Is the Ikea Nutid refrigerator-freezer the most affordable counter-depth refrigerator-freezer out there? At $1,349 in white and $1,399 in stainless, I think it may be — and I am now adding this model to our Retro Renovation kitchen decorating arsenal. I like counter-depth refrigerator-freezers for mid-century kitchens for a number of reasons, and I tend to favor side-by-sides, too. Here’s why:
- Our vintage kitchens tend to be smaller. A counter-depth fridge — which by definition does not jut into the main of your kitchen area — kind of recedes into the cabinetry… it’s smaller. In mid-century America, fridges were smaller than they are today.
- Similarly, a side-by-side model means there is less door to swing into your smaller kitchen.
- A counter-depth fridge is more amenable to creating the “fitted” kitchen look, which was the ascendant style in the postwar era. Bring that soffit right down to the top of the fridge!
- Stuff is less likely to get lost… or turn into a science experiment…in a counter-depth fridge.
The downsides: These tend to have less storage space… and side-by-sides protypically are less energy efficient than a freezer-on-the bottom model. This Ikea Nutid, though, is Energy Star qualified.
Here’s the link to the Ikea Nutid.
And click here to see my other refrigerators identified as good possibilities for a Retro Renovation kitchen.
Jane (aka) Elvis says
This is a nice loking fridge option. However, I’m still in love with my counter-depth, freezer on the bottom Fisher & Paykel. It’s perfect for us, and as Pam points out above, you don’t lose food at the back. I actually think the layout is much better than a lot of standard depth fridges I’ve seen and used.
TappanTrailerTami says
Bev –
About chroming your handles – as long as they are metal, you should be able to remove them and take them to a chromer for about $75-125.
Then, if you really want more “retro-ness” for your fridge, you can buy the narrow chrome stick on car door edging to edge the doors with. It is inexpensive, flexible, very durable, and easily removed if you don’t like it. Hey, in fact – for those doing formica or linoleum counters who yearn for metal edging and don’t want the cost involved, you could use this stuff on the edge of the counters, and it is flexible enough to make radius corners with also.
I found this great website with all kinds of car body moldings that are peel and stick, come in any length you order (I called them and if you order 15 feet, it comes as one continuous length, despite the 5 ft info on their website). If you need a longer run, they can do that too. They are in Eugene Oregon.
Then for further retro effect, you can usually find some great retro car badges etc if you want to badge your refrigerator (think Cadillac “V” for a badge).
Here are the wider moldings to use as countertop edging:
http://www.brandsport.com/bosimo16.html
Here is molding suitable to trim the edges of your refrigerator doors 🙂
http://www.brandsport.com/ptrm-140c-05.html
I can honestly say, having used this kind of molding on my motorcycle fenders, it lasts, holds up really well (wash after wash), and polishes up great!
gavin hastings says
TTT-
Thanks for the idea about the car trim. I have often thought about using something chrome-y …horizontally around the perimeter of a room, between sixteen inch graduated shades of taupe gray.
I saw it about 25 years ago in the bathrooms sets of the movie “Victor/Victoria” and thought: How can I achieve that look for cheap? Now I know. Thanks.
TappanTrailerTami says
GH – you’re welcome. Of course if you take the plunge and try it, we want photos!!!! One tip I would say, is that if you are going to do that, I would run a thin flat wood band around the room with panel nails or similar and mount this chrome trim to the wood band, especially if your walls are drywall or plaster.
Reason is the stick-um on the back is 3M tape, so when I said “easily removed” above, I really meant off of something equally hard, like a counter top or metal fridge. On drywall or plaster, you would probably end up taking hunks of drywall away if it was stuck right to it and you tried to remove it later.
Anita says
We needed to do a chrome strip to separate an odd division of 2 paint colors on one of our kitchen walls which is done in a 1950s diner style. We went to the local auto parts store and purchased chrome tape (in a roll like duct tape) and then purchased a strip of wood the size and shape we wanted and covered it with the tape. Nailed in place and it looks like a strip of metal. It’s about a 1/2″ x 1/2″ strip of wood.
Bev Thompson says
Thanks for the info Tami. Unfortunately, i don’t think that the handles on my fridge can be removed – not easily anyway. My son used to deliver for Lowes and he says they can’t come off without completely dismantling the door from the inside out. Indeed, there is no visible hardware. Apparently, the handles are put on the door and then the inside of the door is assembled. If more clearance is needed when moving the fridge, you remove the doors not the handles. Your idea about the chrome trim is intriguing. I will be looking into that. Thanks!!
TappanTrailerTami says
That’s interesting about your handlesBev…..I can remember the last time I looked at new refrigerators, I kept checking the handles first, LOL. Were they metal? Could I see screws so they could be removed to be chromed? Ha, no longer is the cubic feet or layout my main concern. My biggest concern with a new fridge is its “pimpability” as in “Pimp Your Fridge”!!!!
gavin hastings says
Why is it that refrigerators get cheesier as they get smaller?
