You are remodeling your kitchen or you just need a new refrigerator because the old one has died or just no longer meets the current needs of your family. Don’t get overwhelmed by the number of brands and choices out there today. When considering a new refrigerator using the following 3 guidelines – style, size and features, will help you find your refrigerator.
When it comes to style, you have 3 main options to choose form. Traditional free-standing refrigerators are the most common, the ones that typically roll into place and generally stick out from the fronts of your base cabinets anywhere from 5-8”. Counter-depth refrigerators offer a little more style without sticking out quite as much. It is very important to remember here that even though they are called counter-depth, once you take into account door thickness and handles you often times will stick out beyond the countertop. Finally, Built-in refrigerators offer the most…in terms of size, features and an integrated appearance with the rest of your kitchen.
Size is the next consideration when considering refrigerators. Beyond thinking of refrigerators in their traditional height and width dimensions, think about size in the context of how you will be using your refrigerator. Do you do bigger bulk purchases on less frequent shopping trips…or are you a steady visitor to your local grocer for regular smaller purchases. How much storage will you need? Do you have a large family and/or like to entertain? Answering all of these questions will help you find the right size refrigerator.
Lastly, determining the features you want, need or must have will further narrow down the refrigerator you will consider. Maybe adjustable shelves and a water and ice dispenser is all you really need. Or maybe you want individual storage bins and crispers with electronic temperature controls to get the most out of your food storage. You might just decide to get it all!
Following these 3 guidelines will start to help you find a new refrigerator. The final choice, as always, is up to you!
By Jim Grace
