Retro appliances are the one kitchen upgrade you can do in an afternoon, without a contractor, that people actually notice. But the colour has to be right for the room. Here is how we advise customers to choose between the two RADOCO finishes, and how to build a counter around them.

Cream: warmth

Cream reads as soft and vintage. It flatters wooden worktops, oak or ash cabinets, terracotta, brass taps and white subway tiles. In a Scandi or farmhouse kitchen it looks like it has always been there. Pair it with warm metals — brass or copper — and natural textures: a wooden board next to the cream kettle-and-toaster set, linen, a plant.

Cream is also forgiving in daylight-heavy kitchens; it does not glare the way bright white does.

Glossy black: definition

Black is graphic. It suits marble and quartz worktops, grey or navy cabinets, chrome or matte-black taps and open shelving. In a small apartment kitchen a black set anchors the counter and makes everything around it look deliberate. Keep the surrounding objects few and glossy or metallic — a chrome jug, a black tray — and let the black set be the focus.

The quick test

• Wooden or warm-toned worktop → cream
• Marble, quartz, concrete or grey → black
• White cabinets → either; cream for cosy, black for crisp
• Coloured cabinets (sage, navy, terracotta) → cream with sage and terracotta, black with navy

Building the set

Start with the kettle and toaster — they sit together and are used every morning. Then add in this order:

1. Espresso machine — the RD-LE6400 shares the same enamel and chrome details and turns the corner into a coffee station.
2. Blender — the RD-LB4005 with its 1.5 L glass jar is the tallest piece; put it at the end of the run so it does not block the toaster.

Keep to one finish. Mixing cream and black looks accidental; a single colour across four appliances looks designed.

Placement that works

• Kettle nearest the sink, toaster beside it with 10 cm to the wall for heat.
• Espresso machine where you can get a jug under the steam wand — not under a low cabinet.
• Leave one clear stretch of worktop. A retro set looks best with negative space around it.

Keeping the shine

Enamel wipes clean with a damp cloth. For the chrome trim use a microfibre cloth and nothing abrasive. Descale the kettle monthly — see our descaling guide — and empty the toaster's crumb tray weekly.

Both finishes come with a 2-year guarantee. See all colours and the current availability on the retro sets page.

Frequently asked questions