Dedicated Refrigerator AND Freezer Pros/Cons

5 years ago

We just purchased the house we'd been renting for 10 years. Our kids will be out of the house in about 5 years and after that, depending on the market, we'll be open to selling the property.

The kitchen is currently an 8x11' room. It's open to the dining room, and we're talking about knocking down a wall to add some room (possibly 10x14'). We currently have a failing side-by-side fridge--which I have always disliked because the freezer is so skinny. We're also a tall family of 5 and I positively hate having to bend way down to see what's in the back of the lower shelves.

Last year, we purchased an upright stainless-steel freezer and put it in the basement. We've been debating bringing the freezer upstairs and getting a matching fridge-only to stand next to it. I'm on the side of keeping the freezer in the basement and getting a 3-Door French Door combination.

Our house (3000 Sq Ft) is in an upper-middle-class suburb of Chicago. I'd like opinions/experiences on the pros and cons of this beyond the fact that the freezer will take up more space.

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

vinmarks

5 years ago

We have a french door fridge in our kitchen and then have a separate freezer and another fridge in our mechanical room which is downstairs. Works for us.

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Comments (10)

maifleur03
5 years ago
If your frig is failing be aware that placing the new frig beside the old one will make the older one look worse. Which means replacing it. You will probably also find that the new frig will not fit in the space the current one occupies.

As far as expanding the kitchen be aware that wall you are thinking of removing may be what is called a load bearing wall and removing it could affect the structural integratory of the whole house. It can be done but not by the home owner.
Scott K
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the insight!

The existing upright freezer is a Frigidaire FFFU16F2VV and it's been gently used in the basement. I'm pretty sure we could clean it up to look reasonably nice. Since we're going to be redoing the kitchen, we'll make room for whatever we decide. For due diligence, I've been looking for a matching freezerless-fridge with no luck.

Also, we're not affecting a load-bearing wall. We are moving our stairs that go down to the basement (which are currently between the outer wall and the kitchen) to be underneath the stairs going up to the second floor in a different part of the house (i.e. re-using the stairbox to the 2nd floor). This will give us the extra sq feet in the kitchen.
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maifleur03
5 years ago
It is unlikely you will find one to match nor perhaps even be the same dimensions either of the freezer or the older frig. If you do decide on having them side by side just buy new ones. If you want a frig without a freezer I would suggest you look at professional ones.
Scott K thanked maifleur03
lyfia
5 years ago
In the size space you're talking about I wouldn't do a separate fridge and freezer due too the amount of space they would be taking up in the kitchen from a re-sale perspective.
Scott K thanked lyfia
rrah
5 years ago
I'd just add a French door fridge in the kitchen. You might want to take the freezer with you in 5 years or so.
Scott K
Original Author
5 years ago
@vinmarks If I may ask, about how big is your kitchen?
vinmarks
5 years ago
Big. 21x13
homechef59
5 years ago
Buy a FD unit for the kitchen. Keep the extra freezer in the basement. Take it with you when you move if it is still working. Don't bring it upstairs. You will have a small amount of freezer from the FD for odd items close by you in the kitchen. Bigger items can go to the basement unit. Simplest solution.
Scott K thanked homechef59
new-beginning
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
there are 'stand alone' refrigerators but you will still have the problem on things on the lower shelf at the back. Get a French door with possibly two drawers, one shallow for things that might be needed frequently (snacks?) and then the deeper pull out drawer at the bottom.