ᐅ Refrigerator or fridge-freezer combination

Hello everyone,

we are currently building our single-family house and have recently finalized our kitchen plans. However, we are still unsure about one aspect, and I hope you might be able to help us.

At the moment, we have planned to include a fridge-freezer combination as our refrigerator (which we could still change). We had also considered a fridge with a 0-degree zone, but then decided against it again. From your perspective, what are the advantages of having either a fridge only in the kitchen or a fridge-freezer combination?

If we go with just a fridge, we would need a separate freezer.

Thank you in advance.
Best regards

In the kitchen, we chose a built-in refrigerator with a zero-degree compartment. It’s used for typical fridge items and fruit. In the entrance area, we also have a side-by-side fridge with a zero-degree zone, freezer section, ice crusher (important), and cooling compartment. This stores vegetables, drinks, and frozen goods. We had a niche with a water connection built for the side-by-side fridge. The terrace area with the "lounging corner" is about 2m (6.5 feet) away, providing easy access to refreshments. Fruit and vegetables prefer similar temperatures but different humidity levels. In the utility room (level -1, garden access), there is a chest freezer that we brought with us during the move; it’s used for game meat when fresh supply from the hunter is available.

I think this could depend on the number of people living in the household. My husband and I chose a fridge-freezer combination (half fridge/half freezer), but that would be too small for a family. Also, if we had a vegetable garden and wanted to freeze food more often. Basically, when it comes to electrical appliances, I generally prefer "smaller" and "less," if possible and practical.

In my experience, it’s like having a basement. If you have one, you fill it with things you end up forgetting for years. If you don’t have one, you constantly think about how useful it would be, but life is still worth living.

There are two of us. The neighbors next door share a freezer and each have their own refrigerator. It’s convenient when nothing is overcrowded.

I agree that having an organized refrigerator is essential. We are two people and currently have a 70cm (28 inch) wide Bosch freestanding fridge with the freezer compartment at the bottom. I wouldn’t want anything smaller. In our new house, there might be a nice large refrigerator, and a similarly spacious and well-organized freezer right next to it in the utility room. The goal, whenever possible, is to never fully fill the appliances.

We used to have a large Liebherr side-by-side fridge in the dining room because there was no space in the kitchen, which wasn’t an issue but rather looked nice.

So, I would want to have both, each generously sized.

It also depends on your habits, such as whether you store frozen vegetables/fruits, meat, ice cream, etc.; freezers can fill up quickly.