We sold our house (yay!), bought a new one . . . am back in the kitchen remodeling game.
I have stumbled across, after many hours on pinterest and hauzz looking for ideas, a company called Big Chill. They do very cool, retro styled kitchen appliances in many different colors.
I’m crazy about Big Chill, but wondered 1) has anyone bought anything from them; and 2) is a retro fridge and/or stove/range a crazy thing to do?
In my current home we have beautiful granite/stainless (remodeled 5 years ago). Feeling the urge to do something totally different in the new house (which is an old house from the 60’s).
Will my feelings pass or should I get serious about retro? Also, I don’t want to go crazy cost-wise. Big Chill is not cheap, but I’m thinking of maybe doing one accent piece from the (a stove/range) or a fridge.
We will probably be there for awhile (4-5 years?).
The current house style is no style. 1960s era basic one-story. U-shaped kitchen, which actually has pretty good bones for a house of that vintage (bigger than I would expect).
We are thinking white cabinets, white granite or quartz, and white subway tile on small amount of wall space.
I love anything beach-y themed. That’s why I love the light blue or green Big Chill fridge and/or stove. I also saw a white Big Chill stove with color handles which was cool. Nice dash of color.
Four to five years is nothing in my house living book. You’ll be selling before the appliances wear out.
I would go for resale value and get something more modern with basic colors for the appliances.
With everything else being white I would go with the big splashes of color that you want elsewhere.
Paint works wonders for impact and cheap to change. Art. Colorful back splash vs white. They make some in very beachy type colors. Or just paint for back splash if small area with color above cabinets (like an accent wall).
The trouble is that when those big ticket appliance items go and especially if they have a particular “look” that it will be hard to replace. Hard to get the new side by side fridge if the stove is “retro” turquoise. If you go for the “retro look” make sure the appliance is as functional as more modern fridges.
And check dimensions. Don’t make unit slots too small in case you do want to get something bigger.
My parents tiny kitchen has turquoise formica counter top, back splash, stove top and sink. Can’t replace the sink because any other color really won’t go without creating a domino effect. Does make for a happy feeling with all the color though.
My previous house was built in 1962 and appliances exactly that turquoise green color. The fridge was newer. I happened to like them but it’s not for everybody. Still, I would say it’s YOUR house, have some fun with it!
Seriously, if you were talking a small vacation cottage, second home etc. It would work. Or if you really thought you loved it enough to live with it and stay put for 10 years at least. But if that’s not the case then I’d skip it.
I think I know the type of house you are talking about because I grew up in it. With those colors (at least in the kitchen). And while I love the colors still they are hard to replace appliance-wise (you’d be limited to small specialty companies) and the house is not a “cute cabin” used two weeks a year. It’s a sixty’s house. Functional and comfortable.
In my dad’s real estate market those homes(60’s) are being up-scaled big time. Old appliances (many which still work great! and really ARE retro) are tossed for modern by new home buyers. Which is why I say skip the retro look but go for the color in other ways.
Now as I write this I’ve decided to repaint the wall in my kitchen to add more color…You have created more work for me!
You are going to hurt your resale depending where you live. I have friends that did their kitchen in a funky 40s-50s style and it looks great in a gentrified, artsy neighborhood of Philadelphia and resale probably will not be a problem there but if you live in suburbia then that’s a different story.
I would love to have a retro style kitchen. I had one in my first post grad apartment and I even bought a reconditioned white enamel stove and oven from the 30’s. I regret selling it but my current house has an open floor plan that does not lend itself to a retro kitchen. BTW–Smeg makes high quality retro fridges as well. Here’s some inspiration:
I am going retro in my kitchen I am doing right now. The former original owner, who was 94, was kind enough to leave the appliances. If the rest of the house is a really modern/retro mix with hardwoods and nice baths, it won’t hurt resale at all, in my opinion.
I did do a brand new kitchen though, in a nearby house, and that one sold at ask in 24 hours. It is definitely something to think about. If I later decide it just has to be done, because the cabinets are white, I can just put in new uppers, new stove, and a backsplash and have a whole new kitchen effect, I think.
As long as the retro kitchen isn’t pumpkin or avocado. I don’t know who thought those were a good idea. Remember the Brady Bunch’s kitchen? Pumpkin AND avocado!
I love the Big Chill retro look. Around here, if your kitchen is more than 5 years old people are likely to think they need to renovate no matter how serviceable it is. That’s why I decided to go with butcher block counters. I like them.
Also, I don’t want to go crazy cost-wise. Big Chill is not cheap, but I’m thinking of maybe doing one accent piece from the (a stove/range) or a fridge.
1960s era basic one-story. U-shaped kitchen, which actually has pretty good bones for a house of that vintage (bigger than I would expect).
