Is Stainless Still King of the Kitchen?
- Thread starter sudsmaster
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sudsmaster
Well-known member
Meanwhile, Hyundai has released a novel new "color" for its twin turbo 2013 Veloster car, which has a matte clear coat over a gray point job, making it look like it has just a primer coat...
Maybe that's what will be next in kitchen appliances, too? Primer Gray?
In 50 different shades?
Maybe that's what will be next in kitchen appliances, too? Primer Gray?
In 50 different shades?
whirlcool
Well-known member
My computer hung up on that preceding commercial! I hate it when you have to sit through a commercial to see the content. Grrrr.....
Partner and I purchased a new house with all stainless kitchen appliances. We have never had stainless appliances before, and never will have them again. It is nearly impossible to get all the streaks out of them, regardless of the streakless claims of the stainless cleaners/polishes. Even my black appliances were easier to keep clean.
New White
It does look better with a little silver, I have hated the white on white look since it came out in the early 1990s. The WOW appliances show there age very quickly as the many plastic parts, knobs, handles and trim often discolor to different hues and the appliance ends looking old way too soon.
I love the bul...it comment that SS is cheap to make and easy to clean, nothing could be further from the truth. Appliance manufacturers still charge a hefty premium for SS and in the past few years most SS appliances have switched from real nonmagnetic SS to cheaper plated stainless look finishes as real SS has proved too expensive to keep producing except on the most expensive appliances.
I do think the SS look will remain popular for some time to come even it has been heavily overused and doesn't look all that good in most kitchens especially when used with wood cabinets.
It does look better with a little silver, I have hated the white on white look since it came out in the early 1990s. The WOW appliances show there age very quickly as the many plastic parts, knobs, handles and trim often discolor to different hues and the appliance ends looking old way too soon.
I love the bul...it comment that SS is cheap to make and easy to clean, nothing could be further from the truth. Appliance manufacturers still charge a hefty premium for SS and in the past few years most SS appliances have switched from real nonmagnetic SS to cheaper plated stainless look finishes as real SS has proved too expensive to keep producing except on the most expensive appliances.
I do think the SS look will remain popular for some time to come even it has been heavily overused and doesn't look all that good in most kitchens especially when used with wood cabinets.
I like the look of stainless steel appliances...but as everyone has mentioned, they are a pain-in-the-ass to clean. I don't have kids in the house, so the ranges and refrigerator don't require frequent cleaning. The dishwasher is the most prone to suffer from water drips that run down the front and leave a long trail behind them.
After getting frustrated with oily stainless steel cleaning sprays that leave the floor slippery, I switched to these Weiman wipes. They are super-easy to use and there's no overspray to deal with. Swab the front with a wipe, then buff with a cotton towel and you're good-to-go!
I like Whirlpool's new White Ice look. As noted in the article, they are reminiscent of Apple/Mac products.
After getting frustrated with oily stainless steel cleaning sprays that leave the floor slippery, I switched to these Weiman wipes. They are super-easy to use and there's no overspray to deal with. Swab the front with a wipe, then buff with a cotton towel and you're good-to-go!
I like Whirlpool's new White Ice look. As noted in the article, they are reminiscent of Apple/Mac products.
maytagbear
Well-known member
I, for one
have NEVER liked stainless steel appliances in a home kitchen....unless, of course, the appliances were Viking (Ultraline in Canada), or similar. Even then......
I wish stainless steel was over, I really do. I am not a wannabe pro cook, I was a professional cook at one time, and I never want to go back to it again. Helping out at church, for our Communitywide Free Meals, that's entirely different. I couldn't wait to be a home cook again.
However, if you like stainless steel, have at it.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
have NEVER liked stainless steel appliances in a home kitchen....unless, of course, the appliances were Viking (Ultraline in Canada), or similar. Even then......
I wish stainless steel was over, I really do. I am not a wannabe pro cook, I was a professional cook at one time, and I never want to go back to it again. Helping out at church, for our Communitywide Free Meals, that's entirely different. I couldn't wait to be a home cook again.
