Is White The New Stainless?

Whirpool introduces the new Ice Collection of appliances.

White has always remained the most purchased color when it comes to kitchen appliances.  White after all is a classic.  It represents clean, simple and basic trends that are timeless.  White never goes out of style, makes small work areas look larger by blending in easier with the overall space and will adjust to changes easier than say... harvest gold and avocado green.

Yes,... there have been other colors than white, harvest gold and avocado green.  Take for instance during the 1950s, manufacturers were pushing out colors like Stratford Yellow, Cadet Blue, Woodtone Brown, Turquoise Green, Petal Pink and Canary Yellow. But by the 1960s, the only color that survived was white and  the yellow and turquoise.  In the mid 1970s, Coppertone was introduced and became a very fashionable choice but it only lasted until the early 1980s.  During the 1990s, Black became popular as it represented a sleek sophisticated statement. 

But for at least the last decade, or it seems that way, stainless steel ( and granite counters) have been the choice with designers and with clients for the kitchen.  It represents an efficient utilitarian look.  The stainless finish choice may be part of the overall cultural change in how kitchens are used.  More than just food centers of the house, kitchens have become multi-functional spaces. They are gathering centers for the family, entertainment venues for friends,... and as some clients of mine would say, ... the place in the house where "reservations" are made more frequently than roast beef.

White continues to stay the course despite attempts to introduce a rainbow of color to the kitchen over the years,... followed by the popularity of stainless.  But if you are bored with stainless, you have a new option. 

Whirlpool just introduced a new high style "white" collection to its line-up.  it features a combination of silver accents and white glass-like materials. Control knobs and pulls have been redesigned with slightly larger, simpler forms.  And at first glance, it would seem that Whirlpool has taken many of the desig cues from style makers like Apple in the creations of this new collection.

It is doubtful that this will reduce the mega-numbers of stainless steel appliances being made every year but it does give the designer and the consumer a new "color" to consider. 

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