Cabinet Depth

Sub-Zero Integrated Refrigerators and FreezersLet's begin by setting the record straight on built-in refrigerators with cabinet panels, versus fully integrated refrigerators with cabinet panels that are flush with adjacent cabinets. The Sub-Zero brand pioneered built-in refrigerators decades ago, and continues to be a leader in this appliance category. They have long had cabinet panel options for their refrigerators, but not what we now call "fully-integrated". In fact, Sub-Zero typically exposed their trademark grills on top of the refrigerator where the compressor compartment was located. They still make these refrigerators, and they are very popular. However, today's fully-integrated refrigerators with custom flush-fitting matching cabinet panels, are indistinguishable from the adjacent cabinets. They're often referred to as invisible or disappearing refrigerators.A few years ago, Sub-Zero Wolf embarked on a major re-design of their entire appliance offering. This update included a complete launch of integrated refrigerators, freezers, and wine storage units, accompanied by undercounter refrigerator and freezer drawers, as well as undercounter beverage and wine storage units. Here are some of Sub Zero's latest products in their own words: How often have you wished for a larger refrigerator? Weekly? Daily? We invite you to think modular and solve your food storage problems once and for all. The Sub-Zero Integrated 24” All Refrigerator Column delivers an impressive 12.9 cu. ft. of well-organized refrigerator storage – likely at least 50% more than you have now. Pair it

Selecting a New RefrigeratorBasic ConfigurationsThere are four basic refrigerator configurations that comprise the full-size home refrigerator category.Top Freezer style refrigerator/freezers are a bit of a dinosaur for most homes, but they are still found in apartments and in kitchens where space is really limited. They're at the bottom of the scale in price and features. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) can provide quotes for apartment managers, builders, and other multi-family needs. Bottom Freezer refrigerators, while not the most popular refrigerator configuration, are still preferred by some. A more modern version of the Bottom Freezer refrigerator is the French Door Refrigerator - a Bottom Freezer fridge with split doors above the freezer. French Door refrigerators have become very popular over the last 20 years as customers have opted for the convenience of a freezer on the bottom and full width refrigerator space on the top accessible by split doors. Recent variations of the French Door refrigerator configuration include multiple compartments and doors. Side-by-Side refrigerators have freezer space accessible through a door on the left side and refrigerator space on the other.Refrigerator depths and heightWithin the 4 refrigerator configurations, there are the different refrigerator depths that will affect how your refrigerator appears in the kitchen space.Full-Depth refrigerators can have a depth of 30 or more inches causing them to stick out from standard 24 inch cabinets and adjacent 25 1/2 inch countertops. Counter-Depth refrigerators while

Should you buy a trash compactor?Trash compactors first became popular in the 70's. Today, trash compactors are part of the lineup for most appliance manufacturers. The pros of buying a trash compactor include: 1) the convenience of having fewer trips taking the trash out, and 2) the benefit of a smaller footprint at our waste disposal sites by compressing your trash 5 times. However, there is the thought that recycle bins are more environmentally helpful. It's worth pointing out that these solutions are not mutually exclusive. In fact, if you typically recycle, you might consider using a compactor exclusively for recyclables. How trash compactors work.Trash compactors have a powerful motor that will compress trash as much as 5:1 when activated, compressing loose contents into a small package. Typically, compactors will fit in a standard depth 24" deep cabinet, and at 34 1/2" tall will fit nicely under a standard 36" countertop. The most common width is 15". Most compactors also have a deodorizer or charcoal filter. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center can help. UAKC sells all the major trash compactor brands, as well as the premium and luxury brands, from the popularly priced Whirlpool brand to a luxury Viking brand compactor and everything in between. One super-premium brand, Jenn-Air has just launched a new compactor. Below are the details on Jenn-Air's new compactor:Efficiently reduce your trash by up to 80% with the Jenn-Air® Trash Compactor. It's equipped with Anti-Jam and Tilt Sensors for smooth operation on large waste products. Features:5:1

