Two years in the past, proper round this time, I revealed my rental kitchen refresh. Throughout the months that preceded that, I chronicled my journey in getting from “earlier than” to “after,” and one of many main overhauls was of my home equipment. When my household moved in, we had {a partially} damaged white electric-coil vary, a black (and historic) dishwasher, and a really small, apartment-style fridge, additionally in white. It was a mishmash of finishes and never a single a type of home equipment suited our wants.
It took me almost a full 12 months to search out new-to-me, secondhand kitchen home equipment in my funds, however I lastly did. The most important get was my fridge, largely as a result of I had very particular limits, together with needing a counter-depth mannequin. Not simply that, however the best way our counter tops have been minimize with a slight overhang within the space the place the fridge lived meant we couldn’t accommodate a regular 36-inch width mannequin both. We wanted a counter-depth fridge.
Right here’s just a little excerpt from my kitchen reveal about this course of:
“Let me let you know…discovering a 33-inch fridge in counter-depth (this area required that) was close to IMPOSSIBLE. I’m not exaggerating once I say they make three fashions that match that invoice. ON THE ENTIRE MARKET. After which to attempt to discover a type of secondhand, nicely, Everest territory. BUT I DID IT. And the frenzy of exhilaration I felt is what I think about stockbrokers really feel after they do stockbroker issues that make them some huge cash. I like our fridge…it makes me fairly comfortable day-after-day.”
So, right here I’m, 700-plus days later…do I nonetheless like it? Am I nonetheless fairly comfortable day-after-day? Effectively, largely, although it’s difficult. And that’s what I’m right here to speak about right this moment.
What Is A Counter-Depth Fridge, & Why Does Somebody Want (Or Need) One?
A counter-depth fridge is precisely what it appears like: A fridge that’s about as deep as a regular kitchen countertop, which usually ranges between 24 and 30 inches, whereas a regular depth fridge could be anyplace from 30 to 36 inches deep and prolong previous the counter tops. So, why precisely does it matter, and why did I personally select to go together with counter-depth? Glad you requested.
I grew up in properties the place there was a built-in cupboard field that accommodated a standard-depth fridge. That appears like this:
Our fridges sat properly inside a body made for his or her depth, with higher cabinetry that additionally prolonged out additional than the remainder of the uppers. We had an honest quantity of area to maneuver across the fridge, as nicely. Some folks (or primarily, designers) don’t love this as a result of it breaks from having a seamless line. You may see that within the above photograph. It definitely doesn’t look unhealthy when carried out nicely, in my view, nevertheless it’s turn out to be the norm these days to have a fridge, particularly when built-in/panel-ready, that’s flush with counter tops and decrease cabinetry.
A means round this, in the event you care, is to have your fridge by itself wall constructed into floor-to-ceiling cabinets with out counter area, similar to this:
None of those, in fact, was my state of affairs. I used to be not renovating a customized kitchen. I used to be merely hoping to get my rental kitchen—the place I spend a large period of time cooking, consuming, or cleansing up—wanting much less “cut price basement bin” and extra “good household residence.” As I discussed originally of this text, I used to be working round some limitations when it comes to width, and after measuring, I noticed {that a} standard-depth would stick out nearly 10 inches previous my counter tops. In a good U-shaped kitchen similar to mine, an equipment that initiatives that far into the middle area is each an eyesore but in addition cuts off bodily and visible circulation. I do know I must be looking for one thing counter-depth as a result of placement of the place my fridge was within the ground plan.
I discovered this nice side-by-side comparability on Instagram of the totally different (notice: this isn’t in my kitchen) to get a way of how a lot additional a standard-depth stands out:
My Fridge Specs, The place I Purchased It & What I Paid For It
This submit isn’t meant to be some sort of ringing endorsement for the fridge we ended up getting, however I wished to incorporate it in case it was helpful to anybody, and in addition as a result of I wished to indicate how a lot of a distinction a number of inches in depth could make to the inside of a fridge. Right here is the mannequin I ended up shopping for (reminder: I purchased mine used on Fb Market for round $600).
