Would this be dumb?

[dalangdon]

As the house continues to evolve, much drama centers upon the kitchen.

We recently acquired (I never thought I would say this) a Frigidaire side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator. Needless to say, it was not *my* idea (it looks like something you'd win on a game show), but life is all about compromises, right? And, I admit, I kind of like the in-door water and ice dispensor. It's very Marsha Brady.

So I have retaliated with the Flair. I miss my "see-level" ovens and "roll to you" cooktop. Plus, I like the extra storage. (We have a ridiculous amount of pots and pans) AND I think it would look cool next to the fridge, as it has a lot of stainless on it. Real stainless. Not like what is on the front of Little Miss "Price-is-Right"

(plus, as we doubtless all know, "Whether you bake or broil or stew, a Frigidaire kitchen does it all for you")

The only fly in the ointment is that the base cabinet is white, and that flies in the face of the "look" we are going for (which is to be as darkish/mannish as we can muster)

So, gentle readers, tell me: Would it be dumb - indeed, would it be sacrilege - to look at covering the doors of the base cabinet in stainless? Can this even be done in a cost-efficient manner?

 

[spiralactivator]

I don't think it's sacriligeous to change the base cabinet (though I thought white went with everything). At least you're keeping the Flair. Good luck!

 

[petek]

Game show fridge LOL I know I shouldn't laff but that strikes at the essence of them. Besides I don't know what I'm going to do when our aging 3 door GE in almond SxS goes kaput, probably go for a white french door with freezer on the bottom or the Maytag wide by side model.

As for the base dilema..have you looked to see if Mac Tac makes any faux stainless peel and stick. Myself I'd probably paint it with a stainless steel look spray paint.

 

[gansky1]

The first item up for bid....

Here is some "update on a roll" self-adhesive faux stainless steel. Take it for what you will, I have never seen it so I can't say if it's hoky or not. I'm a bit skeptical but who knows?

Why not just paint the range cabinet black? Are the doors of "Miss Price is Right" stainless with a black cabinet or is the entire thing clad in SS?

Hint: The range is usually the most prominent feature of a kitchen and nothing says "HELLO" like turquoise! Nobody will even notice the fridge...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Roll-of-Brushed...552700966QQcategoryZ46124QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[petek]

You know what goes well with that fridge, "this lovely bakers rack. This unique and fabulous bakers rack modelled in the 19th century French tradition of wrought iron and brass shelving which is sure to make a lasting impression in anyones kitchen. And along with the bakers rack comes a years supply of Rice a Roni, the San Fransico treat. All this can be yours if the price is right.

 

[peterh770]

I'm with Greg on this one. Debbie Travis on one of her HGTV shows recently covered a frig in faux stainless steel, and at least on TV, it look good. If it doesn't work, you can strip and paint.

 

[Versatronic]

I have no good advice or input to offer

But it does bring to mind a question that I have wondered about many times. But then, I drink a lot of coffee and think too much. Why are all these "retro" appliances coming out in stainless steel? What is retro about that? How many vintage refrigeraters, for instance, were available in stainless steel editions? How many blenders, mixers, toasters were decked out in pure unadulterated stainless steel? How is that retro? And how come retro and modern can be used to describe the same thing? "Our new retro line of blenders has modern styling that will add a distinctive elegance to your kitchen"? How can it be modern styling if it's patterned after the retro style of the fifties or sixties? And if you want a retro appliance, why don't you go to the flea market and buy one for 5 bucks instead of spending 185 dollars for one created to look vintage?

These are rhetoric questions, by the way. Carry on.

 

[Versatronic]

And yes, dalangdon

In case you are wondering, we are going to follow you around and hijack all of your threads.

 

[Versatronic]

But seriously

Should I paint my dishwasher turquoise to match my kitchen better or is it blasphemous and sinful to taint the original state of my beautiful vintage appliance? These are the questions that torture my sorry obsessive/compulsive ass on a daily basis. I can relate.

 

[petek]

Many on here do repaint their vintages back to original factory specs as close as possible but I see no reason why you can't embellish it to suit yourself. It's only paint, and paint can be painted over and over.

 

[Versatronic]

Pete...

I suddenly have visions of "Hoover, what were they thinking?" syndrome where hundreds of people that I've never heard of before with names like Multifunctionspankulator come out of the woodwork to post pictures of their vintage stainless steel appliances to make me look like a fool.

