Kitchen remodel in my future - opinions on integrated appliances wanted

Hello all!  I'm in the fortunate position of having a kitchen remodel here in our home this summer (hopefully!), although it will feel far more like a good thing when it's done and the mess is cleared up.   

I'd love to hear from anyone who has dealt with an integrated fridge/freezer and what they think of it.  These weren't "in" where I used to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, although I suppose they must have existed.  From what I can tell, it's almost all about the esthetics and there doesn't seem to be any other advantage to them.  In fact, from what I've read on the internet, they appear to be more expensive and more difficult to repair or replace than free standing refrigerator/freezers.

I'm not immune to having things look nice, but in this case I don't really find free standing ff's to be unattractive - perhaps because that's what I'm used to.  Does anyone have an opinion about this (admittedly first-world) issue?

We have an integrated fridge/freezer.  I like the look and it's a million billion times better than the teeny tiny fridge I had in the only rental I've had in the UK (so much bigger and looks better.

We have had issues with both the fridge and freezer doors.  We have had to replace a total of 6 hinges and they cost £60 each (the house is 5 years old).  Such a joke.  Other neighbors have had the same.  We've complained to Electrolux but they don't care.     My husband tried to say it's because we have things in the door on the fridge (uh, duh, there are storage shelves there specifically for the milk and such!).  But I pointed out that we've had to replace the hinges on the freezer as well, which has no door storage.

That being said, I would happily have integrated appliances again.  But if I lived in a larger home and we had room, I'd totally get an American style fridge from Costco.

I love having the washer hidden behind a cabinet door and we've had no issue with the integrated dishwasher at all.

My husband tried to say it's because we have things in the door on the fridge

This is very husband-like: "Well hun, if you would quit putting the heavy stuff on the door.....the gravitational forces combine with leverage to...."

You: "Well the freezer has no weight on the door and the hinges needed replacing also."

Husband logic: "Well that's different or something....the cold causes them to constantly contract and expand leading to...."
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I like free standing because you can pull the darned thing out and get to the back. They have drains and things back there.   

This is very husband-like: "Well hun, if you would quit putting the heavy stuff on the door.....the gravitational forces combine with leverage to...."

You: "Well the freezer has no weight on the door and the hinges needed replacing also."

Husband logic: "Well that's different or something....the cold causes them to constantly contract and expand leading to...."

YES!!!  Of course it is "my stuff" in the fridge door causing all the problems.   

Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have a fridge you don't have to get down on your knees to see what's in there.  And a freezer that holds more than two packages of frozen vegs.   

We had a large-ish fridge freezer but when it broke down DH replaced it with one doll house size.   

Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have a fridge you don't have to get down on your knees to see what's in there.  And a freezer that holds more than two packages of frozen vegs.   

We had a large-ish fridge freezer but when it broke down DH replaced it with one doll house size.   

Preach!

Last night, my mom was telling me that she's going to send me a recipe of 30 meals you can make and freeze using just a few ingredients.  I asked where I was going to keep these frozen meals.  She got defensive.  She has TWO American sized fridge/freezers.  My freezer is roughly the size of a tuna can (okay, I have three tiny drawers).

Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have a fridge you don't have to get down on your knees to see what's in there.  And a freezer that holds more than two packages of frozen vegs.   

We had a large-ish fridge freezer but when it broke down DH replaced it with one doll house size.   

Oh, I hated that when I rented flats with those. As someone who loves to cook and is super busy, the tiny fridge was the bane of my existence.

I've got an integrated fridge/freezer right now and we're putting one into the house we're building (ready very soon, can hardly wait!) -  Aesthetics for us, but can't imagine any other reason why they would have an advantage.   

Spoiler: show

Not an American sized fridge/freezer,but will do us just fine. Especially because my soon -to-be-in-laws have three!!!!!! gigantic chest freezers, and we're getting one! Wheee!!!
But I am really looking forward to the dishwasher bit in our new kitchen. Oh to not have to hand wash so much, oh life will be grand!!!

Have fun with the kitchen remodel!! 

We had integrated appliances in our last house. When the washer broke, the selection of integrated models wasn't great. To get the features I wanted, we went with a regular washer. I hated the refrigerator, and of course you cannot clean the coils on an integrated model, whichdefinitely shortens the life.

The refrigerator started making "I'm going to die" sounds so we replaced it with a not quite American sized fridge freezer - big fridge section, decent sized top mount frost free freezer. It was this model: http://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/tan6fnfs/indesit-tan6fnfs-freestanding-fridge-freezer (top-rated by Which? at the time). I love it; good compromise, and while it takes up more space than many UK fridge-freezers, the capacity suits us perfectly.

While the integrated appliances make for a neat, sleek look in the kitchen, I would never have them given the choice. It's an individual thing though, and what suits you is what you should get.

I'm not a fan of integrated, as that's not what I grew up with. And I wouldn't want to integrate a washing machine or tumble dryer as that may reduce ventilation.

