My Favorite Undercounter Appliances
If you are my kitchen client, the first place we will head to is Appliance World to explore dozens of options, including super-functional under-counter appliances for your island or bar area. The vast majority of these units must be supported by cabinetry on the sides, although there are a few freestanding units. Also, many of my contractors ask me to provide more depth in the space (meaning deeper cabinets to the left and right) than what is actually called for on the specs, since electrical and water need to be located behind these units.
Entertaining:
Let's talk about wine, liquor, and ice. Wine fridges come in several under-counter sizes, the most popular being 24 inches wide. If that's too much wine for you, we can check out the under-counter dual zone 24-inch fridge from Luxeaire that is split vertically so that half is wine, and the other is beverage, meaning beer, soda, and water bottles. If panelling the fronts, the cabinet panels often vary in size, so consult with your kitchen designer before placing your cabinet order.
Ice makers come in several formats for under-the-counter use, and there are various options for your ice cubes. Top hat cubes, offered by True and Subzero, are preferred by many because the cubes melt more slowly. Marvel and U-Line both offer three-quarter-inch square cubes, and U-Line also offers nuggets.
Undercounter appliances for families:
I recently designed a kitchen with two sets of undercounter beverage drawers, so the kiddos can grab their drinks or snacks on their way out to practice. SKS Appliances offers a convertible undercounter drawer unit, which is a flex system so drawers can be changed at the flip of a switch, from fridge to freezer and back again! Subzero offers in a 24 inch size a choice of either refrigerator drawers or freezer drawers (not flex), as well as a combo (one frig drawer, one freezer drawer) in their 30 and 36 inch sizes. True offers either fridge or freezer drawers in 24, and their drawer units have extra capacity, while Luxeaire also has extra capacity and their drawers can adjust temperature to accommodate beverages or wine.
When you don't have space or use for a column appliance:
For some of my clients, having a full-height freezer in the primary kitchen is not a priority. For those of you who don’t freeze a lot or have a freezer elsewhere in your home, devoting a full height space that’s 84 inches high by 18 or 24 inches wide may be wasted real estate. In that case, I will often do either freezer drawers or a swing door freezer, both options being under-counter.
Panelling and Integrated Installs:
Most under-counter appliances can come in either stainless or “panel-ready” meaning they will accept a panel provided by your cabinet manufacturer so they blend with the rest of your cabinetry. Every unit has different specs, and the panels vary in size. To have a completely integrated professional look, these specs must be strictly followed, so it is extremely important to have a knowledgeable, experienced kitchen designer, appliance vendor and manufacturer on your side.
