Refrigerators: The Cold Truth

In our home, there are two refrigerators. There's a 22-cubic-foot freezer/cooler combo in the basement, which is used for bulk storage. In the kitchen, I happily use a 6-cubic-foot undercounter fridge as the everyday appliance; encased in a custom cabinet, it doubles as an island.
 
How, you may ask, does such an admittedly compact model work for us? Well, there are only two people in our household, and I use fresh ingredients for cooking. It's an unconventional arrangement, but for us, it functions flawlessly.
 
This goes to the point that with refrigerators, one size doesn't necessarily fit all. If you think of your fridge as just an appliance that fits into a gaping hole in a bank of cabinets, you're overlooking how this critical piece of equipment can truly make life easier. Analyze your household profile and how you cook, shop and entertain. A family with several kids still in the chicken-fingers-and-juice-box stage has different needs than one where gourmet cooking is a couples sport, or an empty-nester who likes to throw wine-tasting parties.
 
From point-of-use cooler drawers to drink-dispensing models just right for the game room to family workhorses, you'll find each of the following refrigerators has its own appeal.
 
Photo Credit: Houzz.com