Black Stainless Steel
A quick look around the major appliance displays at the January 2017 *IBS/KBIS confirmed that the new color/finish Black Stainless is THE big trend in appliance colors. Of course, stainless steel is not going anywhere. In a recent survey, 72% of respondents opted for stainless steel. Truth is, there are tons of appliance colors out there. The custom high end range company BlueStar offers several hundred colors, many of them quite stunning. Luxury appliance brands such as Viking, Bertazzoni, La Cornue, and others also offer their appliances in a variety of colors. But for many of us these brands might not be realistic options, and the bright colors aren’t for everyone.
Samsung Kitchen
Voilà! Black Stainless is here to save they day. It’s new and it’s different. It really looks classy, but I wouldn’t call it bold or risky. After all, it’s a combination of the two most popular appliance colors. As near as I can determine KitchenAid was the first major appliance brand to offer Black Stainless steel. Recently, Samsung jumped on the Black Stainless bandwagon, followed now by Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, Electrolux, and LG. I do know that some supplementary brands are on board with this new finish such as Sharp (microwaves) and at least one of the vent hood manufacturers, Zephyr.
KitchenAid Refrigerator
I think Black Stainless looks good in the photos, but even better when you see it and touch it. Believe it or not there are some differences from brand to brand. From a distance, KitchenAid Black Stainless looks black. When you get closer to it you can see the grain that is so characteristic of Stainless Steel. Samsung’s Black Stainless is lighter and grayer in color. It also appears to have a clear coat over the finish giving it quite a reflective sheen. Finally, it’s worth noting that GE also has a finish called Slate. It is not stainless steel but I believe it is an enamel paint with a flat grayish finish. It looks surprisingly good, and might be a fine choice for those on a tight budget.
The best thing to do is see these for yourself at KAR. They’ve got a couple of the best appliance and decorative plumbing fixture showrooms in the Los Angeles area. Their appliance experts can take you through all the choices you have among the various appliance finishes and brands.
*IBS (International Builder Show) *KBIS (Kitchen and Bath International Show)
