At a Glance:
Built-In Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
Built-In French Door Refrigerators
Built-In Side by Side Refrigerators
How to Choose the Best Built-In Refrigerator
A kitchen remodel is the perfect time to get new appliances. One of the best investments you can make is a built-in refrigerator. Built-in refrigerators fit into a cutout in the cabinets to streamline the kitchen. They have a larger interior capacity but often have a slimmer profile that saves space. It’s a great way to maximize the space in a small kitchen, but there is a built-in refrigerator for every home.
Find the Perfect Model
Whether you love a French door fridge or a column one, Plaza has a model for you
Shop Built In RefrigeratorsThere are 4 main styles of built-in refrigerators from Plaza Appliance Mart. Column refrigerators, French door refrigerators, and bottom freezer refrigerators are available with custom panel options. Panel ready refrigerators allow your kitchen remodeler to match the fridge with the rest of your cabinets or appliances. These are luxury appliances with all the bells and whistles to keep food fresh and eliminate odors.
Here is your complete guide to built in refrigerator styles with examples from our catalog.
Built-In Column Refrigerators
A column refrigerator offers large capacity refrigeration without a freezer. Column refrigerators are slimmer than other types of built-in refrigerators but have a high capacity for refrigeration. You’ll need a separate freezer, but if you have a small kitchen this can be stored in a utility room, basement, laundry area, or garage.
Thermador® Freedom® 20.6 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built-In Column Refrigerator
The Thermador Freedom panel ready built-in column refrigerator is aptly named. This refrigerator can be purchased with a black or flat stainless steel panel kit for DIY installation. Alternatively, your kitchen remodeler can order customized panels that match your cabinetry or appliances of other colors.
Specs and features:
- Height 83.75 inches
- Width 35.75 inchers
- Depth 24 inches
- Quick Chill to quickly bring new items up to safe temperature
- Soft close door an drawers
- Stainless steel interior meant to last as long as your cabinets
- Open door assist for ADA compliance
- Wi-fi capable with app or smart home integration
Thermador Freedom panel ready refrigerators give you maximum freedom in kitchen design and refrigerated storage. This column refrigerator is an amazing 20.6 cubic feet of refrigeration with Cool Air Flow technology to maintain the perfect environment.
Built-In Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
Built-in bottom freezer refrigerators are a slim line bottom freezer refrigerator made counter-depth to sit flush with the cabinets. They are your traditional bottom freezer refrigerator but tend to be smaller capacity than other built-in refrigerators. In this case you’re trading off size for features and panel ready integration with the cabinets. This type of built-in refrigerator is best for single professionals and couples.
Bertazzoni 16.0 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built In Counter Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
If you’re looking for precise temperature control, lots of freezer space, and toddler-friendly features make the Bertazzoni built in bottom freezer refrigerator perfect for any small household. Not only is this model panel ready, it has further customization options including the ability to hang the door on the left or right.
Specs and features:
- Height 83.1 inches
- Width 29.75 inches
- Depth 24.25 inches
- Auto ice maker
- Internal water dispenser
- LED touch interface
The Bertazzoni built-in bottom freezer refrigerator is both ADA compliant and Energy Star Rated for the efficient household. However, the decreased depth and height of this built in bottom freezer refrigerator results in smaller capacity, freezer drawer, shelves, and storage bins. In addition, this is not a smart refrigerator.
Built-In French Door Refrigerators
The French door style is just as popular now as when it first became a common household appliance. French door refrigerator designs increase capacity without increasing the size of the appliance. This is mostly accomplished through better organization and drawer options. French Door built-in refrigerators are best for families and large households.
Thermador® Freedom® 19.4 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built-In French Door Refrigerator
This built-in French door refrigerator has all of the same features and tech as other Thermador Freedom models. It has the Cool Air Flow, Quick Chill, open door assist, and smart features of the column refrigerator model.
Specs and features:
- Height 83.75 inches
- Width 35.75 inches
- Depth 24 inches
- Door alarm
- Freezer organization
- Filtered water and ice dispensers
- Unique diamond shaped ice
- Humidity controlled freezer drawer
- Crisper drawers, door bins for organization
This is perhaps the best built-in refrigerator available at Plaza Appliance Mart. It is certainly one of the most popular. The large 19.4 cu ft capacity is good for families of 5+ people. The only downside to this built-in refrigerator is that smaller shelves make door bins necessary for taller items.
Built-In Side by Side Refrigerators
The side-by-side refrigerator is a timeless classic with more capacity than a French door refrigerator. While le refrigerators built in side-by-side are designed to be built into the cabinets, the door design does not allow for many panel-ready panels. Stainless steel is the standard because it blends with nearly any kitchen.
Café™ 24.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Smart Built In Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Side by side refrigerators have been popular for decades, but this isn’t your parent’s side by side refrigerator. The Café stainless steel built-in side by side refrigerator has a host of top-notch features, including wi-fi capability and smart home integration.
Specs and features:
- Height 84 inches
- Width 42 inches
- Depth 28.5 inches
- Auto fill water dispenser
- Climate controlled door
- Slide out adjustable spill proof shelves
This built in refrigerator has a very large 24.5 cu ft capacity, but it also takes up more space. You’ll want to be sure you choose this refrigerator before your cabinets are installed to ensure the cutout is the right size. Like all side-by-side refrigerators, some frozen foods are hard to fit with the slim freezer design.
Other Tips for Choosing the Right Type of Built-In Refrigerator
The three main things you want to keep in mind when looking for a new built-in refrigerator are capacity, panel options, and size. Since built-in refrigerators are luxury kitchen appliances, most are big on features and have smart integration capability. It is still important to have a list of non-negotiable and desired features to be sure you get a built-in refrigerator that meets your needs.
Panel ready refrigerators come with different options. Some only have stainless or color options, while others offer customization to match cabinets or other appliances. Make sure you know what you’re getting. Our experts at Plaza Appliance Mart can help you find the best built-in refrigerator for your home.
Why Trust Plaza Appliance Mart?
Plaza Appliance Mart is a local, family-owned, appliance store in North Carolina where you can get personalized, expert service that you won’t find at the big box stores. Plaza Appliance Mart is YOUR source for competitive prices with knowledgeable in-store professionals here to help you every step of the way, whether you need to replace an old appliance, or if you're remodeling and need an entire kitchen full of new brand-name products. And, our delivery and installation specialists will assure that your new appliances arrive safely and are installed properly.
If you were to ask the employees at Plaza Appliance Mart about their roles in the company, they'd say they're not just employees, they're family. So as you might imagine. a team of professionals like this who are already so tightly knit and bonded together make for a perfect partner with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Apart from their community ties, Plaza Appliance is an accredited Better Business Bureau company with an A+ Rating.
Shop Built-In Refrigerators at Plaza Appliance Mart
Stop by Plaza’s Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, or Pineville locations to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop built in refrigerators online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find the right type of built in refrigerator for you — whether you call us at 704-568-7600, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn More: 5 Smart Counter Depth French Door Refrigerators