When it comes to remodelling the kitchen, the choices are endless.
You could do full cottagecore with a range cooker, copper pots and pans and gingham on everything. Perhaps you’re more into an Italian look with framed reproductions of Renaissance masterpieces livening up the walls and acres of gleaming marble countertops on which to handcraft gnocchi dumplings. Then there’s making the kitchen disappear altogether with an invisible look that hides appliances and clutter completely from view.
For those who would rather not engage with the time, mess and considerable expense of a full kitchen refit, choosing the right appliances can make all the difference. Plenty of home appliance companies make hi-tech gadgets housed in designs and silhouettes of times gone by.
Take Smeg for instance. The luxury Italian brand, headquartered in the scenic landscape of Emilia Romagna, is famous for its retro-inspired aesthetic on kitchen gadgets, from stand mixers and kettles to fridge freezers. With a long-held philosophy to marry style with technology, the brand is famous for its distinctive collection, which includes collabs with fellow Italian style heavyweight Dolce & Gabbana. A pink version of its toaster appeared in the 2023 Barbie movie (seemingly a kitchen must-have even for an occupant who famously never eats).
In fridge freezers, Smeg is among the brands with the most colour choices, so whatever shades are on your dream kitchen mood board, there will be one that fits. Of course, there are other white goods brands offering a vintage vibe without Smeg’s notoriously high price tags that are worth exploring too. Besides looks alone, the internal features count too, from energy efficiency and capacity to extras like auto-defrost, filtered water and smart tech.
If you’re looking for a retro fridge that can handle life in the 21st Century, we’ve rounded up the models that offer the best of both worlds.
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SMEG FAB30LPB5UK 70/30 Fridge Freezer - Pastel Blue
As a status symbol for the kitchen, Smeg is up there. Its fridge freezers are designed to look like they've been plucked out of the 1950s, and this ice blue version doesn't stray from the brief with bright gloss, chrome hardware and softly rounded contours.
The unit offers a 70/30 split with the smaller freezer arranged at the top for easy access to ice cubes. The larger freezer portion offers fan-assisted cooling while stopping icy build-ups, making maintenance easy.
The best part is the Lifeplus controllable temperature drawer at the bottom of the fridge which can be adjusted to suit the short-life contents: think cold cuts, fish and cheese.
Buy now £1599.00, Currys
Smeg FAB38RPG5 Retro Frost Free Fridge Freezer
For folks keen on a more traditional fridge freezer arrangement, Smeg positions the colder portion at the bottom of this pistachio-hued appliance.
Other than the cold box switcheroo, it sports the same features as other Smeg designs, from the Lifeplus drawer and digital temperature controls inside to the cute 50s look on the exterior. Sold with a two-year warranty.
Buy now £2149.00, Marks Electrical
MONTPELLIER Retro MAB386ER 60/40 Fridge Freezer - Red
With its curved chrome handles and letterbox-red hue, there's no missing this fridge. The 60/40 split makes it ideal for medium-sized households as there's a combined 295L to keep food and drink fresh. A Fast Freeze feature rapidly lowers freezer temperature, helping to lock in nutrients as quickly as possible, while the No Frost tech means you no longer have to add defrosting the freezer to your to-do list.
The fridge comes with an integrated wine rack while leaving space for shallow tubs underneath - think hummus and salads.
Worried about power outages? Montpellier's fridge comes with a 12-hour storage time, keeping the contents fresh even if power disappears.
Buy now £599.00, Currys
KLARSTEIN Irene fridge freezer
Small in stature, high in style, Klarstein throws its hat into the retro fridge freezer ring with this bold red design. Best suited to a studio flat or the office, it nails the details down to the integrated bottle opener and chunky chrome handle.
The small capacity appliance stacks a freezer on top of the fridge, which is fitted with two shelves, a crisper and two door compartments to make the most of all available room.
Buy now £343.99, Amazon
CDA Florence Tea Rose Frost Free Fridge Freezer
No space for a wine rack? No matter, this rose-coloured fridge freezer comes with an integrated one to stop bottles rolling around on shelves.
The 60/40 split offers generous space across both areas with the freezer sporting tech like Quick Freeze and Quick Cool modes, allowing you to lock in food freshness after every food shop.
Buy now £607.00, AO
Amica FKR29653C/1 181cm High 70/30 Fridge Freezer
This Amica freestanding 50s diner-style cream-coloured unit is split 70/30 with the fridge holding the lion's share of capacity. This means it's a great option for smaller homes that cook fresh meals a lot, with the freezer offering modest space for ready meals and bulk cooking. The fridge's internal shelves are adjustable, handy if you've got tall bottles of sauce or juice to house and there's a crisper to keep salad ingredients and fruit fresh.
Buy now £529.00, AO
electriQ 204 Litre 80/20 Retro Freestanding Fridge Freezer - Cream
The freezer is moved to the top of this freestanding appliance design, which champions retro design from every angle, including the curved chrome handles. It's a modest space, with a 20/80 ratio against the spacious fridge portion which comes with a salad crisper and three adjustable shelves so you can tailor the space to your next food shop.
Dealing with uneven floors can be frustrating, but since this fridge comes with adjustable feet, you can level things up perfectly, all while ensuring it operates just as it should.
Buy now £299.00, Appliances Direct