However, if you like stainless steel, have at it.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
I have never liked stainless steel either and I really don't understand what the big deal is with them. All my appliances are black and I like the look.
Gary
Gary
Where is turquoise when we need it?
I have never liked stainless steel appliances either. I'm like Gary, all mine are black and I like the look!!!
White on white
When I redid this place over in 1995, I bought those for the kitchen. They do discolor in places and do show wear alot easier. But granted, mine are going on 18 years old and Whirlpool fridge, gas range and dishwasher still work perfect....knock on wood. Plus my 1977 Whirlpool Mark series microwave has never skipped a beat. Too bad Whirlpool didnt make that type of quality now.
When I redid this place over in 1995, I bought those for the kitchen. They do discolor in places and do show wear alot easier. But granted, mine are going on 18 years old and Whirlpool fridge, gas range and dishwasher still work perfect....knock on wood. Plus my 1977 Whirlpool Mark series microwave has never skipped a beat. Too bad Whirlpool didnt make that type of quality now.
abcomatic
Well-known member
Stainless steel
I have NEVER liked stainless steel or is that stainfull steel? I like white and that is what it is here except for the 1935 Detroit Jewel gas stove in the kitchen and the harvest gold Maytag washer and dryer from the late 70's early 80's center dial machines in the basement.
I have gone into Best Buy ( worst buy) and played a game with the sales person (who had no clue on his/her products). "May I help you?" "Sure, tell me all about your stainless steel 'fridges."
I said,"What about hand and finger prints on all of this?" (my hands on the doors now).
"Oh, there isn't any problem, you just wipe them off."
"With what?"
(crickets churping).
"Thanks for your time, that's what I thought, you have no clue!" etc.
Ok, that was the teacher in me for 35 years and wasn't very nice;however it did prove a point, no clue on what stainless steel is about.
I have NEVER liked stainless steel or is that stainfull steel? I like white and that is what it is here except for the 1935 Detroit Jewel gas stove in the kitchen and the harvest gold Maytag washer and dryer from the late 70's early 80's center dial machines in the basement.
I have gone into Best Buy ( worst buy) and played a game with the sales person (who had no clue on his/her products). "May I help you?" "Sure, tell me all about your stainless steel 'fridges."
I said,"What about hand and finger prints on all of this?" (my hands on the doors now).
"Oh, there isn't any problem, you just wipe them off."
"With what?"
(crickets churping).
"Thanks for your time, that's what I thought, you have no clue!" etc.
Ok, that was the teacher in me for 35 years and wasn't very nice;however it did prove a point, no clue on what stainless steel is about.
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Well, my kitchen (#1) has a mix of stainless and black. I got rid of the GE harvest dishwasher (it had a rotted out inner tub) and the harvest gold GE SxS fridge (energy hog, but it did work ok). Replaced a white Corning electric cook top with a black "gas on glass" Frigidaire 36" cooktop. Dishwasher now is a black Bosch, which works great. Wall oven is a GE P*7, but I "upgraded" it from its Harvest front panel to a brushed stainless front panel (got that from an oven on Craigslist).
I agree that stainless can be a pain to get spotless. But since only the wall oven and the fridge are stainless, it's not a big deal. I find the Kitchenaid stainless steel polish (It's a creamy liquid in a bottle) works quite well. I also found one must be careful to use a clean sponge to clean the stainless surfaces - any salt left behind will leave stains on it. I use a non-scratching Scotchbrite sponge/pad to clear up these when they occur.
Black is fine with me. So is white, for that matter. This place also has a second kitchen (#2) on the enclosed patio. Currently it has an SS KA top freezer, which i loathe because the nice curved doors are misshapen from the interior insulation shrinking and sucking in the sides. But it also does work ok, mechanically, Next to it, a white Kenmore chest freezer. On the other side, a white Hobart/KA portable dishwasher KD2P. Minty. The range is a 60's Frigidaire fat coil 30 inch drop in. White.
Eventually I'm thinking I'll replace the ugly shrunken KA top freezer out there with a late 40's GE white fridge, that still works well and is energy efficient. It needs a new door gasket and exterior repainted. It will be white, of course. I might also replace the Frigidaire electric range with a gas drop-in unit, although that will have to wait for me to get the gas line extended to that location.
