9 retro home appliances that combine form and function

The saying “Everything old is new again'' is especially true these days when it comes to kitchen appliances. Brands like Smeg have been making coveted retro appliances like refrigerators and toasters for the better part of a century. And in recent years, other brands have started to follow suit with their own retro kitchen appliances.

Now, a new generation of home cooks are sharing their love for retro kitchens on social media. So how did this trend come about? And does sticking to this style mean sacrificing functionality? We took a closer look at retro kitchen trends based on our test results.

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New era retro kitchen

“When you have a million camos available on Amazon, you know the trend has reached saturation,” says home design writer and DIY enthusiast Caroline Mullen. (Think of Galanz's retro gadget as eerily similar to Smeg, but much more budget-friendly.)

Although the exact origins of this trend cannot be pinpointed, Mullen notes that the shift toward a design aesthetic inspired by the past was probably born out of a desire to escape the sleek stainless steel of the early '20s. I think it might be.

“It's a purposeful design choice because appliances from the early 2000s feel very dated now, but appliances from the '70s feel far enough away,” she says. “For me, the word retro (as opposed to vintage or antique) reminds her of the 50s. [through the] 80s aesthetic: Mid-century modern pieces, sleek space-age style appliances, and lots of bold shapes and colors. ”

But like many design-driven trends, fashion doesn't always mean function. “What I always think about when buying something for my home is the balance between beauty and functionality,” she explains. “Sure, this looks good, but does she have to replace it in three months because it's going crazy?”

For Mullen, retro appliances like the Smeg espresso machine have made the difference. She looks so nice sitting at her counter. It may not be the best espresso she machine on the market, but it's been working like a charm for over four years.

If you're looking to add a retro vibe to your kitchen, you're in luck. From handheld gadgets to large appliances, we've rounded up nine of our favorite vintage-inspired home appliances.

Buy retro small home appliances

1. Smeg 2-slice toaster

This retro two-slice toaster ranks high on our list of the best two-slice toasters we've tested.

A simple, easy-to-turn dial lets you choose your desired doneness, plus three special settings: defrost, bagel, and reheat. The Smeg toaster toasts evenly and looks great thanks to its flashy '50s look, available in poppy shades of red, pink ( barbie!), matte champagne, chrome.

In terms of cleaning, this toaster has a removable tray that catches crumbs that fly around during use. When it's time to empty it, just push the tray in and it pops out so you can remove it and throw it in the trash.

2. Galanz 4-in-1 Retro Immersion Hand Blender

Galanz is an affordable consumer electronics brand that offers Smeg camo. The Retro Kitchen Collection includes handheld gadgets like this immersion blender, 2-slice toaster, and refrigerator. These Smeg lookalikes are a fraction of the price and work very well.

This immersion blender comes with a blending wand, whisk, food chopper, and beaker attachments. During our testing, we found that this wand allows you to easily blend frozen berries, yogurt, and fruit juices to create a smoothie with a uniform texture. This model may not be the best immersion blender we tested, but it's easy to use, easy to clean, and fits perfectly into a vintage-inspired kitchen.

3. Smeg milk frother

If you enjoy a cappuccino or latte in the morning, it would be convenient to have a milk frother at home. This version of Smeg ranks high among the best milk frothers we've tested, and whether you choose a pastel shade (pink, blue, green) or a bold red shade, it's easy to keep on your counter. It also looks cute. , or neutral (black, white, or cream). You can also go all out with this limited edition Dolce & Gabbana number.

Smeg milk frother has 7 functions: manual, hot milk, hot milk with light foam, hot milk with thick foam, cold milk with light foam, cold milk with thick foam, and hot chocolate. These settings work equally well for hot and cold drinks, so you can make a warm cappuccino in the morning and a frothy iced matcha in the afternoon.

4. Our Place Wonder Oven

Our Place recently ventured into retro territory with the launch of the Wonder Oven. Its boxy shape and set of three control knobs give it a vintage feel, as if the whole thing was designed to look like a mini version of a full-size oven.

It has a relatively small footprint compared to other air fryer toaster ovens we've tested, making it a great choice if you have a small kitchen.

This countertop oven comes with accessories: wire rack, baking pan, air fryer basket, and removable crumb tray. Thanks to the steam function, you can air-fry french fries to the perfect crisp, roast a 4.5-pound chicken, breathe new life into pizza, and more.

5. Galanz Retro Pump Espresso Machine

Another affordable Smeg duck, this time for the famously expensive countertop appliance, the espresso machine.

The Galanz espresso machine is part of the brand's Retro Kitchen collection and features a manual pressure gauge and chrome switch for an old-fashioned feel. When it comes to the best machines, this one doesn't come close to the best espresso makers we tested, but it costs a fraction of the price and is easy to get used to once you practice.

This espresso machine comes with 1-cup and 2-cup basket fillers, a convenient 2-in-1 scoop and tamp tool, and a 1.5-liter water tank (milk frothing pitcher not included).

It's relatively easy to use. To make a shot, you need to pull the portafilter as far as it will go toward the center of the machine. Be sure to be nearby when Espresso starts streaming. To stop extraction, the switch must be turned off manually.

6. Smeg mini kettle

A cute mini electric kettle with a simple and retro design from Smeg. wonderful Easy to use. In fact, we named this one of the best electric kettles because it's the fastest we've tested, incredibly easy to use, and has an attractive design.

Although we really like this kettle, it's not without its flaws. This means there are no temperature controls and no sound to let you know when the water is boiling. That being said, this is one of the cutest and most functional electric kettles on the market, and may be perfect for small apartments, offices, and dorm rooms.

retro large home appliances

7. Smeg bottom freezer refrigerator

This retro refrigerator takes design cues from vintage cars and is slim enough to fit into tight spaces. However, that old-fashioned flair and brand name comes at a price, costing him more than $1,000 more than the best refrigerators we tested.

If you look at the price tag, you'll be happy to know that this refrigerator maintains the temperature you expect. We have an assortment of statement colors that won't be boring, including black, cream, orange, pastel blue, pastel green, pink, red, and white.

Compared to less stylish models, the Smeg did not perform as well during our tests. So this might be his one case where fashion trumps function.

8. AGA Classic R7 100 Range

If the appliances above remind you of run-of-the-mill vintage, consider this electric range an homage to fine antiques.

At over $20,000, the AGA Classic R7 100 is more of a collector's item than a rental. But with that hefty price tag comes a truly stunning retro design, available in a number of beautiful hues, including Blush, British Racing Green, Duck Egg Blue, Olivine, Slate, and more.

This 39-inch freestanding electric range comes with two electric burners and three separate ovens. It doesn't have any of the features you'd expect a modern oven to have, like a timer, convection cooking, self-cleaning, or temperature probes, but it does try to be more authentic than a vintage oven. go.

9. Unique Appliances UGP24CRDWT 24 Inch Retro Dishwasher

If you often cook with shiny vintage appliances, you'll need a retro dishwasher to match.

This 24-inch dishwasher from Unique Appliances fits the bill with another throwback design reminiscent of vintage cars. His four shades include bright ocean mist turquoise and summer mint green, as well as neutral colors like midnight black and marshmallow white. That way, you can choose a monochromatic look to match your retro appliances, or opt for pops of different colors in your kitchen.

This dishwasher boasts six wash cycles, a third rack for dishes, and ultra-quiet operation.

We haven't tested this yet, but if you're looking for the best machines we've tested, check out our list of the best dishwashers.