Is white out of date?

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charles

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Apr 20, 2018
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In all of the home remodeling articles I read stainless steel is always portrayed as the only type of appliance color on the market, but the house I live in has the standard white appliances. Does this mean that my kitchen is out of date?
 
Everything goes in and out of style. Had an all stainless steel kitchen at my house and liked the look of it. Now that I've downsized to apartment life, everything is white and I'm fine with it. Not too concerned about where it lands on the current-trend continuum.

If you're a person who prefers their kitchen to be a little more cutting edge or at least up to date--and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that--black stainless steel seems to be popping up a lot in top-of-the-line models.
 
After Labor day

says Serial Mom (Kathleen Turner). Patricia Hearst said no. Beverly Sutfin beat her to death with a telephone.
Always Rewind! The lady who didn't got beaten with a leg of lamb while watching Annie.
 
white is timeless, you can mix and match brands, and still stay within your color scheme....

if you want to change with seasons or for a different look, then you hit the tablecloths, curtains, window treatments, hand towels, and dishes on display...

stainless stays bright and shiny if you know how to take care of it, it takes minimal care to keep them looking that way....

now black, while its a fantastic color choice, probably the worst is on the washer, dryer and stove....the dust sticks out like a sore thumb...

normally at Sears when choosing a color for an appliance, it was a 10.00 charge extra for anything but white.....yet when I bought the dishwasher, black was the standard, white was an extra charge....
 
White appliances?

The problem with white appliances since the 1990s is the plastic parts of them discolor and show their age very quickly so unfortunately white is no longer completely safe choice.

The safest choice today for something it looks good and doesn’t age is bisque although it’s not that popular any longer.

Stainless steel is fine but It damages easily and shows it’s age also.

Black it’s not a bad choice but it also shows fingerprints.

John L.
 
It could be argued that white has been out of date for decades. Who'd want white when they could have Coppertone?

 

But white has been a survivor...and has outlived other colors that were fashionable today, forgotten tomorrow.
 
I read somewhere once...

But those of you on here that are far more knowledgeable than me will probably know better...

 

That white is the most commonly purchased appliance color period. Whether by year, decade, or throughout the history of commercial appliances. Even when the popular trend is toward stainless steel circa the 2000's or pastels in the 1950's, white always outsold everything overall, due to consumerism value.

 

White being the color of affordability.

 

Due to it generally being the only color option available on less expensive BOL appliances mostly, but also because paint equals a cheaper cover option over something with a special finish, like stainless steel. And so white (which is one of only 3 colors traditionally offered nowadays) will often sell much cheaper, even in TOL machines, than a stainless steel finish of the same model.

 

White outsells black or biscuit (the only other two  color choices typically offered) Because more white models are typically produced than the other colors, which I'm guessing is just due to general preference of the three choices.

 

It wasn't always the case back in the cool color era's of course... but nowadays when "fun" colors <span style="text-decoration: underline;">are</span> offered in appliances they more often than not cost more than basic white, just like Stainless Steel, in the same model too. Because far less of those particular machines are produced in those colors and sell higher due to rarity.

 

So for all it's plain-ness and lack of something extra, white is actually pretty popular and is technically always "in style"
 
Agree with John L

on the yellowing problem.  I have white Whirlpool refrigerator from 2010 that is really showing yellowing on the trim.

 

For whatever reason, the trim on the top of the freezer door is yellowing faster than the rest of the trim.

 

It started out white, will soon be a 3-tone color!
 
Try Mr. Clean Magic Erasers on the white plastic trim on white appliances to keep the yellow away. All of our appliances are white, and none of the plastic trim is yellowed. You have to keep any film of dirt or oil/grease from remaining on th plastic, brecause that will cause it to turn yellow.

Also, I wish that they would stop using that textured finish, I much prefer a smooth surface.

Too bad we can’t get good old fashioned chrome trim and handles on our white appliances any more. They put chrome on the SS appliances, why not the white? Probably would only cost an additional $5.00 per appliance, if that much and they would easlily charge an additional $25.00 to offset the expense.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 7/7/2018-17:04]
 
My kitchen appliances are a mix of stainless steel and white, and I'm okay with that. My washer and dryer are white, which I prefer overall, and I keep them wiped down and clean. Can't stand to start wash day in dirty machines. Have found that stainless steel seems harder to keep clean overall.

I do need to do some updating in my kitchen, new back splash and counter tops.
How do you all feel about counter tops? What do you prefer? Don't want to go with something trendy, just something that can take a lot of use and wear and still look nice. I don't mean to high jack this thread. LOL.

