American company Big Chill came up with the brilliant idea of launching a line of kitchen appliances that have modern functionality, efficiency and dependability but that look like they are straight out of the 50s. If you always wanted that pink retro kitchen, here’s your chance – with the added bonus that you don’t have to venture out on a long and slow quest to find those over priced retro stoves and fridges found at various thrift stores, which turns out they barely work once installed.
Big Chill offers newly manufactured fridges, stoves and dishwashers that come in various retro pastel color schemes circa 1955. If you recognize them it could be because they have been featured in both Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray and Oprah. Prices range around $1695 for the dishwashers to $4295 for the stoves. Who said living a retro lifestyle is cheap? For more kitchen styling and renovation madness, be sure to visit the great Retro Renovation blog. [Thanks Cam]
By Chris
March 5th, 2010
The ’50s are back and making its way into the design of everyday gadgetry. If you are a fan of Apple’s personal computers I bet you will dig this concept for a home computer. The “Philco PC” takes its inspiration from the 1954 design classic Philco Predicta, as well as an eclectic mixture of modern minimalism, the steampunk movement, and antiques. Sadly this is still just a concept and the images you see are 3D rendered, but Shultze Works who are the creator of this little time piece, hope that a electronics company will pick it up and start to manufacture it in a near future. What do you think? Would you like to have the “Philco PC” in your mid century inspired designer home and how much would you pay for it? Continue reading to see more images and a video of the PC.
By Chris
February 3rd, 2010
Ultra Swank – Your one stop blog for retro living, style and design
Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s, 60s and the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality of that era – but also on the music and movies that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris, a Swede born in the wrong decade that currently resides in Barcelona. Read more
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British portable radio manufacturer Robert’s has been making radios since 1932 and can today be found in homes all over the world, even the Royal British family. There have been numerous models in production, but the one that is instantly recognizable is the vintage looking Revival radio that takes its inspiration from classic mid-century design. Robert’s have modernized the inside with DAB technology for digital radio and a smart LCD-display at the top. I bet that these would look snug on any breakfast table around the world. Suggested retail price is around £150.
The iconic ‘Revival’ DAB radio is a nostalgic 1950s style retro radio with advanced DAB features. In a range of colours it not only looks great it sounds great too. Now with 120 hours battery life this fantastic DAB radio is more portable than ever. The ‘Revival’ features rotary tuning and volume controls, RDS station name display, a stereo line out socket, headphone socket and portability thanks to its carry handle.
By Chris
April 17th, 2009
Check out this scanned article from Popular Science back in 1966 featuring the zany gadgets that was used in the 007 movie Thunderball. Thank you Royalton for the tip!
Some of the gadgets actually are buckled onto Connery’s famous back. One is the Bell jet-pack flying belt Bond uses in the beginning of the film to escape from a French chateau. Connery has to wear a special Dacron suit whose color won’t bleach out when touched by the belt’s highly concentrated peroxide fuel. The belt provides about 20 seconds of flight, but only 10 seconds is used for the upward flight. It would be disastrous to run out of power a couple of hundred feet up in the air.
By Chris
December 12th, 2008