An advantage to white is that it helps to brighten up a room. And it doesn't show dust and slight mineral spotting as much as black or stainless.
In defense of stainless, it is probably the most durable and cleanable of all surfaces. A polished stainless surface doesn't give bacteria much of a toehold. Heat and strong cleaners (other than chlorine) don't affect it. This is a reason why it's the norm for restaurant and commercial kitchens, as well as for medical and lab equipment. But it think a good quality white porcelain enamel is a very close second, if it's treated right and not abused with abrasive cleansers. In defense of Kitchenaid, the stainless they used on their fridges (when I bought them in 2001) is high quality non-magnetic 18-8.
And stainless is NOT cheap material. Good quality is 18% chromium, which isn't cheap, with 8% or more nickel (which is even less cheap). It is more difficult to machine and form than mild steel, which forms the underlying structure of most other finishes like porcelain enamel or powder coat. Treated right, it will last forever, without rusting through. Which makes it ideal for the interiors of dishwashers and washing machines.
I suppose if one is really sick of the stainless look, one could get the best of both worlds: Have the stainless panels on an appliance powder coated white (or other color of choice). The paint might scratch or wear off, but the underlying stainless won't rust.
I agree that stainless can be a pain to get spotless. But since only the wall oven and the fridge are stainless, it's not a big deal. I find the Kitchenaid stainless steel polish (It's a creamy liquid in a bottle) works quite well. I also found one must be careful to use a clean sponge to clean the stainless surfaces - any salt left behind will leave stains on it. I use a non-scratching Scotchbrite sponge/pad to clear up these when they occur.
Black is fine with me. So is white, for that matter. This place also has a second kitchen (#2) on the enclosed patio. Currently it has an SS KA top freezer, which i loathe because the nice curved doors are misshapen from the interior insulation shrinking and sucking in the sides. But it also does work ok, mechanically, Next to it, a white Kenmore chest freezer. On the other side, a white Hobart/KA portable dishwasher KD2P. Minty. The range is a 60's Frigidaire fat coil 30 inch drop in. White.
Eventually I'm thinking I'll replace the ugly shrunken KA top freezer out there with a late 40's GE white fridge, that still works well and is energy efficient. It needs a new door gasket and exterior repainted. It will be white, of course. I might also replace the Frigidaire electric range with a gas drop-in unit, although that will have to wait for me to get the gas line extended to that location.
An advantage to white is that it helps to brighten up a room. And it doesn't show dust and slight mineral spotting as much as black or stainless.
In defense of stainless, it is probably the most durable and cleanable of all surfaces. A polished stainless surface doesn't give bacteria much of a toehold. Heat and strong cleaners (other than chlorine) don't affect it. This is a reason why it's the norm for restaurant and commercial kitchens, as well as for medical and lab equipment. But it think a good quality white porcelain enamel is a very close second, if it's treated right and not abused with abrasive cleansers. In defense of Kitchenaid, the stainless they used on their fridges (when I bought them in 2001) is high quality non-magnetic 18-8.
And stainless is NOT cheap material. Good quality is 18% chromium, which isn't cheap, with 8% or more nickel (which is even less cheap). It is more difficult to machine and form than mild steel, which forms the underlying structure of most other finishes like porcelain enamel or powder coat. Treated right, it will last forever, without rusting through. Which makes it ideal for the interiors of dishwashers and washing machines.
I suppose if one is really sick of the stainless look, one could get the best of both worlds: Have the stainless panels on an appliance powder coated white (or other color of choice). The paint might scratch or wear off, but the underlying stainless won't rust.
launderess
Well-known member
The Last Thing One's Kitchen Should Look Like Is A Morgu
IMHO, so over doing it on the SS is a no go pour moi.
While the surface is durable it isn't exactly easy to keep clean/free of smudges and marks. In a home with perhaps all adults it could work, but shouldn't bother with children about.
When the local laundromat first reopened after a redo with all SS SQ washers, the poor attendent went about nightly polishing each one, even went out and purchased special cleaners/waxes to do so. Apparently that got old fast and soon a spritz of Windex wiped with a paper towel is the best they can manage.
