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!
JP says
Can someone more financially savvy than I do the long term break even costs for this fridge versus a vintage one. The vintage ones are cheaper up front but cost a lot more to run then the energy efficient “Big Chill” ones. How many kilowatt hours or electricity do they save, and what is the average cost of a kilowatt hour. I bet if you looked at the costs through this lens it would be less expensive than you think.
pam kueber says
JP, I have been told that vintage fridges with NO defrost cycle actually can be quite energy efficient by today’s standards. The defrost cycle apparently takes a lot of energy. Someone needs to put a meter on their vintage fridge and do a test.
Nina462 says
Hmmm – made in MI? That’s a bonus!
However, I cannot afford such a luxury item, as much as I’d love to have them. My current appliances are black – ugh. I’d love to repaint them – thanks for the advise on how to do that!
Lauryn says
Nina, I don’t know if they are all made in Michigan. The base under counter model is made by a company named Marvel, whose factory is in Michigan and then they are finished (I believe) by Big Chill. As for the other models, I’m not sure if they are made overseas and then finished in the U.S. or made 100% in the U.S.
Lauryn says
We made the very radical move to trade in our big box fridge for the Big Chill under counter (6 cubic feet!!) model so we could have more counter and storage space. Because it was A) made in the U.S. (Michigan) and B) a low volume item (let’s face it, most people don’t that small a fridge unless it is a supplemental fridge) it was quite pricey, but for us it was worth it. These aren’t mass produced the way your typical fridge is and hence they’re not cheap.
BUT … every time we look at it, we smile; we saved money elsewhere (it was the only new appliance we bought); and every single person who walks into our still-unfinished kitchen, makes a beeline for that refrigerator. And ours is just the white one! (Very appropriate for a 1939 house.)
Bottom line: we love our Big Chill refrigerator. 🙂
Lauryn says
Clarification necessary here: it’s the base UNDER COUNTER model, made by a company called Marvel, that is made in Michigan and finished by Big Chill. I do not know what the base models for the other designs are or where they are made! Apologies for any confusion I may have caused.
Carolyn G says
If anyone here lives in central New Jersey, I saw a black original-style Big Chill fridge for sale at the Marshall’s home goods store (of all places) in North Brunswick about two days ago. I believe the price was around $1900, more or less. I was shocked to see it there! I looked at it wistfully, but I already have a fairly new fridge. It is a thing of beauty, though–a really gorgeous appliance. Kudos to this company for their sublime sense of aesthetics!
Diana of Mt. Lebanon, PA says
Did you find out if they plan to also make this style for the dishwashers?
We have held off on upgrading our appliances because they are running just fine and aren’t inefficient but if we do upgrade after these break, I’d consider this Retropolitan for our 1963 kitchen.
Kate H says
Don’t know which is cuter, Thom and Orion or the fridge. I hope they continue to be successful; as a color block person caught in a greige world, it’s encouraging to see such good colors in appliances. Think how super-fantastic the mint green fridge would be with metal kitchen cabinets. I suppose it’s pricey, but not if you consider this is a fridge you’d keep for 25 years — or longer, since some people still have 40- or 50-year-old Fridigaires.
Trouble says
I will definitely be going with the light green fridge with my metal cabinets and ’49 Maytag stove! My wife likes the Apple VCT for the floor and we may reshoot the cabinets the original light yellow when they go in.
Becky P S says
They are very expensive! But I am saving my pennies and nursing along the one we have until we can afford one. Just too yummy to resist and American made too!
Harriet says
I love that they’re doing colors, but otherwise I like the older style better. And also, just too expensive for ordinary people.
kathy hora says
really nice, but — I think the rounded ones look much better, and I am not sure what is so great about the bottom freezer..kind of like a chest freezer where you have to dig from the top down for things you just know you bought. I think i will keep my white, water and ice in the door refrigerater with my feezer at eye level….I don’t need to have a bottom freezer just cuz it’s the new “in style” thing going on today! Kind of like all of those washing machines that you have to bend down to get the wet clothes out because the door is on the side and not on top….not sure who came up with that brilliant plan and i am thrilled to have stuck to my old ones!
Paul says
Kathy, bottom freezers have been around for quite a while. I have a friend with an early 60s GE (I think) with a bottom freezer that’s opened with a foot pedal.
Many people like them because it puts the fresh food they use more often at eye level.
My ’47 Frigidaire has just the little “Super Freezer” box inside the main cabinet. It’s just right for ice cubes and very little else without turning the temp so cold it harms my vegetables, but that just gives me more excuses to go out for ice cream 🙂
kathy hora says
Paul – I had a friend in the 70’s who “inherited” one from her grandma — that is how i know how inconveinent it is to have to move all your stuff to find the things you are looking for. Her’s opened with a foot pedal as well. It’s not eye level — you have to bend over and dig…trust me. My sister recently tried one…she hated it, traded it in after 6 months! So to each his own I guess!
Our “man cave” refrigertator sounds just like ours! and I certainly agree on the ice cream!
Engineer-Chic says
I’ve had side-by-side, bottom freezer, and top-freezer fridges. I find I don’t “forget” food in the fridge when the freezer is on the bottom. But, I also have a separate upright freezer in the garage for lots of storage. The smaller freezer in the kitchen is only used for frequently used things, so it’s never very full.
We had a chest freezer though and you are right about those – always moving stuff to get to what you want. I covet this fridge 🙂
Becky P S says
I know what you mean Kathy but (I may be wrong) there is something about the bottom freezer models being a bit more energy efficient.
Diana of Mt. Lebanon, PA says
Actually, I think it’s the other way around, at least according to http://www.energystar.gov, which recommends “Consider buying a refrigerator with a top-mounted freezer. Models with top-mounted freezers use 10–25% less energy than bottom-mount or side-by-side models.”
pam kueber says
Re price: Be nice, everyone. It’s expensive to run a business — this is low volume, semicustom work. Low prices come with high volume production — and wages ala Mexico and China.
Paul says
You make a great point, Pam. Personally, I prefer to have the real deal and was lucky to find a fantastic vintage range and fridge at very low prices. They can be had with some luck and patience.
For those who need a larger fridge for modern family life or want some modern features, I think these are a nice alternative and they are modifying them here in the U.S., even if the original machine may not have come from here. The work on these looks high quality and I think every person needs to choose according to budget and needs.
Guy H. says
Great point, Pam. From everything I see these are far nicer than an appliance that you would get at your local big box.
I am sure one of these would be a showpiece in any kitchen!
Matt says
Sorry Pam, didn’t mean for my comment re: price to seem snotty. They are very cool and I’m glad there is a company out there offering an alternative to the generic big box appliances. Would be nice to see a more entry level model is all. For us, its hard to justify that price for one appliance when we spent that much remodeling our bathroom.
Urbanitra says
Perhaps if they were less expensive they would sell more?