The result was a bright pastel selection - including Buttercup Yellow, Jadite Green, Pink Lemonade - combined with a more modern Orange and Cherry Red. In the beginning, our goal was to offer a fresh take on the range of iconic 1950’s hues. My aunt, who comes from the fashion industry, helped us create the color palette. How did you decide on what colors to offer - and which is your personal favorite? Second homes: Home styles can vary widely but these customers are typically trying to create a space that is fun, relaxing and not-too-serious.Modern homes: These customers are often looking for a pop of color and design to make a statement in their kitchens.Cottages, bungalows and mid-century homes: Our fridges fit perfectly into these period-style homes.I see our fridge go into a wide variety of spaces and styles, but three trends stick out to me: (Photos: Big Chill) What types of spaces do you envision the Retro fridge in? Have you noticed any patterns in the styles of interiors the fridge is going into? We also include a temperature management syste m, automatic moisture control, glass shelving and optional ice makers. Unlike fridges from the 50’s, our units are all frost-free. These fridges combine colorful, nostalgic design wi th modern performance. Aside from the look, what qualities set the Retro fridge apart? We’ve expanded our color choices, as well, and now offer up to 200 custom colors for each product. Today we offer a complete kitchen package, with three different lines of products: Retro, Pro and Classic. We started with a dishwasher, followed by stoves and hoods in a variety of different color options. Soon after, our customers started requesting other appliances to complete their retro-inspired kitchens. Our initial fridge launch was far more successful than we had planned. Our main goal throughout the process was to stay true to mid-century design while updating the aesthetic and level of performance. We knew people would be open to a colorful alternative if we could build it. Refrigerators became sterile square boxes offered in white, black and stainless steel. Over the next few decades, they became a commodity driven only by function and price point. In 1955, fridges were seen as a staple element in the kitchen - a piece of art. We saw a gap in the appliance market for fridges that honored their original design. What inspired you to create the Retro fridge? What were your main goals throughout the design process? My aunt and uncle came to me and said, “Somebody should start a fridge company where the fridges would look old but they would be new on the inside.” As a recent industrial design graduate with a lifelong passion for retro design - especially fridges, I was eager and excited to take on the challenge. Those old fridges were typically small and energy inefficient. My uncle resisted installing a vintage fridge because it was for his family’s second home, and he didn’t want to continuously defrost it. The idea for Big Chill was conceived when my aunt and uncle wanted a retro fridge for their new cottage, but couldn’t find a modern, functional version that existed. I collected vintage fridge doors as art when I was in college, and I’ve always loved mid-century design. When my aunt and uncle came to me with the idea to start Big Chill in 2001, I was all in. Tell us about your background, how Big Chill came to be and what the company offers? We chatted with Creamer about his design inspiration, the applications of the Retro fridge and how Big Chill was founded. Among these is the Retro fridge, which blends a vintage vibe with modern capabilities and brings a pop of color and character to a kitchen. Orion Creamer is the founder of Big Chill, a company based in Boulder, CO, that makes kitchen appliances inspired by the bold colors and designs of the 1950s.
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