Best Retro Fridge Freezer
Retro fridge freezers add bold style to country kitchens and retro-flair to modern ones. They're available in a vast variety of colors and styles.
This tall model by Bush is available in either red or black. It has a healthy capacity of 281 litres. It comes with an ice-cream drawer that is geared towards greens, four safety glass shelves and a chrome wine shelf.
Smeg
The word Smeg, also known as SMEG, conjures up images of an Italian holiday. Imagine sipping negronis on an old terrazza, while eating fine cheeses and stone fruit. While this dreamy getaway is unlikely to be an actual reality, the upscale appliance brand can bring that Italian flair to your kitchen at a price just a little less than a trip to Sicily. Smeg's sleek designs and vibrant colors will surely add a pop of personality to any space.
The company's origins trace back to the 1940s when Emilian Guastalla Metallurgical Enamelling Works began producing enamelled steel domestic appliances. In the 1960s, the company's popularity increased with the introduction of the "Elisabeth", a gas cooker, and the "Niagara", a dishwasher with a greater capacity to wash. The same time, the company begin producing built-in ovens and hobs. Franco Maria Ricci, one of Italy's most illustrious publishers and graphic designers who created the iconic Smeg logo that incorporates burners from gas hobs as well as round knobs from ovens.
The company's success grew throughout the 1970s with a broad range of electrical appliances that included microwave ovens, washing machines and refrigerators. In 1984, Guido Canali designed the Classic collection for Smeg. retro fridges freezers was a simple collection that had simple lines and essential volumes. The timeless design of the collection was displayed at MoMA.
Since since then, Smeg has forged ahead by introducing new technologies and a variety of creative collaborations. The company launched the 'Vitality' line of appliances that offer healthy cooking and preservation methods, such as steam ovens, sous vide vacuum drawers and blast chillers. The brand also introduced its 'Connect' system that allows controlling appliances using a phone or tablet.
Smeg's refrigerator freezers follow the retro design and come in a variety of vibrant colours. The Hisense Bordeaux Red model, for instance, will add a splash of color to any kitchen. With a capacity of 220 litres and a 60/40 split, this fridge-freezer has plenty of room for all your grocery shopping. The fridge-freezer features an area for salads and fresh greens, as well as four adjustable shelves. The freezer compartment comes with an anti-frost function and the interior is made of stainless steel with chrome handles. It comes with a two-year manufacturer's warranty on parts and labour.
Swan
Swan makes attractive retro-inspired appliances at a lower price than similar designs. The refrigerator freezer is adorned with a striking red finish and chrome handles. Designed to hold lots of shopping, its 300 litre capacity has 60/40 split so there's plenty of space for frozen meals and leftovers. It also comes with adjustable shelves as well as a no-frost option and internal LED lighting.
The freezer section is geared towards fresh food over snacks. There's plenty of room for everything from bags of frozen vegetables to ice cream. The fridge's side has an area for salads to keep your greens in good condition and plenty of space to store your drinks on the extra-large door shelf.
This Swan fridge freezer is not as stylish as the models we've reviewed however it does have a classic design that can fit into many kitchen styles. It's perfect for a kitchen with wooden cabinets or those looking to add an old-fashioned look to their contemporary kitchen. It's also easy to clean!
Big Chill
Launched in the US back in 2003, Big Chill was founded by uncle-and-nephew pair Thom Vernon and Orion Creamer, who wanted to make a statement fridge that didn't conceal itself behind cabinetry. They chose to evoke 1950s-era designs with cast metal bodies and chrome trim, then added pivoting handles to give it a more retro appeal. The result is a fridge that's freestanding that's been a popular choice for celebs - with Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively among its fans.
The brand's fridge freezers are available in a range of striking colors and you can select a custom colour for an additional $400. The Big Chill model we tested was a deep Bordeaux Red, and it's an eye-catching piece of equipment. The fridge and freezer are separated by a partition, with the freezer on top. This should help you prioritise frozen food items if you're susceptible to impulse shopping.
There's also a salad drawer to make room for fresh greens, as well as four adjustable shelves and an integrated wine rack. Despite its old-fashioned exterior, the Big Chill fridge freezer has an edgy A+ energy efficiency class and automated defrost.
The Big Chill fridge isn't small, as it comes with a generous 20.5 cubic feet of space which is more than double the size of the two-door Smeg model. It's available in a variety of vibrant colors, and dozens more are available for a small cost.
The Big Chill appears in a number of Ben 10 episodes, including Deep, Greetings From Techadon and Tabloid Trouble, where it battled Ultimate Aggregor and frozen some Zarcovian soldiers before switching into Goop to save Piscciss Volanns. It also was featured in Above and Beyond where it fought the undead Kraab.
Gorenje
Gorenje is an Slovenian brand of major household appliances that was founded in 1950. The company's products are made at its central location in Velenje as well as other sites throughout Slovenia and Serbia, the Czech Republic and Sweden. The company initially focused on ceramics and kitchen and bathroom furniture, and by the 1970s, it expanded into appliances like ovens and refrigerators, as well as washers and dryers. The product line of the company includes televisions and telecommunications equipment.
The FAB50 model by Gorenje is the biggest Gorenje retro fridge freezer to date, measuring six feet tall and boasting 19.3 cubic feet of refrigerator and freezer space. This model is Energy Star-certified and features internal LED lighting as well as adjustable shelves, a no-frost system, and a noise alert that alerts you if your door is left open. Chrome handles give this refrigerator an elegant look.
While some reviewers have pointed out that the FAB50's cooling capability can be erratic, the majority of the people who have used it give it high marks. The Gorenje refrigerator freezer is available in a variety of colors including pastel blue and robin egg green and is a perfect choice for any kitchen that has a a vintage-style design.
Another option for a vintage-style refrigerator is the RB390N4RRDUK model from Hisense, which comes with stunning Bordeaux red color and sleek chrome handles. It has a generous 300L capacity as well as a 60/40 split that provides plenty of space for frozen goods. This Hisense refrigerator freezer is also Energy Star certified, and its LED lights and no-frost feature make it easy to maintain your food's freshness.
Gorenje has its 83 subsidiaries, with including 59 that are located outside of Slovenia. The company produces a broad range of domestic appliances as well as ceramics. It also provides services in the areas of ecology, energy and trade. Its brands are found in more than 90 different countries, mostly in Europe. The company has a close relationship with Swarovski and collaborates with Italian design firm Pininfarina. It also supports the Slovenian Nordic Ski Teams as well as the Gorenje Handball Club. It is an affiliate of the European Household Goods Manufacturers' Association and has a corporate social responsibility program.