I would want my freezer and my refrigerator to be next to each other because having to move stuff from freezer to refrigerator would be too complicated for my simple brain.

Most people adjust to have their secondary freezer or even refrigerator in the basement or garage because you store things that you don't generally need to access daily or multiple times daily so it is used for long term storage. You would probably not be accessing a secondary freezer that often with a 42" refrigerator/freezer

But really for stuff like that you need to think about how you actually function in the kitchen, Are you going to be sending your kids to the pantry if they want something that is frozen?

Option B for sure. I have the 36" FD Sub Zero and it is plenty large enough for everyday use for 3 people. We have an additional full-sized refrigerator elsewhere for the overflow but it isn't used often.

This depends on what food you use daily. Will you need the different temp options for veg, meat and seafood? For some people dry aging beef for a month or more is a use. Or vegetables and fruits. A freezer that isn't frost-free gets you more storage time. This would suggest a separate unit to avoid freezer burn. I'd pick A. I don't need a freezer next to the frig.

i would go with a side by side freezer/ fridge in the kitchen and a bigger freezer nearby…especially if you stock up on things from Costco…etc….we also always stock up on things like frozen strawberries when they are cheap and in season…and buy chicken breasts frozen …etc…so i take the extra step of pre- packing smaller amounts in the big freezer …..so i can move more selections in smaller amounts …..to the side-by- side in the kitchen

The only real challenge is finding the right spot that keeps the ice cream scoopable!

Cant think of any plus for a freezer in the basement

I guess the only plus is that it keeps the frozen stuff we don’t need access to often (extra meat, frozen meals) out of our prime real estate of the main floor

If you have a side by side … in the kitchen and a freezer in the pantry… do you need the basement option? We have friends that are hunters and gardeners that do that… but we never need that much food preservation

Option A would make the most sense given the size of your family.