Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Stainless Steel vs. White Appliances


House to Home
Stainless steel became the surface to aspire to in kitchen design a few decades ago, causing those with white appliances to question whether they need to "upgrade" or wait it out until white makes a comeback.
Well, that time may be now.  White is definitely making a comeback, giving consumers an option to stainless.
  
bhg
I love white appliances. 
 It is a clean look that looks fabulous, especially when paired with white cabinets.
White appliances have been the standard forever.  Until the harvest gold and avocado green of the 60's made them seem outdated.  

Style at Home
But white appliances will never be outdated.  I think it's a matter of preference these days.
That's because stainless steel isn't for everyone, and the professional kitchen look isn't for everyone.
The new white today is glossy, not textured.  It is sleek.

They both have their maintenance issues; white gets dirty easily and stainless scratches easily.
Although I have stainless now, I can see a day in the next house, or next life when I may choose glossy white!  


 If I were in charge at Viking, Sub-zero, Wolf or any other manufacturer, I would be offering that option to consumers.  Viking already does, as does Electrolux, Miele, Kitchenaid and others.

Pinterest
Are white appliances the new stainless?
  Do you see the love affair with stainless appliances coming to an end?
Talk to me...

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44 comments:

LauraC said...

Not only do I prefer white appliances, I would choose white tile in the bathroom too. Never goes out of style. The walls, the linens, etc can be easily changed. (My grout would probably not be white though! Sealers do not do a good enough job.)

LauraC

Anonymous said...

Well, I've always loved white appliances and that's what I have. I just have a simple little kitchen but to me white is a classic and just looks like home.
Those are some drolling over kitchen snaps you've shown.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Helen said...

I have creamy white cabinets with white appliances .... I would never change!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Well, I am glad white is making a comeback since that is what I have.

Woodside Park said...

What a great post! Even though I love white, I chose stainless appliances for our kitchen when we renovated 4 years ago. At that time, there wasn't much available in white appliances. Given the choice today, I would be very tempted with these gorgeous white beauties you just featured. My cabinets are pale gray...my floors are white....so, the white appliances would be divine!
Cheers,
Loi

Unknown said...

That's what I plan to get next. They go with anything you do to your kitchen. Right now I have a multitude of colors LOL White stove top with black door, almond dishwasher, white matte textured fridge (which I'd NEVER have again because it's too hard to keep clean). I've always thought if you had kids and/or animals, stainless would be extremely hard to keep clean. Even though white might be too at least with the shiny surface - it's easy to clean...my stovetop is.

Unknown said...

That's what I plan to get next. They go with anything you do to your kitchen. Right now I have a multitude of colors LOL White stove top with black door, almond dishwasher, white matte textured fridge (which I'd NEVER have again because it's too hard to keep clean). I've always thought if you had kids and/or animals, stainless would be extremely hard to keep clean. Even though white might be too at least with the shiny surface - it's easy to clean...my stovetop is.

Sonia said...

Love white appliances...that's what I have. When we build our new kitchen I plan on having white cabinetry with white appliances..glad they are making a comeback!
Miss Bloomers

Tricia Rose said...

In a word, yes!

gme said...

Oh thank you! I have white appliances and, at times, have almost felt like I should apologize for having them. These kitchens are beautiful and the appliances look great! Now I feel much better. As they say, if you wait long enough, most things come back in style....:)

The Vintage Chateau said...

What a great post! When we built our house 13 years ago I chose white appliances over stainless. I think stainless looks a bit cold and industrial. Many times I have had doubts that my kitchen looked dated. My wall oven recently broke and needs replacing so I've been agonizing over whether to switch everything to stainless now. Guess what? I'm sticking with white!

Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns said...

I have never been a huge fan of stainless...I think it looks beautiful for many kitchens but not for mine. I think white looks great!

Beautiful images.

Congratulations by the way on the graduate!

Elizabeth

home before dark said...

I like stainless and I prefer an industrial kitchen to a "romantic" one. I'm in the middle of my kitchen do over and it will be stainless, chrome, mirror, black and green. My vision was for the garden (green trees and shrubs) to be reflected in the walls of mirror with a green ceiling to feel like I'm cooking in a tree house. As you can tell, trends don't do much for me!

Nita Stacy said...

When I had to buy a new refrigerator a few years ago...I thought perhaps I should go stainless but I went white instead because it's traditional. When I get a new stove it will be white with lots of silver accents. I'd love to have a vintage O'Keefe & Merrit stove or a Magic Chef like my Mom had. I think white will always be a perfect choice but i also think that stainless is here to stay and a safe buy too. But nothing wrong with a big red stove either. The only finish I would absolutely stay away from is oil rubbed bronze. I think people are going to hate that in a few years. I always go with classic chrome.

Kelly said...

I only like white appliances with white cabinets. Otherwise, I prefer SS. In a small kitchen, all white cabinets with white appliances make it more spacious feeling, so that is what I have. I think that white appliances go better in a vintage style kitchen than SS too. My least favorite of all color appliances is black! Reminds me of the 1980's and doesn't do much for anyone's kitchen if you ask me.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Yea, for white! I love a white kitchen!!!! What great images.

Pura Vida said...

I keep telling my children as soon as everyone buys stainless, white will be IN...it is timeless too!

deb said...

Love the white. I hate the constant fingerprints on stainless. Unfortunately, it's what I have right now, but I'm changing it as soon as I can!!

A Runner's Mind said...

I like the white, but am a stainless steel girl it seems. Has anyone ever met anyone who professed to LIKE the avocado or gold colors of yesteryear?????

Kathleen said...

