"My aunt and uncle were building a house in Santa Barbara," Creamer explained. "She put one of our fridges on the set of her TV show - and I think that set her apart - and it set us apart."Ĭreamer started Big Chill in 2001 after a series of unusual circumstances suggested there might be sizable market for retro appliances. "The most impactful one was Rachel Ray," Creamer added, referring to the 30 Minute Meals chef and television talk show host. He viewed it as a sign that his appliances, largely sold over the Internet to people selecting from photos, had earned a seal of approval. "When celebrities started buying our appliances, I felt really good," said Orion Creamer, the refrigerator's designer. The refrigerator is just one of many kitchen appliances now sold by a company based in Colorado called Big Chill. But this appliance isn't an antique, it's brand new and on the inside it's state of the art. It's mid-century design with chrome trim and iconic 1950's shape appears as if it once belonged to June Cleaver or Harriet Nelson. Her buttercup yellow refrigerator looks like something that she pinched from the set of a movie. Step inside and you'll notice her appliances immediately. She's glamorous, she's successful and she has a great kitchen. And of course, the warranty information offered by any manufacturer/retailer is important to know when weighing a purchase decision.There's every reason to envy Hollywood movie star Scarlett Johansson. So one idea: Ask them what brand/model the basics come from, then look on Consumer Reports to see how that brand compares. While these specialty appliances may not be in their test results, I am guessing that the specialty makers are using more mainstream brands for the “guts” of their appliances. That said: I am a personal fan of Consumer Reports, which is the only entity that I know of that does neutral third-party testing. Even so: These may not be reliable statistical indicators. You can also try the Better Business Bureau makers’ own websites if they host reviews Amazon, if the product is sold there the makers’ Facebook pages, etc. There are other sites set up specifically for those kinds of reviews, so head there to look and/or start your own query. Readers, please note that I don’t want this site to become a forum for quality reviews (so I did not approve the comment). Note: A question came in overnight asking about the quality of these appliances compared to competitors. Plus: See my complete retro refrigerator buying guide here.Shop Northstar Appliances at Elmira Stove Works.Of course, we think that our Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart® boomerang laminates would look fantastic in a kitchen paired with some of these fun Northstar Appliances, too! Hey, they even have a nice “Mint Green” color that might be a good match to our ‘Delightful Jade’ … and what about a Flamingo Pink range with countertops finished in our ‘First Lady Pink’ boomerangs? We also noticed that in part of the display, Elmira Stove Works used some fun modern laminate from Abet Laminati, finished with aluminum edging.Īs part of their display, there was also a bar-height round retro diner styled table next to the booth that used Vitro’s Red Glacier boomerang laminate. total capacity, with loads of adjustable shelving and even an in refrigerator filtered water dispenser. It’s available in either a 24.8 or 19.8 cu. There’s the gas model of the stove in creamy Buttercup Yellow, sitting next to a lovely red Candy Red refrigerator.Īlso on display, this French door retro style refrigerator with a bottom freezer for the vintage kitchen that needs some serious refrigerator space. The coordinating refrigerator reminded me of one that my grandmother had… This Robin’s Egg Blue electric stove has a spacious interior and an easy-to-clean, flat cooktop. We liked the look of everything we saw at the booth, and made sure to inspect each piece. And such yummy colors! Robin’s Egg Blue, Buttercup Yellow and Candy Red - another great option for a vintage-style kitchen. Yes, right away we were drawn to these colorful, retro styled appliances. It was difficult for me to get pictures of the products because they were constantly surrounded by people oohing and aahing over their magnetic retro radiance.Ģ021 update: Northstar has introduced another style of 30″ retro stove. In fact, even though the booth was tucked away against a back wall of the convention center, it was still a very popular spot. Yet another bright and colorful spot at KBIS 2016 was the Northstar Appliances display from Elmira Stove Works. Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021 these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |