Black Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances - Anyone Have Them?
 

My wife and I are building a new home and getting near time to get the kitchen selections nailed down. We're considering black stainless (Kitchenaid) appliances. Not a ton of info out there on these yet so I'm turning to THT to see if I can get any real life experiences living with these in your kitchens?

I have seen them in stores, they look nice. Literally anything is better than actual stainless steel, which is way too played out. Main issue would be fingerprints, and making sure it is easy to clean.

Funny you asked,

we just bought LG black stainless range, micro, and dishwasher. We were replacing some builder-grade GE stainless steel appliances that had a few issues.

We like the look a lot. Fingerprints were our major appearance issue with the regular stainless appliances, and the black SS is not completely smudge-free, but definitely much better. So far, we are very happy with the purchase decision.

One of the claims with black stainless is that it is "fingerprint and smudge proof". My main worry with black stainless is scratching it. The "black" is really only a coating so if it scratches deep enough then you get into the actual stainless steel and might not be able to repair it.

I do like the look of it and I'm with you, regular stainless is played out and really hard to keep clean.

Good to hear that yours are better on the fingerprint front! That and streaking water stains are the main issues we have with our current stainless appliances. Looking for something different and easier to maintain!

White, You are never wrong with white.

Wife and I just did kitchen remodel and went with Samsung black stainless. Love it so far , we have 3 kids and fingerprints and smudges are a TON better and it is a sharp look

I've never seen anyone say they didn't like a house because it had stainless appliances.

I have, on more than one occasion. Stainless steel is fast becoming the Formica of kitchen finishes, once considered high-end, and modern, but now very dated and undesirable.

Okay.

Is that anything thing like, here hold my beer?


.

:rofl: You're kidding right. You have no clue what you are talking about.

Black stainless is a fad. Go with stainless and get yourself a can of Wegmans Stainless steal cleaner. We have all brand new Kitchen Aid stainless and have zero issues with smudges or finger prints.

Most high-end kitchens I have seen in the last several years have been doing either cabinet-matching panels, or truly custom colors that match or complement other areas of the decor. Of course, these are generally also not using appliances from Lowe's or Best Buy.

Even in the lower-tier of high-end kitchens, stainless has fallen out of favor the last several years.

Where you see the most use of stainless is in "everyday" kitchens that think stainless adds a commercial or upscale look. These are also the same people that think subway tile is a glamorous or high-end look.

For most residential design trends it really takes a long time for various fads to age out because so many people are trying to look "fancy" and continue to demand finishes, colors, and looks that reached their peak years before.

Putting new stainless appliances in today won't look as out of date as Formica, but it will also not look hip/trendy/high-end to anyone who really pays attention to things.

Someone needs to tell Viking and wolf that stainless is out of style. I redid my kitchen 3 years ago using Italian cabinets and stainless sub-zero/ Viking appliances.

Lol...you have no clue what you are talking about.

Sure...some go for the panels on their fridge and dishwasher, but ranges, range tops, double ovens are stainless or a color with stainless, there are no panels on Viking ranges/rangetops/cook tops/wall ovens or from any other higher end manufacturer.
Stainless is classic is classic, just like subway tile.

Hop over to Houzz and tell me that stainless is out of favor in high end kitchens.

Viking has had a rough several years, as this coverage of their parent company product issues lays out: https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/...-this-fia.aspx

Also, Viking is moving away from all stainless, offering various colors in their Tuscany line, one of their more recent developments:
http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/...viking-tuscany

Wow...they have a lineup of stoves that have colors, which very likely sell in very limited quantities. Things like that have been around for some time for people that want something like that. Far from popular.

If Viking is struggling, that's because the others that make similar products are getting the business, no because of stainless steal offerings.

Houzz is for consumers/people looking to others for design trends.

Range tops are one area where stainless (good stainless) is practical, if it is a gas range top.
Wall ovens, or other high-heat appliances are not going to use panels, but the true high-end ones are often some color, not stainless, in truly high-end homes.

BTW, I am basing my input here on the fact that as part of my job I have often met high net-worth people in their homes for discussions. I am not looking at Houzz, or going by what the latest neighborhood housewife-turned-decorator says is a hot trend.

Even looking at recently renovated houses in my immediate area that are >$1,000,000 listings (not exactly a high bar) black appliances are the most common (admittedly with stainless gas cooktops when not electric), after matching panels/trim from the cabinets when people have selected higher-end appliances.

If you read anything at all about Viking over the past several years, their struggles have been with product quality issues. Those are self-imposed problems, unless you want to argue they made their products with cheaper components because they couldn't stay competitive with other brands, but that really is not in their favor either.

Haha lol.