IMHO, so over doing it on the SS is a no go pour moi.
While the surface is durable it isn't exactly easy to keep clean/free of smudges and marks. In a home with perhaps all adults it could work, but shouldn't bother with children about.
When the local laundromat first reopened after a redo with all SS SQ washers, the poor attendent went about nightly polishing each one, even went out and purchased special cleaners/waxes to do so. Apparently that got old fast and soon a spritz of Windex wiped with a paper towel is the best they can manage.
Just white for me. I was never a fan of SS either nor black or bisque for that matter. I'm almost positive that around 10 or so years ago I believe it was Kitchenaid who brought out a line of appliances in a couple of odd colors like a deep purple. Anyone else remember?
I really like coppertone, for a while there was "talk" of a brushed bronze but i have yet to see it. Is stainless steel cleaned with the grain or is it like the old coppertone when wiping and polishing, coppertone that i remember liked small circles like when your wax your car, they were a streaked mess if you wiped them with vertical motion? alr
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Oh, the stainless steel surface is more cleanable than just about any other surface. It's just that a polished surface will mar easily. Doen't mean it's dirty, it's just that the polish has been altered. Same for brushed finishes - they should be cleaned in the direction of the grain of the brushing. Go against the grain, and it will look bad.
In hospitals and restaurants the stainless steel surfaces acquire a patina from constant use and cleaning, along with dings and dents, scuffs and scratches. They don't care if it's pretty or not. They care about what the health inspector might find. Fingerprints? So what?
As far as sinks go, I'm thinking the thickest gauge of non-magnetic stainless is the way to go. The finish doesn't matter, really, because it's going to acquire a patina fairly quickly around here. I'm just tired of having to bleach out the stains on the worn porcelain glazed cast iron sink in the kitchen here. It's old and the previous occupant used harsh cleanser on it and wore away the glass layer. I only use Soft Scrub but stains will set very easily on it.
In hospitals and restaurants the stainless steel surfaces acquire a patina from constant use and cleaning, along with dings and dents, scuffs and scratches. They don't care if it's pretty or not. They care about what the health inspector might find. Fingerprints? So what?
As far as sinks go, I'm thinking the thickest gauge of non-magnetic stainless is the way to go. The finish doesn't matter, really, because it's going to acquire a patina fairly quickly around here. I'm just tired of having to bleach out the stains on the worn porcelain glazed cast iron sink in the kitchen here. It's old and the previous occupant used harsh cleanser on it and wore away the glass layer. I only use Soft Scrub but stains will set very easily on it.
I am not a fan of all SS appliances-You have all of them SS and your kitchen looks more like a morgue or hospital lab room!Some color,please!
firedome
Well-known member
I like SS sinks...
but that's about it. They don't chip when you drop a pot in them. As for the rest of the kitchen appliance, bring back Coppertone, Aqua, Pink and Yellow! My 'rents bought a KDS-15 with SS front panels in 1965. with 6 people in the fam, it always looked a mess and was a super PITA to keep clean. In 3 years it was a '68 GE in Avocado Green, much easier to clean.
but that's about it. They don't chip when you drop a pot in them. As for the rest of the kitchen appliance, bring back Coppertone, Aqua, Pink and Yellow! My 'rents bought a KDS-15 with SS front panels in 1965. with 6 people in the fam, it always looked a mess and was a super PITA to keep clean. In 3 years it was a '68 GE in Avocado Green, much easier to clean.
polkanut
Well-known member
Stainless appliances make a home kitchen look too institutional IMO. I love my stainless steel sink and cookware but that's it for me. I know some of you don't care for almond/biscuit but I do. Would love to see avocado make a comeback someday.
xraytech
Well-known member
In my kitchen the only Stainless Steel in my kitchen is a few pieces of cookware and my Elkay Lustretone sink.
In appliances I like white, as long as there is some chrome trim, I also like copper tone, turquoise, and yellow.
In appliances I like white, as long as there is some chrome trim, I also like copper tone, turquoise, and yellow.