Barry
 
I'm a big fan of white

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Stainless steel always reminds me of those pull-out refrigerators that are so very popular for keeping bodies fresh and dewy in the morgue. I remember watching one of those HGTV shows where the uppity, snooty real estate lady, hand-on-hip, looked at a kitchen and said "this is nothing but cheap common builder's stock... laminate counter tops and white appliances!" She could have been standing in my kitchen. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Obviously a budget model, no ice & water in the door...</span>

twintubdexter-2018070714534604432_1.jpg
 
As for countertops

I prefer ether quarts or laminate because unlike granite they don't require the annual sealing treatment. quarts is grate if you want the "deep" look of granite but laminate has a mush higher heat resistance and is typically cheaper than its competitors.
 
I agree that white doesn't really go out of style. I just think in the really expensive housing markets (which tend to be what those TV shows are doing or articles you read that are almost always written in some uber expensive CA or NY area, and don't seem to think the rest of the world exists) people are expecting stainless and granite.

Obviously I couldn't afford to purchase in those areas but white appliances don't bother me.

I agree on the white plastic parts yellowing. Part of this is that awful white textured plastic that catches grease, food debris from hands and other stuff and causes a yellowed appearance. I've noticed the last few years they seem to be getting away from plastic handles and going toward painted metal handles which are much easier to keep clean and don't yellow. Also other plastic areas like ice and water dispenser panels seem to be going toward a glossy smooth plastic which is much easier to clean.

One thing I find very boring about today's appliances is how there's no chrome trim. It used to be that even basic refrigerators had some chrome trim on the handles or doors, even into the mid 90s. After that they just went to all textured blah plastic. That's probably I don't care much appliances much past the late 90s along with removing cool features like fluorescent lights and other interesting things.

I have seen some appliances now that are white with stainless steel handles so they are out there. The colors of appliances don't bother me as much as the features. It used to be that only high end stuff like Sub Zero or Jenn Air came in stainless, these days even the BOL Frigidaire and Whirlpools can be had in stainless. I always figure this has to do with those flipping homes or renting apartments, so they can give it a more upscale feeling even if the appliances have zippo as far as features.
 
 
A factor in plastic yellowing is UV exposure.  My master bathroom has three large glass block windows with west exposure.  Much of the plastic material in the room is discolored, including the side of the ceiling fan remote that sits on a wall bracket, rings around the recessed can lights, and the whirlpool tub jets that face the windows.
 
I wouldn’t have granite counter tops if they were given to me. I’m perfectly OK with laminate. If you take proper care of it it lasts almost forever. Our condo was built in 1980, and the counters in the kitchen are Almond laminate, which at the time was popular. It does show some wear in a few places, but overall still looks pretty good.

If you could still get the nice colored tile like was used in kitchens from the 20’s thru the 50’s I would love to have the counters tiled. But all the new tile just looks trendy to me, nothing classic about it. And I sure wouldn’t want those “Tuscan” looking tiles, or the glass tile back splashes that are ubiquitous on HGTV. Whenever we see one of those House Hunters programs where they view a vintage home with beautifully preserved tile kitchens and baths and they proclaim they are a complete gut job David and I just scream!

Eddie
 
I've been stressing over this for months. The Mini Manse came with all white appliances which at first was refreshing change since the Manse had SS. I'm getting kinda tired of the white but can't justify throwing away decent appliances.
 
My impression is that the ideal kitchen is one whose color scheme will allow for *any* single appliance to be replaced and still look good. Because, really, I don't want to have to replace all of them at once because one of them dies/died.

And the worst part is that in the past 20 years the market seems to pick only *one* color and make it dominant -- it has cycled already between white, black and stainless steel. What I mean by that is that some brands will offer only *one* choice of color for the top-of-the-line -- currently it has been stainless, for example. But nothing stops them in a couple of years, for example, to switch to black stainless, or black, or white or anything else.

So, as soon as I am able to remodel my kitchen, it will be something that can support any color appliances. I have already been working towards that: my current dishwasher and fridge are white, the range is sold as "stainless" but the truth is that it's black and stainless, and the microwave is stainless too. And when I remodel the kitchen I will be mostly replacing the cabinets (hopefully changing to a better layout too) and keeping whatever is working.
 
yuk, yellowing plastic...

I once had a 6 cf GE fridge I kept at work that was white, and then picked up another that was black. Sold the white one while it still looked good, as I knew the handle that went across the top would eventually turn yellow. The black still looks great today.

