Kitchen

[terrier3]

When I remodeled, I got a KitchenAid French Door counter depth refrigerator.

You can open either French door and close whichever one you want to first.

The freezer section is smaller than I am used to, but most of my food is fresh so I mainly store ice cream there.

[Hayfield]

I've been looking for a new refrigerator, and the French Door models I was looking at, close normally, not with that flap and you have to close the left first. I think they must've had a lot of complaints from the original desgin and changed it. Anyway, I currently have a side-by-side and will be replacing with a French Door desgin. The prices really vary though and I'm trying to stay at a certain price point. I've done most of the leg work and I'll be taking DH now to make a purchase.

[LonestarBabs]

While the French door model looks nice, I find it has some design flaws. Of course, as others have mentioned, the left door can't be opened independently of the right door due to the sealing strip. This is aggravating. Then, there is the issue of the bottom freezer design -- there is a light switch/sensor which freezes up due to condensation from warm air entering the compartment as you rummage through your frozen food. This then results in not having any light in the freezer! So, we've had to replace two of these switches/sensors and the repair technician said he's seen the problem across all brands, not just our Maytag. Also have to make sure to give that bottom drawer a good push/slam to ensure it seals properly or else the door alarm sounds (and more warm air enters the compartment).

I prefer the side by side and would consider a freezer for separate storage if needed.

[Sooner]

On 11/1/2014 luvsbulldogs said:

We have a side by side and love it. I love the convenience of everything being on shelves so that I can see what I want to remove. I have a very bad back and can't bend a lot so the freezer on the bottom is not for me.

I will go with another side-by-side because I am short and so much of the food would be above my head in a freezer on the bottom model. We have a big freezer close to the kitchen in the garage, so no problems with that.

[Sooner]

On 11/1/2014 Lucky Duck said: Several have said they prefer side by side but didn't say if they had owned a bottom freezer. Curious what decision was based on.

Height. Of me!

[ranna]

On 10/31/2014 sfnative said:

We never had a bottom freezer with french doors above until we moved into this house. It came with a new frig/freezer unit - Samsung. I seriously do not like this unit, but must admit part of it might be the brand.

The french doors: the left one has a vertical strip that pushes out to the right and closes flush with the frig. Thing is, you MUST close the left door first, then the right door. If you don't, the doors don't seal properly and the darn frig starts going ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Another downside to this is that because you MUST open the right door, even if you want to open only the left, you're dealing with an energy inefficient unit. I have no idea whether other brands are made like this. Say away from Samsung. (We love all of the other Samsung products we own.)

2 things to consider about the freezer: (1) What is the production of the ice maker? Our ice maker is sa-low and because we do not have a side-by-side, we don't have access to ice from outside, nor a water spout outside; (2) and, I have a horrible back and really miss being able to put my favorite items at waist, chest or face level. Something to consider if you're in your late 40s or 50s.

Good luck!

i have the 4 door samsung, and i can open either side. i too have a bad back,5 screws in my back. the onley thing i had truble with was the depth my door to the kitchen door way was onley 29 in. i had to have my doorway increased 4 in. maybe somthing wrong with yours, mine also has the little flap on the left door, but i can open just that oneby itself.and for fun i am 78.

[KJPA]

On 11/4/2014 Lonestar Babs said:

While the French door model looks nice, I find it has some design flaws. Of course, as others have mentioned, the left door can't be opened independently of the right door due to the sealing strip. This is aggravating. Then, there is the issue of the bottom freezer design -- there is a light switch/sensor which freezes up due to condensation from warm air entering the compartment as you rummage through your frozen food. This then results in not having any light in the freezer! So, we've had to replace two of these switches/sensors and the repair technician said he's seen the problem across all brands, not just our Maytag. Also have to make sure to give that bottom drawer a good push/slam to ensure it seals properly or else the door alarm sounds (and more warm air enters the compartment).

I prefer the side by side and would consider a freezer for separate storage if needed.

I really think some of you got bad models. Our 3 year old Samsung French Door fridge is almost perfect. We can open and close either door independently and we have the ice and water in the door. We have the bottom drawer freezer and haven't had any issues with any sensor there either.

For anyone still looking for information a nice feature of the Samsung bottom drawer is that the handle pulls up a little to help release it; it breaks the seal so you aren't pulling against that "suction." If you compare bottom drawers without that feature to the Samsung you will find out what I mean. it really helps to open that drawer.

[mare54]

I'm in the market for a new fridge and have been considering the French door model. Thanks for all your comments.

[denisemb]

Bumping up for Lynnj and Beckyblu because my link didn't work - see post 39 for the solution to my problem.

(Yes, I'm admitting to be a doofus twice now.) Our baby is still going strong.

[Lynnj]

On 11/15/2014 denisemb said:

Bumping up for Lynnj and Beckyblu because my link didn't work - see post 39 for the solution to my problem.

(Yes, I'm admitting to be a doofus twice now.) Our baby is still going strong.

Thanks for bumping this up. Just read through all of the posts. It appears that French Door wins. Samsung is also a popular, and looks like many have had good success with that brand. Hmmm, now I don't know? I thinks its between Whirlpool and Samsung now. Next step - to the stores to play with them.

You are not a doofus. How would you know something frozen fell into the air vent? I almost never pull out my freezer drawer at the bottom to the point I could see if something was stuck. So not doofus, normal!