Beyond preserving food, refrigerators are now considered integral furniture pieces, reflecting a homeowner's aesthetic taste and spatial organization skills. In the current trend of minimalist living, especially in urban apartments, the Toshiba Japandi GR-RF690WI-PGV(67) built-in refrigerator series offers an ideal solution for families of four or more, combining utility with sophisticated design.

Built-in design streamlines kitchen space

Built-in design has emerged as a popular interior trend in recent years. Unlike freestanding refrigerators, built-in models are designed to seamlessly integrate into kitchen cabinetry, creating a flush surface that aligns with walls or wooden cabinets. Toshiba developed the Japandi refrigerator series with a standard depth of 600 mm, compatible with common dimensions of modern cabinet systems. This design ensures the appliance fits perfectly, neither protruding nor recessed, providing a clean and cohesive look within the overall interior.

The Toshiba Japandi cabinet system in a kitchen space. Photo: Toshiba

Design experts highlight that the primary advantage of built-in refrigerators lies in their ability to optimize space. Integrating the refrigerator into the cabinet system frees up floor area, expands sightlines, and creates a more open and airy feel. Additionally, eliminating gaps and dead spaces simplifies cleaning and limits dust accumulation.

The Toshiba Japandi series also features an improved heat dissipation system, relocating the entire condenser coil to the bottom of the unit instead of the traditional side placement. This innovation reduces the side clearance to just 3 mm, allowing the refrigerator to be placed flush against walls or kitchen cabinets while maintaining efficient heat ventilation. This design saves up to 100 mm of space on each side.

Paired with Fuji white glass, the Japandi series exudes a luxurious and gentle aesthetic, drawing inspiration from minimalist Japanese design blended with Scandinavian aesthetics. This combination creates the product line's distinctive character, making it both refined and aligned with contemporary interior design trends.

Smart storage system

Measuring 833x600x1910 mm with a total capacity of 533 liters, the Japandi GR-RF690WI-PGV(67) refrigerator effectively meets the needs of families with four members or more.

Inside the refrigerator, Toshiba applies a "design for life" philosophy with the OriginFresh smart storage system, which divides the interior into separate zones for different food types.

With its four-door design, users can open individual compartments without losing cold air from other areas, contributing to energy savings.

Internal details are arranged based on daily usage habits. Frequently accessed food items are positioned at eye level, while items for longer-term storage are placed lower, facilitating convenient access and reducing search time.

The storage system of the Japandi GR-RF690WI-PGV(67) refrigerator meets the needs of families with four members. Photo: Toshiba

The refrigerator features 16 storage compartments, including: tempered glass shelves, French-style door bins, a flexible Cooling Zone, and a human centric lighting system. The sensor light automatically illuminates when detecting a person within a 70 cm range. Additionally, the interior light gradually brightens over about three seconds after the door opens, shining from above to create a soft, glare-free illumination.

Smart interior design with human-centric lighting system. Photo: Toshiba

The Cooling Zone allows users to customize temperatures, separating odors between different foods such as meat, fish, and seafood. The milk and beverage compartment is located at the top of the door, where temperatures are stable, allowing for frequent access without affecting the overall temperature. Separate fruit and vegetable bins are equipped with the HydroFresh humidity control system, which maintains stable humidity within the compartment, preserving food freshness for up to 7 days.

A Toshiba representative receives an award for impressive refrigerator design in January 2025. Photo: Toshiba

Recognized for its design, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, the Toshiba Japandi GR-RF690WI-PGV(67) won the 8th "San pham toi yeu 2024" award in the Most Impressive Refrigerator Design category.

According to Toshiba, while built-in designs are relatively new in the Vietnam market, they are rapidly gaining popularity among young families, especially in major cities. Owning a "flat" kitchen, where refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers are seamlessly hidden behind synchronized wooden cabinets, creates a tidier space and elevates the home's aesthetics.

Thai Anh