Smeg FAB28 Fridge's New Colors Are as Inviting as Italian Summer

A summer exploring Italy will always be remembered as a journey of color: the palette of pale and rust Mediterranean hues brushed across the countryside, the mineral-laden volcanic soil of Vesuvius, the vivid azure blue sea. Those are just a few of the evocations of tinted memories that inspired luxury Italian appliance brand Smeg to release a new series of colors, enhancing their already iconic FAB28 refrigerator silhouette with a bold refresh that aligns with the growing trend of inviting colors into the kitchen.

Eight colors were initially previewed in Milan in 2022 as candidates to be voted upon before choosing the final "colors of Smeg's summer 2023." Voters deemed Azzurro Blue, Perfectly Pale, and Rust as favorites; a Matte Black option was added to round off this quartet of soft touch matte surface refrigerators.

As someone who has been mulling over a new refrigerator for our mother-in-law's kitchenette, the FAB28 proposes a more enriching element to the kitchen than the austere and cold options typical of appliances.

Inside, the FAB28 Refrigerator remains the same, housing three adjustable glass shelves, one fixed glass shelf, a bottle rack, fruit and vegetable container, and dairy box. Despite its slim size, there are also two adjustable covered bins, two bottle storage bins, four adjustable bins, and two egg bins across the door, with LED lights illuminating the interior, an adjustable thermostat, and MultiFlow air distribution to keep produce fresh as long as possible.

Except for the blue option, the earthen collection presents a more contemporary, rather than retro, feel.

While three of these new colors are inspired by hues of the Italian landscape in summer, the matte black addition is marked as the final component of Smeg's modern matte black range of kitchen appliances and accessories, which includes a kettle, toaster, and new Classic oven finish for an entirely modernist noir aesthetic.

The entire range of new colors for the FAB28 are available for £1,899 via shop.smeguk.com and Smeg's Regent Street flagship store. No word on if these new colors will make it to the US or not.

Gregory Han is the Managing Editor of Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

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