Well, you can either spend the several thousand on replacing what’s there or you can spend it on the new cabinetry you’ll need to reconfigure that wall. What’s wrong with the units? And what’s the make and model? Depending on your answers, it might make more financial sense to repair them.

Thanks for the reply! I just received a repair estimate today, and it would be about $2500 to repair the fridge alone. The freezer's compressor is dying, which would be a separate costly repair. The units are 12 years old. Repairing them just doesn't seem like a feasible option.

And it's a Kenmore unit that seems to be discontinued.

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Thanks so much, auntthelma! I love this idea. This seems like it could be a perfect compromise.

I would get a quote on a kitchen design planner to come in and work out your issue.

Although...I am salivating over that giant freezer/fridge....

What is wrong, exactly, and what is included in the $2,500 estimate? I had to have the first “major” repair on my 18 year-old Sub-Zero recently and it cost WAY less than that (just about $1,000, and that’s including parts, labor, AND a two hour round trip!)

My Frigidaire Professional columns (66” total width) were right around $3K. Not much more than a standard fridge/freezer. Will they fit the space?

11-13 years is the standard life expectancy of freezers and fridges. I would replace with a counter depth French door with pull out freezer on the bottom. Your cabinetry looks pretty standard issue. Maybe the same company would have a pull out pantry to install In the remaining space.

"decoenthusiaste: 11-13 years is the standard life expectancy of freezers and fridges."

That depends on whether one wishes to repair vs. replace. I have a 19yo garage unit (previously was in the house) that has not had any repairs (other than replacing the light bulb in the freezer section). My GE SxS in the (current) house is 14yo. I've replaced the freezer fan and system controller board (8 years ago), the ice maker inlet valve and the chute flapper on the ice dispenser (5 years ago). Much less cost than buying new (I can do repairs myself as long as it doesn't involve Freon).

I venture to guess these Kenmore units were produced by Frigidaire

I'm talking about statistics for new appliances. They aren't made like your 19 yr. old fridge. The "consumer society" agenda makes obsolescence a priority. Most folks aren't much good at DIY on appliances, but many Houzzers are exceptions. Unless you purchase insurance for them, you'll pay out the nose for repairs. But appliance insurance is another "cash cow" of the consumer society.

Honestly, the best and possibly most economical option may be replacing with a like sized refrigerator/freezer at this point. Calling a carpenter to build custom cabinets could be a costly option and it may end up looking like an afterthought and awkward.

@nicoleeve Thanks, that's definitely a fair point worth considering too.

That looks like the same Kenmore pair my friends have. Each is counter-depth and 36" wide, 72" total. They are still made by Electrolux/Frigidare I think. They're not as large as you think since they are counter-depth, maybe 16 sqft each.

Something like this

Replace the fridge for now with a counter depth, similar handle, freezer on bottom combo and LEAVE the nearly deceased in place and disconnected....empty.. Later, consider having a custom cabinet maker create some pantry with a match to the rest of the cabinetry, and toss the freezer. If you need a fridge, you need a fridge! In the meantime it will look fine. I wouldn't waste money on a bunch of kludge shelving.

Your best option is replacing them with similar side-by-side built-in units. You cannot stick a “standard” fridge in a built-in space because it is not designed to vent that way. Those Frigidaire units were very cheap for the size. A similar Subzero will be five times as much (that’s a guess). A 30” Bosch or Miele will be double that.

Maybe you can replace them with similar Kenmores but better hurry, we don't know how long Sears will be around.

I think you could likely replace them with Frigidaire units if they are Kenmore. They are what we are putting in our new house. They have space which is nice, but they are counter depth so they really aren’t all that big. Yours also look counter depth... Seems to me the better the answer than trying to hodge podge shelving in around and to be done right will still cost thousands...

We are a family of two and find the space nice, I would think space would be even more important for a larger family. But maybe that is just because the home I grew up - family of 6 and including eventually two teenage boys - needed all the space of a full sized fridge in kitchen, a huge deep freeze in garage, and another full size fridge in basement. Once my brothers were rapidly growing and active teenage boys my parents had to really stock up so there would be food left for the rest of us! It’s also nice to have a decent sized freezer readily accessible in the kitchen like you can have with these units.

Congrats on your new home!

Check out the Frigidaire Gallery or Pro models of the full size fridge/freezer combo - that will likely be your least expensive option. I think the Gallery version can be had for around $3,000, the Pro for around $3,600.

I have owned Frigidaire pair for 6 years with no problems. It was around $3500 with the extended warranty which fellow GWr's recommended. We have had the freezer serviced only one. We are only a family of four but find the extra space really useful especially for holding lunches. I'm not sure we can ever downsize. With a fridge and freezer so large I'm able to not have extra appliances in the garage like so many of my neighbors. Plus it's a lot more convenient having those items in the kitchen. I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen and have designed a whole wall to contain the pair.

I was on a builder's association home tour this afternoon. Two of the houses had the Frigidaire Professional refrigerator/freezer pair. One house had them installed side-by-side, the other had them separated.

I've seen kitchens with two conventional combo fridge freezers side by side. That might give you more options.

Come to think of it, I think the Beverly Hillbillies had it that way.

Factory box cabinets can be reconfigured. Remove refrigeration units and all the cabinets above and on the right side. Design some breathing space around the new refrigerator and reinstall cabinetry minus one overhead cabinet.

I'm betting that having two side by side components both pumping out a lot of heat in a very confined space had a lot to do with the compressors failing (regardless of what the manufacturer said about clearances.)

Maybe decorative grilling on either side or, at the very least, thru the wall vents open to the room behind the refrigerator IF that wall isn't an exterior wall. If you can do thru the wall vents, I would use two vents. One near the floor and another higher up so air can move freely.