What are alternatives to stainless steel appliances? How do you make your white cabinet grey countertop, white subway tile and stainless steel appliances, stand out from your neighbors?
Somehow, the different subway tile doesn’t change the look that much.
Do you dare place color on one or more of your appliances?
That will certainly change the look, but many colors have been discontinued over the years for various reasons.
You may have a problem replacing that broken Truffle Brown range in 6-10 years.
In this article, you’ll learn all about the most popular finishes to consider and more importantly, how to apply unique color in your kitchen.
Lastly, we’ll wrap up the benefits of stainless steel just in case you default to stainless out of frustration.
If you choose stainless steel in the end, don’t feel bad. I chose all of stainless steel appliances in my renovation in 2017.
Table of Contents
Alternatives to Stainless Steel Appliances
Black Finishes
Black stainless steel was popular six years ago. It was an oxide coating that turned out to be easily peelable.
Also, it wasn’t covered under warranty, so right now, millions of homes have peeled appliances. Black has returned as a finish. Fisher Paykel, Cafe, BlueStar, Viking and La Cornue offer black finishes.
The Cafe collection has a decent matte black finish, while Fisher Paykel has a high gloss finish. If you want to spend less than a Viking or BlueStar.
White Finishes
Back when I started, white was the premium color. It was white on white with no accent colors, and you pay more for it.
Many companies now offer white.
For New Englanders, white is a nice, traditional look especially when combined with brass or copper accents.
Cafe appliances have become a popular, affordable luxury brand. It’s different, good looking, doesn’t cost a fortune, and it’s available with copper or brass accents.
Custom Colors
If you want to be truly unique, should consider a custom color.
Without question, La Cornue executes color better than anyone. Looks like furniture.
The whole range is customizable from the top to the different trim finish.
And La Cornue can customize anything. La Cornue’s Paris showroom features a range with the front design by a French graffiti artist.
You can also choose their base colors and trims. However, it starts at $30,000.
They manufacture a more standard, less expensive CornuFé series, which you can now choose 50 colors and their eight common trimmed finishes.
BlueStar manufactures a thousand colors and ten trims with the ability to customize.
Now over 75% of Bluestar and La Cornue are ordered in a custom color.
Other companies offering color are Viking with 17. The Italian ranges like Berzzoni have several as well.
Color Strategies
The best strategy for color is to use it as a focal point. You might be tempted to add color to your whole kitchen, but you might be hesitant to add color at all.
However, a pop of color is interesting and distinctive without being overwhelming.
I always use Orange as an example.
Color Mistakes
Once I had a customer who was from Tennessee and wanted all orange appliances.
Burnt orange is the University of Tennessee’s color. I remember thinking you live in Massachusetts. What’s the resale value of an all orange kitchen in Boston?
This brings us to where it can all go wrong. If you buy that all orange kitchen, you also have to need to worry about replacement as manufacturers can discontinue colors.
When choosing a colorful finish in your appliances, you also run the risk of that color being dated, especially as a package of kitchen appliances.
I remember when Salmon was in the bathroom toilets and vanities in the 1980’s. The Salmon finish was a euphemism for pink.
The problem with trendy colors is the packages as they will eventually be off trend.
Stainless Steel
You have alternatives, but the magnetic pull to stainless steel appliances may be too great.
So here’s why you shouldn’t feel so bad buying it.
Stainless steel is easy. It matches every cabinet type from modern to traditional and will probably never go out of style.
Stainless is also inexpensive compared to other finishes.
It also wears better and it’s simpler to clean.
Takeaways
You do have options when it comes to alternatives to stainless steel appliances. Black and white are back as finishes.
Colors are unique and should be considered in some cases.
If you want a unique kitchen, consider a pop of color as a design element on your stove or refrigerator.
Then again, after watching this you might find stainless steel is not a bad option.