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Expert Tips: The Lowdown on Flexible, Customizable Refrigeration
A designer and an appliance engineer share ways to get refrigeration for the way you really live
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You can customize your kitchen layout, cabinets, pantry and lighting. Why shouldn’t you customize your refrigeration too? “Customizable, flexible refrigeration enables you to think about what works best for your family and lifestyle,” says Ginny Capo, a designer based in Southern California. She teamed up with Shane Rehm, chief refrigeration engineer at appliance brand Fisher & Paykel, to offer a fresh take on refrigeration.
Rendering from Fisher & Paykel
Rethink the Traditional Fridge-Freezer Combo
While a typical side-by-side (or top-and-bottom) refrigerator and freezer is common, it doesn’t work for every household. Before you go the traditional route, think about how often you shop, how many people you’re cooking for and what foods you usually store, Rehm says. Also consider how often you entertain and eat out. This will help you determine the best option for your lifestyle.
“If a homeowner cooks a lot and uses fresh ingredients, they’ll need more refrigerator space,” Capo says. For avid home cooks, she suggests getting two side-by-side column refrigerators to store everyday ingredients. A column refrigerator stands alone and is narrower than most fridge-freezer combos. “I’ll then place the freezer in another location that makes sense for the floor plan,” she says. Buying your cooling appliances separately also lets you choose sizes that make the most sense. Fresh food devotees can probably get away with an 18-inch column freezer.
Rethink the Traditional Fridge-Freezer Combo
While a typical side-by-side (or top-and-bottom) refrigerator and freezer is common, it doesn’t work for every household. Before you go the traditional route, think about how often you shop, how many people you’re cooking for and what foods you usually store, Rehm says. Also consider how often you entertain and eat out. This will help you determine the best option for your lifestyle.
“If a homeowner cooks a lot and uses fresh ingredients, they’ll need more refrigerator space,” Capo says. For avid home cooks, she suggests getting two side-by-side column refrigerators to store everyday ingredients. A column refrigerator stands alone and is narrower than most fridge-freezer combos. “I’ll then place the freezer in another location that makes sense for the floor plan,” she says. Buying your cooling appliances separately also lets you choose sizes that make the most sense. Fresh food devotees can probably get away with an 18-inch column freezer.
Rendering from Fisher & Paykel
Take Advantage of Flexible Temperature Zones
With the rise of cooling innovations, some refrigerators now have variable temperature zones. “This flexibility can adapt for seasonal changes, special occasions and a growing family,” Rehm says. Some models, for example, let you toggle between pantry, fridge and chill mode in two seperate zones within the fridge unit. A pantry mode (around 54 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 degrees Celsius), for instance, provides a cool, dark place for food that perishes quickly at room temperature but is too sensitive for normal refrigeration — such as avocados, tomatoes, bananas and bread.
Certain freezers also have two zones with multiple temperature modes. You can set one zone (or both) at -1 degree Fahrenheit (or -18 degrees Celsius), for example, to freeze food for one to 12 months. It’s good for items like ice cream that you don’t want frozen solid, Rehm says. Soft freeze (about 16 degrees Fahrenheit, or -9 degrees Celsius) is nice for meat, fish and sliced bread — it reduces defrosting time. A deep-freeze mode (about -13 degrees Fahrenheit, or -25 degrees Celsius) can extend foods’ shelf life by six months in some models, Rehm says.
Take Advantage of Flexible Temperature Zones
With the rise of cooling innovations, some refrigerators now have variable temperature zones. “This flexibility can adapt for seasonal changes, special occasions and a growing family,” Rehm says. Some models, for example, let you toggle between pantry, fridge and chill mode in two seperate zones within the fridge unit. A pantry mode (around 54 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 degrees Celsius), for instance, provides a cool, dark place for food that perishes quickly at room temperature but is too sensitive for normal refrigeration — such as avocados, tomatoes, bananas and bread.
Certain freezers also have two zones with multiple temperature modes. You can set one zone (or both) at -1 degree Fahrenheit (or -18 degrees Celsius), for example, to freeze food for one to 12 months. It’s good for items like ice cream that you don’t want frozen solid, Rehm says. Soft freeze (about 16 degrees Fahrenheit, or -9 degrees Celsius) is nice for meat, fish and sliced bread — it reduces defrosting time. A deep-freeze mode (about -13 degrees Fahrenheit, or -25 degrees Celsius) can extend foods’ shelf life by six months in some models, Rehm says.
