We just got a French door refrigerator, and I love love it. The lights are wonderful and the room inside is wonderful. We had a side by side before and many times couldn't get items into the freezer-too wide. When I took the old fridge apart to clean it, I could never get all the pieces back in. The drawers did work smoothly and the ice maker was very hard to clean.
The new fridge is great--the freezer might be a tad smaller, but is easy to load and to see what is in there. I could just stand there and look at it all day because it is so beautiful. Another thing, my electric bill was lower than with the old one. I think it is going to be a money saver on top of everything. Oh, the flange between the doors operates no matter which door you close first. Probably the flange was broken on Grandma Nancy's fridge. Or maybe it wasn't level.
Sue

So, LavendarBlue, did you purchase a French door fridge after all these rave reviews?

We LOVE ours. Absolutely the best ever. It's an LG. ONly thing I would change would be to have one that makes crushed ice as well as cubed. I was so infatuated when shopping that I overlooked that "minor" detail that isn't so minor to me, as I love crushed ice. Oh, well. "First world problems," right? We are so blessed to have refrigeration, and spoiled rotten to have all these luxuries!

Not all of them are like that. Mine you can open either door by itself, and if you have both open you can close either door first. There is a flange connected to the left door, but it's hinged so it allows both doors to operate independently of each other.

to the OP ... put me in the category of Love my French Doors with the bottom freezer. It's my first and I'm convinced.

Refrigerator (one door) on top; freezer (drawer NOT door) on bottom. Didn't have width room for double refrig. doors and the more I hear or read I'm lucky to have what I have. I like it.

However, with the energy efficiency, there's more insulation and less room for the refrig. and freezer spaces inside, so that the appliance can fit into the old space (can't remodel, either).

Check out as many brands as possible... I bought a Maytag...highly over-rated!!! Sadly, they just don't make them (most brands) like they used to!

Bottom freezer with french door is a million times better than a side by side! Side by side you have limited space for items in the fridge part - much too narrow if you ever need to store a large pan of something like pasta, or even a big watermelon before cutting. We actually bought another refridgerator to keep in the garage for occasions where we NEED the wider fridge space.

Also, to me it seems that the bottom freezer (pull out drawer!) seems to store more frozen food and it's less hassle to get to the food.

If you get an icemaker, it will take up some of the door space, but it's worth it.

Yes, we purchased a French door model yesterday.......will be delivered this afternoon. It's always a very tight squeeze into our small home and frig. space. Fortunately, the old one is still ticking but no longer making ice. Praying it lasts these last few hours. THANK YOU ALL!

I can't say enough about my LG French Door, freezer on the bottom frig. I LOVE LOVE it !!! This is my second & that's only because I wanted Stainless & I had white before. There is water & cubes/crushed ice in the door. Stay away from side by side - they are too small. I learned from friends who had one. Don't be afraid of the French Door freezer on the bottom - you will love it.

I have had both. The french doors wins. Love them.

We have a new Frigidaire French door with water and ice dispenser. I love the big freezer on bottom. Mine has the flange on the one door but it doesn't make any difference which door is shut first. The flange goes on top or underneath either one. Only thing I don't like is I have to order the water filter, no place here sells it.

I hope you found what you wanted .. We have a Frigidaire side by side. LOVE that style