<p>I seem to be in the minority in that I really don’t like stainless steel. </p>
<p>I went window shopping for new kitchen appliances to see what else was out there. While washers & dryers come in an array of colors, kitchen appliances seem limited to SS, black, white, and the occasional “bisque”.</p>
<p>I did spot one fridge that was something called “black stainless steel”. It was gorgeous! If I understand correctly, it is stainless steel that has been painted black and covered with a high gloss finish that will not show the fingerprints like SS tends to do. The salesman said it was a brand new color choice, and there were no other appliances available to match. Yet.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about this - whether you know of a manufacturer who might be using this for other kitchen appliances. Or, more generally, a brand that goes beyond the black/white/SS choices.</p>
<p>I’ve seen Vikings or Wolfs - can’t remember - in unusual colors (a deep red, a dark blue… as I recall). There’s a European oven, name escapes me that also has such colors.</p>
<p>I’m betting that the black SS you saw will take off! You could combine it with black glass ovens and I’ve seen black cooktops and of course black glass look in dishwashers. You could also panel your dw in your cabinet material if you can’t find one to coordinate.</p>
<p>Me, I like stainless steel. I worry that any (other) color I pick will eventually look as dated as the avocado appliances of the 70s. They were SO trendy!</p>
<p>There is also a beautiful, dark bronze color that is really worth a look! Take a look at the HGTV web site for info- they have several kitchen remolding shows and have pics of the latest and most up to date appliances and gadgets. Just plan on gazing at the screen for several hours!
I watched a show they had on last week, “Bang for the Buck” where two “experts” ( a real estate agent from the particulae area and the host of another show on their network) looked at 3 kitchen remodels, all of which cost $100 K ( or, this could have been the lower cost one…?). anyway, there was an absolutely gorgeous remodel, which both hosts loved, but although the family had hand-stained cabinets, the woman disliked stainless steel and granite, so they chose black appliances and a solid-surface (quartz?) countertop. They really got slammed in the value area because the consensus was that “everyone expects granite and stainless steel” now. Thought that was really silly-why have something you don’t care for just because it’s “expected”? Go with what you love!</p>
<p>Call me simple…when my current white appliances die, I’m replacing them with white appliances. Everything else seems to “date” the house. When we built this house, I insisted on WHITE for all of the bathroom fixtures (having lived in the dated looks of almond, harvest gold, poppy and avocado green). DH insisted on bisque in the hall bath upstairs. I hate it…and it’s very 1995. I want white.</p>
<p>The white styles have changed but they are still white. In a while, stainless will not be “in” anymore and everyone will know when you remodeled your kitchen.</p>
<p>Also…if you have young kids…magnets don’t stick to stainless.</p>
<p>I also don’t care for SS appliances and I really don’t care for white either. I had almond appliances, which I liked, and then the dishwasher needed to be replaced. No almond or bisque either in the kind we wanted. So I got black. Over the next few years, we replaced the oven, stove hood, and refrigerator, all with black. I like them, but the black cooktop on the stove is hard to keep clean. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t get any color for kitchen appliances, b/c in a few years, if you have to replace anything, that color might not be available. I really think only SS, white, or black are safe choices re replacement issues.</p>
<p>I agree with white for a bathroom. One of the most stunning bathrooms I ever saw was pure white – walls, fixtures, tub, sinks – that the owner had “decorated” by having about a dozen towels on display in different colors related to red – fuschia, magenta, pink, purple, lavender, etc. It was gorgeous!!</p>
<p>I don’t like the stainless either. I have seen some crazy colors lately including fireengine red. Can be stunning, but I can’t get the memories of those harvest colors that used to be in vogue that make us all shudder now. That’s the problem with the fads. MIL has a white stove that still fits in just fine. I really think white is a keeper. </p>
<p>But, Mezzomom, that bronze sounds tempting. Not that I’ll be in the market for anything in a long time. Need to replace a dishwasher, but will have to go with white since it is a single item replacement.</p>
<p>Do not get a black stove. It very hard to keep it looking clean. I have one and I hate it. It’s black on top with stainless on the bottom. I will never buy another black stove as long as I live.</p>
<p>I’m with thumper - I like white appliances. They are easy to keep clean, and the kitchen looks lighter and brighter. However, H is a HUGE fan of stainless steel (he thinks it is very manly :rolleyes:), and he insisted on getting a stainless steel dishwasher when our old one died. Oh, well.</p>
<p>We have a “brushed aluminum” fridge and it seems to be pretty good for not showing fingerprints. I had quite an adjustment period related to not using magnets. I finally ordered some thingies from the internet that allow me to put up a few pics and papers. Sometimes they fall off but they’re still OK overall…better than nothing.<br>
Other appliances are stainless steel but not the shiny kind so they’ve been fine too.
