No regrets, family of four.

We have a full size fridge now and a smaller one in the garage, I plan to move the full size to the garage and put the counter depth new one in the kitchen. We are a family of 5 but go through a ton of fresh fruit and veggies and my husband eats like 2 adult males, I swear. I would make sure you have some sort of back up especially if you entertain and are a family.

Do you have a basement or another place for a second fridge? If you could keep an extra gallon of milk, beer, and bulky items out of the kitchen, I think that would make a counter-depth manageable for just about anyone.

In your position, I think I would find a way to make a smaller capacity work, if it greatly improved kitchen function. I like to make decisions based on potential regret level: in 5 years, will you more often say "I am annoyed that the fridge isn't over there", or "I am annoyed by the size of this fridge"?

None at all. I love not losing things in the back of the old, huge, black hole fridge.

I do, however, have a refrigerator and a freezer in the basement. We keep extra gallons of milk, other drinks, and whole grain flours in the fridge downstairs.

We got a counter-depth refrigerator with a drawer in it (like this) and I feel like any storage space we lost with the shallower depth was made up by having this drawer. I can put so much stuff in there. It is great because nothing gets lost in the back because you can pull it out and see everything. I even put some little organizing bins in this drawer, so I can store little bits of things (like half an onion or some leftover cheese, etc.) These things used to get lost in my old fridge.

The ice maker on our refrigerator does use up a lot of space, especially on the door where I can't store as much. So I would either recommend a counter-depth without an ice-maker/water dispenser or getting one with the drawer like we have. (I haven't seen any refrigerators with the outside drawer that do not have ice/water dispensers, but maybe one exists.)

The thing I find annoying are the two produce drawers, I wish that they would make one drawer like the deli drawer. Way too much wasted space splitting them into two when they are shallow depth!

Thanks for sharing your experiences; they are helpful insights.

We are empty-nesters whose fridge space gets maxed out in our old, still going strong (18 years) almond fridge with a top freezer. Our current fridge is not 36 inches deep; the box is 27 inches with shelves 17 inches deep (counter depth shelves measured 15" deep). Our 2 inch thin door has one built-in shelf that is deep enough for milk gallons. I assume the 4-5 inch doors on counter-depth models have more deeper storage space.

We are "moderate" fresh fruit/veggie consumers; but my husband is a huge "liquid" consumer: milk, juices, sodas, etc. I think 3/4 of my current fridge is occupied by "liquids." Storing party food gets difficult with the current fridge.

We host family get-togethers (10-20 people) four-six times in the summer months and occasionally in colder months. The fridge in the garage handles that extra summer load.

I am going to have to ponder the last question AnnKH posed.

Lisa: Your fridge is similar to one I am considering because of that drawer and DH liquids. I thought if I could contain him to the drawer it might help with storage in the rest of the fridge. Could your drawer hold two 12-packs of cans?

cluelessincolorado: I concur on the produce drawers. We are not huge fresh veggie/fruit consumers, but we would max out that counter-depth space.

You might consider a beverage fridge somewhere since your husband likes lots of beverages. We have a little one in the basement which holds pop and such but will be replaced by a small aprtment size fridge when the small one breaks down. I have seen more of the small under counter beverage fridges in main kitchens lately.

I too have a good chunk of my fridge dedicated to the different drinks preferred by each member of the family - Milk, Lactaid Milk, OJ, Lemonade, Hawaiian Punch - most in gallon containers.

The thing I find annoying are the two produce drawers, I wish that they would make one drawer like the deli drawer.

Different strokes, I guess. I've been looking at narrow fridges and I hate that so many of them only have one big crisper. I don't want the apples to taste like celery or leeks.

It sounds like a beverage fridge is the answer. We only drink milk, water, and an occasional beer, so it would be really tight if we stored juices and sodas too. My fridge has a tilt-out shelf under both of the condiment door bins that holds cans of soda. Three years ago I bought a 12 pack of seltzer to make ice cream sodas and there are still a few cans left. So that is wasted space for us. You can also lay cans and small bottles on their sides in the deli drawer.