2 Main Decisions When Buying A New RefrigeratorTime to get a new refrigerator? Here are two fundamental decisions you might think about before you go shopping.1. Door ConfigurationsRefrigerators come with their doors configured in three fundamental ways.Top-Mount RefrigeratorsThe simplest refrigerator door setup is a two-door refrigerator with the freezer on the top. Otherwise known as Top Mount refrigerators, these refrigerators seem to have been around forever. They're commonly inexpensive entry level refrigerators, and often used in apartments.Bottom-Mount RefrigeratorsRefrigerators with the freezer on the bottom include models that have bottom doors that swing open, or more often, bottom freezer doors that slide out. Many people like the convenience of a wide refrigerator compartment on the top and freezer storage below.French-Door RefrigeratorsIn the 1990's, Amana introduced Bottom-Mount Refrigerators with a split refrigerator door referred to as French-Door Refrigerators. As they became popular, other brands introduced their own versions. In the late 1990's, Jenn-Air (a sister company of Amana), launched cabinet-depth French Door refrigerators.Today there are many versions of refrigerators with a top refrigerator split door configuration and bottom doors and drawers that serve various purposes.Side-by-Side RefrigeratorsDespite the popularity of various configurations of French-Door Refrigerators, the Side-by-Side Refrigerator still holds on to a large share of new refrigerator sales. Buyers say that they like having frozen foods readily available without having to search through a deep freezer bin to find things.2. Refrigerator type by depthYou will also need to choose not only the overall size of your refrigerator in terms of cu.ft., but

Pro-Style® Cooking Appliances are Changing The Pro-Look Gets a Sleek Update As professional looking appliances have gained popularity in luxury kitchens, they have often been mixed with sleek flush European style appliances. A Bosch or Asko dishwasher featuring a flush matching cabinet panel disappears into the cabinetry while nearby there is a Sub-Zero integrated built-in refrigerator with hidden hinges and door panels that match the adjacent cabinets. They're invisible as appliances and fit right in to the wall. Though it's not possible to do this with cooking appliances, manufacturers have made their cooktops and ranges much more sleek and contemporary-looking. This has become particularly noticeable recently, as even Professional Style appliances have become more flush, but still keep their Pro heritage. Check out the three entries below from Jenn-Air, Wolf, and Miele. Jenn-Air Jenn-Air's new 30" and 36" Pro-Style® cooktops have undergone a complete redesign. Not only have they added more power and new brass burners, but the surface of the cooktop itself is as near to flush as you can get without being inset into the counter. The heavy duty knobs still have a Pro look and feel, but they are somewhat less obtrusive. By the way, the term Pro-Style® is a registered Jenn-Air trademark. Wolf Wolf's new "M" Series Professional Oven still sports their signature red knobs, but also has touch electronic controls that work in conjunction with the knobs. Wolf has worked their magic by producing a jumbo oven with twin convection fans, yet it all fits

Choosing a New Side by Side Refrigerator While French door refrigerators seem to be all the rage these days, side by side refrigerator still hold a significant share of refrigerator industry sales. Reasons for customers preferring side by side refrigerators include the better access to the freezer compartments (i.e. no digging to find the ice cream), less critical space used for ice storage, and overall better organization and visibility. Whatever your reason, if a side by side is your choice here are three fundamental choices you need to make. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center can help you choose the configuration that works best for you. Built-In A built-in side by side will fit flush inside your cabinet space, and could even be "integrated" with matching cabinet panels and hidden hinges. Depending on the brand, size, and features this refrigerator could cost $10,000 or more. Counter depth A counter depth side by side refrigerator is going to fit nearly flush with the countertops (25") not counting the door. While they're not built-in, they're attractive looking, and blend into the surrounding cabinets nicely. Full depth A full or standard depth refrigerator will protrude from the kitchen cabinets. This style refrigerator offers more capacity, but can often be 35" deep or more. Consumers often complain about having to navigate around the refrigerator. As you can see, there are tradeoffs among the 3 basic refrigerator configurations. In addition, you'll need to decide among models featuring dispensers and non-dispenser models. You may also have a