Funny - I don't love but don't mind stainless appliances but I would never tolerate a SS sink. Even the high quality - with prices to match - seem tinny and prone to scratches to me. The only sink I will have in my kitchen is cast iron. Keeps water hot for some time, is very solid and comes in a host of colors. They never chip so that is a nonissue, but over time if you are not careful the glazing will wear off. Small downside to a great product.
Cast iron sinks
Will actually cool the water down immediately due to their heavy mass and after they are heated will lose heat just as fast or faster than a SS sink. There is usually a thin layer of sound absorbing material on the outside of a SS sink that slightly slows heat loss, I have never seen any insulation on the outside of a CI sink as it is not needed for sound control which is the best part of a CI sink. Garbage disposers are always very quite in a CI sink, but my big grip with CI sinks [ other than those already mentioned ] is that anything glass or ceramic that gets dropped in or even just falls over breaks or chips.
Will actually cool the water down immediately due to their heavy mass and after they are heated will lose heat just as fast or faster than a SS sink. There is usually a thin layer of sound absorbing material on the outside of a SS sink that slightly slows heat loss, I have never seen any insulation on the outside of a CI sink as it is not needed for sound control which is the best part of a CI sink. Garbage disposers are always very quite in a CI sink, but my big grip with CI sinks [ other than those already mentioned ] is that anything glass or ceramic that gets dropped in or even just falls over breaks or chips.
thought I was the only one...
I thought I was the only one who didn't in particular like stainless steel in a kitchen.
I'm a big fan of white -- I have a white dishwasher, white stove (with white glass, a Kitchenaid electric smoothtop), and a white frig. My Miele oven DOES have a black glass front with stainless accents but I got it for too good of a price to complain (about 1/3 of retail as it didn't have "Mastercook" functions which I didn't want. A knob switching modes is all I wanted, and the rotisserie).
When I put in my mid century modern cabinets, they'll be white.
My mother can't understand it. She says "Why do you want white? It shows dirt!" I respond, "I WANT to see DIRT in the KITCHEN!"
Sinks? I like enameled cast iron
but of course you can't drop pots.
My Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker is stainless but mostly I use Corningware and Le Creuset (Goodwill is a good source of them too). The Le Creuset looks great in its various colors on the stove top. And I like cast iron anyway.
For those who like stainless, go for it. I'm not a fan. Though I HAVE contemplated having a rolling kitchen island with a stainless top, for prepping for canning, mostly. (We do a LOT of jams and canned fruits)
I thought I was the only one who didn't in particular like stainless steel in a kitchen.
I'm a big fan of white -- I have a white dishwasher, white stove (with white glass, a Kitchenaid electric smoothtop), and a white frig. My Miele oven DOES have a black glass front with stainless accents but I got it for too good of a price to complain (about 1/3 of retail as it didn't have "Mastercook" functions which I didn't want. A knob switching modes is all I wanted, and the rotisserie).
When I put in my mid century modern cabinets, they'll be white.
My mother can't understand it. She says "Why do you want white? It shows dirt!" I respond, "I WANT to see DIRT in the KITCHEN!"
Sinks? I like enameled cast iron
but of course you can't drop pots.My Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker is stainless but mostly I use Corningware and Le Creuset (Goodwill is a good source of them too). The Le Creuset looks great in its various colors on the stove top. And I like cast iron anyway.
For those who like stainless, go for it. I'm not a fan. Though I HAVE contemplated having a rolling kitchen island with a stainless top, for prepping for canning, mostly. (We do a LOT of jams and canned fruits)
I like my stainless steel sink and it's easily cared for but on the other hand... I have a Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator that's about 7 years old. It's stainless with black sides and has never had an issue. Everyone compliments me on it's beauty but I wish I would have never bought it. Those damn stainless doors are always getting something on them, either the dog licks it at the bottom or somone touches it, oh how many times I wish I would have bought either solid black or white.
I don't know, I usually run hot water in my sink prior to filling it so I don't have an issue with it cooling the water.I can come back an hour or two later and still find the water warm -- but i use very hot water
DirectDriveDave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2011
- Messages
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I am okay with stainless steel on some things, especially the sink, but I so do not follow the whole EVERYTHING in the kitchen has to be it.