I wish the manufacturers would make their “top of the line” in different sizes.
I am on my fifth refrigerator in so many decades…and my current one is the best: $150 at the estate sale of a neighbor. We just rolled it down the street!
carole says
“What we have ballooned and burgeoned into as a culture is perhaps not to be celebrated.”
I couldn’t agree more. Bigger is better. Bigger means success. Bigger means…What is it with always having to have bigger and more stuff?
I always think of that saying about whoever has the most/bigger stuff in the end wins.
Even our restaurants super-size to accomodate our ‘needs’. We waste so much food in this country it’s astonishing.
As for IKEA, they have some nice things (and Consumer Reports is the place to go for information on just about everything).
I like the idea of a side by side, and I’ve looked at various models, but honestly, one wouldn’t fit in my allotted space. Where my fridge sits a side by side would probably end up being more hindrance than help. You have to know what works in your space.
I have, what I suppose, would be considered an ‘old fashioned’ fridge – freezer on top, fridge on the bottom. It works for me. I’ve looked at freezer on the bottom styles and they’re not my thing. I don’t want to be standing on my head every time I need something out of the freezer, and I use my freezer compartment a lot.
As for entertaining, though we don’t entertain as much as we used to, I’ve never had a problem storing food in my regular sized fridge. I just rearrange shelves, remove racks that I’ve placed in, and there’s enough space for my needs.
Kat says
I’m getting my Nutid delivered today! It was a perfect affordable option for my retro renovation, going from 70’s remuddle simple updated 50s style.
pam kueber says
oooooh, kat, let us know how you like it – and send me pics of your Retro Renovation kitchen when it’s ready for prime time!
kate mckinnon says
Ikea sells to a lot of European and global customers, so they serve up a lot of what we would call vintage-inspired stuff.
Post-war, Americans lived a lot more like the rest of the civilised world; smaller footprints, less waste, we were careful with our resources and our homes reflected that. Almost everyone had some sort of garden. What we have ballooned and burgeoned into as a culture is perhaps not to be celebrated. Should ordinary households of just a few people really need huge amounts of food storage? I love my side-by-side, and I just use oval platters instead of round, so they fit in there without any fuss.
It can be difficult to have less space if you are having a party, or a bunch of houseguests. My solution to that is to have a chest freezer in the garage that I can plug in only when I have overflow. I got one with an adjustable thermostat so that it can serve as a stand-in extra fridge when it’s not needed as a freezer.
mstark says
We got a counter depth french door style with freezer on the bottom from the Sears scratch and dent place for about $1350 and its amazing! Its got a ding on the front but honestly you don’t notice it and it saves us having to be hyper sensitive to keeping it pristine. I can fit anything in it! and it is also Energy Star, though on the lower end (probably due to the in door ice/water). Energy Star does have its problems, but its the only rating system out there right now for appliances that I know of. There are ways to cheat the system but if the manufacturer is honest you can feel secure going by the rating.
Bev Thompson says
I much prefer the french door style. I recently purchased one for my retro kitchen. The freezer is on the bottom which is not only efficient, it make sense! You can open a single fridge door, or both if you need more room to put something in or take it out. I love having the produce drawers at waist level. The only upgrade that I would wish for is chrome handles to match my early 50’s GE stove.
pam kueber says
Bev, what kind did you get? I am going to do another major round-up on fridge reco’s.
Bev Thompson says
It is a Samsung, model # RF266ABWP. It has an internal water dispenser. I wanted that to hopefully replace the huge 5 gallon water dispenser that currently sits on our counter, blocking the use of the cabinet above it. We do not like our tap water. It tastes like chlorine. I haven’t gotten the water line installed yet, but I am hoping we will like the water that the fridge delivers. I did not want the water-through-the-door style as that is just too contemporary. I chose this particular model because of the way the freezer is set up. I saw some others where, when you slide out the freezer drawer, you could actually see through to the floor. I pictured crumbs and the like falling through. Made more sense to me to contain any potential mess until you could get around to dealing with it!
Mary says
Try ebay–I was able to find authentic retro chrome & red handles for my 50s diner in my basement there. 🙂 You find the craziest things on there, including small parts. 🙂
Hope you find them! 🙂
Blessings,
Mary
Susan says
Side by side fridges drive me batty. You can’t fit a platter in there!
pam kueber says
I agree, Susan… we are fortunate to have another (hand-me-down) fridge in the basement, which I also know a lot of folks don’t have that luxury….
Graham at Chadwell Chronicles says
Nice looking fridge. But to be fair about the Energy Star program, it’s not the most reliable certification out there. 🙂
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/03/26/2322208/Energy-Star-Program-Certifies-15-Out-of-20-Bogus-Products?art_pos=1
pam kueber says
Yes, Graham, I’ve read about some of the problems that the Energy Star program has been having. When I am in major buying mode for stuff like this, I usually get a subscription to Consumer Reports – online it’s about $18, as I recall.