The next new thing in appliance finishes is .... ?

[ipsedixit]

From the WSJ: "After Stainless, Now What?"

Quote from the article:

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Is this the end of a 25-year run for stainless steel?

Major manufacturers are placing bets on different potential successors to the shiny, upscale appliance finish, which surprised everyone with its resilience.

It is a pivotal moment in kitchen design: While stainless steel is still the dominant look, there are clear signals it has outworn its welcome, even with no clear successor in place.

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Read more here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000...

[MGZ]

Wow. Form over function? Style over substance? Who could really care?

[HillJ]

LOL, I care. I function much better in clean, bright and attractive surroundings (of my own design and appreciation).

[MGZ]

Nothing personal, but while I have the utmost respect for good design, notions of trend and fashion are anathema to me.

[Midknight]

My money is on wood, like the paneling on a 70's station wagon. Classy...

[coney with everything]

Knotty pine...matches the walls of my theoretical cottage :)

[Justpaula]

We did a total gut renovation on our home during the last trimester of my pregnancy with our first child. We inherited the house which my husband's great grandfather built over 100 years ago, with a kitchen that last saw an upgrade long before the mid-1970s when hubs and I were born. We had to replace the range two or three years earlier since the previous one went kerplunk. When we did the full renovation, replete, with beautiful granite counters, maple cabinetry and stainless microwave and DW to match the range, we drew the line at the, fridge. We got a black LG side-by-side (the set up of the kitchen was not conducive to french doors). Our handsy two year old consistently reassures me that the black fridge was a way better choice than stainless.

[LindaWhit]

I'm glad the townhouse I bought didn't have stainless steel appliances. Not overly fond of it (although my sister and BIL have it in their house and vacation cabin). I've got a black fridge,dishwasher, and electric coil-top stove/oven, and when the stove/oven needs to be replaced, it'll be with a black flat top.

[HillJ]

I also have black appliances and good old Turtle Wax keeps everything in top shape & shine.

[coney with everything]

The article mentions matte finishes--matte is starting to be trendy as a car finish...although pretty limited as you can't run it through a car wash so maintenance is a PITA

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motorami...

Would a matte-finished stove be similarly difficult to clean?

[breadchick]

Me thinks that I'd not be happy with matte in the kitchen. Some of the cookware out there, like some Calphalon lines, have that dull finish that makes my fingers cringe at the touch. It's a texture issue, like blackboards, so I guess I'll stick to good old white.

[HillJ]

Speaking of blackboards...surfaces you can write on are popular & trendy.

[breadchick]

I know! There's that paint you can buy in different colors so the kids can use chalk on doors, or walls etc.

[breadchick]

Oh, and I think this post should be in Cookware, probably will get bumped over there...

[Maximilien]

Me think that "Gorilla glass" (the glass that the iPod and other portable devices uses) will be the next big thing.

It can be used as a clean streamlined touch screen control surface.

[DuchessNukem]

Oh, man, I hope it's "Tomato sauce splatters and dried-on oatmeal bits." 'Cause I'm ready to be trendy.

[rockycat]

Lol. I'm all for whiteboard finish, though. That way I don't have a fridge-ful of magnets holding up everyone's schedules and phone numbers.

[cheesecake17]

My fridge is white, side by side, not magnetic. Waiting for the day it dies so I can replace I with shiny stainless. I want to have the magnets with phone numbers and art projects!

[KSlink]

HA!!! Best laugh of the day so far!.....;)