If you are dreaming of owning a stove and refrigerator in a delicious retro color, here’s another company — Unique Appliances — that recently introduced midcentury-styled ranges and refrigerators — matching pairs — in Ocean Mist Turquoise (aqua), Summer Mint Green, Marshmallow White, and Midnight Black. The company also has retro-design fridges in a few other colors. All of these products seem to be easily available in the U.S. at various major appliance retailers. And scoop for us: Talking to the company this week, I learned they will be introducing a 30″ range — also expect delicious colors — in 2021!
2021 Update: See this followup story with the 30″ ranges now introduced.
Mega thanks to reader Sarah for this tip. She wrote:
Hi Pam! I recently saw these pastel green appliances on Home Depot’s website. It’s smaller (closer to camper size), but is much less expensive than other models. Adorable! Also, do you love the Great British Baking Show too? I would be happy to see if any one is inspired by some of the classic, vintage choices that are in the set design for that show.
Whoa, Sarah, what a great find! I am particularly excited about the stoves. Today, small-sized refrigerators in colors are available from a variety of manufacturers. But retro stoves made new? Not too many options. Oh, and I don’t watch the Great British Baking Show — but thanks for the tip, Sarah, I’ll check it out!
Company to introduce 30″ range in 2021
As Sarah noted and as the photos indicate, Unique Appliances so far has focused on smaller-scale appliances. The convection gas range is 24″ wide. The retro-style refrigerators come in two sizes, with the largest, 21.6″ wide/8.7 cu.ft.
Why small? Unique Appliance’s very responsive (thank you!) Marketing department told me the company’s roots are in designing, manufacturing and selling small-sized appliances for the off-grid market. The tiny house market also likes these smaller-sized appliances.
- Read more about this interesting company, which has been in business 50+ years, here.
The company knew retro / vintage / mid century style was hot, so it decided to venture into this market as well, using their existing products as platforms. I think they did a great job with the retro design cues!
Of course, when I spoke to the company, I asked: Any chance you’ll be making bigger stoves, in particular, soon? I was happily surprised when Marketing emailed me all the photos along with this news:
Also, please note I spoke with our product development team, and they did confirm that we are in fact working on a 30” version which will come out in 2021.
Howdy hudee! Thank you, Unique Appliances, for that breaking news, and for all your help with this story. And again — thanks to Sarah and all the readers who continue to send tips!
Unique Appliance Classic range and refrigerator features
- You can see all the features and construction details about the stove on the Unique Appliances website.
- And, you can see specifications for all the refrigerators — offered in the same colors PLUS powder blue and red — on their website.
And:
- All research about midcentury / retro kitchen appliances are archived in Kitchen Help/Appliances, Accessories.
- Also take a look at the Kitchen Help category overall.
Cherry says
Love it, love it, love it! I so wish I could afford these new “old” appliances!
Diana says
why is no one making a brand new ‘griddle in the middle’ stove?
CarolK says
Diana,
You can still get a griddle-in-the-middle stove, but you’l need to pay more for it. The high end ranges (Wolf, Thermador, Blue Star, Kitchen-Aid in their pro line) all have the built-in griddle as an option of their 36″ ranges. I don’t know offhand if Big Chill does or not although they are made by the same company that makes Blue Star. Many of these brands also have the option of a French (also called a flattop) which could function as a griddle. Many lower priced gas ranges do have a elongated middle burner in their 30 inch ranges that you could maybe could put a griddle on. It’s not unusual, though to see cooks on TV -Martha Stewart comes to mind- you obviously use a stove-top reversible cast-iron griddle/grill combo such as the one I have made by Lodge. Lodge also makes the range-top griddle/grills for Five Star 36″ ranges.
CarolK says
I should also add that stoves used to be larger/wider than the 30″ that is standard now. Most of these stoves had more than one oven. Some of them did have more than 4 burners, but lots of them had an open surface between or beside the elements. Not sure why that changed.
Karin says
I really like these appliances. I kind of wish I hadn’t bought the Home Depot Caloric model in gunmetal grey. The aqua and mint weren’t available then. Also, I wonder why an electric range was not available. Some of us live in condos where gas isn’t an option. Great post, love it.
judy says
Hmmm…some nice colors, other than that, I’m not a fan of these retro appliances, small or otherwise. The design looks forced, not at all vintage or retro. The overall rounded edge style of the stove, the back, the oven window, door and drawer handle and the bottom/front are not visually appealing to me. But, I welcome change in the marketplace, if all of us always liked the same thing, life would be terribly boring.
