Is Stainless Still King of the Kitchen?

[lordkenmore]

It wouldn't be totally surprising if the "white ice" idea was inspired by Apple. "White ice" sort of describes the white of some of their products.

Certainly, I've seen plenty of design decisions that are--at best--seem suspiciously like Apple. In some cases, one sees outright rip off ideas. It's been that way at least since the first iMac. (Although Microsoft Windows was "borrowing" ideas years before that....) But simply copying the color doesn't work. Apple design is more than a color choice, and applying just that color to some piece of cheap junk does nothing more than make something that looks like a tacky, cheap ripoff. Something that I think many people would notice. I don't have the greatest eye for design, but I sure notice it. Thus, Apple colored appliances aren't likely to be a huge success simply because of the color. Unless Apple starts making appliances. (It may happen...I'd never have expected them to make as much as they do now!)

 

[lordkenmore]

Danemodsandy--it's nice seeing you post comments here again!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

What is done w/ the White (isn't that the same as a "metallic" finish????) can be done w/ just ANY color--then we'll get back in the race over colors & what's fashionably "in" and what's going "out"!

I am pretty much used to my stainless steel appliance (though am thoroughly peeved that I CAN'T get anything to stick to my refrigerator doors w/ a magnet--and there goes a favorite childhood memory, there! --Now I have to stick my daughter's pictures on there w/ TAPE!!!! --YUK!!!!)...

Nothing "commercial-restaurant" about it, or it clashing w/ my wood cabinets about it at all! I thought of sticking contact paper w/ either avocado or harvest gold & maybe some woodgrained contact paper for the handles, but ditched the idea & think my silver is at least OK! (Now if only you could do something about all those SILVER CARS out there! Yawn!)

Then again, how long before "Wood Ice Boxes" and the "Black Iron Coal or Wood Burning" look come back for fridges & ranges, respectively????

-- Dave

 

[hunter]

They are already there.

You can buy 'retro look' appliances already.

The price tag is...shocking.

 

[firedome]

Brushed bronze finish was mentioned above...

and Jenn-Air did introduce an "oiled Bronze" finish a few years ago, only on very limited high end models... just beautiful, but very expensive. Not sure if they still make it though. Would love to have appliances with that finsh.

 

[ptcruiser51]

It's white for me

going forward. Kitchen Aid did try the bronze thing awhile ago, now that Sears has the exclusive marketing of the brand, that's the place to look. Our showroom at THD has a lot of stainless, just because not "every" stainless looks alike but everyone knows what B&W look like. White is still our best seller. I have found that the least alkaline the product is best when dealing with white-on-white. Diluted dish soap or plain baking soda on a wet rag or sponge does a great job. Getting into ammonia, CL bleach or other spray-on cleaners can set you up for discoloring.

Cleaning SS in the showroom we usually use a Zep product for stainless steel. Yes, it does make the floor slippery; put down newspaper until you're done. The slight oiliness will help repel fingerprints for awhile. BUT, it does attract pet hair (sorry). Wipe-wipe-wipe with paper towels.

I have stainless cooktop and wall oven. Never again. Constant upkeep. I just do with Windex or similar and let the streaks show where they may. I know it's clean. If company's coming, that's when I use the SS polish. So shoot me.

When a customer is leaning towards an all-black kitchen suite, I ask them to just think/consider a SS fridge. Especially if it's a SxS or French-door. Unless it's a B&W kitchen, or very airy/spacious, a giant black fridge tends to be overwhelming. At least a stainless model will brighten things up some. Yes, kids and fingerprints go together; they won't be kids forever.

 

[bajaespuma]

I kinda liked Titanium...where'd it go?

What happened to the Titanium finish that was offered on appliances a couple of years back? I thought it was a great answer to all of the problems inherent with stainless steel: it was magnetic where SS wasn't; it was easier to keep clean; it was a warmer, more "heimisch" finish than Stainless. I think stainless became popular when the lord and lady of the McMansion wanted their fancy friends to get the idea that they were such good cooks that their kitchens had a lot of stainless appliances which people with lots of disposable cash think means it's a professional kitchen.

 

I'll never forget the time I went to do a catering job on one of the Thimble Islands that was owned by a commercial real estate agent and his Mrs.; they spent half a million on a kitchen that was all stainless and granite but neglected to put in a ventilation system (because honey-lamb thought that the big bulky hood was so unattractive). With two identical stainless restaurant stoves in place, whenever somebody came to their house to do any real cooking (other than the occasional soft-boiled egg or pasta with veggies) every smoke detector in the house went off from the smoke generated in the fancy kitchen. Served them right.

 

[spookiness]

I have a mix of black with stainless accents

black: Amana fridge, GE range, Kenmore DW, Braun coffeemaker, microwave
stainless: range hood, tea kettle, magnetic knife holder and other hardware & decor elements.

The cabinets are white, and I'd actually consider a white dishwasher if there was a cost advantage, but these days there doesn't seem to be as much if any difference in cost. When I got the black UltraWash, I had to pay extra for black. A white DW wouldn't be bad in my kitchen because it would actually emphasize the horizontality of the base cabinets, with the fridge and range as bookends.

 

[washerman]

Another "oil" for stainless steel.

When I did sanitation for a meat processesing area, I used mineral oil on the stainless steel smokehouse. Get it grease-free with whatever cleaner and then rub just a bit onto the stainless steel. The steel will gleam. It is also great because the oil blocks anything from drying to the metal. Formula 409 removes it easily and just reapply. (It also has a Federal Meat Inspector's seal of approval)

Maybe wouldn't work at home, but the customers at the service counter noticed right away.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I must have one of the very few WOW appliances that is still one color. It is a KA over the range micro-convection oven. I do not use the convection mode at all. I liked it for the stainless steel interior and outer appearance, but after 20 years, it is still all white. Of course, it is over an electric range so that helps, too.

 

[logixx]

I guess stainless is still the most-sold color for kitchen appliances here. Many appliances are only offered in a stainless version. Siemens, for example, has 53 integrated stainless steel dishwashers on offer but only 5 in white.

Here are Miele's offering in not-stainless steel: Titanium and Ice-White.

 

[cleanteamofny]

I'm glad this came up!

I need to read the whole thread but when I became a member of THS,
I've said that I would buy a colored refrigerater if it matches my K.A. mixer and less than one year later, here it came.....
If you think that MFG are not reading these message boards, you are wrong, they are and using information to improve next year models.....

 

[vintagekitchen]

Stainless has never been king in my kitchen.

In fact it didin't even make it to court jester. More like lowly un-welcome ugly peasant.

I dont like the stainless appliances, they are boring, and make your kitchen look like a morge, especially those blasted dish drawers and chiller drwaers and wall ovens. Looks just like the body drawers at a morgue.

Also, stainless is high upkeep compared to a nice porcelain finish. Porcelain requires a simple wipe and it is clean and shiny. Stainless requires polishing. Being ocd about my house, and lazy at the same time, anything that requires additional attention over regular finishes, is a no no.

On a side note, I am so so so ready to see the end of the black appliances as well. They make your kitchen dark and smaller. Nothing like the rich colors of years past. I love my combination of harvest gold and coppertone brown in my kitchen. So bright and pretty, like a sunny fall day. And avocado green was pretty and spring like if accessorized correctly. And omg, poppy red was so bright and warm.

Im waiting for rich colors like those of the past to come back.