Help me with a decision please.

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twintubdexter

twintubdexter

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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">My 16 year-old Whirlpool all-refrigerator is dying and is not worth the cost for repair. The space I have is 60" which was perfect for the fridge and matching 30" freezer. Because I want white appliances my choices are limited. Whirlpool still makes these. The new white units are 32"wide. 30" models are available but only in a faux stainless. Electrolux and Frigidaire have them too but they're too wide and not white. There's a 30" Whirlpool in white but the "matching" freezer looks different. Picky me could never go for that. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I have decided to buy 2, 30" refrigerators and place them side by side a-la those Whirlpools you see in early episodes of the Beverly Hillbillies. I'm trying to decide between bottom freezer models with the food door reversed on the left side or 2 French door units. Do you think having 4 French doors like that would look funky? 30" refrigerators are not all that popular and neither is anything white. The other thing I have to contend with is that because of the narrow width, manufacturers compensate by increasing the depth. I'm not fond of the idea of wearing a girdle in order to get between the fridge and the kitchen island.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I suppose I could have an addition cabinet installed in the space leaving 36" for a standard side by side. Then again I could rob a bank and go for built-in refrigeration. Input is greatly appreciated and thank you.</span>

twintubdexter-2017051510504500541_1.jpg
 
I've done just that

And it looked classy, not funky. I don't know whether GE still sells them, but once upon a time, they sold a white 'T-Strip' to seal the gap between the two refrigerators in various colors to match the units.

If you're dealing with white, of course, any old 'T-Strip' will do and make them look built-in.
 
I'd go with two single door bottom freezer models. The french door fridges in 30 inches have rather narrow doors, you loose space in the doors. It's also easier to have a look in both fridges at the same time.

Pricewise the bottom freezer models are a bit cheaper. Also you have more choice in bottom freezer models.
 
I would have to agree with Louis. Those french door fridges have a lot of wasted space and it would probably be difficult to open the doors of each fridge at the same time. The bottom freezer models also have a much cleaner look to them, and from the look of your beautiful kitchen I imagine you like to maintain a clean look. Also, there is a lot more extra stuff to break on these french door models.

We had a 17 cu ft. BF Amana back at the turn of the century when BF fridges started to come back into vogue. It was a POS! Hopefully they have improved them since then. It never kept the milk fresh and froze the lettuce, no matter how we set the controls. I don't miss it at all.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 5/15/2017-14:08]
 
Lovely kitchen, Joe!

You don't want those French door numbers - two of them next to each other would give you more doors than "Let's Make A Deal" and without Carol Merrill to open them for you.

I think the two white refrigerators with the bottom freezer door mirrored together would give you the best look, and not disrupt the wonderful visual flow of your kitchen wall.

The two bottom freezers probably won't get you as much room as you had with your large single freezer unit, but you can have twice the ice, which will be handy for all those smart cocktail parties!

That's my two-cents
 
Matt,

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">The Whirlpool all-fridge you pointed out would fit at 30" wide, but oddly enough the "matching" freezer is 34" wide. Go figure.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Fat chance of finding these as NOS boxed in the back of some warehouse. Wouldn't they be totally cool?</span>

twintubdexter-2017051515114303282_1.jpg
 
Joe,

my favorite aunt had that same Crosley Shlevador refrigerator. It had a tank at the top of the door to fill with water and the door handle was also a spigot for dispensing the ice cold water. My cousins and I thought that it would be ever so handy to have cold, on tap Sonny Boy, this was a syrup that mixed with water made a drink just like Kool Aide. So we filled the water dispenser with Sonny Boy and water, it was fun while it lasted. My Aunt Imogene hit the ceiling when she discovered how we had befouled her beloved Shelvador. She made us clean it out and it was no easy job getting the dishsoap out of the dispenser. I think that having a matched fridge and freezer of these Shelvadors would really be neat.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 5/15/2017-17:36]
 
Joe,
You're on the right track with current plans--doubtless you'll find exactly the right units to fit. In a perfect world, I would have the same setup as you in my own kitchen! I do see a lot of KA 30 AND 36 width french door bottom freezer units out here (in white, yet--sample pic of a 30" attached here). It would probably be a very cluttered look in your kitchen with all those door handles and pulls looking you in the face--unless you wanted to go to the expense of custom trim/handle kits to minimize that look. Not to mention possibility of doors banging into each other if multiple people are in there using at the same time...

My two cents: in the event of your not finding the right single door units, and if you're not desperate for a huge amount of freezer space and want to fill that 60" gap, there could also be a solution in using a built-in 48" side by side, either a Sub Z or a KitchenAid Superba 48.

Lots of those low-use units are all over the place at bargain prices in PS/LA/SanDiego/PHX--just have plenty of help moving one in. I just picked up a gorgeous one for my own home for $100, looks unused, works fabulously--but was the better part of 600lb weight and only about 1/4" ceiling clearance getting it into my low-ceilinged kitchen....

However, it would be easy enough to situate one of those 48's in your current wall niche with just a minimal amount of trim pieces cut to polish off the final installed look--but it'd mean losing your upper cabinetry if I'm looking at your photo right...

funktionalart-2017051518264509545_1.jpg
 
A counter-depth unit would be preferable. New bottom-freezer refrigerators are nearly 34" deep which would intrude into the work/walk space and probably drive you as nuts as having mis-matched units. A few brands have french-door models in counter depth sizes but not in a 30" width. Bosch and F&P have some other width options.

You could go all-in and buy a standard 32-33"wide bottom freezer and then stack two vintage dishwashers next to it. Or a Skinny-Mini. Or vintage Westy Spacemates. Endless options, really. :)
 

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