You follow the installinstructions which I have no idea about . Is seems it needs air all around it so a simple space that allows that in your plan. I would strongly advise you do not go with all matching appliances and IMO there is not DWs better than Bosch I also would never buy an applianc eonline and your first step is call an appliance repair place near you to see if they service this brand . IMO the first step to buying any appliance . I love my Frudgedaire all fridge all freezer with builin kit 16 yrs old not one repair but i would never buy a fridgedair DW . Old plain stainless for a finish allows you to buy appliances for how the function for you.This fridge is made like a commercial fridge not meant for the avergae kitchen where there are cabinets surrounding most fridges so my advice either follow the placement as directed or look for a fridge that in not commercial

OP, I share many of your priorities when it comes to refrigeration, and I don’t particularly need a lot of the extra bells and whistles either. However, before you purchase anything, do note that it has been difficult for you to find anywhere to actually see one of these in person. That “might” be an indicator of just how difficult it will be to get someone to service this appliance and even if you do eventually find a physical store that sells these, most sellers do not service appliances, but will be perfectly willing to sell them to you leaving you with the task of finding someone to repair it when it eventually requires service as most appliances do during their useful lifespan.

Before you spend your money, take the time to call and investigate, several potential appliance repair services in your geographic region to ensure that there will be someone to service it when the eventual time comes that it needs some form of service (major or minor). Calling the manufacturer and asking them for a list of businesses that will service this brand is not sufficient because the service people they list often are not accurate/up-to-date, and businesses change what they service over time, and sometimes go out of business themselves. No matter how much you like the appliance when it is new, your relationship with it will sour if you find yourself in a position where no one is available to service it and/or parts are not available and you are stuck with a very giant, albeit beautiful paperweight. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

Installing outside the instruction limits is like hot-rodding a car -- first one has to understand the engineering decisions that were made for the car's design, and then understand what can be changed without degrading some aspect of performance or reliability beyond what is acceptable to you. Thor seems to be pretty clear about the need for a certain space for adequate cooling. Reducing these can only be tolerated by the device if the heat transfer rates are maintained by some additional aspect, such as a blown cavity moving the air around the device and likely having to replace it with kitchen air. Do you really want to take on such a project to save a few inches. You may not be able to shrink the side gaps to zero unless if is certain that the unit is not using the skins to dissipate compressed refrigerant heat.

Pat's comment incorporated by reference.

Look at Liebherr. We have had three of their fridges at different properties and have been very happy. Also look at Haier, the Chinese parent company of GE. We have two of those at different properties. None of these have plumbed ice makers, windows, or water dispensers.

Sounds like you want a cheap apartment grade refrigerator. Not a cheap apartment grade one being sold as a high end one. Basic non fancy fridges still exist. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ge-16-6-cu-ft-top-freezer-refrigerator-white/6361278.p?skuId=6361278

Patricia, HU, latifolia, and kaseki - Thank you for your comments. I've located a dealer near me which has the THOR appliances on display so I will be able to see them in person and point taken regarding buying appliances that are better, not staying within the same brand, especially when buying ss. I was able to locate service in my new home's area; however, I plan to investigate more. I spoke to two people at THOR, the more experienced person indicated that they follow the same ventilation recommendation of other makers and they weren't sure why the maker notes that requirement. A bit sketchy for sure, but if I like what I see in the store; I'll probably try them. The Liebherr 36" are above what I want to spend. I have Haier for my second fridge; I like it alot, but they don't make a model big enough for my main fridge.

You really should reconsider Thor. It's poorly made, and has lots of issues.

From a review on BestBuy.com:

" Beware Photographs of Installation

Would Not Recommend

As I just confirmed with a phone call to Thor, after waiting on hold for 90 minutes, the warranty for this refrigerator, as stated on page 6 ("Placement") of the manual, requires for ventilation 10 cm (3.9") clearance on sides and back and 30 cm (+/- 12") clearance above. When I pointed out that this photograph [on the BB website, which is also found on the Thor website] could lead people to buy the refrigerator intending to install it as illustrated, which would void the warranty, I was told, "It is just a photograph.""

Does not inspire confidence!

This ^^

I wouldn't order from a company who is showing the product installed in a way that they are admitting would void the warranty .

A useful rule, Debbi, but it may exclude all the pro range manufacturers that show island trim ranges against walls that likely aren't non-combustible all the way through.

@clinresga

The new year seems to have inspired posters looking for affirmation of truly unsuitable ideas. Often someone who ignores twenty responses, with reasons, of why it's a bad idea, latching on to one who says how great it sounds.

@latifolia Yes! I keep seeing posts on this Houzz page where commenters all give advice along a similar vein, and the OP literally ignores them, does not respond. Then the one wackadoo commenter - THAT is the one the OP thanks effusively and latches onto.

"Per their manual (and someone stated confirming this with customer service) THOR requires ~ 4 inch space on sides and back and ~ 12 inches on the top for ventilation..."

This is incorrect, there is no requirement for 4" spaces on the sides. Spaces are only required at the top and rear:

"The top space of the refrigerator shall be greater than 30cm, and the refrigerator should be placed against a wall with a free distance more than 10cm to facilitate heat dissipation." -- Manual page 6

This refrigerator did not perform particularly well in CR's tests but those who purchased it from Home Depot like it. I don't know how commenters above "know" that this refrigerator is "poorly made, and has lots of issues" or that it is a "cheap apartment grade refrigerator" or anything else for that matter.

Initially I thought the same thing, but if you look at the incredibly wonky picture in the Thor manual, it shows not one, but two orthogonal guidelines showing required clearance of 10 cm. This indicates that there needs to be 10 cm behind the fridge, but the second orthogonal guideline must reference a need to also have clearance from side walls of 10 cm.

@clinresga: "This indicates that there needs to be 10 cm behind the fridge, but the second orthogonal guideline must reference a need to also have clearance from side walls of 10 cm."

No, the left-hand "10 cm" to refer to the case where the refrigerator is placed adjacent to a wall -- shown on the left side of the diagram -- in which case 10 cm is required for the door to open 90 degrees. The refrigerator cabinet does not require 10 cm on either side; if the refrigerator is not placed adjacent to a wall and the doors can swing open freely, no side-gaps are required.

Matter of interpretation, I read this differently. But fortunately I won't have to worry about it as I won't be purchasing a Thor in the foreseeable future!

And to emphatically beat the dead horse, there is a separate diagram showing clearances need for door opening. If you do the calculations, it actually requires 34.5 cm of left/right clearance for door opening, not 10 cm:

@clinresga: "And to emphatically beat the dead horse..."

The diagram above is for opening the doors 135 degrees (i.e., fully). The 10 cm requirement is to open the doors 90 degrees.

The GE GYE22GEN refrigerator specs (for example) contain a diagram that shows the width of the refrigerator (35-3/4"), with its doors open 90 degrees (44-5/8"), and fully (68").