One thing I noticed with white kitchen appliances over the years is that if it is white, it is ALL white, I'm okay with white appliances but not how they currently look. For example our original dishwasher (a GE Potscrubber) and the rerigerator (also a GE) was the white model, however it had some black on it. The control panel for the dishwasher was black and on the refrigerator the handles and the water/ice dispenser area were also black.
It seems those kinds of things aren't around today, though if they are, I'm obviously not looking hard enough.
One thing I noticed with white kitchen appliances over the years is that if it is white, it is ALL white, I'm okay with white appliances but not how they currently look. For example our original dishwasher (a GE Potscrubber) and the rerigerator (also a GE) was the white model, however it had some black on it. The control panel for the dishwasher was black and on the refrigerator the handles and the water/ice dispenser area were also black.
It seems those kinds of things aren't around today, though if they are, I'm obviously not looking hard enough.
I don't mind stainless at all
But stainless would be off my list if I had kids.
Our kitchen is fairly small and had nearly BOL appliances left over from my parents. The '49 Westy stove wasn't viable for partner Dave to use (before he had his stroke and was still the cook in our house) and he not only hated electric, but would have wrecked the original surface coils in a hurry. The '75 Coldspost SxS fridge was plain and small. The '90 Maytag dishwasher was ugly and loud, although it did a fine job of cleaning.
Other than DIY tile countertops, reconfiguring one cabinet and removing another (done in 1970), the kitchen layout is original to 1927. Since a complete remodel was out of the question, we decided to go with the professional look of a "working" kitchen and got everything in stainless. KA Architect SxS fridge, Electrolux Icon dual fuel range, and, refusing to buy a modern DW, I found the ISE version of a KUDS22 dishwasher and put stainless panels on it. The kitchen no longer has a granny look to it and is more reflective (so to speak) of a men's household.
My parents always bought white appliances. I would consider white if today's appliances didn't look so ugly in white. Fridges look like they've been stamped out of a mold, with even the handles matching the finish on the doors. No matter how TOL you go, white fridges and stoves look like cheap stuff you'd find in a rental. Until they restore a classy look to white appliances, as in providing some chrome or brushed handles and trim again, I won't buy anything in white.
I also can't stand the smudge-free texture on refrigerators, particularly the white ones. I'd go with black if I had to choose a color, but never white unless they start to provide a smooth enameled finish again.
But stainless would be off my list if I had kids.
Our kitchen is fairly small and had nearly BOL appliances left over from my parents. The '49 Westy stove wasn't viable for partner Dave to use (before he had his stroke and was still the cook in our house) and he not only hated electric, but would have wrecked the original surface coils in a hurry. The '75 Coldspost SxS fridge was plain and small. The '90 Maytag dishwasher was ugly and loud, although it did a fine job of cleaning.
Other than DIY tile countertops, reconfiguring one cabinet and removing another (done in 1970), the kitchen layout is original to 1927. Since a complete remodel was out of the question, we decided to go with the professional look of a "working" kitchen and got everything in stainless. KA Architect SxS fridge, Electrolux Icon dual fuel range, and, refusing to buy a modern DW, I found the ISE version of a KUDS22 dishwasher and put stainless panels on it. The kitchen no longer has a granny look to it and is more reflective (so to speak) of a men's household.
My parents always bought white appliances. I would consider white if today's appliances didn't look so ugly in white. Fridges look like they've been stamped out of a mold, with even the handles matching the finish on the doors. No matter how TOL you go, white fridges and stoves look like cheap stuff you'd find in a rental. Until they restore a classy look to white appliances, as in providing some chrome or brushed handles and trim again, I won't buy anything in white.
