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I grew up with a refrigerator/freezer with the freezer below and it's great. This is a beauty and will really work for you in terms of size and style--is the width the same as a standard fridge, or a bit larger? And love the wine rack--oh so cool.
But, hey, I wanna hear about the tile backsplash. I LOVE it! Terrific color combo. And hey, love those floors!!!

Posted by Sue Pendleton – December 11, 2006 2:18 PM

Looks great!

We should have stayed over at your place in the end! We could have helped you with some of that wine!

We ended up missing our connection in DC and had to stay in Reston Virgina. Good times!

Great to see all of you. Thanks again.

-pary

Posted by pary – December 11, 2006 5:24 PM

I have been reading your blog since you started and I want to say "Great job"! I am excited to see how it will all look at the end. I like the choice of refrigerator and wine cooler. I agree, stainless steel does look very sharp with any decor. We will be doing our kitchen next year and we are getting ready to do 3 bathroom remodels right after the holdays. Are there any counter-depth refigerators with the french door style?

Posted by Rosemary – December 12, 2006 8:28 AM

I love the refrigerator you chose! We just bought a home and it came with all new applicances (white). We are excited to have the side by side, because up until now we have only had your traditional, boring fridge. The new fridge also has the water/ice dispenser that I have always wanted (I prefer filtered water/ice). I completely agree about the space that this takes in the refrigerator...it is much wasted space, but I am going to continue loving it for a while...until we can afford or need a new fridge, I will enjoy it. In the future I think I would prefer one like yours. However, it would love it if they would have the filtered water option...hopefully one that takes up less space (maybe in the future they will consider that when they make them!).
Question: we need to paint cabinets- would white look okay with white appliances, or would this be too much? The walls are an earth tone..warm.

Posted by Deanna – December 12, 2006 3:31 PM

I also went thru the same thought process and ended up with....the same LG 'patio' door fridge in SS. I liked the fact that the bottom freezer drawer tilted open with a shelf on the inside of the door, in which I can keep often accessed smaller food items. I also did not care for the thru door ice maker/dispenser, and settled for one that resided in the freezer. I can readily scoup up the ice I need.
I have only one gripe..I have yet to find a good cleaner for the SS exterior which seems to attract a fair amount of marks....
Any suggestions ?

Posted by Algis – December 12, 2006 7:35 PM

I totally agree about the wasted space of ice and water. Also agree with the need for wider shelves than provided by side-by-side. We just built a new house with a huge kitchen and bought a top freezer refrigerator. I've always used that style because it looks like I get more refrigerator space that way. We bought the new bisque color- much warmer tone than white, much less cost than the bronze which I also liked.
Also, to Deanna- white cabinets and white appliances might look very sterile.

Posted by liz – December 12, 2006 7:49 PM

We had the french door LG fridge but returned it as we couldn't get the water line fixed as no one seemed able to provide the plastic part to connect the water line to the fridge. We upgraded to a Kitchen Aid S/S french door fridge with bottom freezer and interior ice-maker and cold water filtered dispenser. This fridge is Counter-Depth and is great for size. Only thing wrong is that you go through the water dispenser filters too fast (only 2 of us and the filter only lasts 2 months - $60 Cdn a filter)!

Posted by Leslie Stuckel – December 12, 2006 11:52 PM

Where did you find the bronze, I thought those were not out yet? Which brands? I know Jennair is coming out with them, but I haven't found them yet. Of course they are suppose to come out in march but we are hopefully moving in the end of December. I have had the bottom freezer with fridge on top and love it, plan on getting the french doors.

Posted by elizabeth – December 13, 2006 9:47 AM

IN ANSWER TO ALGIS: Since we also bought a SS fridge, we asked the Sears salesman what they used to keep the floor models looking good. The label JUST reads: STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER, the mfgr. is Elco Laboratories, Inc., 2545 Palmer Ave., University Park, IL., 60466-3178, with tel# 708-534-3000...but the note on the container says that Sears has it in the range dept., stock #22-40083 or to call Sears 1-800-366-7278.
We also got the top fridge, bottom freezer French door (a Kenmore elite) and I opted NOT to have the water or ice dispenser outside or in the frige. (We had a GE side-by-side with both dispensers on the outside and it was great, but took up too much freezer space.) The freezer on the bottom gets my Gold Star award as it is very accessible and allows me to see everything in the refrigerator section at a glance, no fumbling!!

Posted by Barbara – December 13, 2006 9:54 AM

I was insistant upon a counter depth french door style refrigerator/freezer. I'd been warned about getting stainless so we waited almost 6 months for a glass front white model to come on the market - Jenn-air. What a mistake! The whole appliance needs better design engineering. The ice maker area allows the ice to spill out onto the floor everytime you pull out the top freezer drawer. The very wide party drawer is so poorly designed that the cover flap is constantly falling off. Actually all the interior pieces are loose fitting - not solidly held as I have been used to in Whirlpool and GE refrigerators. If it wasn't such a good looking model I'd be happy to see it replaced. Possibly a lesson to be learned when something is rushed market.

