At that point the answer was a resounding “no”, but times have changed and we are now staring at the near-imminent release of Sub-Zero’s first foray into the French door style – the Bi-36UFD (there are plans for a 42″ to be released in the next year or so).

I was fortunate to spend some time with the new fridge at the recent Architectural Digest show in NYC, took some nice booty pics, so let’s get in deep now. First, a list of the feature set or as I like to call it, the “tale of the tape”

- Width: 36″
- Available in stainless, overlay and flush inset
- Annual energy usage is 571 kWh or $61
- Star-K certified
- Automatic ice maker
- Water and air filter systems
- Dual refrigerator system so freezer and fridge don’t exchange air

OK, now let’s get into the grist. The biggest issues with French door refrigerators is the way that they seal, or, their lack
of sealing! If you open a typical French door you will see an annoying “flap” in between the doors that is needed to get most of the doors to seal. The problem with this flap is that I’ve had plenty of customers complain that they break, get loose, etc.
The Sub-Zero Bi36UFD utilizes the flap as well, BUT, Sub-Zero spent 4 years working on the way the fridge seals so as to avoid the issues that most other French doors encounter.

That’s why you will pay more for a Sub-Zero – insane focus on customer usability. While most, if not all of the other premium fridge manufacturers were rolling out French Door fridges in the last 5 years, the engineers at Sub-Zero sat back and said we’ll be patient, we’re going to get this right. It seems to me that they did. The fridge doors open and close with the security and sureness that one would equate with Sub-Zero. The fit and finish is beautiful.

Enough of the words, onto the evidence…..

This pic shows the Bi36ufd with the classic Sub-Zero handle. It can also be purchased with a Pro-handle to match your Wolf range.

Sub-Zero Bi36ufd French Door Refrigerator

Inside the SubZero BI36UFD. Ample storage space for a 36" built-in fridge.

Yes you can fit a platter in the Sub-Zero Bi36UFD. One of the advantages of a French door!

The freezer space is identical to that of the Bi-36 single door fridge.

Shop for the SubZero French Door Refrigerator at Curto’s Appliances.

One of My Favorite Kitchens from a Curto's Customer. Stellar.

Appliance Dude’s video analysis of this kitchen….

Appliance Dude Getting Deep into the custom Vent-a-Hood…

And now, the Wolf, Sub-Zero, Ventahood kitchen appliance package pics

So, it’s the same fridge, just different measurements for the cabinets.

Let the pictures tell the story.

Sub-Zero Refrigerator With Flush Inset Application

Sub-Zero Overlay Refrigerator With Custom Panels - Notice How the Sides Jut Out Compared to the Flush Inset Model.

Sub-Zero has dubbed this look “flush inset” and the majority of my customers who are paneling their new Sub-Zero’s are going with this
style. I can see why…it’s cleaner and sharper looking.

Most customers think that you have to purchase a unique fridge in order to attain this look. Wrong.
You still purchase a Sub-Zero overlay refrigerator (which comes without a front or handles) and then
you would have your cabinet maker/carpenter play with the cabinet sizes in order to attain the flush inset look.
Basically what they need to do is the following:

- make the depth of the cabinet space 2 3/16″ deeper than the standard depth of 24″. So you would instead be using 26 3/16″ in depth.
- the flush inset width is 2.5″ wider than a standard opening
- the flush inset height is .25″ higher than the standard opening
- you must allow 1/2″ reveal (opening) around the perimeter of the fridge in order to promote airflow and allow for the proper door swing.

Also note: the inside edges of the A)the rough opening B)the sides and a portion of the back of the decorative panel will need to be finished as they are exposed when the doors are open.

Most people use custom panels that are 3/4″ thick. If you go with something larger than this you may be required to purchase a 90 degree door stop in order to prevent interference with adjacent cabinets.

Let the pics tell the story

Update 04/13/12 – booty shots of the new SubZero french door refrigerator BI36UFD

Time to get your orders placed folks!

Update – Jan 4 – 2011 – And here’s the vid to prove that these hinges are mofo’s! Video ends without comparison to other competitors but worry not, the graphic evidence of the competitions’ inferior hinges/doors is listed below as photos.
PS – please excuse my drab, comatose delivery in the video. I’ve been handling the 3am feedings for my 3 week old son and I’m hurting!

More times than not I’m asked why one should spend the several thousand dollar upcharge on a SubZero when you can find built-in models from other manufacturers for a fraction of the cost.
There’s a couple of ways to tackle this question. The popular answer, and one that I think most appliance guys will spout is that it’s the brand-name. Sub-Zero is to pro refrigerators like Xerox is to copiers. It IS the category. Others will get a bit more technical and will talk about SubZero’s reliance on 2 compressors which prevents air flow between the freezer and fridge ( a good thing).

For me, it’s all about the hinges.

Check out the photos I’ve posted below which compare the hinge action on a Sub-Zero with the hinge on two competitor’s built-in fridges. The SubZero hinge is thick, robust and glides effortlessly when opening the door. The other fridges had hinges that were tiny and didn’t offer a smooth feel when accessing the door.

Hinge on a SubZero Bi-36 refrigerator.

Hinge on an unamed built-in refrigerator. Weak!!!

This thing is going to hold up a 40 lb door?

My point is that the feel of a door, whether it’s a refrigerator, dishwasher or oven says ALOT about the quality of the appliance. If you open up a door and the thing is rattling, uneven or doesn’t open smoothly it’s going to give off the vibe that the product is cheap. You can’t say that about any SubZero doors.

And the hinges on Subs do more than just hold the doors up. The upper hinge adjusts the door up and down which is a great feature for flush inset or overlay Sub-Zero refrigerators. Plus it has a 90 degree stop pin included which will hold your door open when your loading the fridge up with your wares from Whole Foods.

Here’s another tidbit on the vaunted hinges. This is a quote from Jerome Caruso, the man who designed most of SubZero and Wolf’s current offerings. In an interview with Business Week magazine he talked about how he went about re-designing the Sub-Zero and mentioned the hinges:

“Caruso broke with the standard blueprint. He removed the metal shelving and compartments and created an all white and glass interior. “I asked women what they thought,” he says. “I didn’t know if they’d like it, but they said it was so much easier to clean.” And he installed a fully lit ceiling that supplies even illumination. His internal hinge pulls the door out two and half inches before swinging open, preventing it from touching or scraping any other cabinetry or appliance.”