The top brands are Miele and SubZero. The next level down is Thermador and perhaps one or two others I'm less familiar with. In between is Liebherr. All are expensive, and require the carpentry and installation. They're a long term investment which you should expect to repair rather than replace when necessary. Each have their devotes. A lot of it depends on how you want it to look and function. There are also some mid-range units. My general impression of them is that they're fine as such things go, but less in for the long haul and without some of the quality and features most people expect from built-ins, which you find in the high end units.

Counter depth, however, is even available at the low end, and some of the high end lines have free standing units as well as the built-ins.

So, disregarding the marginal quality you get for paying for a very expensive built-in unit (very even temperatures, freshness filters, etc.), just about any fridge you buy will keep your food cold. Your food may last better in a better fridge, but there comes a point at which you have to ask if it should. In some ways you get what you pay for, but the difference in fridges really is in the details rather than basic function.

Choose what suits you best.

You have another option at your stage in planning. You can create a recess area to make a regular depth fridge fit your counters like a counter-depth. And you can increase the depth of your counters to 28-32" to help with the fit. I have deeper counters and a standard depth frig in a corner installation similar to a corner pantry. This is another way to go.

Many counter depth fridges can be framed to appear built in. It often depends on door clearance. But even with door sticking out this looks better to me than having the sides of the fridge show as they are often a different color/material than the front.

As Pllllog pointed out, these are not equivalent. They are completely different approaches in terms of cabinets and budget.

If you want a fridge that really looks like cabinets, your options are largely SZ, Miele, and Thermador. I'm not sure I would call Thermador a step down. Miele's fridge is built by Thermador. I prefer the Thermador/Miele to SZ as the SZ has a compressor up top which detracts from the look a lot.

If you want this type of fridge you are looking at around 6k starting point for a 36" Thermador bottom fridge.

A two column setup with separate fridge/freezer will be nearly 10k.

If you get all your appliances from the same vendor you save some money (a range and fridge from Thermador gets you a "free" dishwasher and "free" hood for example)

You'll need to decide if making your fridge look like it isn't a fridge is worth that much money as you can get a normal counter depth fridge for around 2k.

Personally, I can't remotely justify the cost of a built in if you stick with stainless. If you want a high end integrated cabinet look, well, that's what you are paying.

Thanks all for the comments. My refrigerator is in a corner, and a standard depth could be made to look counter depth. My only concern is that the refrigerator is the main item you see as you enter my front door. Maybe I shouldn't worry about that

SubZero has both compressor on top with grill and integrated with no grill showing (presumably compressor on bottom, but doesn't matter with integrated).

Miele makes Miele fridges. There are some models where the box is made in a factory which, so I've read, they sold to BSH (makers of Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau). You can see the similar genetics in the layout to the Thermador, but the controls, lights, fitments, etc., are quite different. It's true that they'd look them same installed, but so would the integrated SZ more or less, the only different being the size.

If you'd prefer to go with a freestanding fridge and are only worried about the view from the door:

A) This house was designed (by you or before you) for the kitchen to be "receiving" company or else there would be a wall blocking the view.

B) There's nothing wrong with things that look like what they are, and a refrigerator is welcoming with the promise of nourishment, the way the cold tile and wet fixtures of a bathroom, for instance, is not.

C) If you think the fridge isn't pretty enough to see as you walk in, decorate it! You can paint it paisley. Or chalkboard or white board. You can get a vinyl wrap for it, such as they have on buses with ads. You can even buy attachable covers for it to make it look like an old timey ice box, rocket ship, or whatever you want (though those take inches).

Or you could just do built in or integrated and be done with it...

Far as I know, all the SZ models need a panel above them (maybe it's not the compressor). Not as good a look as the Thermador/Miele imo.

The SZ integrated models do not. I have both a freezer and fridge - compressor is at the bottom. No upper panels.

If you go to a store that has the Miele and Thermador refrigerator units displayed near each other you will easily detect that they come off the same factory line. There are minor differences in visible fixtures such as lights (square LED vs round LED, etc) and shelves/bins. Up to you to decide whether square vs. round lights is a major or minor difference. Which one you like better is a matter of personal preference. I had a slight preference for the look of the Miele but went with Thermador because.they have a 36" French door unit and Miele does not.

Integrated vs. counter depth is mostly a budget vs. aesthetic and "nice" trade off in my opinion. A 36" integrated fridge including the custom panels from your cabinet maker is going to be at least $8000 whereas a stainless counter depth fridge should be $2000-2500. That's a big cost difference. If you can easily afford it great but an integrated fridge would not be near the top of my priority list if I had to cut back on countertops or kids college fund to get it. If the money to pay for it is coming out of the kids inheritance then by all means go for it!!

What part of the refrigerator is seen when one comes in the front door? Is it the front (face on) or the side?

The front face of the refrigerator.

That is beautiful! Thanks for the pic

Stan, it's the whole control system that's different, and all of the fittings, not just the shape of the lights.

It would be interesting to know how many mechanical differences there actually are between similar Bosch, Thermador, and Miele units. BSH operates the factory in Turkey. I'd guess Bosch and Thermador are very similar but it is possible Miele has specified some different mechanical components. I'd want a source other than a Miele advertisement though. :-) Don't get me wrong, I have Miele ovens, cooktop, and dishwasher and they make a great product.

The build quality,IMO, is netter than the rest!