I also can't stand the smudge-free texture on refrigerators, particularly the white ones. I'd go with black if I had to choose a color, but never white unless they start to provide a smooth enameled finish again.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Stainless Probably Here for Awhile:
I don't like stainless any more than some of you do - in fact, I wrote an article for JetSetModern about its misuse on appliances a few years back. As many people have found, it's murder to keep looking the way it does in the ads, and as some of you have pointed out, all that glitters these days is not really stainless. BUT -
In my opinion, it's going to be with us for quite a while yet, for a very simple reason: It costs more, and it LOOKS like it costs more. When a house is being shown, the presence of stainless appliances makes it clear that the appliances are not cheapies. Most people are extremely poor judges of what they see when they're house-hunting - though most would tell you they're canny shoppers, they're not - and they need cues to convince them that the house is worth what they're thinking about spending.
One white or bisque appliance looks very much like the next, and both have a "cheap" connotation with many buyers - so many low-end appliances are made in these colors, and many people cannot visually distinguish between a builder's-grade bisque dishwasher and a TOL KitchenAid bisque dishwasher (unless, of course, they see them in a store with price tags on them). Stainless breaks it out for the less well-informed, and that's why I think it's here to stay for awhile yet.
This new "White Ice" is not going to catch on, trust me. White is white in most buyers' minds, an entry-level color. Despite what the article says, white iPhone and a white fridge mean two very different things to most people.
P.S.: I'm in total agreement about white-on-white or bisque-on-bisgue trim; it's bland, it's boring and it quickly discolors to a different shade than the rest of the appliance. At the prices of nice appliances nowadays, you'd think that manufacturers could afford to cast a little bit of pot metal and chrome-plate it, but noooooooooooo....
I don't like stainless any more than some of you do - in fact, I wrote an article for JetSetModern about its misuse on appliances a few years back. As many people have found, it's murder to keep looking the way it does in the ads, and as some of you have pointed out, all that glitters these days is not really stainless. BUT -
In my opinion, it's going to be with us for quite a while yet, for a very simple reason: It costs more, and it LOOKS like it costs more. When a house is being shown, the presence of stainless appliances makes it clear that the appliances are not cheapies. Most people are extremely poor judges of what they see when they're house-hunting - though most would tell you they're canny shoppers, they're not - and they need cues to convince them that the house is worth what they're thinking about spending.
One white or bisque appliance looks very much like the next, and both have a "cheap" connotation with many buyers - so many low-end appliances are made in these colors, and many people cannot visually distinguish between a builder's-grade bisque dishwasher and a TOL KitchenAid bisque dishwasher (unless, of course, they see them in a store with price tags on them). Stainless breaks it out for the less well-informed, and that's why I think it's here to stay for awhile yet.
This new "White Ice" is not going to catch on, trust me. White is white in most buyers' minds, an entry-level color. Despite what the article says, white iPhone and a white fridge mean two very different things to most people.
P.S.: I'm in total agreement about white-on-white or bisque-on-bisgue trim; it's bland, it's boring and it quickly discolors to a different shade than the rest of the appliance. At the prices of nice appliances nowadays, you'd think that manufacturers could afford to cast a little bit of pot metal and chrome-plate it, but noooooooooooo....
yogitunes
Well-known member
Everything in my kitchen is Stainless!
OK....my two cents on cleaning stainless steel....and it really does only cost pennies to keep bright....forget all those special cleaners and polishes.....
use a simple cleaner like 409 or Fantastic and wipe down well......
THEN....as simple as it is...BABY OIL...on a cloth, rub it into the stainless all over......
and with another cloth......buff it to a great shine, with no effort, and only takes a few minutes!
learned this while in the hospital, and asked one of the maintenance personnel what professional stuff they used, like in the elevators....and he pulled out a bottle of baby oil with a pump sprayer on top......it's as simple as that!
OK....my two cents on cleaning stainless steel....and it really does only cost pennies to keep bright....forget all those special cleaners and polishes.....
use a simple cleaner like 409 or Fantastic and wipe down well......
THEN....as simple as it is...BABY OIL...on a cloth, rub it into the stainless all over......
and with another cloth......buff it to a great shine, with no effort, and only takes a few minutes!
learned this while in the hospital, and asked one of the maintenance personnel what professional stuff they used, like in the elevators....and he pulled out a bottle of baby oil with a pump sprayer on top......it's as simple as that!
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