 

[goatfarmer]

If it brings any comfort to the huddled masses,I recently repainted an early 70's Whirlpool 'fridge. It went from avocado,to almond.The door front was rusty,probably could never match the paint,readily available Rustoleum almond,and almond sells better than green.
I say whatever floats your boat......

kennyGF

 

[laundromat]

TPIR

If you'd like to see "The Price is Right" in person,send your request along with a self addressed , stamped envelope to:
TICKETS
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
CBS TELEVISION CITY
7800 BEVERLY BLVD.
LOS ANGELES,CALIF.
90036
Contestants not apearing on stage will receive a $100 gift certificate from the famous Spiegel Catalog Company.Over 50,000 quality items providing value,selection and economy. Spiegel,Chicago,60609. Coming up next is our fabulous Price is Right Showcase!!!! LOL We love you Bob!!!

 

[bethann]

Dan

Why couldn't you strip the paint off the doors and grind the same pattern into the metal then clear it ( if needed ) so it would match the fridge? Just a thought!

 

[Maytagmom]

Final Word from Bob Barker....

And don't forget to spay and neuter your pets!

LOL

 

[bostonwash]

--Yes.

the stainless steel "thing" is just a trick to make insecure americans think they are getting "solid" appliances in the face of ever cheapened appliances. Remember when Kitchenaid and Maytag were king. lol.

first off faux SS., LOLOLOLOLOL. the first time I saw that.... LOLOL. But anyway I'm sure that is just me.

So, just in case the whole millenium grunge thing doesn't have longevity, , , peel and stick ss. might be a good idea. you can always remove later in case things, don't work out. Your smart not to throw good money down the drain.

"darkish/mannish" - you know what goes well with this is FACTORY finished hardwood or laminate/pergo flooring. Oh and those gigantic large screen tvs, SUVs, and walls painted "industrial strength" green.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yeah, stainless steel is getting too expensive so manufacturers are using Faux SS, that seems an awful lot like aluminum. Dan, I hate to tell you this, but the cover that slides out as the surface units slide in is not stainless steel. It is a brushed chrome plate surface. The metal is steel which has to be brass plated to accept the chrome. An aquaintence had, might still for all I know or care, a partner who brought a 40" Flair to the relationship. Already you have a two range kitchen so you know that the appliances are the only things AC only here. Well, in cleaning the humidifier, the plastic bottle of lime dissolver (acid) was set on the cover of the surface units and when it was removed, low and behold, there was a brass ring rampant on a field of brushed chrome and a heartbroken person who would never do that again. They never found the missing ring of chrome plate.

Years ago, John was on a service call in an older house with radiators. He could not believe the beautiful stainless steel radiator covers he saw. When he mentioned them, he was told that all they did was have the old covers stripped down to the steel and polyurethaned. I know that is not a verb, but steel polished & coated so that it does not oxidize can look great. If you want manly, why not mount the head of some dead animal, or a whole dead fish on a plaque on each door?

Glad to hear that you are going to have an electric range, but the ovens on that type of stove are so poorly insulated that it will only be slightly better than using the gas oven, except for the by products of combustion.

 

[Versatronic]

If you're serious about being manly

Ditch the Flair altogether and buy a 122" grill and place it outside of the back door and only EAT dead animals or dead fish. Strapping on a welding helmut and lighting the grill with a blow torch would be an added touch you might consider. Then use the space you've just made in the kitchen to store your Mobile Maid. Something with hoses going in and out of it looks way more manly than anything that has the word "Bosch" on it. Trust me on this.

 

[jamman_98]

I love gameshows

I love old gameshows Let's Make a Deal is a hoot now. Saw my first car on one show. It only cost $4,356 LOL.

Btw did anyone notice that on the side of Debbie Travis' van is the word Sivart which is Travis spelled backward?

Joe
jamman_98

 

[Unimatic1140]

Trying to be relevant here

I would go with painting it too Dan. I've said for quite a few years now that Stainless Steel appliances in the coming teens will look like harvest gold and avacado appliances in the 90's.

 

[veg-o-matic]

I'm going to agree with Greg here and say that nothing says "Modern Kitchen" quite like turquoise. To me, SS screams "Welcome to the morgue."

Dan, dear, a dark kitchen isn't mannish, it's just dark. I feel a kitchen should be bright and sunny, the better to show off all your vintage smalls. My own kitchen is painted a lovely light yellow, and it doesn't make me feel any less of a man. (What makes me feel less of a man is when I get so delirious with joy that I pirouette from fridge to range and back again. But that's my issue.)

