Best Retro Fridge Freezer
Retro fridge freezers add bold quirk to country kitchens and a retro flair to modern kitchens. They're available in a wide selection of styles and colours.
This tall model by Bush is available in either black or red. Its usable capacity is a wholesome 281 litres and includes a salad drawer, which is designed to accommodate greens, 4 shelves of safety glass, and an chrome wine rack.
Smeg
The word Smeg (pronounced SMEG) conjures images of an Italian vacation, sipping negronis in a historic terrazza with fine cheese and stone fruit. Smeg, a premium appliance manufacturer, can bring the Italian flair to your home at a cost less than a holiday. Smeg's sleek and vibrant colors and designs will add personality to any space.
The company's origins trace back to the 1940s, when Emilian Guastalla Metallurgical Enamelling Works began production of enamelled steel household appliances. The company's popularity grew in the 1960s, with the introduction of the "Elisabeth" gas cooker as well as the "Niagara" dishwasher which brought larger capacity wash capabilities. This time also saw Smeg begin manufacturing ovens and hobs that were built-in. Franco Maria Ricci is one of Italy's most renowned graphic designers and publishers. He designed the iconic Smeg Logo, which incorporates burners from gas stoves and round knobs on ovens.
Smeg's popularity grew in the 1970s, with a wide range of electrical appliances that included microwave ovens, washing machines, and refrigerators. In 1984, Guido Canali designed the Classic collection for Smeg. It was a compact collection with simple lines and essential volumes. The timeless design of the collection was showcased at MoMA.
Since then, Smeg has forged ahead by introducing new technologies and a variety of creative collaborations. The brand launched a line of appliances called 'Vitality,' which offers healthy cooking and preservation methods like sous vide vacuum drawers and blast chillers. It also launched its 'Connect' system that allows control of appliances through a smartphone or tablet.
Smeg's refrigerator freezers are based on the retro style and are available in a variety of vibrant colours. Hisense Bordeaux Red, for instance, would add a splash colour to any kitchen. With a large capacity of around 210 litres and a 40/60 split, this fridge freezer has plenty of space for all your grocery shopping. The fridge-freezer has a salad drawer for fresh greens and four adjustable shelves. The interior of the freezer compartment is constructed from stainless steel and has chrome handles. It also has an anti-frost feature. It comes with a two-year parts and labour warranty.
Swan
Swan makes attractive retro-inspired kitchen equipment for a lower price than comparable designs. The fridge freezer has a striking red finish as well as chrome handles. The 300-litre capacity is divided 60/40, ensuring plenty of space for frozen meals and leftovers. It also comes with adjustable shelves as well as a no-frost option and an internal LED lighting.
The freezer section is geared towards fresh food over snacks. There's plenty of space for everything, from bags frozen vegetables to ice cream. The fridge's side is equipped with a salad drawer for keeping your greens fresh and plenty of space to store your drinks on the extra-large door shelf.
Although it's not as stylish as some of the other models in our round-up however, this Swan fridge freezer is an elegant design that will fit in with a variety of kitchen styles. It's the perfect fit to a country kitchen that has wooden cabinets, or for those looking to add a bit of retro style to their modern kitchen. It's also easy to clean!
Big Chill
The brand was launched in the US in 2003, Big Chill was founded by uncle-and-nephew team Thom Vernon and Orion Creamer, who wanted to make an eye-catching fridge that didn't conceal itself behind cabinetry. The pair decided to imitate the 1950s style with stamped metal bodies and chrome trims, as well as pivoting handles. The result is a freestanding refrigerator that has become a favorite of celebs with Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively among its fans.
The brand's fridge freezers are available in a range of vibrant colors and you can choose a custom color for an additional $400. The Big Chill model we tested was a deep Bordeaux Red, and it's a real attention-grabber. The fridge and freezer are separated by a divider with the freezer positioned at the top. This can help you prioritize frozen food items if you're susceptible to shopping impulsively.
The wine rack is integrated and four shelves that can be adjusted are included. Despite its retro exterior the Big Chill fridge freezer has a decidedly modern A+ energy efficiency class as well as automated defrost.
The Big Chill refrigerator isn't small. It's got a huge 20.5 cubic feet of space. This is more than twice the size of a two-door Smeg. It's available in an array of vivid colors, and a plethora of more are available for a small fee.
The Big Chill is featured in a variety of Ben 10 episodes, including Deep, Greetings From Techadon, and Tabloid Trouble, where it battled the Ultimate Aggregor and froze some Zarcovian soldiers before switching into Goop to save Piscciss Volanns. It also appeared in Above and Beyond, where it fought the undead Kraab.
Gorenje
The Gorenje brand is a Slovenian manufacturer of household appliances, established in 1950. The products are produced in central facilities in Velenje and other locations across Slovenia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The company initially focused on manufacturing ceramics and bathroom and kitchen furniture however, by the 1970s, it had expanded to produce appliances, such as ovens, washing machines, and refrigerators. Its product portfolio includes telecommunications devices as well as television sets.
The FAB50 is the largest retro fridge freezer ever produced by Gorenje. It stands at six feet tall and has 19.3 cubic feet in both refrigerator and freezer. This model is Energy Star-certified and has LED lighting in the interior and shelves that can be adjusted and a no-frost option and a sound alert that alerts you if your door is open. Its chrome handles provide a stylish style to any kitchen.
Although some reviewers have noted that the FAB50's cooling capabilities can be inconsistent, most of its users give it high marks. The Gorenje refrigerator freezer comes in a variety of colors including robin egg blue and pastel green and is a perfect choice for any kitchen with a vintage-style design.
Another alternative for a retro-style fridge is the Hisense RB390N4RRDUK model, which offers a stunning Bordeaux red color as well as sleek chrome handles. It has a generous capacity of 300L and a 60/40 split which provides ample space for frozen items. This Hisense refrigerator freezer is Energy Star certified, and its LED lights and no-frost feature make it easy to keep your food fresh.
Gorenje has the 83 subsidiary companies, of which 59 are located outside of Slovenia. The company manufactures a diverse assortment of household appliances and ceramics, and offers services in the fields of ecology, energy and trade. Its brands are present in more than 90 different countries, mainly in Europe. The company has a strong partnership with Swarovski as well as with Italian design house Pininfarina. Frydge sponsors the Slovenian Nordic Ski Teams as well as the Gorenje Handball Club. It is a member of the European Household Goods Manufacturers' Association, and has an initiative for corporate responsibility.