It was exactly 12 years ago, when I departed the residence I shared with dh3, that I found myself having to set up an instant household for four - me, a dog and three cats. I had to get myself, among other things, a refrigerator - and in short order. On a limited budget, most of my furniture and appliances had to be either used, or cheesy knock-offs. I figured that, if they served the purpose at the moment, I could replace them over time. I've actually done that with many things.

The refrigerator I chose, had to be two things: (1) cheep and (2) of lesser depth. The kitchen I have here is small, and inches matter. The further it stands out from the wall, the less room there is for other frivolities, like table, chairs, etc. I came across an old GE of frosty vintage for $75. Now I was leaving behind a frost-free, side-by-side with ice cubes and water through the door model, but I thought to myself: "Well, this will be the first thing I replace. Surely the condenser will give out in a year or two."

But it didn't. As the years went by, I became an expert de-froster. (Anyone who still has to defrost anything, just ask, and I'll share my "fastest possible - no weapons of mass-destruction required" method.) Over time, I rebuilt the support for the vegetable drawers, learned to cover the little rust spots that emerged on the surface and replaced the light fixture. The damned thing just kept on running, adding to my repertoire of skills. Meantime, I wound up getting things like a hot new computer and hot new car and a hot new hair color. The old GE chugged on - probably due to the now-illegal chlorofluorocarbons, or whatever, that they used to use for coolant systems in the olden days ... the good stuff that wrecks the ozone layer if it escapes into the air. How often refrigerators actually contributed to this problem is anyone's guess, but the substance is banned for good or for ill.

But, I digress. Over the last several years, I have vowed (at each defrosting) to get a new refrigerator. The state of old faithful was deteriorating. The drawers no longer functioned as drawers unless one held up the cheesy plastic "shelf" while pulling them out. Then the shelves started to break. Then the light went again - this time the problem somewhere being prior to the fixture itself - apparently in the wiring somewhere deep in the walls of the thing.

Now, I have been looking around. On the web and in actual practice. Looking, inspecting, opening and closing doors, kicking tires - but mostly - measuring. Refrigerators are DEEP. I mean, try finding one that's 26" or less from wall to front of door. Ahhh, you say, the Profile series. True, they are slim, but mighty pricey. And they all seem to have extra bells and whistles that I no longer want or need. I don't desire ice cube makers. I've learned that they are usually an integral part of the defrosting mechanism, and if they go, so goes the frost free nature of the beast until replaced. I don't want water through the door. I don't like cold water anyway, it hurts my teeth. ... and did I mention they're pricey? Funny, I have no problem plunking down a couple of grand for a computer, but over a thousand for a refrigerator just seems excessive.

Well, yesterday, while wandering through Sam's Club, doing my habitual - and usually depressing - appliance inspection, a new refrigerator appeared amongst the usual suspects. It was made by Samsung. (Samsung? ... a Samsung refrigerator? ... with no music involved? ... no monitor in the door? Who'd a thunk it?) It's only 26" from back to front - my maximum desired depth. The freezer is on the bottom, which I like. There are drawers in the freezer so the cold doesn't flow right out when you open the door. The inside of the refrigerator section is ergonomically designed with one deep pocket in the door and several other more shallow shelves on it. There are two bins with humidity controls. Nice little "deli" drawer - where I can keep my cheeses without them imparting their essence to other occupants. Best of all, it is super energy efficient, with two separate compressors and two separate thermostats. You set the desired temps of the refrigerator and freezer by pushing buttons on the front door and you don't have to guess what 4 or 5 or 6 mean. You choose the temperature and it figures out the rest. All this for $600 and change. I didn't buy it. Sam's doesn't deliver and they won't hold it more than 24 hours.

But, today, thanks to a friend and a friend of a friend, one of whom has a trailer, that baby is sitting in my kitchen - and the 30 year old GE, chlorofluorocarbons intact, is on its way to the dump. Yes, I have, again, resisted that "daughter of Italian immigrant" gene which calls upon me to build a second kitchen in the basement. (I haven't got plastic on my living room furniture, either. LOL!)

Now, sitting in my little kitchen, amongst my 1950's white sink, cheesy 1980's almond finish range/stove, and Nona Luisa's 1930's china closet, is a brand spankin' new, brushed stainless finish, Samsung (of all things) refrigerator. Looks ridiculous! I don't care. I love it! My defrosting days are over .... well, 'cept for the freezer in the cellar. But that's another quest.

Just wanted to share my happiness.