I can’t go with white since my cabinets are creamy. And black is a bit too dramatic for me and seems like it would be very hard to clean.<br>
But white would be fine with cherry or other wood cabinets. Seems to never go out of style.</p>
<p>MezzoMama- I saw the same episode on HGTV. Everyone seems to want granite and stainless these days. Our kitchen is 12 yrs old. Our refrig and dishwasher have cabinet matching fronts. Our stove and cooktop and hood are stainless. I knew I was watching too much HGTV when I started telling my H that our appliances with the cabinet fronts were probably a down arrow on Bang for your Buck. Not to mention our kitchen has both granite and corian counters. I do not love an all granite kitchen. We have a huge granite island but our other kitchen counters are cream colored corian with a liner that has the same tones as our granite. I love it but for resale it was probably not the best bang for the buck. But since I have no plans on moving I am not concerned.
I like stainless and I think when replace my frig and dishwasher I would do stainless. I dont care for white. Black is nice but does show all the marks.
25 yrs ago my inlaws built a kitchen with stainless appliances and white modern cabinets with white tile counters and a huge butcher block island. That kitchen looks as good today as it did when they built it.</p>
<p>I really don’t like granite which is one of the many things that has kept me from redoing my kitchen. When I finally get around to it I’ll probably do some combo. Some stone (good for rolling out pastry), some butcherblock because I really like it and think it’s practical, and maybe some Paperstone because I love the way it looks (but I hear it has some fading issues.)</p>
<p>I agree about the granite! I’m in the minority about SS, and also in the minority about granite. I prefer my Corian countertops - especially the integrated sink.</p>
<p>I’ll have to look for that bronze… I agree with the sentiment about white. If I can’t find a color I like, I’ll go with white.</p>
<p>I have seen German appliances in red - however, I doubt I could find <em>every</em> appliance in red (dishwasher?) so I’d rather find a color that I can find in all 3 appliances. </p>
<p>An article in the paper mentioned a product called “Wyman Wipes” (note - this is <em>not</em> the correct spelling - but I don’t remember the spelling) that are supposed to be a very good product to eliminate fingerprints, etc, on SS.</p>
<p>I use the Weiman wipes and they are excellent. I have tried other products but that is the best I have found.
I can’t see stainless going out of style as it is the go-to surface for professional kitchens. The fingerprints can be a pain, but at least when I have to replace something I won’t have a color match problem.
I also chose Corian over granite and it still looks great after 10 years. I have a butcher block island as well and I do all of my prep work there. I like that if I damage it (with a hot pan for example) I can sand out the damage and refinish it.
I have looked longingly at the colored washers and dryers though…</p>
<p>Just redid our kitchen and were disappointed not to be able to purchase replacement appliances in bisque or almond. I really liked that color.</p>
<p>Finally went with stainless, and the glass-top stove has a black top. It all looks pretty spiffy.</p>
<p>Lovely Formica countertops here…not that fond of granite, esp. the price! and what we got looks very good with the light maple cabinets. We’re happy.</p>
<p>I recently had to replace a refrigerator and what a pain. I knew what I wanted and what color, however it was not to be. I have as thumper1 described it a kitchen from the 1990’s. And bisque, almond, beige are the colors that flow the best with it. To me it is such a neutral color and it fits in so well with my cabinets and works with my floor very well. Unfortunately, the major manufacturers all have the same colors for the kitchen. I finally got a side by side in bisque but I really wanted a french door. Oh well, maybe the next house I’ll use different colors.</p>