But when we went for our new kitchen a few years ago, Mr MLG campaigned for it on the basis of more counter space and that has allowed us a breadmaker, rice cooker, microwave, toaster and slow cooker with masses of space to spare for the joy of cooking.

So where  space is tight, I'd go integrated again, minus washing machine or tumble dryer.

I've learned each style has their place, for me, anyways, so to speak.

Happy remodel!   

Of course, you should always get what you like and forget about which kitchen others think is the best. You're going to have to live with it, but you asked about experiences with integrated units so here goes.

Our kitchen was new 22 years ago, and yes, we old farts still have it. It came in the spec for the house (new build).

In the kitchen, the dishwasher, the fridge, and the freezer are built in to the cabinets, and have matching exteriors to the rest of the cabinetry. The fridge and freezer units are both fairly good sized. Never had a problem with either, or the doors/hinges. The dishwasher has been replaced with a like unit, but no problems with the exterior panels or bottom hinge.

The adjacent utility room also has a fairly large range of matching cabinetry, with a second sink. The washer and dryer are under counter type units. There is also a second American style fridge/freezer (yes, we're wasteful and stock far too much). We've had American guests wander around the kitchen and wonder why we have so much cabinet space, but no fridge/freezer in the kitchen, until they realise what the large cabinet doors in the kitchen are for.

The wife has been hinting......, and after writing this comment, there will probably be a new strange sound coming from the kitchen in the near future as a 22 year old appliance gives up the ghost. Thanks for that.

I notice the new Smallbone kitchens now have the fridge and freezer still built in, but the exteriors are exposed and do not match the cabinetry.

http://www.smallbone.co.uk/collections/kitchens/oak

For reference, the dishwasher, kitchen fridge and kitchen freezer are Bosch, the washer and dryer are Miele. Both the washer and dryer have been replaced (dryer is a condenser type).

For reference, the dishwasher, kitchen fridge and kitchen freezer are Bosch, the washer and dryer are Miele. Both the washer and dryer have been replaced (dryer is a condenser type).

I find these two brands to be quite reliable, IME.

Thank you all for the feedback!  This is exactly what I was looking for, just a discussion about the pros and cons experienced with appliances.  I tend to lean toward having things easily accessible, so you can clean what needs to be cleaned and fix what needs to be fixed without tearing cabinets out. 

We are looking at a 50/50 fridge freezer which actually sounds great since we use more freezer space than the standard on most American models I've had.  I've lived long enough to know the perfect refrigerator/freezer set up simply doesn't exist.  There is always a space where food goes to die unseen until it's ready to crawl out on..... well, you know.    Anywhoo, I'm sure whatever we get will be an improvement over the two tiny, separate units stacked one on top of the other that we have now.

To be honest, this issue reminds me of all the model homes built in the 80's in California (my sister and I used to love to wander through model homes just for the fun of it) where it became standard to see 2 or 3 tiny bedrooms with tiny closets, but an enormous master suite with a walk in closet and jacuzzi tub built for 2 to 4 people in the decadent master bathroom.  It all looked lovely and we would 'ooh' and 'aah' over the idea of laying back in the tub with a glass of wine and a book.....

The people I know who have one of those lovely bathrooms don't use the tubs at all, or so seldom as to be virtually never.  California has a water shortage issue, yet these features became de rigueur in even the moderate housing tracts. 

I just want to be able to distinguish between form and function so I can make up my mind what will work best for us.  DH is perfectly happy either way, which is rather nice for me - as long as the unit I choose doesn't give up the ghost before its' time, we all know who will get the blame then! 

Those Smallbone kitchens are quite drool worthy though! 

Thank you for the recommendations about brands too, that really helps. 

Do any fridge-freezers here have the lower level freezer as a pull-out (drawer)?  We were idly looking in a showroom recently and I don't remember seeing any like that.

Do any fridge-freezers here have the lower level freezer as a pull-out (drawer)?  We were idly looking in a showroom recently and I don't remember seeing any like that.

I've seen a few online which appear to be the kind you're talking about and they label them as "American Style", but they sure are expensive!  Although I don't know how much they cost in the US now that I think on it.

This one:

http://www.applianceconsultants.co.uk/cda-pc87-american-style-fridge-freezer-with-drawers-a-rating-in-black-or-stainless-steel-colour-7899-p.asp

and several for sale here:

http://www.premierelectrics.co.uk/Fridge-Freezers/American-Style-Fridge-Freezers/c-1-8-107/?strProductsOrderBy=

My parents paid >$2500 for a Samsung with a bottom freezer and a separate center "deli drawer" just over 2 years ago. It is a fantastic refrigerator, and the space is incredible.

They ditched an aging, coughing and sputtering side-by-side (a style I have never liked) which ostensibly offered more freezer space, but the usable space was far less. The Samsung is slightly less wide and a tad taller - but it fits the space meant for the refrigerator far better as the builders made a miscalculation when the house was constructed (another story).

At the time they could have bought a lower spec for <$2000, but this one was just superior and worth the money.