__________________

Maggie, I know well the joys of the new fridge, having done the same this Spring. Your issue was depth, mine was width. Evidently if you don't want gigundo in a fridge, the powers that be assume you also don't want any features whatsoever......and anyway, what knuckleheaded contractor would leave 31 inches for a fridge between cabinet and wall, AND put the light switch on that wall so you have to flick it on and off with dowel rod, chopstick, or flyswatter. No fingers could squeeze in there.....but I digress.

We looked at the Samsung, too. It's a neat fridge, and I know you'll get lots of joy from it. It's funny the things that are exciting in life, isn't it??? But a new fridge ranks right up there.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Maggie,
What a delightful and insightful story! Congratulations on your newest addition
I must ask though, does it meet approval from Brutus and the gang of 3??? LOL!
Funny you should post of this topic. Much to my chagrin when trapesing through my kitchen this am, I found my right foot in the smallest of puddles. Hummmm, I thought, now where did THAT come from? I looked down and towards the fridge, and I'll be darn, that's where the water was coming from. Alas, my very young 12 year old GE side by side has been grumbling and growling a bit, and today the symptoms finally announced what was wrong; or what DH thinks is wrong, at any rate. Our ice maker has BIT THE DUST! Now, I cannot live without this feature, so first thing in the morning, a nice repairman will be paying our dear little GE a visit.
We have already done some repairs on the doors and veggie bins, so....one more hiccup from this fridge will probably send me out shopping for a new model also.
Anyway, what a coincidence, huh?
Again, congrats...a good fridge that meets all of a gal's requirements is hard to find!

Shell

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Maggie - so glad you found the 'perfect fit'. We've been looking for a drop in stove in the smaller width. not looking good, but I'll just keep using the one that came with our house when we bought it 20 years ago.
As said before, cooking just isn't my priority.

enjoy your new toy.

__________________
Mary Kay
2009 - 223
Valentines day goal - 214

maggie! I think I should come and inspect it! Especially if it has any of Uncle Pete's Caponata in it...

Andrea, Well, it doesn't at the moment. I long since finished the batch that I made up for (and forgot to serve for) your visit!

But I'm hankering to make up a batch.

You're welcome to come and admire the new, if incongruous, addition or maybe I should bring some down to you the week before or after the big DC meeting. I can fit in a one day trip on a weekend.

p.s. Shelley, the fur-gang does NOW approve, although they did not like the disruption of the switch-over. I think they're color blind and have no fashion sense. They just notice that it takes up the same amount of room and dispenses the same goodies.

__________________

you're always welcome in my dojo, Maggie!

maggie
I can just see dr ruth doing the *love you* rub on the fridge. At least being the brushed stainless, no nose prints should show...LOL.

Shell

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Cool. Just let me know in the mod forum what's better - the weekend of the 11th or the 25th - and I'll hop on old 17 (erstwhile "I-85" LOL!) for lunch, with some of Uncle Pete's caponatina in tow.

Shelley ... unh-hunhh! got that right!

__________________

Ummmmmmmm

My side by side frost free with ice/water dispenser that I have no earthly use for because I don't have water over there refrigerator-freezer has been piddling a lot lately.

Guess I'll be shopping for a new fridge, eh? Humphf.

Enjoy your new toy :great:

kk, here's a pic:



and, one for you, Shelley:

__________________

ah-ha...just goes to show, where there's an open fridge door, a cat is sure to be close by...LOL
Looks like a great fridge, Maggie! The more I see them, the more I think I like the brushed stainless finish.

Thanks for posting

Shell

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

It's a beauty, Maggs! I'll trade ya my almost new side-by-side?

Congratulations dear girl. I'll bet you'll spend time just kinda staring at your new fridge.

__________________
Ozzie's Place

WOW, I think I NEEEEEED that!!! What IS the width, if I may be so bold...my problem is depth, width AND height! LOL!

My kitchen is a postage stamp, what can I say - with a 40" wide brushed stainless dual fuel range, but tiny nonetheless!

Now this fridge looks like a GREAT match for my range, AND I want the freezer on the bottom jobbie too!

If only it will fit.... (crossing fingers in high hopes....)

Char

__________________
Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!

It's 32" side to side, Char, and 69" high. For my circumstances it's just right!

They have a number of bottom mount models:

http://www.samsungusa.com/cgi-bin/na...2fBottom+Mount

Hope this link works. It acted odd when I posted it.

Mine is the littlest one the RB1994 SL. But they have larger ones!

__________________