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Built-in refrigerators are designed to be flush with your cabinetry and are typically taller than freestanding models, giving it a more luxurious feel. Built-ins also come in various styles, like French door, side-by-side, bottom freezer and column configurations.
Whether you’re curating a swanky space or upgrading from an older model, a built-in refrigerator may be the way to go. Use this guide to learn more about built-in refrigerators and compare them with other high-end options to find the right choice for you.
Table of Contents
TYPES
What are the types of built-in refrigerators?
FREESTANDING VS. BUILT-IN
What is the difference between freestanding and built-in?
COUNTER-DEPTH VS. BUILT-IN
What is the difference between counter-depth and built-in?
INTEGRATED
What are integrated refrigerators?
ADVANTAGES
What are the advantages of a built-in refrigerator?
WORTH IT?
Are built-in refrigerators worth it for your kitchen?
Built-in refrigerators come in several configurations: French door, side-by-side, bottom freezer and column. Explore the different types of built-in refrigerators below.
These built-in models are full-sized, single-purpose refrigerators and freezers that are built into surrounding cabinets for a seamless, luxe look. Column refrigerators are versatile and allow you to customize your kitchen’s refrigeration to fit your lifestyle. For example, if you frequently pack your refrigerator but don’t really use a freezer, you can pair a 36-inch refrigerator with an 18-inch freezer.
Column refrigerators from JennAir brand allow you to customize your kitchen to your precise needs. Find the right refrigerator and freezer sizes and finishes to create the bespoke kitchen you’ve been dreaming of.
Built-in French door refrigerators feature a full-width refrigerator compartment and a freezer drawer that pulls out below. This configuration offers some of the largest capacities while still looking sleek and elevated.
JennAir® built-in French door refrigerators offer a fully integrated design that’s reflective of your appreciation for the fine details. Explore high-end features on select models like the Precision Temperature Management™ System that keeps your refrigerator at ideal temperatures or Multi-Point Cinematic Lighting that increases visibility and highlights your fresh ingredients.
These options combine the traditional feel of a bottom freezer refrigerator with the sleek and current look of a built-in appliance. Built-in bottom freezer refrigerators have a larger, full-width refrigerator area above and a smaller freezer near the bottom of the appliance.
JennAir® built-in bottom freezer refrigerators offer the luxury of keeping fresh items within easy reach and the generous storage capacity of the bottom freezer.
Built-in side-by-side refrigerators offer two vertical storage spaces for the refrigerator and freezer, keeping your ingredients easily accessible at eye level. These models also typically offer larger freezer capacity than other configurations while feeling streamlined and flush with the surrounding cabinetry.
Captivate with the quietest luxury side-by-side built-in refrigerators from JennAir brand. Explore features on select models like Automatic Adaptive Defrost that helps maintain peak performance or the Produce Preserver that delays over-ripening of certain fruits.
The primary difference between built-in and freestanding refrigerators is their installation. Built-in refrigerators are secured inside your kitchen cabinets to achieve a flush appearance, while freestanding options can be placed anywhere near a grounded outlet with the correct voltage.
Freestanding and built-in refrigerators also offer different depth dimensions. Built-ins are typically 24–27 inches deep, while freestanding options come in full and counter-depth sizes.
Though they both sit flush or nearly flush with your cabinets and countertops, counter-depth and built-in refrigerators are installed differently in your kitchen. While built-ins are securely fixed within your cabinets, counter-depth refrigerators can be installed like a freestanding model would.
Integrated refrigerators are installed directly into your kitchen cabinets, like a built-in. However, these models are designed to be fully flush with your cabinets and countertops and are often more shallow in depth.
Occasionally, “built-in” and “integrated” are used interchangeably, however there are slight differences in the design and depth of each option. Integrated options are often more shallow than built-ins and utilize inset handles, while built-in models usually offer varying handle styles.
Benefits of built-in refrigerators include:
You can choose your ideal refrigerator with configurations and finish options to match your lifestyle.
Enjoy a sleek look with a refrigerator that aligns with your cabinetry. For an even more seamless design, opt for a panel-ready model to match your surrounding cabinetry.
Since these models don’t stick out like other types of refrigerators, you can enhance the flow of your kitchen layout.
Built-in refrigerators, like all refrigerators, need ventilation to operate properly. When you install a built-in model, you will need to make cuts into the surrounding cabinetry for proper ventilation. Your owner’s manual will have model-specific installation instructions.
If you prioritize customization when shopping for your appliances, a built-in refrigerator may be the right choice for you. These models let you choose from various styles, finishes, widths and depths to be fully incorporated with your kitchen cabinetry.
With JennAir® built-in refrigerators, you can create a customized look in your kitchen with panel-ready options that can be matched with your cabinets. Select models also offer a leather finish that can give your kitchen a luxe and unique feel.
Discover the distinctive designs of JennAir® built-in refrigerators. Explore select models with features like the Precision Temperature Management™ System and Daring Obsidian Interior and find the model that matches your lifestyle.