Room design by The Designory; photo by Tom Ferguson
Open Up to Drawer Refrigeration
Drawer refrigeration provides further cooling flexibility and is especially handy if wall space is tight. “It enables refrigeration to be placed underneath windows or in islands right next to the food-preparation zones,” Rehm says. “Also, drawers have ergonomic advantages that help make them a very user-friendly option.” They’re a nice complement to large refrigeration and make cooking and entertaining easier, Capo adds.
If you select a model that has multiple temperature modes, you can use it to chill drinks, store snacks or freeze leftovers. Capo likes to place drawer refrigeration under bars and coffee areas. She even had a client who used his to store copious amounts of ice cream. She installed it in the mudroom, as there wasn’t space in the kitchen. Drawer refrigeration is also great for game rooms, pool houses and guest suites.
Open Up to Drawer Refrigeration
Drawer refrigeration provides further cooling flexibility and is especially handy if wall space is tight. “It enables refrigeration to be placed underneath windows or in islands right next to the food-preparation zones,” Rehm says. “Also, drawers have ergonomic advantages that help make them a very user-friendly option.” They’re a nice complement to large refrigeration and make cooking and entertaining easier, Capo adds.
If you select a model that has multiple temperature modes, you can use it to chill drinks, store snacks or freeze leftovers. Capo likes to place drawer refrigeration under bars and coffee areas. She even had a client who used his to store copious amounts of ice cream. She installed it in the mudroom, as there wasn’t space in the kitchen. Drawer refrigeration is also great for game rooms, pool houses and guest suites.
Rendering from Fisher & Paykel
Go Clean With Paneling and Integration
According to the latest Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, homeowners are keen on decluttering and achieving a streamlined look now more than ever. “It’s a psychological thing,” Capo says. “If you have too much stuff around, you feel more cluttered mentally and are less apt to cook.” Integrated and paneled appliances provide a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. “Sleeker kitchens make you feel like you can create,” she says.
If you’re looking for a more industrial, modern feel, Capo suggests integrated appliances in stainless steel. For a more transitional aesthetic, opt for paneling and match the door handles to your cabinetry hardware, she says. Paneled appliances require less upkeep than most traditional stainless steel options too. If you love the metallic style, opt for anti-fingerprint coating.
Personalizing refrigeration for the way you live opens up a whole new kitchen frontier. Whether that’s forgoing a big freezer or fully embracing it, do what’s right for you.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Go Clean With Paneling and Integration
According to the latest Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, homeowners are keen on decluttering and achieving a streamlined look now more than ever. “It’s a psychological thing,” Capo says. “If you have too much stuff around, you feel more cluttered mentally and are less apt to cook.” Integrated and paneled appliances provide a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. “Sleeker kitchens make you feel like you can create,” she says.
If you’re looking for a more industrial, modern feel, Capo suggests integrated appliances in stainless steel. For a more transitional aesthetic, opt for paneling and match the door handles to your cabinetry hardware, she says. Paneled appliances require less upkeep than most traditional stainless steel options too. If you love the metallic style, opt for anti-fingerprint coating.
Personalizing refrigeration for the way you live opens up a whole new kitchen frontier. Whether that’s forgoing a big freezer or fully embracing it, do what’s right for you.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Fisher & Paykel have been designing products since 1934 and have grown into a global company operating in 50... Leer más
Fisher & Paykel have been designing products since 1934 and have grown into a global company operating in 50... Leer más
I would like to see an article on kitchen appliances that fit in small kitchens, yet have more of a modern look and also have the same options that larger appliances have. We purchased a F&P refrigerator (5 years) only because it was the only brand that made a smaller size to fit in a small kitchen. I like it but I would have liked a few upscale features added and improvements made to the produce drawers. Also the first two years we had the refrigerator the hinge on the bottom of the door would crack, for not reason and had to be replaced. I will say that F&P did cover that part.
Houses used to be built with a cabinet open on the bottom (screened). The cool crawlspace are basement air made a great place for items that needed to be cooler but not refrigerated.
Some of the first refrigerators were basicially upper wall cabinets. Retro Renovation had a few as rticles on them. I sometimes miss things in a deep frig until they spoil and would like to see those available again.
Hi @betd - Houzz just partnered with Fisher & Paykel on a story that discusses compact appliances: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/117072353/thumbs/5-small-space-kitchen-ideas-that-anyone-can-use. Hope it helps!