A small clip from a Ref article on the problem:

Your initial question was "What makes ABS plastic turn yellow." I should point out that the first few words of the second link read "Manufacturers add bromine to ABS plastic to act as flame retardant. Over time, those chemicals react to the plastic's basic polymers and turn yellow." Ergo, there is probably more to the yellowing of ABS plastic in particular than just photodegradation.

I might add I've had no luck using hydrogen peroxide to reverse this damage
 
Our house came with cheap Kenmore SS stove and dishwasher, don't care but was nice to have brand new stuff for once. We brought our white big Amana top and bottom fridge and white Whirlpool/Kenmore miss natched white washer and dryer. I have since replaced the laundry pair with a 2013 Kenmore 28102 tl washer and the next year Huge white dryer. I want my stuff to work well and be serviceable, I don't care if it matches. The dryer has been great and dries quickly and saves power, the washer still works fine but already needs bearings but I have all the parts to rebuild it when I'm ready. The fridge has worked perfectly for probably 20 years, and the appliances with the house have been fine as well but may upgrade the dishwasher eventually to get better cleaning and much quieter running, stove seems ok so far and is much nicer than the bol whirlpool we had at our rental. Been mostly trying to upgrade things to save utilities costs and do more in one shot.
 
White IS Timeless

My mother was told years ago to buy white when you can as it will not outdate your kitchen.

 

If you go into a house and it has pink appliances, you immediately think 50s early 60s. 

Coppertone is usually a kitchen don't in late 60s

Avocado, and Harvest gold will tell you the kitchen was done in the 70s.

Bisque, or Almond 80s

Black 90s

Stainless Steel 2000s

Starting to see white with stainless accents.  Whirlpool's "White Frost"

 

When I replaced my dishwasher and stove a few years back, I was tempted to go stainless, but the sales person pointed out that the different manufacturers stainless won't match one another.  The Kitchenaid dishwasher was much darker than the GE stove.

 

Now I am seeing Black Stainless advertised. 

 

I'm thinking, couldn't they bring back the Red Poppy?
 
It's a moving target

Right now, people that come in the door shopping for their own houses are buying the newer alternative colors such as black stainless and slate. Interestingly, the only homes we are installing stainless steel in right now, are the ones getting ready to be sold. Realtors are still telling people to fill their kitchens with stainless to make them look good on walk-throughs and it seems to work. There's still this idea out in the ether that a stainless steel appliance is somehow an indicator of better quality.

Black and white full kitchens are mostly relegated to the cheap spec homes right now. With very few exceptions, textured doors are gone, and the polished finish makes black doors even harder to keep clean than stainless.

Bisque/Biscuit is virtually dead. GE and Whirlpool still have a few pieces left but with no large fridges available, especially French doors, most people are immediately walking away.
 
Removing yellowing from white plastic

I want to share what I came across for bleaching plastic that works for me, it's a hair creme called Salon Care 40 that I got from Sally Beauty. I'm sure you don't have to use their brand, but that's what was recommended on the video. The lady at the store said a lot of hunting guys buy it to whiten their deer antlers or something along that line. It worked on my bathroom fan grilles, a doorbell cover, a nicotine stained white leather handle from a vintage tv, and just this afternoon I tested it on my yellowed vacuum cleaner cover. I just did one area to show how dramatic the difference is. Apply the creme, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the sun for several hours and it comes out looking great without removing the printed parts. Hope this helps!

joseph-2018071016553102095_1.jpg

joseph-2018071016553102095_2.jpg
 
When we spec'd our new house 3/2016,it was mostly standard to keep costs lower. I gotta' tell you,our white appliances and lighter wood cabinets are easy to keep clean and brighten the kitchen. They look good to us.

I don't get the fascination with DARK wood,smudgey SS,COLD stone countertops and cold/'shatter my Corell' ceramic floors. We have a vinyl kitchen floor that's soft. Nice to walk/kneel on and seldom breaks a dropped item. It CAN dent,but so far OK.

Of course our 2012 SQ's be white.

Sorry for old man rambling,just happy with bright,comfy home. :)
 
Elder people

seem to care less about high end finishes. My in laws have their rather large, 2,200 sq. ft. condo listed currently for sale. They built in in 1998 with standard amenities. Vinyl kitchen floor, no island, Formica counters. They do have hardwood floors in the entry foyer, main hall. All else is carpet. Bath's are ceramic, appliances white.
Dad added a ceramic tile kitchen back splash.
They are having difficulty selling it. They've reduced the price, and still buyers want new, updated, granite, tile flooring, or woods.
Even though most of what is in there is still made today, it's standard builders grade.
 

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