@rantontoo,

Yes, you could easily store 24 cans in the drawer with room to spare. I have 4 regular size cans per row in mine. I don't like storing that much in the drawer because it is easy enough to fill as needed and storing what I don't need cold elsewhere. You can see from the picture there is lots of room. I usually have my leftovers in the empty space that I'll be eating during the week there which really helps keeping them from going to waste.

When we switched from a top freezer to a french door (bottom freezer) of about the same capacity, I was amazed at how much more room we seemed to have. Having your fridge at eye level makes it a lot easier to keep track of things in the back, even at full depth. In the old, top freezer fridge, we'd not only lose things in the back, but those lost things took up valuable space. I imagine our effective space was comparable to a counter depth.

As for liquids: our solution is to keep cans in a drawer, and restock frequently: if I take out a can of pop, I put a warm one in its place. I have a cabinet near the fridge that was specifically designed to store cans and bottles, so it is convenient to reload.

We don't drink a ton of beer, but have several varieties, so I keep a 6-pack of bottles in the fridge at any given time. Again, when I take one or two out, I refill from the cabinet. I specified to my cabinet maker that shelf had to be tall enough for bottles underneath. This cabinet is 20" deep, so plenty of room for our typical inventory.

Oh and you might notice that we keep ours at 29. It is not really 29 degrees in there. Probably closer to 33. The refrigerator temp control on the drawer is the only thing that is not perfect (we have the Samsung) but I'm happy just leaving it at that setting.

I may have missed something but I'm surprised that no one has suggested a full depth fridge that is recessed into the wall behind. Is that an option for you?

We went from a regular size to a built in fridge and I have no regrets. The best part is not losing track of things at the back. I don't keep a lot of beverages in the fridge - no need to, imo. As long as I have enough for the day, and replenish frequently, we're good. I also have a fridge in the basement for extras, and it sounds like a separate beverage fridge might be what you need.

Lisa and AnnKH: Since I have no room to store things like 12 packs now, the fridge is the storage space. You both make a great point that I had not thought of. The plan is to increase storage space so I think I will have room to store things "warm." I am feeling better about that counter-depth especially the one with the drawer.

sherri1058: Recessing a fridge is not possible on either side if my L-kitchen. Big sigh! If I had discovered this site before a bathroom remodel, I could have planned ahead and tweaked the bathroom layout and plumbing to gain some inches. If I pressed DH to reconfigure bathroom plumbing now...!!!

I have no regrets. BUT, I switched to a 48" side-by-side Sub-Zero, which is taller and wider. One alternative you might consider--if you have the wall space to spare--would be to get separate refrigerator and freezer columns, which you place side-by-side (which is what I'd love to do, but my 17 year-old SZ is still going strong). Here's a reasonably priced pair from Frigidaire (with trim kit):

I forget about things stored in the garage fridge way more than I ever lose things in the regular depth. Not to mention that those times we are using both it's a pain to remember what is where. I love our regular depth - we designed our kitchen to incorporate one b/c I find they just hold a ton more than counter depth - especially french door counter which I find have substantially less useful space than a reg depth which measure the same cubic feet. And they are much less expensive. If you have the room something like the fridigaire is nice - but that's over 5 feet of wall space vs. the 2 and a half our fridge takes up.

Rantontoo, one of the goals of my kitchen remodel was to increase storage space. Even though I kept essentially the same footprint, the new kitchen makes much better use of the space, giving me room for things like a beverage cabinet. We used to have a shelving unit in the laundry room in the basement that serves as our "pantry"; we have so much additional space in the new kitchen that we don't need to use the shelves any more.

