Years after my college dorm days, I never thought I’d be considering a mini refrigerator. But when my former Santa Monica apartment kitchen called for creative measures to allow for a breakfast nook, a compact model was the answer. Much to my surprise, many of the options today offer ample storage as well as technology that rivals their bigger siblings. And you’ll notice a lower number on your electric bill.
Here, 10 energy- and space-saving compact refrigerators for tight budgets and small kitchens.
Above: The True Undercounter 24-Inch Refrigerator with a solid stainless steel solid door is available through True Residential dealers. For more, see our post Customizable Commercial-Style Refrigerators from True Residential . Above: A popular mini refrigerator is the Smeg 50’s Retro Design Compact Refrigerator (shown in black but available in a range of colors); $999 at AJ Madison. Above: For a basic industrial mini fridge, the U-Line Combo 1000 Series Built-In Refrigerator/Freezer Combo is $1,999 at AJ Madison. Above: The Danby Silhouette Series Compact All-Refrigerator is $999 at AJ Madison. Above: Big Chill of Boulder, Colorado, creates modern appliances with retro appeal. The Under Counter Mini Fridge comes in eight colors—and more than 200 custom shades. Energy Star–rated, it’s available with or without a freezer by contacting Big Chill directly. Above: The Sub-Zero 24-Inch Built-In Undercounter All-Refrigerator is available at AJ Madison. Contact AJ Madison for price information. Above: The Daewoo Retro Compact Refrigerator in Cream White is $246.40 at Amazon. Above: The Avanti 24 Inch Compact All Refrigerator is $305.71 at AJ Madison. Above: The Igloo Retro Bar Fridge is small (1.6 cubic feet) resembles a retro ice box. It’s $94 at Jet. Above: The KitchenAid 24-Inch Undercounter Refrigerator comes in stainless steel or a panel ready design (shown); $1,574.10 at Home Depot. It was designers Tei Carpenter and Victoria Birch’s pick in their Cape Cod Beach House . Have a little more room to spare? If so, see
Five Favorites: Skinny Refrigerators . Finally, get more ideas on how to evaluate and choose your kitchen refrigerator in our
Remodeling 101 Guide: Kitchen Refrigerators .
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 5, 2014.
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