The nice folks at Big Chill reached out and asked if I wanted to be the first on the www to show photos of their new refrigerator design, and I said, heck yes. This is their new “Retropolitan” refrigerator, which is their first to feature a bottom freezer. I spoke by phone with Orion Creamer, who is co-founder of Big Chill and also product designer. He explained that (1) lots of customers have been asking for a bottom freezer and (2) lots of customers have been asking for a more mod style — “Jetsons, rather than Donna Reed”.
“We tried to make it as simple as possible,” said Orion. “We’re going for a modern crowd, who want yellow or blue, but don’t necessarily want it to look like 1955. A lot of our customers were telling us, ‘We’re getting your fridge becuase your the only ones who make orange.'”
So with the Retropolitan, Orion got rid of the curves that screamed 50s, but kept lots of chrome. He adds that, down the line, they may make some additional handles available.
Since I had Orion on the phone, I also asked about the guts of the fridge. Yes: The ‘box’ for the Big Chills come from a major manufacturer, such as Amana. Then, Big Chill completely “re-skins” the refrigeratorswith a heavy gauge steel. Paint is powder-coated on. There are eight stock colors, oryou can order from over 200 custom colors. They use what’s called the powder coating RAL color chart as a reference. Doors can open to either the right, or left.
This Retropolitan is slightly smaller in scale than the 1950s-styled Big Chill original. It’s 30″ deep (rather than 33″ for the original), 66″ high (vs. 68.5″). It is Energy Star-certified. Big Chill also offers a smaller Studio Series.
This newest product seems to underscore a belief that there is a market for kitchen appliances in more colors than stainless steel, white, bisque and black: “We’re trying to expand out of being a company of 1955 designs to being a design company based on color and design,” Orion says. Color! Yay!
Matt says
Really nice, but still too much money.
Rebecca Prichard says
They are awesome, But, I gave up on these a long time ago. I think they are way too expensive. People used stainless in the old days, too. I planned my new kitchen around that fact.
Urbanitra says
Since they seem to listen to their customers, perhaps we could all ask them to make their appliances more affordable. Not every retro-lovin’ household is made up of two incomes with no kids!
Urbanitra says
…And $4300 for a 30′ gas stove?!?!? Yeah it’s cool looking, but yikes!
Trouble says
Well I agree, and I do understand the cost of custom work and low volume. But it just seems it’s always something. I guess the ’49 Maytag stove for $75 offsets the cost of the fridge, when figured together.
J.R. says
Glad they are paying attention to our wants… Now if only they would give us a French door style (no ice maker or water tap in the door please) with a bottom freezer.
Josie says
Gosh, I think I still prefer the slightly older style… but this new one looks good! And anything to encourage people to go beyond stainless steel.
Can some kind soul pity me, take me by the hand, and suggest which colours are more ’40s, which are more ’50s, and which are more ’60s? It doesn’t even have to be particularly the colours they offer since if I pinch my pennies and take the pin money out of my vintage clutch purse I might even spring for a custom colour to get it juuust right… but I’d like tips on shades.
I think I need green or yellow. But what shade, what shade.
Ooh, oh, what about customizing to Sherwin Williams’ Radiant Lilac? From the Suburban Modern line? …Sorry, should I show myself out?
Nina462 says
Josie – take a little harder look at this website. Pam has picture of kitchens from the 40s, 50s & 60s to show you the colors.
Josie says
Yeah I’m just having a hard time with figuring out what the timeline is. It looks like green is safe bet for ’40s-’50s but I wig myself out on getting the shade wrong if I’m dropping that much money. I don’t really want to wuss out and get white, though, I’m already thinking white cabinets and too much white isn’t fun.
Lauryn says
Josie, the folks at Big Chill will send you metal color samples so you can see exactly what the colors are. We have yellow cabinets and were looking into buying the yellow fridge, but the sample didn’t really match very well with our yellow (though ironically enough, it was EXACTLY the same color as one of the other yellows from Sherwin Williams we were considering but chose not to use!). I can’t recall if they charged for them, but it wasn’t much and was worth it to be sure of the color.
I love our white one, but like I said, we have yellow cabinets (and a soon-to-be red floor). I say if you have white cabinets, splurge on some wonderful color! Good luck with choosing a good one!
Olivia says
They are so beautiful! Big Chill guys, please put up more pictures of the inside (freezer and fridge).
Guy H. says
These are really, really beautiful, but $2600 is a tough price to swallow for a refrigerator.
I looked into these to match my 1964 turquoise stove and instead just painted my old fridge (and dishwasher.)
http://yfrog.com/h0kautsj
http://yfrog.com/h0vmluzj
pam kueber says
You fridge and DW look great, Guy. What is their surface material? What did you use to paint them?
Guy H. says
Thanks so much! The dishwasher and fridge were standard metal (the fridge handles were plastic).
I painted them with a coat of appliance paint (I used stainless steel) and then a standard color matched latex. The paint sticks much better to the appliance paint than it would to a regular fridge.
I have had it painted for about 5 months now and no scratches or peeling…
Again, the Big Chill ones look amazing, I just wanted to go a less expensive route.
Becky P S says
You did a fantastic job! LOVE your kitchen!!!!
Guy H. says
Thanks! It was one of the reasons I bought the house!
Joy says
Guy, Your appliances are beautiful!! I have been tinkering with the idea of painting my second-hand refridgerator for some time, but after viewing your post I’m feeling pretty inspired! I think I’ll give it a whirl! Thanks for posting your pictures!
Guy H. says
Yeah, I am happy with how they turned out. I hesitated for almost a year after buying the house and decided this was the way to go.
These were the appliances that came with the house. A new-ish fridge and an older dishwasher. If you have a second hand fridge I would totally try it!
Maybe when the fridge dies I will upgrade to a Big Chill!
Kelly Cornacchia says
I have their original in the light blue and I swear I smile every single time I see it. I kind of covet the dishwashers but am patiently waiting for mine to break…
Cindy says
I need the orange one!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nac1959 says
Augh!!!! Dang!! The Retropolitan is beautiful!!! And I just got finished paying off my new bottom-freezer from a Major Name Brand. Gosh, timing is everything, isn’t it… All the best to those who can snag this beauty.