Yeah, it's worth it.

But they sure are small! I'd rather recess a standard, or build out around one, but that won't always work. At least CDs are easier to clean and find stuff in.

I've had my CD since January. I have a family of four, and I have no complaints. I don't notice the size at all. It fits a large pizza box. With a little patience I fit a regular cookie sheet in just the other day. We do have another fridge in the basement so in a pinch I have access to that. Overall, I'm very glad we went with the CD.

I like that it "fits" so well, so I'd do it again in our situation. Recessing a regular fridge would be my first choice, though, because of the space you give up with the CD.

I have a side by side counterdepth fridge. I don't have a built-in, nor is it panelled; it's a freestanding. Although it's not a true built-in look, it is flush with my cabinetry, and nobody (i.e. friends or relatives) notices that it's not built-in except us TKO'ers. I would have really disliked its appearance if it stuck out beyond my cabinetry. My only regret is choosing a 36" width instead of a 42" or even 48" width. I really like the counterdepth flush appearance, and the fact that nothing gets "lost" in the back. The side by side is too narrow though. Another alternative for me would have been single-door counterdepth, or french door counterdepth, but I didn't think about it at the time. Either style would have solved my issue, but in any case, I would definitely do a counterdepth again, and would NOT go back to full depth.

We love our counter depth refrigerator - we got the Kitchen Aid side by side, and it is still 24 cubic feet, which is as big as some full depth models.

We have a secondary 'fridge in the basement for extra gallons of milk, and all the pop and beer, and the occasional watermelon or whatnot.

Basically, we determined that we weren't going to fit into one fridge anyway - so might as well get the CD.

The CD models are a good bit more money for some reason.

Big regrets! I bought a CD side x side several years ago and sold it a couple of years later. I took a big loss on it of course but was lucky to get about 50% of the original cost because of their popularity. I just couldn't stand the lack of space any longer. I also didn't like that it felt unstable (front heavy) when I opened it because of the doors being deeper and heavier - disproportionate to the box. Even though our refrigerator faces a walkway linking the kitchen to the livingroom on one side and the kitchen to the dining room on the other side (it's a thoroughfare really) I didnÂt think the CD model saved much floor space given that the door was deeper than a standard refrigerator. I hope theyÂre much improved now.

I should add to my previous post that I also have the KA side by side CD like Dlseek mentioned. Mine is 25 cu. ft., but the issue for me is not the cu. ft. at all; it's the narrowness of the SxS configuration. In re-reading my previous post, perhaps my alternatives that I mentioned of single-door or french door CD fridges would also not have been good because in the 36" width, those tend to be 20 cu. ft., which I really think is too small. Since the OP didn't mention which style of CD fridge he/she is looking at, I probably would advise against a CD fridge with just 20 cu.ft. Peemps, can you go to a CD that is 42" or wider? Or what about the fridge "columns", like Thermadors? Those Thermador columns are built-in CD's, and people on this forum and the Appliances forum RAVE about them.

There's a recent thread that discusses this along w/bottom vs top freezer. You should find quite a few comments...both pro & con...about them in that thread.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Top freezer or bottom freezer?

I have a bottom freezer, French door counter depth Jenn-Air and I have never been happier with a refrigerator. Plenty of room, I can find everything, and I love this fridge. I would buy a CD again in a minute. My daughter, with a family of 4, has the KA CD - not FD and there is also plenty of room for the four of them.

I plan to get CD. I cant stand how the fridge sticks out. We'll just have a secondary fridge elswhere for stocking. To me, its worth it.

I have the integrated CD Thermador top fridge, bottom freezer and I love it! I like it much better than the SxS I had previously and I don't notice the loss of space at all.