Posted by Emilie – December 13, 2006 9:55 AM

Good to read about your experiences. We're just starting a kitchen remodel that's smaller in scope, and we're doing as much ourselves as we can to save money. Thankfully my husband is a very talented guy. I wanted a couple of cupboard doors with glass instead of wood, but they're expensive to replace. Tom found a stained glass workshop right here in our community. He was able to order the old fashioned bubble glass I wanted (enough to do all 3 doors) for $36. He removed the center panel of the cupboard doors, replaced it with the glass and made leaded mullions to give me the paned look I wanted. They turned out beautifully! We're going to refinish our existing oak cupboards and add a butler's pantry and put a bookshelf at the end of our island. I'm a little worried about the refinish piece of it, but when we ordered the pieces for the butler's pantry, the guy at the cabinet shop told us about a couple of products that are supposed to help us achieve the look we want, which is kind of an oatmeal color with a mocha glaze. If anyone has attempted this, I'd appreciate hearing about any tips you have!

Posted by Linda F. – December 13, 2006 10:13 AM

We, too, are remodeling after the holidays. We like the French door look, in stainless, but must have the in-door ice and water, with a teen and pre-teen in the house. We will also go with the total Kenmore Elite Stainless series, incl. cooktop, oven, MW, DW, and fridge. My wife wants a microhood over the cooktop, but I want a SS hood and separate MV. Any thoughts on this???
Also, we are thinking about a wood floor for the kitchen, extending to the adjoining den. Anythoughts on the durability of wood or engineered wood in the kitchen??
Thanks, Alex

Posted by Alexander F – December 13, 2006 11:32 PM

In April of 2005 I purchased a French Door refrigerator. I love the style and spaciousness. However, I purchased an Amana/Maytag product and to date it has had to be repaired 4 times. I am now without a refrigerator and have been since the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I purchased it through ABC Appliance Warehouse and I have requested a replacement due to all of the problems. I have lost Over $500. in spoiled or compromised food items. ABC Appliance Warehouse is taking their own sweet time to deal with this issue. I paid just under $1600. for this fridge which for our budget is alot. My point is be careful where you purchase your appliance. Also be sure you know what kind of service you can expect from the place you are purchasing your appliance, should there be problems with said appliance. Also if you purchase an extended warranty, which I did, be sure to find out which company you are purchasing the extended warranty from. I thought I was purchasing my extended warranty from the manufacturer of my appliance but such was not the case and I was not informed on this issue. The extended warranty was through the appliance store where I purchased the refrigerator. I am now living a nightmare and cannot get any help. Ask all kinds of questions and be sure you get the answers you want, it is your hard earned money and you deserve what you want in your major purchase.

Posted by Mary Mullins – December 14, 2006 7:32 AM

We just finished building a house and chose a stainless steel LG french door too! We also have the water and ice maker on the outside. We just love it! I see the fingerprints much more, but it helps me to keep it cleaner.

Posted by Kim – December 14, 2006 9:39 AM

Linda,

Sounds like you and your husband enjoy challenges. Cut glass and oatmeal glazed cabinetry ... I'm impressed.

I remodeled a kitchen last year and installed new cabinets in a finish that sounds just like yours. The homeowners were very pleased with the matching finish.
To make some matching wall panels and crown for above the cabinets, we applied a finish in three layers. First, we took a cabinet door into the
hardware store and had them use their matching color eye to create a paint that would match the base oatmeal color. Next, we purchased glaze (has no pigment) and a small container of paint (a quart or less) in a brown color that would match the brown glaze color on the cabinets. Then, we took some practice wood (same type as the cabinets) and painted it with primer, then two coats of oatmeal paint. Then, mixed a small amount of brown paint with some glaze and dabbed it onto some scrap wood. We let it dry to see if it matched the original cabinets. (If it's too dark, you can use less brown paint. Too light, add more.) Then we quickly applied the brown glaze onto the wood, then gently wiped with a soft, cotton cloth. (If you need more glaze to show, put on another thin coat and let it set up a bit before you wipe it off.) The homeowner's new cabinets also had tiny brown speckles. We used the brown paint and an angled brush. Hold an almost dry paint brush in one hand and use the other thumb or forefinger to run across the top of the brush like piano keys, flicking tiny paint dots onto the board.

Angelique Medow
Interior Designer for the Sexton home

Posted by ANGELIQUE MEDOW – December 14, 2006 9:57 PM

Hi Alex,

The benefit of Micro/hood combos is that they save space.

Engineered woods can be more durable than the real thing, depending upon the type of wood that you choose. If you are comfortable with the durability of your existing wood in the den, extending that flooring throughout the kitchen will make both rooms feel larger and more open.

Angelique Medow
Interior Designer for the Sexton home

Posted by ANGELIQUE MEDOW – December 14, 2006 10:12 PM

me and my wife just purchase our house, I wanted to get wood floors but we were not sure if we can afford it. Now that we can afford it, anybody got any suggestions or retailer thats not toooo costly in henry county GA, please E-mail me.

