French Door Fridge: a Utility Player with Shallow Thoughts
Dec 28th, 2007 by Marilyn
When we left our old house back in October, we bid adieu to one workhorse of a refrigerator.
She was a plain-Jane appliance department special with a solid white door and sensible shelves and served us well for years, working in the background as a dowdy but reliable member of the team.
So our choice of fridge for the new old house was a whole new ballgame.
The refrigerator flanks one side of the arch that connects the dining room and the kitchen…
…the pantry is on the other. The island and baking board are both directly across from the fridge, so a high-traffic zone is formed in the “hallway” between them.
That “hallway” meant that even though we had a 36″ fridge opening, we did not want a huge Sub-Zero style door swinging into that walkway. The shallower double doors of a “french door” model fit the bill.
I have known two kinds of refrigerators in my forty years: (a) patient, dull workhorses, like the aforementioned plain Jane, and (b) huge, wet restaurant coolers with chronically broken compressors.
Since I’ve spent plenty of time kicking, tweaking and banging on Type B, we briefly considered a commercial model. But this one was a little smaller, a little more interesting, and a lot friendlier.
And, ostensibly, less leaky.
I’m loving the big space inside the doors, and how you can arrange to have as many “tall” shelves as you like. See how the tall sparkling water peacefully co-exists with the shorter milk and juice?
When I’m not sipping fancy, on-sale Pellegrino, I can get clean water from right inside the door – what will they think of next? Even better, you change the filter cartridge from inside the fridge, a selling point to those of us who could not or would not change their ice filter cartridge for years because, well, it was behind the fridge.
I still giggle when I pull out the freezer drawer. Maybe I won’t be laughing in five years when I’m grabbing my thousandth pack of chicken breasts, but for now it’s freezer euphoria. Just good clean freezer fun.
We wanted to “cabinet-panel” the fridge, but the long modern handles you see on these models were not for us. We decided to use 8″ long versions of our 4″ regular cabinet pulls, the polished chrome “Ephram,” from Restoration Hardware.
They have just as much pull strength, and they look and feel a lot warmer in the new old house. The wonder pulls currently have cookie dough fingerprints, because we’ve opened our refrigerator doors to the world, and now everyone knows…
…that Josie has a sugar-free Jell-O obsession, and I’ve been snacking on…um…rugelach dough.
Doesn’t everyone keep a few handy pounds of cream cheese dough for snacking?
Back to the fridge – if it’s right for your space and family, I heartily recommend the french door model. There’s not quite as much volume storage as some other models, but the storage is all up front, and for me, that’s made a big difference. It’s bright, shallow-shelved and at eye and arm level, so you can’t miss a thing. Tomatoes can’t hide in the back, leftovers won’t grow penicillin, and you are obligated to make that roast you bought three days ago.
French door fridges: bringing you and your cookie dough closer together!
We are beginning to plan our bungalow kitchen and this would make a perfect addition. Would you mind sharing the manufacturer’s name? I’ve seen all kinds of 36″ french-door models, but none look this nice. Now that you’ve been living with it for almost a year, what are your thoughts? Thanks!
Dave & Jodie — it’s a Jenn-Air, and honestly, it’s been a terrific fridge. So far, so good! We got the “panel-ready” version to do the cabinet door-thingy to it. Overall it’s a very practical appliance, with good features and, most important, more space than you’d think. Good luck with your bungalow!
Can I just tell you how jealous I am. Living in Europe I am still not used to miniature refridgerators and ovens. What is it with this country and their super small appliances. I could probably park my super small Euro car in your fridge…SO JEALOUS!
I read another post that said you once dreamed of owning an ex-pat coffee shop in Europe. We are currently running two and starting the third soon. We serve all American goodies. Apple Crisp, cupcakes, cookies, oatmeal bars, brownies. Can you imagine running a coffee shop on miniature appliances?? WE DO, somehow! haha!
Hugs from Poland,
Rhonda