Revved-Up Retro

There's something almost obscene about a white Whirlpool side-by-side in a lovingly restored 1927 bungalow kitchen. Purists will insist on an era refrigerator. In the case of the bungalow, probably a restored General Electric Monitor Top. But although that tough old workhorse is still readily available and even humming away happily in a number of homes, it has its drawbacks. For one, you'll not likely squeeze a 12-pack of beer in with the bacon, eggs and gallon of milk.

“The [vintage] stoves are fine,” says Nikki Couture, a Seminole Heights, Florida, interior decorator who specializes in historical homes. “The refrigerators are a pain. You get sick of defrosting.”

Enter appliances with all the styling that makes the good old days so appealing and none of the technological shortcomings.

Elmira Stove Works in Canada and Big Chill in Colorado are the two biggest names in modern-retro appliances. A third company, Smeg USA, sells a refrigerator with a 1950s feel that's available in an array of colors. It's small at 9.2 cubic feet of storage, but also comparatively inexpensive – $1,999 at www.rjmadison.com.

Big Chill launched six years ago, plugging into a trend that sparked on the coasts and is sweeping toward the Midwest, co-founder Orion Creamer says.

Sales have increased every year since, he says. They're so good, in fact, the company will introduce a dishwasher to complement its refrigerators sometime in the next few weeks. It also sells stoves manufactured by Elmira that match the Big Chill fridges.

“I think color is in,” Creamer says. “People want something other than stainless steel. I think it's only going to get more popular.”

What's Cooking?

› Elmira Stove Works reached back more than a century for the look of an 1890s wood-burning stove. But you don't have to nag the kids to chop some wood for breakfast. These ranges are powered by your choice of gas, electricity, high-speed electrical radiant elements or a combination. Buyers can add convection for the full-sized, self-cleaning oven.
Color choices are black, white, bisque, cayenne pepper red, jewel green and liberty blue. Prices start at $4,795.
› Elmira's Northstar range has a 1950s “high tech” look, with bright automotive finishes and lots of chrome trim. It's available in all-gas, all-electric or “dual fuel” (electric oven, gas cooktop) with a full-size, self-cleaning oven. Prices start at $3,695.

Just Chill

› Big Chill's 1950s-style refrigerator is 20.9 cubic feet - not huge, but not too small. It has chrome trim, three glass shelves and two half-width crisper pans. A water dispenser and icemaker are optional, and consumers can choose from eight vibrant colors.
Soon – no date is set, but the company says “any day now” – a complementary Energy Star-rated dishwasher will be available
in the same colors.
The refrigerator sells for $2,700 through appliance dealers or from Big Chill. The dishwasher will sell for $1,700.
› Elmira's Northstar refrigerator has 19 cubic feet of storage, with a bottom mount freezer. It's available in white, bisque, black, quicksilver, robin's egg blue, flamingo pink, mint green, buttercup yellow, candy red and avocado. Prices start at $3,695.

Accessorize!
› Once you've invested in cool retro appliances, you'll start a never-ending wish list of like-era accessories. For equally bright hues, try these stainless-steel Reston Lloyd colanders. They come in 17 colors and five sizes ranging from 1 to 7 quarts. The 3-quart pink sells for $18; the 1.5-quart turquoise colander goes for $16.
› Make shakes, malts and soda fountain drinks just like the old days with this chrome Hamilton Beach Drink Mixer. The stainless-steel cup holds 28 ounces and operates at two speeds. It's new this fall at JC Penney stores for a suggested price of $49.99.
› This Hamilton Beach toaster gets its retro look from the chrome finish and black handle. But it's designed for today's customer, with a wide toaster slot and auto shutoff. Suggested retail price is $34.99 at Kohl's and Kmart.

OLD SCHOOL COOL
ELMIRA APPLIANCES
www.elmirastoveworks.com or 1-800-295-8498
BIG CHILL REFRIGERATOR:
bigchillfridge.com or 1-877-842-3269
HAMILTON BEACH ACCESSORIES:
www.hamiltonbeach.com
RESTON LLOYD COLANDERS: Target.com, Restonlloyd.com or 1-800-394-5693

– B.C. MANION
Media General News Service