I do think you're worrying too much about this especially since you will in effect have two 36" refrigerators in your kitchen. Like Jan Moyer stated - the most important factor is the kitchen layout and how well it functions.

In my previous home I had 2 Sub Zero units - a 36" all freezer and 36" all refrigerator. My kitchen was easily large enough to accommodate both units. We downsized and now my kitchen is less than half the size of my old one - we went with a 42" Sub Zero because I liked the extra freezer space.

The brand name Sub Zero still seems to add a little bonus to many buyers - but in your price range I don't think it makes much difference.

At that price range, I would guess that buyers are going to redo the kitchen to their own taste anyway. Given that, and the fact that your house is unique due to the view and unlikely to have many others like it for sale at the same time, I would get the fridge you actually want.

IMO you get whayt you need and not some imaginary buyer IMO SZ is overpriced and would not be an item I would be judging the rest of a home on. I think building a home is stressful enough without worrying about someone down the road and what they will like. Who knows what will be “in” 5 yrs from now even.The fact that you have a butlers pantry with another fridgeis great. A funtional kitchen is still the best way to go. Why not post your kitchen design to have it critiqued .

In that price range people will look more at what you have on the counters, floors and in the bathrooms. Granted I would not put an LG in either but more than likely if you sell, the buyer will put in whatever they want and may not want the same style refrigerator even if it is a SZ. You cannot worry about that now. Buy what you like. I understand your point but I would not buy a home based on the size of the refrigerator.

Where I live all anyone cares about is location and square footage. Ten million dollar houses in my neighborhood have Lieberr. Miele, GE, SZ, it does not matter one iota. If you are buying a high end house, chances are you will redo the kitchen to your own desires as soon as you close on it.

Personally, I would not like a house with a fancy SZ for show and any old thing tucked away for the heavy lifting. I might think the person who designed a house like that cheaper out on the things that are unseen and matter. I want my house to look every bit as good from the inside as the out, if you know what I mean.

My sister's house is 5000 sq ft in an even higher price range and she put in a 36" SZ. No one will buy or not buy her house because of the size of her fridge.

I have a friend who built on the water. House if sold would definitely be in your price range (or more). My friend put in an GE Monogram counter depth I believe. If my friend sells, no one will care about the fridge. It will all be about the views and location.

PS I would not be turned off by a house that had GE refrigerators in a high price range. It's the SZ for show and the any-old-thing behind the scenes that would be the problem, casting a pall instead of a halo.

As others have posted, it's difficult to advise in a vacuum.

In Los Angeles - as I would imagine in Kirkland - a $2 million or $3 million home is not the top of the market but essentially buys what would be considered to be a nice upper middle class home in most other markets.

I would think the total size of the kitchen area would be most important - in terms of both function and aesthetics.

It's not at all unusual for people to have a second refrigerator in their $3 million home here - a SZ in the kitchen and a nice old fashioned refrigerator in the garage. You've got them beat by having it in a butler's pantry :-). I don't think anyone has expectations that a "normal" second refrigerator means the owners stinted on other aspects because it's so easy to swap out a free standing refrigerator versus one that will be constrained in the future by cabinets.

Functionally, in terms of how people use a refrigerator, I would assume that 36" would function well as you can certainly store those items of food which would normally be stored in the prep and eating areas of a kitchen and the secondary refrigerator would be there to store the overload of stuff that second refrigerators are used for.

Keep a 36" cabinet-depth fridge and make it a bottom freezer, single door model which is both energy-efficient and plenty of room. Instead of a second fridge column, put in a wine column and bingo, you have a super upscale-looking kitchen with some great wine storage, to boot. Obviously, as others point out, this all depends on your layout and the available space.

P.S. Take a look at Thermador too. Great looking and great performing appliances for less than Sub-Zero, but still feel very upscale.

This advice will certainly saves me money. And it would save me time to cabinet design IF I skip the the wine column. We aren't really wine drinkers but I do like a big-ass bottle of belgian ale, so maybe... Or I could put the savings from not buying Sub Zero into fancy built-in coffee or speed/steam oven...

Helen - I think you're right. In Kirkland $2-3M is typically an "upper middle class" buyer. And t the upper end of the range where we would be I think most would expect (or certainly value) a move-in-ready home that fit buyer taste and neighborhood standards.

Jan, Patricia, Helen -- I'll work on getting kitchen design posted soon on a new thread. I think I recall a post about what to include in such a post, will try to find that.

Keep the same thread. Don't start a new one. Just post the plan right in your own comment.

