Whatever happened to style?

[veg-o-matic]

Why are modern machines so dang boring? Go to the store and they're all lined up, buncha big white boxes with the occasional coffin-grey (woo hoo!) model thrown in to break up the monotony.
Dolly in for a closeup, and the control panels all look alike, too; SmallknobSmallknobSmallknobBigknob. The dryers, at least, are different; BigknobSmallknobSmallknobSmallknob.
Oh, there's the occasional 'sport'--those new GEs that are guaranteed to look dorky unless you have the matching pair and position them properly. And the Maytags with their curved control panels.
Wouldn't you like to see a little chrome? Some glass with a light behind it? Manufacturer names spelled out in something other than a sans-serif font?
Here's what I mean:
Ah, for the good old days...
Veg

 

[maytagbear]

Well Said!

Thank you. I could not agree more.

Industrial design seems to have ceased to exist.

*picks up copy of Thomas Hines's "Populuxe," weeps silently*

Love and laughter

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[veg-o-matic]

Quote from maytagbear:
"*picks up copy of Thomas Hines's "Populuxe," weeps silently*"

Oh yeah! What I've always wanted was wallpaper that looks like the endpapers in the book!

 

[deeptub]

Populuxe

We had an outdoor chaise lounge with cushions upholstered in fabric with the exact same pattern as the Populuxe endpapers. I wonder what ever happened to it.

Populuxe was in our HIGH SCHOOL library. I think I was the only person who ever checked it out. I renewed it over and over throughout my HS career. I bought a copy when it was reprinted. That book shaped my sense of style.

T.

 

[drmitch]

I say,old bean Well said!

 

[tolivac]

Besides White,"casket Grey",and black-not much choice in color.Is VERY boring.Like many of todays cars-same body styles---no diversity.Guess it saves the design depts some money.You might even find some "Stainless Steel" look appliances-Great make your kitchen look like a hospital laboratory!

 

[drmitch]

With all the money he saves on design the CEO gets himself (or herself) another bonus!

 

[rchris]

I dunno...things are a considerable sight better in recent years with the aforementioned Harmony and Maytag toploaders.

And, some higher-line Whirlpools *do* have some stainless steel trim, so that's something, I guess.

One thing that has surprised me is that colored buttons a la the office photocopier havent made their way to home appliances. That way, you would have pink, green, blue, gold, yellow to brighten things up. Yeah, they would be plastic, but we have enough cheap, Mexican-made crap on our laundry equipment these days...what's one more thing? *winkwink* ;o)

As to color, whatever happened to cobalt blue? Will that forever be only something to set KitchenAid appliances apart?

 

[partscounterman]

give us color

Why don't they give us colored appliances-esp laundry equipment. What if whirlpool had been daring and offered the first Duet in an all-blue cabinet, rather than just blue trim. I think they should try some bright new colors for laundry, since these machines often end up in some dreary basement or garage area. Does anyone remember the bright yellow BOL "Sunshine" dryer GE offered in the early '60? White has always been boring, biscuit is even more boring, and grey and black are NOT colors. I wish some one in the appliance industry would rediscover COLOR and give it to us!

 

[westytoploader]

I even miss the woodgrain!!

The '82 Kenmore is the "station wagon" of washers: big, boxy, 29" wide, with a funky woodgrain/chrome control panel. I wish manufacturers would stop producing this streamlined plastic crap.

The new "plastic" Hotpoint washers weigh around 132 lbs or so. A far cry from the 360 pound combos of the 1960's...

 

[Compwhiz]

Well basicly major aplliances today dont have styles becuase they arent hot stuff as much as they used to be

 

[kenmore1978]

82 KM

The styling is the main reason I've put up with keeping my '78 KM running. "Coffee" with chrome trim and fake woodgrain. Not as good as the earlier stuff, but a hell of a lot better than the newer stuff. I remember standing in my kitchen in 1978 after just having re-modeled it and noticing how EVERYTHING had "fake wood grain" on it. The KM laundry pair, the Montgomery Ward microwave, the KM dishwasher (it had fake "burled" woodgrain), the Proctor-Silex toaster oven, the KM trash compactor, the Zenith 13" TV set, the handles on the Montgomery Ward (WCI) refrigerator Even the electric can opener had a little strip of "woodgrain" on it. I'll have to post pictures of it, it was a classic 70's kitchen. Fake 1/2" thick "Z-Brick" on one wall, wallpaper on other wall, "flagstone" pattern flooring, flourescent lit "drop ceiling" with frosted panels. All "Coffee/Coppertone/Brown" appliances. Yellow "Corian" countertops with a yellow sink. How I miss that kitchen