Best Retro Fridge Freezer
Retro fridge freezers add retro flair to modern kitchens, and strikingly quirky to traditional kitchens. They're available in a wide range of colours and designs.
This model is tall by Bush is available in either black or red. Its usable capacity is a wholesome 281 litres and includes a salad drawer that is geared towards greens, as well as four shelves of safety glass, and the chrome wine rack.
Smeg
The word Smeg (pronounced SMEG) brings to mind images of an Italian holiday, where you sip negronis in a historic terrazza with fine cheese and stone fruit. Luxury appliance brand Smeg can bring Italian flair to your home for a price that is less than a holiday. Smeg's sleek, vibrant colors and designs will bring a sense of style to any room.
The company was founded in the 1940s by Emilian Guastalla Metallurgical Enamelling Works which began manufacturing enamelled steel household appliances. Its success grew during the 1960s thanks to the introduction of the "Elisabeth" gas cooker and the "Niagara" dishwasher which brought larger capacity wash capabilities. This time also saw Smeg begin manufacturing ovens and hobs with built-in ovens. Franco Maria Ricci, one of Italy's most famous graphic designers and publishers, created the iconic Smeg logo incorporating burners from gas hobs as well as round knobs from ovens.
Smeg continued to be successful in the 1970s. They offered a wide variety of electrical appliances including washing machines, microwave ovens and refrigerators. In 1984 the architect Guido Canali conceived the Classic collection for Smeg, a vital collection of compact volumes sporting simple lines, easily identifiable by its timeless design. It was showcased at MoMA.
Smeg has continued to innovate and collaborate with other companies. The brand launched a line of appliances called 'Vitality, that offers healthy cooking and preservation methods like sous vide vacuum drawers and blast chillers. The brand also introduced the 'Connect' system that lets users control appliances using the smartphone or tablet.
Smeg's fridge freezers aren't an exception to its retro aesthetic and models are that are available in a variety of bold colors. Hisense Bordeaux Red, for instance, can add a splash colour to any kitchen. The fridge-freezer is large enough to store all your groceries. It comes with a capacity of 210 litres, and 60/40 split. The fridge-freezer comes with a salad drawer to store fresh greens, as well as four adjustable shelves. The interior of the freezer compartment is constructed from stainless steel, and has chrome handles. It also comes with an anti-frost function. It comes with a two year warranty on parts and labor.
Swan
Swan makes attractive retro-inspired kitchen appliances at cheaper than similar style. Its fridge freezer is eye-catching with a striking red finish, complete with chrome handles. The fridge freezer is designed to accommodate lots of groceries, its 300 litre capacity has 60/40 split, which means there's plenty of space for leftovers and frozen meals. It comes with adjustable shelves, no-frost technology, and LED lighting inside.
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 has a salad drawer for keeping your greens in good condition and plenty of space to store drinks on the large door shelf.
Although it's not as stylish as the other models in our round-up however, this Swan fridge freezer offers an elegant design that can suit a wide range of kitchen styles. It's the perfect choice for a rustic kitchen with wooden cabinets, or for those who want to add a bit of retro flair to a modern kitchen. And it's easy to clean!
Big Chill
Big Chill, launched in the US in 2003, was created by the uncle and nephew team Thom Vernon, who wanted to create a refrigerator that was striking, but did not hide behind cabinets. They chose to evoke 1950s-era styles using cast metal bodies and chrome trim, then added pivoting handles to give it a more retro appeal. The result is a freestanding refrigerator that's become a celeb favourite - with Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively among its fans.
The fridge freezers of this brand are available with a range of vibrant colours. You can even pick the color you want for an extra $400. The Big Chill model that we tested was a deep Bordeaux Red. It's a real eye-catcher. The freezer and the fridge are separated by a divider with the freezer sitting on top. This should help you prioritise frozen foods if you're prone to impulse shopping.
There's also a salad drawer that lets you prioritise fresh greens, plus four shelves that can be adjusted and a wine rack that is integrated. Despite its vintage exterior, the Big Chill fridge freezer has an edgy A+ energy efficiency class and automatic defrost.
The Big Chill refrigerator is alson't small. It's a huge 20.5 cubic foot of space. This is more than twice the size of a standard two-door Smeg. It's available in an array of vibrant colors, and many more are available for a small fee.
The Big Chill appears 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 producer of household appliances, established in 1950. The company's products are produced in its central plant in Velenje as well as other facilities across Slovenia and Serbia, the Czech Republic and Sweden. Initially, the company focused on ceramics, bathroom and kitchen furniture in the 1970s, it had expanded into appliances like ovens and refrigerators. It also makes washers, ovens, and dishwashers. The range of products offered by the company includes telecommunications devices and televisions.
The FAB50 model by Gorenje is the largest Gorenje retro fridge freezer to date, measuring six feet tall and boasting 19.3 cubic feet of freezer and refrigerator space. This refrigerator is Energy Star-certified and features internal LED lighting, adjustable shelves and a no-frost option and a noise alarm that alerts you if your door is left open. Chrome handles provide this refrigerator with a sleek appearance.
Although some reviews have complained about the FAB50's inconsistent cooling, users generally give it high marks. The Gorenje fridge freezer comes in a variety of colors that include pastel green and robin's Egg blue. It is perfect for vintage-style kitchens.
Another alternative for a retro-style fridge is the Hisense RB390N4RRDUK model which offers a stunning Bordeaux red color and sleek chrome handles. It has a large capacity of 300L and a 60/40 split that allows for plenty of space to store frozen goods. This Hisense fridge freezer is Energy Star certified, and its LED lighting and no-frost technology make it easy to keep your food fresh.
Gorenje has its 83 subsidiaries, with which include 59 outside Slovenia. The company produces a wide range of ceramics and domestic appliances, and provides services in energy and ecology, as well as trade. Its brands are found in more than 90 different countries, mainly in Europe. The company has a close relationship with Swarovski and collaborates with Italian design firm Pininfarina. It also is a sponsor of the Slovenian Nordic Ski Teams as well as the Gorenje Handball Club. It is a member the European Household Goods Manufacturers' Association and also has a corporate social responsibility program.