Best Retro Fridge Freezer
Retro fridge freezers add a retro feel to contemporary kitchens and add strikingly quirky to traditional kitchens. They're available in a vast range of colours and designs.
The tall model from Bush is available in black or red. Its usable capacity is a wholesome 281 litres and includes a salad drawer, which is designed to accommodate greens, four shelves made of safety glass and an chrome wine rack.
Smeg
The word Smeg, pronounced SMEG, conjures up images of an Italian holiday. Imagine sipping negronis on a historic terrazza while enjoying fine cheeses and stone fruits. Luxury appliance brand Smeg can bring the Italian flair to your home at a cost that is less than a vacation. Smeg's modern, vibrant colors and designs will add personality to any room.
The company was established in the 1940s by Emilian Guastalla Metallurgical Enamelling Works, which began producing enameled steel appliances for the home. The company's success increased during the 1960s thanks to the introduction of the "Elisabeth" gas cooker as well as the "Niagara" dishwasher that introduced larger wash capacities. This time also saw Smeg begin manufacturing built-in ovens and hobs. Franco Maria Ricci is one of Italy's most well-known graphic designers and publishers. He designed the iconic Smeg Logo which features gas stove burners and round knobs on ovens.
The company's success grew throughout the 1970s, with a wide range of electrical appliances including microwave ovens, washing machines and refrigerators. In 1984, architect Guido Canali conceived the Classic collection for Smeg, an essential collection of compact volumes that has clean lines, recognizable by its timeless design and showcased at MoMA.
Smeg continues to invent and collaborate with other companies. The company launched a line of appliances called 'Vitality, which provides healthy cooking methods and preservation techniques, such as sous vide vacuum drawers and blast chillers. It also launched the 'Connect' system that lets users control appliances using tablets or smartphones.
Smeg's refrigerator freezers follow the retro design and come in a variety of vibrant colors. The Hisense Bordeaux Red model, for example, would add a splash of colour to any kitchen. This fridge-freezer is spacious enough to hold all your groceries. It comes with a large capacity of 210 litres, and a 60/40 split. The fridge-freezer comes with an area for salads and fresh greens, and four adjustable shelves. The freezer compartment is equipped with an anti-frost function and the interior is made of stainless steel with chrome handles. It comes with a two-year warranty on parts and labour.
Swan
Swan creates attractive retro-inspired kitchen appliances at less than comparable style. The refrigerator freezer is eye-catching with a striking red finish and chrome handles. The 300-litre capacity is divided 60/40, ensuring plenty of room for frozen meals and leftovers. It has adjustable shelves, no-frost technology, and LED lighting inside.
The freezer section focuses on fresh food over snacks. There' retro style fridge freezers of space for everything from bags of frozen vegetables to ice cream. The fridge side features a salad drawer for keeping your greens fresh and plenty of space to store your drinks on the large door shelf.
While it's not as smart as some of the other models we've reviewed in our round-up, this Swan fridge freezer is an elegant design that will suit a wide range of kitchen styles. It's perfect for a kitchen with wooden cabinets or for those who want to add some an old-fashioned look to their contemporary kitchen. It's also easy to clean!
Big Chill
Launched in the US in 2003, Big Chill was founded by uncle-and-nephew pair Thom Vernon and Orion Creamer, who wanted to make an eye-catching fridge that didn't conceal itself behind cabinets. The team chose to emulate 1950s designs with stamped metal bodies and chrome trims, as well as pivoting handles. 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 palette of striking 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 an absolute attention-grabbing piece. The freezer and the fridge are separated by a divider with the freezer positioned at the top, which will help you prioritize frozen foods if you're prone to impulse shopping.
The integrated wine rack and four shelves with adjustable shelves are included. Despite its vintage exterior, the Big Chill fridge freezer has a decidedly modern A+ energy efficiency class and automated defrost.
The Big Chill fridge isn't small, either: It comes in an impressive 20.5 cubic feet of space that's more than double the size of the two-door Smeg model. It's also available in a stunning array of striking colors, with dozens more available for purchase.
The Big Chill can be seen in a variety of Ben 10 episodes including Deep, Greetings from Techadon and Tabloid Trouble. It battled the Ultimate Aggregor and also it froze a few Zarcovian Soldiers, then switched 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, founded in 1950. Its products are made in central facilities in Velenje and other locations across Slovenia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The company was initially focused on manufacturing ceramics, bathroom and kitchen furniture in the 1970s, but by that time, it had expanded to produce appliances such as ovens, washing machines, and refrigerators. Its product line also includes telecommunication devices and television sets.
The FAB50 model of Gorenje is the largest Gorenje retro refrigerator freezer to date, standing six feet tall and boasting 19.3 cubic feet of freezer and refrigerator space. This Energy Star-certified refrigerator features adjustable shelves, internal LED lighting, a no frost system as well as a sound warning that lets you if the door is left open. Chrome handles give this refrigerator a sleek look.
While some reviewers have mentioned that the FAB50's cooling capability can be erratic, the majority of its users give it high marks. This Gorenje fridge freezer comes in a variety of colors such as pastel green and robin's eggs blue. It's perfect for kitchens with a vintage style.
Hisense RB390N4RRDUK is an alternative for a vintage-style fridge. It comes in stunning Bordeaux color, with sleek chrome handles. It has a generous 300L capacity as well as 60/40 split, which gives ample space for 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 83 subsidiary companies, 59 of which are located outside of Slovenia. The company produces a vast variety of ceramics as well as appliances for the home, and also provides services in energy eco-friendly, trade and ecology. The brands are available in more than 90 different countries, with the majority of them in Europe. The company has a strong relationship with Swarovski and also collaborates with Italian design house Pininfarina. In addition, it sponsors the Slovenian Nordic Ski Teams and the Gorenje handball club. It is a member of the European Household Goods Manufacturers' Association and has a corporate social responsibility program.