I know all the design shows really push the stainless steel but I've always preferred white. It's easier for me to keep the white clean then deal with the streaks, fingerprints and water spots on stainless. I stick with white backsplash and white towels too. It just looks so crisp and never dated. I really dislike the black appliances. They look like a huge black hole in my opinion. I really like black accents but for appliances it never worked.

designchic said...

I adore white anywhere with it's clean, simple appeal. The first image is fabulous!!

kim @ whitebarnbasics said...

I'm not much of a "what's in style" kinda gal, I'd like to be but, well, just not happening now! but I really do love white appliances(which is what I have) I think they look great with my stained wood cabinetry. Mine are simple appliances not the cool ones that I drool over on various blogs! Oh, well, I like white!

Kathysue said...

I have always had white and don't see me changing after 42 years. Love the clean crisp feel of all white. I never feel dated always a classic in my life. Great post with great examples!!! xo Kathysue

Lori E said...

I am still a fan of stainless finding a lot of the white appliances to come around lately have a dull, grayish hue to them. It is as if there isn't enough pigment in the paint.

the girl is craftee said...

Well, I've been a fan of stainless for sometime now, but I've never seen white appliances like you have pictured here. Love all of them!

vicki archer said...

Maybe they are?? I must admit to loving them both... xv

The enchanted home said...

The white appliances you featured are gorgeous. I think it comes down to the kitchen and what looks best. I am not personally a huge staineless fan but have seen it look great depending on the space. Love all the stunning examples you showed above.

laney said...

..i love stainless...i love white...but i lust after a red aga...

Victoria said...

The white appliances you have shown are glossy and that makes all the difference for me. I have never liked textured white appliances and have had a stainless stove and refrigerator for many years. My dishwasher has a door front that matches the island and just looks like part of the furniture. My new kitchen has white perimeter cabinets but they have a gray glaze and I think white would stand out just as much as stainless. I have never seen the appliances you have shown, but I am sure they are high end and would enhance any white kitchen.
Best...Victoria.

mom22 said...

I still like stainless. It adds a little sparkle and breaks up on that white

Libby said...

What about some black? We have a black dishwasher, oven and microwave and love them!
I've had stainless refrigerator, both in our old house and now this one, and no, I am NOT a fan! But it was really all that was out there for so many years. Terrible to keep clean, as everyone has agreed.
The problem with white is, it's hard to have just SOME white i.e. to transition over to it. I love white, but unless I were to buy all new appliances, it just would not look right mixed with black or stainless. As my kitchen is now, the black and stainless look great together. Just another option!

Betsy Speert said...

For me, it's not about the color, but about the style.....
The reason the white examples you show above are so great looking is because....THEY HAVE GREAT STYLE!!!!
Oh...THE KNOBS!!!
Oh...THE HANDLES!!!!
Oh...THE SHAPE!!!
'course, that's just my opinion...... But I AM a genious!
AND.....I have white appliances in Florida!
AND....I have stainless in Massachusetts!
AND.....Now I'm going to shut up.......

Anonymous said...

Delores,
I confess, when we remodeled 8 years ago we went with a stainless Viking stove and hood and covered the 'fridge and dishwasher with the paneled wood that blended with the cabinets. Truth is, I was afraid I'd go crazy with the fingerprint issue. I miss my white and while I really like my kitchen I believe I'd return to white next time...I'm with you, it's a timeless classic.
Karen

Anonymous said...

I don't believe ss will disappear. It's a beautiful alternative that consumers can choose. It's a 'neutral' and appeals to those that like a more industrial/commercial style. I think today's manufacturers are producing better quality products that really take both white and ss up a notch and eliminate some of the issues we've experienced with lower quality finishes. I've had ss, white and now black and out of them all, I want to go back to ss when I paint my natural maple cabinets to white.

Donna in Potomac said...

Done well, they both look great. Stainless has that restaurant kitchen appeal that's timeless, and white is looking better and better. I only hope they don't come out with too many shades of white...Lord knows we have a hard enough time choosing the right white paint, ha!

lvroftiques said...

Hi Delores!
I always read ya, but almost never comment. This topic is close to my heart so I just had to add my two cents. I love stainless as much as the next gal, but it's a PAIN to take care of. Shows finger prints and every little spec of dust unless constantly cleaned. Mine has to be cleaned in the "right" direction or it doesn't look good. White is so classic! Always has been always will be! So two big thumbs up for white! *winks* Vanna

Carolyn said...

White appliances coordinate well with my beachy decor and primary colors. When we updated our kitchen, three years ago, we chose white. I didn't want to be a slave to continually cleaning finger prints off of appliances!

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

The white looks wonderfully clean and fresh with the white kitchens....Especially the appliances with the great style!

Sarah said...

I've always been faithful to white. LOL
Stainless is OK, we used it on our dishwasher, but I'm a fan of all white. ;-)
Happy Mother's Day, Delores. ~ Sarah

gme said...

This is for A Runner's Mind...I had avocado appliances in the 70's and LOVED them! I have always been a lover of green. I've always considered what is now called "Sage" as just updated word for avocado.

Curtains in My Tree said...

when i updated my kitchen 6 years ago everyone was going stainless steel but I choose white, and still am glad I did , I just like my white kitchen even though it is clutter with pyrex and sterling silver setting everywhere LOL

Teresa Miller said...

I think it could overtake stainless if you could find it on display. Trying so hard to find Whirlpool White Ice appliances to view in person...come on Whirlpool Marketing
Product Managers, help me find one to see in person or I'll
have to with IKEA White appliances. Think white appliance with stainless handles look the best.

Anonymous said...

I love white... Stainless is too cold. I would love to see a slightly off white though... just in case manufacturers are reading...

Unknown said...

I love the way these look! I've been looking for new kitchen appliances in Calgary and these seem like the exact things I want.

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