Friday Five with Orion Creamer of Big Chill

Once you’ve laid eyes on the retro-inspired appliances Big Chill is known for, there’s no way you’ll forget. The Boulder, Colorado brand began when Thom Vernon was on the hunt for a 50s looking fridge for a vintage beach house. After coming up short, he enlisted nephew Orion Creamer for help. Creamer had recently graduated from school after studying product design and with his own love of retro design driving him, they launched their first product in 2001: the Retro Fridge. His many hours of researching mid-century cars and perusing junkyards paid off as the fridge was an instant hit, which naturally led to an entire retro collection of appliances. For this week’s Friday Five, we hear from the designer himself who shares a bit of his life and likes.

1. Jeff Shelton, Architect
My uncle turned me onto this great architect in Santa Barbara. I was immediately blown away by all of his projects. He doesn’t seem to live by the same constraints as most architects. There is a cool, casual funkiness to everything he works on. This particular project, El Jardin, is a mixed use residential building in downtown Santa Barbara.

2. My District Bike by Trek
I love everything about this bike; its sleek, clean design with beautiful colors made by Trek. It’s a single-speed with a carbon fiber chain, so it requires very little maintenance. Boulder has a ton of hills but with this bike, almost all of them are manageable.

3. Lake of Bays, Canada
My family spends a week or two on the lake every summer. I love the simplicity of life in this somewhat remote part of Canada. We all bunk-up in a single season cabin with no wifi and limited cell phone reception. It’s the one place in the world where I can disconnect and clear my mind.

Photo by Anthony Kerrigan

4. My Favorite Boots
I love to collect shoes, and these Eastland Lumber Up Boots are my go-to pair. They work with almost every outfit I own. I can wear them in casual situations, at work in the warehouse, or with a blazer and tie.

5. English Premier League
My wife and I both grew up playing the game and I now coach both of my daughters. It’s a great way for our family to connect and spend time together. We get up early on Saturday and Sunday mornings and watch the English Premier League (EPL). We bet money on our favorite teams and players. I love the quality and creativity of the league. My girls love the big saves and big goals.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/friday-five-with-orion-creamer-of-big-chill/