If it was me, I'd put a 36" all-fridge SZ column into the kitchen and a freezer (or a fridge/freezer combination) into the pantry. But that's because we don't use the freezer as much as we use the fridge. The pantry would actually be the ideal location for a freezer.

And a 36" all-fridge column is a great size in a kitchen. Nobody would have to complain about that.

But this is so dependent on your specific needs as a family. What works for us might not at all work for you.

Also, we have an additional commercial all-fridge ("True") in the garage. Absolutely love it. It's "integrated" and looks really sleek (the contractor moved a small wall to find a perfect spot for it). And it's super convenient when unloading supplies from the car.

I agree on the all frig for your 36" space. You have more flexibility from your close by pantry area. No to wine storage.

Functionally, the choice depends on buying and cooking styles, along with convenience. We have a 48-inch side-by-side integrated SZ (really an 18-inch freezer and 28-inch refrigerator) and both sides are usually packed. And there are only two of us. And there is a conventional refrigerator/freezer in the basement. Fortunately, the integrated SZ is not deep so I can find things in finite time. Unfortunately, volume is thereby less, and more has to spill over to the secondary unit.

If you are used to a 36-inch shallow unit plus a supplemental nearby unit and they work well together for you, then go for it. Otherwise, consider whether it is better to aim for overkill than fear underkill. And put the ales in a Perlick Signature refrigerator in a bar area.

Use 36 Subzero with panels and find a way to incorporate a wine cooler (even under counter,) this feature (at least in high-end New York market is a good selling point, more important that the size of the refrigerator is that the kitchen is functional, practical and beautiful. and for that you will need professional help

Call me shallow, but for 3M I want a glorious kitchen with room galore in my fridge for large trays, an extra oven and a 6 burner stove. I sometimes see photos of kitchens with huge status ranges with 6 burners plus a griddle and 3 ovens... and then a dinky narrow fridge/freezer combo. It Just seems out of scale to me. Another consideration is the number of bedrooms in the house. If some one were to buy that home and fill all of the 5 bedrooms, a 36” fridge/freezer would probably be inadequate.

I think this is a Goldilocks thing. It has to be just right, and every Goldilocks wants something different, depending upon his/her preferences and needs.

It's great that you will have an extra refrigerator in the pantry.

A lot of people have a dedicated freezer in the garage or the basement, or as indicated above, in the kitchen, although you don't need to put that in, because if the buyers of your house want that, they can buy it and put it in the basement or garage down the line.

Fraker does have a good point that you might want one of your refrigerators large enough to accommodate large trays, i.e. baking trays, catering trays, etc.

Maybe one of your refrigerators could be wider?

Also, if you get a wine cooler, can you get one that is adjustable on the inside to accommodate other types of beverages so that if the family doesn't drink alcohol it can be used for sodas, juices, etc. and it can be a great plus so the family isn't always yanking open the refrigerator to get a beverage. You might want to get the wine cooler with a lock just in case.

Functionality of the layout is just as important if not more so, than worrying about a SZ fridge. Plus, you already have a second fridge in the pantry, so you've covered the issue of needing extra space. 36" is plenty big, particularly when it's built in, it looks great. At that price point I'd consider a beverage fridge built into the island or cabinetry, where it's functional. (hard to say without knowing your layout)

I put in a built in (not paneled) because I liked the look, and yes did consider resale - but I did it for me. I ended up with Thermador and honestly it wasn't inexpensive either considering it was built in and the side by side doors with freezer on the bottom - it's plenty big! The reason I went with Thermador was because of their duel fuel range. A long time friend who is a trained chef recommended it over the Wolf SZ. Plus Bosch and Thermador are essentially the same company and Bosch makes an amazing dishwasher (even though mine is labeled Thermador, it's Bosch and therefore good German engineering) So all my appliances are Thermador stainless steel and the fridge is built in and 36" and it was only about 1k difference price point wise from what you list for the 36" SZ.

Please post the kitchen layout, that would help a lot.

Thanks, all! As promised here is the design. Actually 2 designs with differences in range vs. cooktop, big vs. concealed hood, raised vs. flat island. All of them show a 36" fridge. I don't have actual SZ, Wolf or Bosch in my CAD library so handles and faces aren't right.

Thanks in advance for any helpful ideas on how to improve!