The key is to carefully plan out where you will store things in the new kitchen, so you know how much space you need, and what kind of space. For example, many people use the space above the fridge to store cookie sheets, cake pans, platters, etc. I have a narrow cab next to the sink that is just the right size for cookie sheets and cutting boards, so I had pullouts built above the fridge (custom cabinets). They are perfect for stocking up on cereal and paper towels, as well as storing my large canning pot.

This was our beverage storage before the remodel - stacked up next to the fridge. I knew that was something I had to make room for!

No regrets at all and I will never go back to a regular fridge. For my habits, a counter depth fridge is so much easier to organize and keep clean. I love being able to see everything all laid out neatly. We actually eat our leftovers now instead of them getting lost at the back of a deep fridge, not to mention fancy bottles of sauce and dressings are so much easier to place (and therefor they get used). I also love the straight across flat shelves that are more common in counter depth fridges rather than shelves that are divided in the centre as is typical of regular fridges, which eat up so much useable space. The first time I switched from standard to counter depth, I lost 6 full cubic feet of fridge space (from 17 to 11) and didn't notice it at all because the layout was so much better than my previous fridge. This time around, we went for a column so the added height gives me more space.

I'll admit that I feel the pinch in freezer space in a counter depth compared to standard, perhaps because there isn't the obvious improvement in interior layout. I have to keep another (small) freezer in the garage for the times when I go overboard at Costco.

Sammy: No room for for the two built ins even though I like the separate appliances.

I'm absolutely in love with mine! I'm attaching photos so you can kind of see inside. It's Samsung, and has 4 doors, 2 fridge and 2 freezer. One of the lower doors can switch from freezer to fridge if you need more space there. I could fit all of my frozen stuff on the left side, on the right I have only ice (because we're still in construction and fridge is in dining room). So I may turn the bottom right into fridge when I start cooking again and have the ice hooked up. I can see every single thing inside without moving anything!

Sue, I love that fridge! Is that really a counter-depth model?

Yes! We're totally in love

Sue McGrath: that is the other Samsung model I am interested in. I think the thing I like the most is "no handles." My husband is concerned about the freezer part with the small drawers. I think they would be fine as far as organizing so things do not get stacked on top of each other so much and not bending down as far for the top drawers in the freezer. I have never had a bottom freezer so I do not know if the one large pull out with a shallow pull out drawer inside is problematic or not.

Ha, Rantantoo, the no handles was the main reason that I started looking at it! This is my first French door as well. The freezer has more space than my old side by side, and since it's split in 2, stuff doesn't get all on top of each other. There are 2 decent sized drawers and a shelf on each side as well as small bins on the doors.

I switched from full depth to CD and really miss the space.

In this kitchen I would do it again since recessing the fridge isn't an option, but in my next house I'll make room for something bigger.

I have a full size standard freezer on top fridge in the garage and even still the kitchen fridge is always stuffed full, plus probably once a day I have to send a kid to the garage to bring something upstairs.

The produce drawers are atrocious.

When we remodeled the kitchen in our previous home, we went with a SxS counter-depth fridge. If not for the beverage fridge we also had, it would not have worked, as we also have a lot of 'liquids,' including wine, bottled water, soda and beer. In our new build home (3 years old-is that still new?) we also went with a CD along with the beverage fridge. We now have a French door model, which I really do not like. DH would never go with getting a new one, so I'm stuck. My complaint is having to open both doors to get to the deli drawer, which is what we seem to be in the most.

nhbaskets: I had not thought about the interior deli drawer and having to open both doors; that is where beverage cans will probably go....hmmm.

I don't have to open both doors to do anything. My drawers open with only one door open

Sue--from you photos, it appears your drawers are half-width. My deli drawer is full width, which requires that both doors need to be open in order to open that drawer. Or at least for me.

Sue: your model was my first choice; thanks for the drawer clarification. My DH is leaning toward the other four door design. I wonder if I can manage with just one door for the freezer; it would give him a whole side for beverages.