Posted by exzer d – December 14, 2006 10:37 PM

I am looking for a saw to cut marble.You used one on a show. It looked like a circler saw cutting stone with no water. What was it?

Posted by ann – December 15, 2006 10:10 AM

I would like to furnish our new kitchen with Kenmmore Elite appliances in stainless steel...however need a 2nd oven (built-in wall stacked over the first oven) that is a microwave/convection combo - not available through Kenmore Elite. I'm concerned that another manufacturer's stainless steel will not match the Kenmore finish. May just do all using another manufacturer. Any suggestions?

Posted by Missy – December 28, 2006 7:13 PM

Hi Missy, We weren't too concerned about having the appliances all come from the same manufacturer. Our fridge is from LG, oven is from Dacor, cooktop is a GE Profile, the microwave is from Panasonic. We wanted them to look good together, and they do. All are stainless, except for the cooktop. But after that we focused on getting the features we wanted.

Best, Jim

Posted by Jim Sexton – December 29, 2006 10:24 AM

Is there an easy answer for upgrading a refrigerator with auto ice/water dispenser, if it is on the opposite side of the sink, with no apparent water hook-up? The space for the Refer is on the back side of the fireplace wall, that is in the center of a great room. Would someone really run a water line through the attic, or walls?

Posted by Rebecca – December 30, 2006 1:16 PM

Read reviews before purchasing and was very concerned about NOISE and WATER HOOKUP complaints. I guess you need to stick with dealers who SERVICE what they sell and stay away from big-box dealers who have NO customer service. Anyway, we purchased a white LG French Door with Ice/water in the door, and is SO QUIET that we can't tell when it is running. No problems with installation, other than I had to enlarge the hole that it sits in (refrigerator was 1/4 inch too wide and 2 inches too tall). Had considered the Maytag Ice2o, but found the LG is better built, same price, and does not leak freezing air from the icemaker into the refrigerator compartment, as the Maytag did.

Posted by Marvin – January 4, 2007 11:37 PM

My husband and I just remodel our kitchen and we also choose the LG frig in black and we just love it.

Posted by KMT – January 12, 2007 9:09 AM

Hi! You have a good looking fridge and wine cooler! We are 3/4 of the way through our kitchen renovation which was supposed to be finished in Nov. '06. I tried and tried to find a kitchen designer specialist in our area but no one would accept our job if we didn't totally replace our cabinets which are 10 yrs. old, maple and structurally sound. So, I'm doing lots of homework and putting this project together myself! (Gulp!!!!) I am having the cabinets painted and "antiqued" by the best painter we could find for $2900.00 vs. $65,000 for new cabinets. We ordered most of our appliances online and I must say we had a great experience there- better timing, service and prices than we could get locally. As far as fridges, I talked my reluctant husband into my dream fridge and we both are over the moon about it. We spent quite a bit more and got a Sub-Zero 650/0. (36"w, top fridge/bottom freezer) This fridge is so beautifully engineered and simple and logical. It works perfectly. I wish I had known what I know now in the beginning and gotten one when we were first married, 30 yrs. ago!! It is smaller in cu. ft. than any fridge we've had, and I have more storage space. It is counter depth and a dream to clean. It has a zero radius hinge so it fits in the fridge space with the wall on one side and I can actually OPEN THE DOOR. There is no in door ice/water to jam up and deteriorate. I simply slide the freezer open, scoop the abundant ice from the bucket into any size glass and turn to the sink. Fast. Simple. Clean. I LOVE this fridge. On the other hand, I'm still recuperating from Christmas dinner from the new oven . I'm a pretty fair cook and a college graduate, too. So I put the 25 lb. turkey in the G E Monogram Trivection oven for its maiden voyage. Cover/uncover. Baste appropriately. 5 hrs. later pull out a gorgeously browned bird completely raw inside. Grumpy family. Hungry grumpy family said un Christian things to me. I'm still trying to learn rocket science with that oven. Anyway, yesterday they installed my granite island top after 9 attempts and mishaps. It is gorgeous and worth the patience if I don't think about the Christmas guests/dinners part. My advice to the general population is NEVER renovate your kitchen during the last half of the year, love your fabricators, plumbers and electricians like family members and forgive them if they take 3 wk. vacation at Christmas without notice and you have no water/electricity/countertops, because the new year will come and they will come back if you haven't yelled at them. Good luck everybody, its going to be gorgeous when its finished!!!

Posted by Jody – January 18, 2007 12:17 AM

We also looked at the LG, however decided against purchasing same as salesman advised parts are hard to get as the units are made in Korea. We opted to go with Kitchenaid and stayed with a side by side.

Posted by Mary Ann – February 8, 2007 9:07 AM

I have a Kenmore French Door Refrigerator with ice make in freezer.

I just picked up 6 ice pieces off floor. When you pull out the interior drawer the ice maker pushes ice out the back and it falls and slips under the main drawer door. You close the freezer door and pick up ice.

Nuisance.

Posted by N. C. Gal – May 26, 2007 9:12 PM