Three kitchen remodeling tips that can save you money Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) is not just Southern California headquarters for major appliances and plumbing fixtures. Their professional staff will help you avoid costly mistakes by assisting you in purchasing appliances that will fit in your kitchen and work with your surrounding cabinets and countertops. Here are three remodeling tips and some advice on saving money by getting the right appliances for your kitchen remodel: Tile under your dishwasher. If you are installing a new floor in the kitchen make sure that you install flooring underneath the dishwasher. Installing flooring in front of the dishwasher, but not under it will likely mean that you won't be able to remove the dishwasher without pulling up the floor in front. This is a common problem that can be avoided if the flooring is installed under the appliance. This advice holds true for other undercounter appliances such as trash compactor, refrigerator drawers, etc. Double check appliance clearance dimensions. It's not enough to determine just the width and depth of your appliances. Review door swings and clearances to make sure that the appliance will open fully without hitting adjacent countertops, cabinets or walls. If your refrigerator has an adjacent wall, make sure that the refrigerator door will swing wide enough so that you can fully extend any interior refrigerator drawers. Be aware of corner cabinet drawers. Many cabinet drawers these days are full extension. Since most kitchen cabinets are at least 22 inches

Refrigerators Can Strut or they can DisappearMake your choice at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterUniversal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) is your best choice in Southern California for refrigerators of all styles and colors. Take a look at just a few of the different configurations of refrigerators available today at UAKC.Refrigerators that disappearSome refrigerators can be hidden from view with cabinet panels so that they blend into the surrounding cabinetry. When even hinges, grills, and toe-kicks are invisible the refrigerator qualifies for the designation of "integrated".The photo below depicts a GE Monogram Integrated refrigerator and wine storage unit.Non-integrated refrigeratorsIt's a matter of degree since some refrigerators have cabinet panels that match, but parts such as hinges or grills are still visible. These built-in refrigerators are not integrated, but still match existing cabinetry. The photo below shows a Sub Zero built-in refrigerator with cabinet panels that is not integrated because the hinges and toekick are showing.A refrigerator doesn't have to be built-in to accept cabinet panels. The french door refrigerator below from Jenn-Air is a cabinet depth model. While it isn't going to be flush with surrounding cabinets it does blend in nicely, and is much less costly than a built-in refrigerator.Refrigerators that show-offThere is also a school of thought that a refrigerator should be a showcase and the center of attention in the kitchen. No refrigerator does a better job of calling attention

Popular Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Style Advantages of Modern Bottom Freezer Refrigerators Refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom have been around for a long time. Much of the credit for popularizing this configuration goes to Amana. During the 80's and 90's when Side-by-Side refrigerators were all the rage, Amana continued to promote refrigerators with a freezer section on the bottom. Eventually, they introduced a version with double doors in the refrigerator section and the French Door refrigerator revolution began. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) has been selling and promoting these refrigerator models for many years and carries most of the brands that offer this configuration. French Door refrigerators are also bottom freezer refrigerators because they do in fact also have a freezer on the bottom, but we're going to confine our review here to bottom freezer refrigerators with a single door on the top. Brands including Amana, Frigidaire, GE, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, Maytag, Fisher & Paykel, Sub Zero, Whirlpool and others are available with a freezer on the bottom. These refrigerators come in the following configurations: The freezer doors may swing out just as in the Amana below, but the most popular models have freezers that pull out. Styling varies. One of the more recent models introduced from the GE Artistry Series has a look that is both retro and trendy. Most bottom freezers refrigerators will come with an icemaker in the freezer compartment, and many will have internal water dispensers. Only a few manufacturers such as Fisher & Paykel

What are cabinet depth or counter depth refrigerators?Appliance manufacturers may build similar freestanding refrigerators in both a full-depth version and a cabinet or counter-depth model. Most of the major brands such as Frigidaire, GE, Bosch, and Whirlpool offer cabinet depth models. Premium brands such as KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, GE Profile, and Electrolux also offer a wide selection of cabinet-depth refrigerators. Of course, all of them are available for you at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC), Southern California's premier appliance showrooms. However, these refrigerators with a shallower depth will have less capacity and cost more than their full-depth counterparts. Why then have cabinet-depth refrigerators become so popular? First let's examine what we mean when we describe a refrigerator as being cabinet depth. Cabinet depth refrigerators are refrigerators that have roughly the same depth as cabinets. Cabinets are normally 24 inches deep or a bit more if the cabinet door is not inset, and countertops are likely to extend an inch beyond the cabinet. Therefore, cabinet or counter-depth refrigerators are designed to fit within the surrounding cabinets so that they do not not protrude into the kitchen much beyond that 24"-25". In practice, counter-depth refrigerators are likely to measure around 24" deep not counting the doors, and about 27" including the door, but not the handle. They look good and fit well into a standard space, only sticking out a bit. In contrast, their big full-depth counterparts could easily extend into the kitchen aisle another 6 or