Pam Kueber says
It is so interesting how we each react differently to various designs! Variety makes the world go round!
Fnarf says
I really wish the stove came in an electric version. Gas might be “better” but it’s worse for the environment.
CarolK says
Conventional electric is not necessarily greener than gas. It all depends on how you electricity is produced. If your electricity is produced by a coal-fired plant, then gas is the better choice for the environment. If your electricity is produced by wind, solar or hydro, then electric is greener. Even nuclear is greener than coal-fired plants as it produces no greenhouse gasses. Induction is so fuel efficient that it’s the most green cooktop. This isn’t my opinion, btw, but comes from Sierra, the official magazine of the Sierra Club.
Betsy in Michigan says
I’m firstly interested in my personal environment. We just installed an ERV on our furnace (Energy Recovery Ventilator) to improve our indoor air quality, and sadly, we have found that our gas stove is a big CO2 culprit. I don’t think I can afford a Northstar induction model….
Kara says
Finally, retro appliances that don’t cost an arm and a leg!
Wendellyn Plummer says
Hi, I have watched the GBBS since it came on PBS. What has happened to the show, I don’t know. But yes, they used SMEGS. I did a little research and boy were they expensive! I have found any Retro made appliance, although, beautiful and what dreams are made of, I just could not afford. By reading your blog, I found that Stainless appliances were in fact available during those times. I bought modern Stainless. However, if you can afford the “new” made retro by all means, indulge! There are several companies out there and one even advertised on TV a few years ago. I have not seen any ads lately, though.
CarolK says
Wendelynn,
The production company was offered a great deal to move to Channel 4 from BBC 2 and so they left. Only Paul Hollywood went along to Channel 4, with Mary Berry, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins refusing. Paul had three new people to work with and I hear that the new crew is fine, they still aren’t Mary, Mel and Sue. I’ve not seen any of the last three seasons as PBS seems not to carry them. I think they’re available in Netflix or Hulu here in the States.
Kathy says
Thanks for the tip! I checked their website and Home Depot. Home Depot carries most of their retro line.
The 30″ gas retro oven is available now in white for propane, and restaurant style ones in propane and conventional are up to 36″ wide, although not all at Home Depot. Worth investigating if you can use a conversion kit for gas.
The retro fridges run about $850 for 7 cu. ft, and $980 for 9 cu ft. at Home Depot, and are 21.6 in wide and 24.2 in. deep (counter depth) and 64 – 71.2 in. tall.
Their regular stoves are as narrow as 20″ and they have countertop gas ranges as well. Solar model appliances can be purchased with an AC converter kit. There is also a red 6 cu ft. retro upright freezer, but unfortunately it is not available in other colors.
I’ve been looking for options for my MIL in a very tight studio assisted living apartment (she eats mostly frozen food and needs more storage). This could be the ticket.
Carol Kelley says
Pam, I think you’ll love The Great British Bake Off (The Great British Baking Show in the US). although they use Neff Hide n Slide ovens as their default ovens, an induction hotplate as their stovetops and they also have access to microwaves. In the first seasons, the refrigerators were branded Smegs although the brand plate is missing from later seasons. Mary Berry does have a vintage AGA in her home kitchen which you can see in the specials she does with Paul Hollywood. One thing I love about the GBBO is that they the bakers are asked to bake the entire range of baked goods. It’s not all cakes as are American “baking” competitions. There’s a signature challenge where they bake their version of an assigned baked good such as a Victoria sandwich, the technical where they are given a bare bones recipe, and the showstopper where the bakers pull out all the stops. I’ve not seen the last few seasons after they moved from the BBC, the the seasons I have seen are just delightful. I’ve watched them over and over
Pam Kueber says
I’ll have to put it on my list!
Vintigchik says
This is the stove I was going to use in our 1951 replica house we’re building, except I was going to purchase 2 since they are so small. I have seen this done in vintage magazines. When I called the company inquiring about a 30″ range they never mentioned they were coming out with one! I’ll wait until next year so I can have the 30″. This is great news! And it’s my favorite style of the retro style ranges. Unique did a great job on this one and I can’t wait to own one!