Under is identical fridge, however as an alternative of being 31 inches deep, it’s 37.5 inches deep. (Remember the fact that the fridge itself is 36 inches, however the closing dimensions embody the handles, as nicely.) A six-inch distinction equates to just about six cubic toes of distinction. That, my pals, is quite a lot of area inside a fridge. Additionally, notice that the smaller counter-depth mannequin is $100 dearer than the common fridge. From what I perceive, that improve in value is usually due partly to provide and demand (they merely make fewer counter-depth fridges than commonplace depth), but in addition as a result of the price to provide them is increased.
These are vital issues to remember if you’re contemplating one thing counter-depth, however extra on my private expertise with the diminished area, specifically, under. Hold studying!
My Trustworthy Ideas, 2 Years Later.
There are quite a lot of professionals about our fridge, but in addition some cons. Let’s begin with the positives, as a result of I’m an optimist.
Execs:
- It matches! Above and past, that was my primary precedence, clearly.
- It doesn’t stick out an extra six inches into my already tight kitchen!
- Apart from the aesthetics of its dimension, by far probably the most handy half a couple of counter-depth fridge is that, as a result of it isn’t as deep, meals doesn’t get misplaced within the caverns of your chiller. Taking part in jar Jenga is wildly overstimulating to me, pulling pickles, pasta sauce, and relish out of the best way simply to get to the kalamata olives alllll the best way within the again. My fridge has the capability to nest issues solely two to 3 occasions earlier than you hit the again wall. To some, this is likely to be a con, as a result of it limits storage, however to somebody like me, who typically has containers of leftovers to take care of (and wishes fixed reminders that sure, I’ve meals at residence), it limits meals waste considerably.
From the place I used to be coming (the essential top-freezer mannequin cherished by landlords for its price ticket), the fridge is a large improve, whether or not it was counter depth or not. Plenty of what I cherished about it to start with could be attributed to this, in addition to the French-door design. I cherished having quick access to all of the area on the inside aspect of the door, the extensive deli drawer, and adjustable cabinets.
Cons:
- Fewer mannequin choices to select from. This was considered one of my largest challenges, particularly as a result of I wanted each a counter depth in addition to solely 33 inches in width (36 inches in width and depth is commonplace). These are gaining popularity, fortunately, so provide will increase as does demand.
- They’re dearer, as I already talked about.
- Decreased cubic storage. You can too count on a counter-depth fridge to have a capability of anyplace from 17 to 25 cubic toes (LG makes some with actually maximized interiors), with a mean of round 22 cubic toes. A typical fridge homes round 20 to 30 cubic toes, relying on type, mannequin, and width.
Now that I’ve lived with this fridge on this dimension for over two years, I can say that I’ve been annoyed at occasions with merely not having sufficient room. We’re a household of two adults and one younger little one, and it’s barely sufficient room for all my groceries. I often go looking for the week and shove issues in with a hope and a prayer. Granted, I purchase sufficient groceries to cowl breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for no less than six days’ value of consuming. Plus, we maintain our massive water pitcher in there as a result of there isn’t any water line to that aspect of the kitchen, so the water dispenser doesn’t work, and I would like chilly water to outlive. When you’re the kind of one who solely buys groceries for a number of meals per week, there’s just one or two of you, otherwise you’re extra minimal than I’m when it comes to your condiments, milks/drinks, or produce, it could be simply positive for you.
In a future kitchen of my selecting, this dimension will merely not minimize it for my cooking type. I’m positive it might really feel higher in a full 36-inch width, however even then, even with the “professional” of not dropping meals behind the fridge and having issues extra accessible, I’d most likely select the most important fridge I might discover so long as it made sense for the footprint of my area.
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That’s my evaluation, however it is a neighborhood the place your entire opinions are so valued (and diversified), so please chime in within the feedback under with your personal experiences associated to a counter-depth fridge, for higher or for worse.
Till subsequent time, pals…
Opening Picture Credit: Picture by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain Home Kitchen Reveal