What surprises me is that someone who actually owns a turquoise wall-hung (that's wall, boys) GE fridge would even allow a SS fridge in his house. Was this the hub's idea? 'Cause if it was, he needs to be overruled.

Fake stainless steel? For shame, Dan, for shame! Lean your head over here so I can smack you upside it.

veg

 

[neptuneguy27]

Pirouette?

Oh Dear!

Veg, have you been watching the Stepford Wives again?

Chris
Who lives fruitfully in his electric Garden of Eden.

 

[dalangdon]

In defense of the Side by Side....

It really was a great deal: Originally priced at 1700, marked down to 1200, then marked down to 500, AND - get this - when it rang up, we got a rebate for 200, so it ended up costing us 300, and has the full two year warranty! (The reason for all of the discounts was that "the door didn't close right", but it was a matter of the produce drawer being off it's track and sticking out a bit, which affected the gasket) It simply was too good to pass up.

As far as a "dark" kitchen, it has two north-facing windows, dark wood cabinets (that are too nice to paint) and yellow tile counters edged with burgandy, so we decided to go with something a bit more "edgy" than my old kitchen, which was all sunny yellow and light birch cabinets. The stainless (faux or not) works well in that scenario. If we hate it, we'll bite the bullet and paint the cabinets and try to brighten it up. But the big priority right now is getting rid of that ugly, ugly, ugly 70's press-on floor.

And by the way, the wall fridge is pink, NOT turquoise ;-)

 

[veg-o-matic]

Whoops. My bad. It's Cory who has the turquoise hanging fridge.

Danny boy, I'll be big and admit that since it's your kitchen, you get all the votes. I'll also admit that it's none of my business anyway (but hell, if I waited until someone actually asked my opinion, I'd never get to say anything at all.)

Just let your innate fabulousness take over and do what the little voice tells you. Anyone who has a coffee table with a built-in coffee warmer definitely knows the score! And don't forget to take pics.

veg

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Why not just

paint the new refer white? If it's only fox ss it's not like
you'll be committing fabulous item desecration!

 

[dalangdon]

White? White?

I'd rather have passe appliances than white ones. My Mom (a lovely woman otherwise) would never buy anything BUT white appliances, all through the rainbow years, and that affected me deeply. So safe, so boring. No fun at all. Granted, white is not bisque, but it's still white.

Sorry, I'll take my pills and quiet down now. But white is not an option......

 

[toggleswitch]

You go on there, Dan!

Paint it pansy purple if it blows your skirt up.
(and post pics!)

 

[veg-o-matic]

I just remembered a dream I had the other night. Don't remember a lot of the details, but it involved a Flair range in...Poppy Red!

Yes, Poppy Red on the sides and the cooktop. Looked damn good too, if you ask me.

Did you ever?

veg

 

[bostonwash]

Any color

I like what Robert said (and that wallpaper looks so elegant). As much as I like the early colors and styles of previous years whether it be the 70s or 80s or even the torquise, pink, or sunny yellow from the 60s and 50s (well not torquise). They were all progressive meant to be upbeat colors. SS is institutional. I like the funeral home anal-ogy. I don't mean to get political but, well I don't think I need to, it is pretty clear these days. perhaps this new frig has black sides and REMOVable ss panels? maybe you could use contact paper on the front? no. seriously consider a panel insert kit from the manufacturer. a mirrored, or smoked glass, or ____ (your choice). I would settle for a black frig over ss anyday, though regretably.

The original Stepford Wives from the 1970s was good. Joanna, had Westinghouse(not white-westinghouse) appliances, but don't tell Dan they were (whisper) the w word.

I guess faux in some parts of the country is spelled (spelt) fox. hmm.

I would ~~skip~~ right to the painting of these cabinets. maybe you could make it easy on your self and paint just the doors and drawer fronts. Something that would contrast with the wood frame. New hardware would also do wonders.

I wish I could have inherited innate fabulousness. Don't they do plastic surgery for that now?

Dan, nice website. I hope you are feeling better these days. I haven't suffered the same way you have but my heart goes out to you. Speak no white, see no white. the big white no-no.

 

[dalangdon]

Speaking of Stepford

I actually liked Paula Prentiss' kitchen in the original. All the brick. I know her fridge was white, but didn't she have a stainless cooktop and oven? Very 70's.

Well, gotta run - John is taking me away for a weekend at the Plaza. It's so nice to see him after all the time he's been spending at that men's club.... ;-)