Smeg is Italy's largest manufacturer of domestic kitchen appliances.Smeg was founded by Vittorio Bertazzoni in 1948 as Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla (metal enamelling factory in the village of Guastalla, Reggio Emilia). The company is still in the hands of the Bertazzoni family, currently under the direct control of Roberto Bertazzoni. Its headquarters remain a short distance from Guastalla.They are well known for their 1950s-style "retro" refrigerators (the FAB** range) that have curved corners and come in a variety of non-traditional colors, for example pastel blue, lime green and pink.More recently they have expanded their product range to include induction hobs, integrated washing machines and washer dryers. In addition, they scored a hit with sales on the "Opera" range of freestanding range cookers, such as the A1 which has almost become a style icon, much like the famed FAB28 fridge and its derivatives. These products, along with style-led design in other areas, has led to Smeg being regarded as leading the industry in design and aesthetics.
Average Customer Rating:
4.4 out of 5
Rating Snapshot
(8 reviews)
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2 of 2 (100%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
55
Performance:
55
Appearance:
55
Value:
55
byhelvet
Would Recommend:Yes
SMEG is our focal point
Posted: 6/3/09
Pros: design size simplicity and old fashioned feel Cons: somewhat dim lighting it locks so tightly that we, have trouble opening the door but we figured it, out now
"We are elated that the SMEG has finally arrived in America, having admired it in the UK for years. We downsized from a massive Sub Zero and are very happy with the old fashioned simplicity the SMEG offers. The space is well used, the glass shelves are very sturdy, the bottle rack is a great space safer and we love the gentle humming. Anyone who enters our period kitchen is stunned by the design and colour (pastel blue), it has become the focal point."
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
55
Performance:
45
Appearance:
55
Value:
45
byReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore
Would Recommend:Yes
Retro Cutie
Posted: 4/22/09
Pros: small good looking fits in tight spaces. Cons: tough to get the shelves in no big deal.
"This is a great looking, efficient and well designed product. It fits in spaces where other refrigerators don't. It is shallow from front to back, probably the slimmist profile out there. The only issue I had was getting the tight-fitting shelving in there. I think it should go in before you turn on the fridge, while the inside is still expanded. Don't give up the shelves all will fit in eventually."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
45
byTJC Location:
Minneapolis, MN
I like it.
Posted: 5/27/08
"I've had this refrigerator for about three months and I'm quite happy with it. It seems well made and is very quiet. As anyone looking at a refrigerator like this has already noticed, it's expensive. You could get a compact white box ‘fridge from Sears for less than half the price, and it would come with an automatic defrost freezer. But people considering this appliance aren’t expecting cavernous storage space. I haven't noticed any frost buildup in the freezer yet, and the lack of auto-defrost means it uses much less electricity. My 1920s bungalow has a small kitchen, and this refrigerator is the perfect size. While it isn't 1920s style, it's retro enough that it blends in well. The cream color helps. (The delivery man said, “Is this new?”) Minuses include the compromises you’d expect from a small appliance, including the tiny freezer. But it holds a couple of ice cube trays plus four or five compact frozen dinner boxes, and I've got a separate freezer in the basement. So, overall—two thumbs up!"
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
55
byJohn Location:
Fairfield, CT
Why go with a boring fridge?
Posted: 4/16/08
"Let's start with the biggest question people ask when they see my SMEG: 10 square feet easily fits enough food for our family of four. We don't freeze much (but could always pop a freezer in the basement), and typically shop for fresh food once or twice each week. The SMEG holds everything just fine.
I recently renovated our kitchen, and shopped just about every fridge out there. Size was not really a factor--I just wanted something that looked good. Now I don't think I'll ever go back to one of those massive fridges.
My only disappointment is with the SMEG's door and handle. Both are made of plastic. While they have a beautiful painted finish, I was expecting metal based on the photos."
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
25
byLiz Location:
Redlands, CA
Don't buy it!
Posted: 3/15/08
"1st off, be aware this thing is NOT frost free. 2nd, even if you fill the refrig, the temp, set at the highest, is still in the Spoil Zone. Lastly, you can't open the frige door, you drag it all over the kitchen before it opens. I am so sorry I bought this, and now I have to keep it, they won't take it as a return, nor exchange it for a refund. The cheap comes out expensive! I should have bought an Elmira. Lizabeth Jones"
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
55
byBreezy Location:
Terlingua, TX
Small, Colorful and Perfect
Posted: 3/13/08
"My kitchen has a retro theme and this fridge fits in perfectly and holds as much stuff as I had in a bigger unit. I did find bigger products in red but they were twice the price. So although this fridge was expensive for it's size it was half of what the bigger ones were. All in all it is perfect."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
45
byjc Location:
North Kingstown, RI
Love the look!!!
Posted: 12/1/07
"This fridge really fits my space. I have an old house and like my kitchen retro. It fits in great. Is compact, yet fits plenty for me. Even the turkey!! Thanks for your prompt service.[...]"
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Smeg FAB28U
Overall Rating:
55
byDonni Location:
Seattle, WA
I love the Smeg!
Posted: 10/14/07
"The SMEG works really well for my kitchen, designed in 1929. It is the perfect size, and matches the decor nicely. I am very happy with the size of the refridgerator inside, lots of space for all of my veggies, sauces and random cooking ingredients as well as leftovers. The icebox is extremely small; enough to hold a few small ice trays, stacked and a bag or two of veggies and a pound of meat. I have a chest freezer in the basement though, so it's not a problem for us.
I definitely recommend this fridge for anyone who is stuck with a very small space, it's the best I've seen that is also small enough."
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