refrigerator slightly shallower than counter depth

last year

I need to replace a 33 year old built-in sub zero. The opening in my cabinet is 36 wide x 84 high and the depth to the front of the face frame is 24. The existing fridge sticks out about 1 3/8” beyond that, not including the handle.
I can buy an exact replacement for it but it’s $14000 plus tax, delivery, and setup. Not sure yet if hauling away the old one is extra.

A Bosch Benchmark series should be a close fit but will stick out from the opening an additional 1” or so. $10k. It doesn’t have the most glowing reviews.

The rest of the ones I’ve seen online are supposed to be counter depth but they run around 28” or more deep. Not a great look.

Wondering if anyone knows of a fridge that might work for me that isn’t an oddball brand.
Thanks

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Joanne
Original Author

last year

Thanks for all of the good input and suggestions. Appreciate that folks will take the time to help.

We are retired, and will likely want to move to something smaller and with a first floor bedroom within the next 10-15 years, at which time I will be over 80 yrs old. So, while I love high quality, it doesn’t make sense to spend too much. We went with the Bosch Benchmark 36” built in. I spent the rest on a really nice espresso setup, lol. At least I can take it with me if we move.

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Comments (14)

John Liu
last year
Can you open up the wall behind the refrigerator to get about 4 more inches?
Joanne thanked John Liu
Joanne
Original Author
last year
I thought about doing that, but behind the wall is the living room with outlets, etc. Even if I could, I think that pushing it back into the cabinet would interfere with the hinge side clearance and the door wouldn’t open fully.
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palimpsest
last year
You could consider the 36" w Subzero Designer Series which can be fully integrated, has the compressor on the bottom and two freezer drawers instead of one. It is slightly lighter in weight, slightly shallower, and a little less expensive than the Classic Series, which is the only style they made 33 years ago. MSRP about $11,490. I have the 30" version of this, and the MSRP at the time was $10K+, and mine was quoted at a little less than MSRP.

You could look at 36" build in Liebherr. It is slightly shorter at 79" and they are frequently priced at a little less than $9000.

I am talking about panel ready rather than stainless doors.
3katz4me
last year
I don't know of an alternative. I just spent a year analyzing refrigerators to replace a 20 year old freestanding 36" counter depth. I found new refrigerators to have a variety of problems including very thick doors such that they stick out about five inches beyond the cabinet (most) along with print proof stainless finish that peels off (most), flimsy drawers (Bosch) and a variety of other functional and lifespan deficiencies (most if not all). I ended up investing in a SubZero including new cabinetry to accommodate it. In a previous remodel I saved some money and got a built-in KitchenAid instead of SZ. It was problematic. In my experience you get what you pay for.
wdccruise
last year
CR tested the Dacor DRF365300AP ($8500) brandmate which did well enough to earn a recommended rating. The specs call for a 25" deep cabinet so the door would protrude 1" plus the handles. The only picture I could find of the installed refrigerators is here.

The Elica ER36FRB19IPR ($6500) would meet your specifications. It's also sold under several other brands (at higher prices) as you can see on the AJ Madison website.

The Bosch Benchmark B36IT905NP ($8700) also earned a CR recommended rating and has a high predicted reliability.
Joanne
Original Author
last year
Thanks. The Bosch is on the shortlist and we’re also looking at a Liebherr. I would still like to get the Sub Zero but most of the other choices are about $5k less expensive. Tough decision.
3katz4me
last year
@Joanne - ask yourself what you are going to do with the $5K you save and how you will feel about that when you have problems or are otherwise dissatisfied with the fridge. Maybe you aren’t planning to stay in the house much longer in which case I might also go with a cheaper option.
dan1888
last year
The quality of reasonably priced refrigerators in the US since Whirlpool bought out the American competitors Amana and KitchenAid is abysmal. Korean products are unreliable. We need Japanese Hitachi and Mitsubishi products.

You in the integrated segment. Miele Mastercool is another option for you. The price is at SZ level but discountable. IKEA has a fully integrated product made by Electrolux. You would need two and cabinets plus doors.
dadoes
last year
KitchenAid didn't offer refrigerators until after Whirlpool bought the company in 1986. Maytag bought Amana in 2002. Amana brand came along with the deal when Whirlpool bought Maytag in 2016.
Barrheadlass
last year
OT: What espresso machine did you buy? Just curious. i recently bought a Breville express Impress.
Joanne
Original Author
last year
La Spaziale mini Vivaldi II and a Turin DF64V grinder along with some nice accessories. I make mostly milk drinks and wanted a double boiler. Love it
3katz4me
last year
Sounds like a well thought out decision. Enjoy!
lascatx
last year
I think you made a good choice. That Bosch is essentially the same as what sold under Thermador Freedom series when the style was first introduced -- white interior that Thermador has changed to stainless. We had the original Thermador columns for 18 years and loved them. The freezer died but the fridge was still working fine. I hated to see it junked, but it made no sense to replace only the freezer and have to uninstall and reinstall an 18 yr old fridge and know we'd be doing it all again if/when the fridge had issues. We replaced with SZ because the depth adn drawers worked best for us. Either way, if you expect to downsize, having the built-in will be a plus when you sell. We have a different espresso maker, but having something you will enjoy daily and take with you makes a lot of sense too.
Joanne thanked lascatx