest feature in the room) and yet I have a feeling we'll be spending the most on it to get a slim, integrated product. Thanks again!!!

Hey Jan, My half-installed mess is here for YOU! :-) It may be a few weeks before we get that last piece of fridge panel since it has to be reordered and shipped. Good luck with your decisions!

I recently bought the 30" counter-depth (freestanding) Liebherr that's only 24" deep, and I LOVE LOVE it! It's incredibly quiet and so energy-efficient that it's off the end of the little yellow Energy Star chart.

If it would help you, I can take a shot of the way its handles work -- they're designed so that you can have cabs right up flush to it, and it still opens fully.

Mos-gal has what I would say too, but note that Integrated is a subset of built-in. It's *more* built in because it also can be made to appear integrated with surrounding cabinetry. Also, "panel ready" can, I believe, apply to any refrigerator that can accept wood panels. In most cases they will be built-in, but there are some counter depth refrigerators that also accept panels.

We have integrated Thermador refrigerator and freezer units. They have a special hinge so they can be truly built-in (as heimert explains above) and hidden. (That's not why we chose them, but all the better for us!) If little children nap later (and I am not holding my breath) I'll take a picture of the hinge.

Here are some pictures:

freezer before panel:

freezer after panel:

refrigerator before panel:

refrigerator after panel:

fridge open:

Thanks, circuspeanut, I'd love to see photos of the 30" wide (24" deep) Leibherr installed -- whenever you get a chance. That particular model was the very first appliance I found interesting when we started this process and after more than a year of bleary eyed internet surfing and tense visits to appliance showrooms I still think it's the one I'll push for (I may have to convince the architect and DH).

rmkitchen, sheesh! What a gorgeous room, *especially* the cabinetry, including the "truly integrated" fridge and freezer. Thank you for those pictures, they are inspirational. Can you reveal anything more about that super tall skinny cabinet to the left of the freezer and the raised bottom cabinet to the right of the sink?

I saw the pics off the Liebherr site/integrated. It looks like when you open the frig door, the panels are sticking beyond the door so that you see both the inside of the frig and the inside of the cab. door.

Is that what I would see if I get an integrated frig?

Hi jan_s -- thank you for your nice words about our kitchen. It is coming together, slowly but surely. (as it's mostly dependent upon me unpacking it is definitely more "slowly" ...)

The tall skinny cabinet to the left of the freezer is a "broom closet" pull-out: it's 6" wide and has a steel pegboard where we can hang our stepladder, broom, steam mop, stick vac (we have electrical back there), etc. (nothing is yet hung up because I haven't purchased any hooks ... another of my "slowly") Our laundry room is on the other side of the house and we definitely (and desperately!) need that kind of storage in the kitchen itself. (We're messy -- shh, don't tell.)

The raised cabinet to the right of the sink is our raised dishwasher. So my children are soon-to-be four and two years-old, and being pregnant / nursing while bending over to load / empty the dishwasher was a killer on my back! While I'm not presently pregnant / nursing I like the idea of a raised dishwasher and so far, jan_s, it is wonderful and may be one of my husband's favorite features! Love it love it love it.

It's not in there yet but there will be a recessed toekick (white) on the bottom of the dishwasher so it won't have that void as seen in the photo. But honestly, having a working dishwasher makes me (almost) not care about that missing piece. If you want more specific pictures let me know and I'll do my best!

Thank you again for your compliments.