Notes:

Cabinetry & Framing

• slab fronts qs walnut horiz. match, frameless, full overlay
• 1/8" gaps between doors, drawers, boxes < 1/32" variance
• 1/2" filler on tops, sides < 1/32" variance
• finger pulls inside door/drawer edges
• 9' flat drywall ceiling in kitchen
• 12" drywall soffit with 5.5" MDF flat crown +2.5" "L" onto ceiling (Match house)

Surfaces & fixtures

• 3cm quartz counters, 1" overhangs, cream/natural (color tbd)
• 18" backsplash: 4" Quartz + 14" bedrosians verve aviary (prelim)
• 6" quartz Backsplash on island (on back of 42" cabinets)
• sink: zero radius dark grey granite/quartz
• Faucet, lighting fixtures: matte black
• wide plank white oak natural rustic engineered floor (matches rest of house)
• BM paint: trim = white dove satin, walls = alaskan skies flat, ceiling = white dove flat

Appliances & lighting

• bosch benchmark 36" induction cooktop, black framless (NITP668UC)
• bosch 800 wall oven + speed oven black stainless (HBL8742UC)
• 400 CFM Under counter / mostly concealed range hood - model tbd
• bosch 800 dishwasher, black stainless (on site)
• fisher paykel or miele 36" integrated refrigerator / bottom freezer drawer
• wine/beverage under-counter on family room side of island (brand/model tbd)
• 3K 90+ CRI; ambient: 6" led trim; task 3" gu10 mr16 led; Strip under cabinet
• clear glass pendants (model tbd)

Pictures of plans to follow. If they don't render well on Houzz I will post link to higher res.

FLOORPLAN (Wide & Close-Up)

BACK WALL DESIGN 1

BACK WALL DESIGN 2

SIDE WALL (same in both designs)

ISLAND DESIGN 1

ISLAND DESIGN 2:

FROM DINING ROOM: DESIGN 1

FROM DINING ROOM: DESIGN 2

FROM FAMILY ROOM DESIGN 1:

FROM FAMILY ROOM DESIGN 2

If these look too fuzzy try these higher res versions

I am in agreement with the posters that said to go with a 36" all refrigerator. We went from the 48" SZ to SZ 36" all refrigerator and 27" all freezer in a five BR house. Figured that whoever buys our home will likely have a family. We also have a 36" FD Samsung. I would flank the wall with the refrigerator and freezer and use the middle section for your small appliances/baking station. With five feet in the middle, you have ample room to comfortably use your small appliances. I would also consider adding another DW. With an all refrigerator, you could scale it back to a 30" unit.

Get the Bosch Benchmark Side Opening oven instead of the one that opens at the bottom.

kaseki will hopefully pop back in here, but quickly looking at your preliminary plans I'd suggest (in that price range particularly): with a 36" wide range (even induction) you might want a wider capture on your vent hood - 3" additional on each side. And again, in that price range, yes, SZ does have resale appeal. I don't live in a multi-million $ home but most my relatives do and they tend to wonder about the house if it doesn't already have an SZ - I know, go figure! And yes to a wine and beverage fridge. Even an undercounter would work.

If you want easier DW access (notes above in your island drawing) how about dishwasher drawers? You could use one double drawer and another top only single drawer.

SZ is certainly a premium brand with the "whoo-hoo" appeal. Sort of sexy, even though the space is very slim. I HATE them, and rejected them for my latest custom build. As a cook, I really need what I just built- an extremely functional kitchen that has a "quadrangle" cooking space. Not just the triangle any more, and my pantry, cook top, oven, and sinks (always one to serve the cooktop)- none of more than a few steps away. It's a dream to cook in, and my refrigerator has a bunch of drawers/compartments.shelves to house all that is needed- at my fingertips.

So take care- high end buyers have been through the "wars" with these appliances. If something goes wrong, check into service costs in your area. Make sure you have a LOCAL company, not just an 800#, to call in. It can be very expensive, to fix, and you could be waiting a long time for it. In the meantime, you have a big freezer- completely un-meaningful for me, but maybe you. And another pantry around the corner.

High end people who cook often look at the # of steps and meal they can think of will cost them. Hey- if your sales market projects the wealthy younger set, as most probable, no problem. But experience doesn't always love these.

I've had the 36" all refrigerator and 36" all freezer SZ set up in a past home. I loved it. Currently, I have two 30" refrigerator/two drawer freezers set up next to each other. I've also renovated another home where I selected the KitchenAid French door 36" Architect II unit. I liked it, too.

If I were in your position, I would buy the 36" SZ all refrigerator unit for the kitchen and an all-freezer unit of some lesser brand in the pantry. This will give you maximum impact with maximum functionality. I would also find room for a wine/beverage unit. It doesn't have to be in the kitchen. Just nearby.

Last, rethink the set up of your pantry. Whatever unit you select to go in there should be on the wall directly facing the door. This will give you more shelf space for pantry storage on both sides of the pantry.