Not a regret in the world! I can see everything easily, it holds a LOT as it's taller than my old standard depth, and it look SO much better in my kitchen! But then I'm not someone who buys frozen pizza or lots of other frozen prepared foods, an I stop at the local market 2-3 times a week. I do have a regular depth, freezer on top, cheap refrigerator in the basement for overflow at the holidays. Freezer is for my ironing!

No regrets. We got the Frigidaire without an icemaker in the door. The fridge gets a little tight at xmas and thanksgiving, but otherwise has plenty of room. One half is almost all my husband's beer and wine. Two milk gallons fit on the one door. Agree the produce drawers aren't huge, but we tend to only have 3-4 days of food purchased at any time, so it's generally more than enough room. I'm a little anal and make sure we only buy what we plan on eating AND I throw stuff out at least once a week. I think some people refrigerate more than they need to. Like another poster above commented that they eat a lot of oranges, so one drawer is filled with oranges. But oranges stay good in room temp for up to a week. So unless you only go grocery shopping every 2 weeks, I don't know why you would need or want to refrigerate them?

Anglophillia: Freezer is for my ironing! Brought back memories of my mom doing that!

I have a CD Sub-Zero refrigerator and two Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers (one unit) that we use for beverages. We are a family of 5, plus a friend and his two children have been staying with us for the past 30 months (moving out at the end of this month.) I absolutely love our refrigerator. Things stay fresh so much longer and it's so easy to see what is in there. I love the shallow shelves in the door for condiments. I love the produce and meat drawers. They hold quite a bit.

The counter depth refrigerator generally holds everything we need it to. There are times when we push past its capacity, but that is when we're gearing up for a party or a holiday. We have a basement refrigerator that gets used for those times. It's surprising how little we really have to use the extra space even then. As much as I love our setup, if we did not have the refrigerator drawers it would definitely be a problem.

Sue McGrath, can you fit a frozen pizza in one of those freezer areas?

rantontoo - I just wanted to add I have found this to be an excellent question and I've appreciated the input from the forum.

It convinced me to embrace a counterdepth fridge and forego additional refriger drawers or an undercounter beverage fridge. We will see what I think after the holidays!

We're a family of five. We eat lots of produce and I cook at least once a day. I bought a CD Electrolux all fridge a few years ago and don't regret it. The one thing it doesn't fit well is a box of those huge 16" take-and-bake pizzas. I have to remove them from the box or clear a shelf that doesn't have a door shelf across from it when closed. My produce may overflow the available space in my drawer for a day or two, but that's not really an issue. I really love that it doesn't intrude on my aisle because the fridge location in this house is stupid.

FWIW, my fancy Gaggenau oven doesn't fit those pizzas, either. I have to cut them in half. I wouldn't trade my oven for one that did. It's my precious.

WE have a kitchen aid french door counter depth, and I really like this fridge. In our previous house we had a full size, but when we moved here we had an olive green side by side counter depth. That took some getting used to. In the size that we could get into our space we did not want to give up the fridge space to have an icemaker on the door...so we have ice in the freezer and filtered water when you open the door. (2 adults and an 11 year old who shop for lots of fresh produce at the farmers market). As others have said, it is easy to see everything in the fridge.

no regrets. We were very nervous about that decision but two years in - no turning back for us.

No regrets!!! In fact— I am able to keep track of what I have a lot easier.

amchogan - same here - wouldn't go back.

@Sue 430, I know this is an old thread. But I am wondering how do you still like your 4 door samsung Fridge. Are there any issues such as ice maker not working? I am considering this fridge along with the Whirlpool.

I still love love love it. The only issue I have with the icemaker is that every so often ice will get stuck inside and stop more ice from being made. Depending on how bad it is I either knock them out with a wooden spoon or melt with a hairdryer. But it is much less annoying than the issues i used to have with the ice maker on my previous fridge. I assume I could get it fixed, but it's so easy to correct that I haven't bothered.

@Sue 430 Thank you for quickly replying, it was veey helpful.