Hello :-)
We are currently planning a completely new kitchen in our house and are already quite far along with various kitchen retailers and consultants. Our own ideas can mostly be implemented, but some are unsure about the desired refrigerator or point out that it definitely needs a 5-10cm (2-4 inch) clearance from the tall cabinets.
Refrigerator: "Haier HTF-710DP7 CUBE"
(important features: no water connection needed, water dispenser is nice-to-have but not essential, flexible cooling options—we already have large freezers in the basement, so it's great that part of this fridge can be used as regular refrigeration—french doors, frost-free, different zones and various features it offers, home-connect not required)
We plan to line up an entire wall with tall cabinets and place the refrigerator in the middle. It will protrude slightly due to the doors but will be directly adjacent to the cabinets or decorative strips on the sides. To the right, there will be a raised oven with a built-in microwave above.
We thought the issue of intake and exhaust air would be "solved" by circulation at the top (which is open) and at the bottom (fridge feet, no plinth in front). On the sides, perhaps just strips for covering, leaving enough airspace behind them up to the back wall.
The consultants’ advice was that this setup is possible, but the air circulation might not be sufficient and after about 1.5 years, the compressor could fail. Therefore, a 5cm (2 inch) clearance all around was recommended.
After weeks of waiting, Haier support finally replied but simply stated that there must be 10cm (4 inch) of clearance all around! On their product pages, however, you can see various refrigerators fully integrated with no gaps. This is probably a PR and aesthetic issue, but there is no mention anywhere of these clearance requirements.
What do you professionals think? Is all this correct—should we forget it? Is it nonsense—just go ahead? Or a compromise? If 10cm (4 inch) clearance is really necessary, it won’t look good between the cabinets, and cleaning will be even more annoying.
Thanks
We are currently planning a completely new kitchen in our house and are already quite far along with various kitchen retailers and consultants. Our own ideas can mostly be implemented, but some are unsure about the desired refrigerator or point out that it definitely needs a 5-10cm (2-4 inch) clearance from the tall cabinets.
Refrigerator: "Haier HTF-710DP7 CUBE"
(important features: no water connection needed, water dispenser is nice-to-have but not essential, flexible cooling options—we already have large freezers in the basement, so it's great that part of this fridge can be used as regular refrigeration—french doors, frost-free, different zones and various features it offers, home-connect not required)
We plan to line up an entire wall with tall cabinets and place the refrigerator in the middle. It will protrude slightly due to the doors but will be directly adjacent to the cabinets or decorative strips on the sides. To the right, there will be a raised oven with a built-in microwave above.
We thought the issue of intake and exhaust air would be "solved" by circulation at the top (which is open) and at the bottom (fridge feet, no plinth in front). On the sides, perhaps just strips for covering, leaving enough airspace behind them up to the back wall.
The consultants’ advice was that this setup is possible, but the air circulation might not be sufficient and after about 1.5 years, the compressor could fail. Therefore, a 5cm (2 inch) clearance all around was recommended.
After weeks of waiting, Haier support finally replied but simply stated that there must be 10cm (4 inch) of clearance all around! On their product pages, however, you can see various refrigerators fully integrated with no gaps. This is probably a PR and aesthetic issue, but there is no mention anywhere of these clearance requirements.
What do you professionals think? Is all this correct—should we forget it? Is it nonsense—just go ahead? Or a compromise? If 10cm (4 inch) clearance is really necessary, it won’t look good between the cabinets, and cleaning will be even more annoying.
Thanks
@Patricck ... but this is not the full integration that @Brakus71 had in mind. @Brakus71 .. the side photo actually illustrates quite well how deep the kitchen cabinets around a side-by-side refrigerator need to be if you want to recess the side-by-side refrigerator further. Unfortunately, you didn’t show whether your tall cabinet wall would then also end like this in the room.
The kitchen was designed around the refrigerator, which is placed freely in a separate niche.
The refrigerator was already there before the kitchen was installed and has its own water connection. I am not aware of any refrigerator that can be integrated as a side-by-side unit. For us, it fits perfectly into the kitchen.
If we recessed the refrigerator, the doors would no longer fully open, and this model does not have a dividing wall. The freezer section is at the bottom, the refrigerator above.
Brands like Haier, Bauknecht, AEG, etc. were all so disappointing in the showroom that we decided on the LG, and even after three years we are still very satisfied. The only issue was that a glass shelf took about six weeks to be delivered.
It does make some noise, especially if the door has been open for a longer time.
The refrigerator was already there before the kitchen was installed and has its own water connection. I am not aware of any refrigerator that can be integrated as a side-by-side unit. For us, it fits perfectly into the kitchen.
If we recessed the refrigerator, the doors would no longer fully open, and this model does not have a dividing wall. The freezer section is at the bottom, the refrigerator above.
Brands like Haier, Bauknecht, AEG, etc. were all so disappointing in the showroom that we decided on the LG, and even after three years we are still very satisfied. The only issue was that a glass shelf took about six weeks to be delivered.
It does make some noise, especially if the door has been open for a longer time.
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