As everyone knows, we recently bought a new home. And we are trying to change some things as we can. We are going to try and either get new counters or have them resurfaced. We are also going to resurface the cabinets. Right now the cabinets are light oak, the counters are laminate. I want to get counters that have a mix of light and dark to tie things in.
We want new appliances because what was here when we moved is fairly dated. The fridge's ice maker broke the week we moved in, and it's also a side by side that I don't like. While I LOVE the way stainless looks, I remember when I had my cleaning business a few years back that stainless was very difficult to keep looking nice. Water streaked the steel, even finger prints were hard to buff or get out.
Is that still the case? Has anyone purchased stainless in the last two/three years and how do you like it? We have small kids as well as dogs. So we were thnking black as an alternative. I do not care for white for all these little mess mongers running around :)
With light colored walls, darker cabinets would black be too dark? I try looking on websites for ideas, but honestly those finishes surpass the money and quality that we will be affording.
Thanks ladies!
No magnets on stainless? I have a sweet boy in pre-school who draws us pictures all the time! That just about makes up my mind <3
There is a difference between stainless and clean steel. We have clean steel. It looks just like stainless, but it is less expensive, easier to clean, and magnets stick to it.
If you go with black, go with the shiny one. Not the only that has all those crinkles in it. White is off limits. I prefer stainless steel. it doesn't bother me if it's a little dirty.
The thing I don;t like is you can not put magnets on the stainless steel fridge? If that makes a difference.
We have white, and are sticking with it. We recently redid our kitchen, completely gutted it. We found Granite to be cheaper or right there with fermicka. We went with granite.
Good luck!
In my old house we remodeled the kitchen and got "silver mist" appliances. They are the COLOR of stainless steal but the same material as white or black appliances just smooth instead of textured.
I loved them (although I moved out like a month after we got them, but that's another story) they had the great look of stainless and none of the drawbacks.
Many manufacturers now sell stainless steel that is fingerprint proof. It's worth looking in to.
Stainless steel is a pain to keep clean, trust me, all my appliances are stainless steel. I have used the stainless steel cleaning sprays and they did nothing. Fingerprint oil stays as well. Also, as Maureen mentioned, you can't put magnets on the fridge either with stainless steel. I'd go with black, it won't show stains as much as white appliances, and it will look sophisticated and modern. It will look nice against the light and dark counters too. Good luck and congratulations on your new home purchase!
We purchased a new stainless fridge a couple of months ago. LOVE it. I had hesitations due to the propensity for finger prints, etc., but I think we may have purchased the fingerprint-free model. Or perhaps the new appliances are all fingerprint-free now, I'm not sure.
I'm not a fan of black, personally. OH, and yes, we have magnets on our stainless fridge.
We built our home 5 years ago. It came with black appliances and we are switching them out as we can. We are getting stainless steel. The refrigerator and microwave have been done so far. I hope to do the other two soon. But I like the clean, modern look it gives. Really, I'm a fan of anything but white :).
I'd take black over stainless steel if I were you, UNLESS you get the kind of stainless steel that doesn't get stains all over it. Mine drive me crazy because anything makes a stain and I'm forever having to spray a certain product on it to clean it. (I forgot the name - it's about $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond.) I wish I didn't have the stainless steel, arghh!!
I don't like white either, don't blame you there!
Dawn
My parents have a stainless steel and that thing always looks filthy!! Oh, and there fridge won't take magnets either.
I think they have certain things that are the look of stainless but are not true stainless. They are suppose to show less wear and tear. I'd ask around about that because that "look" really is what's in right now. I also think you could do more with stainless as far as colors and such.
Bottom line is it is your castle, so you should do whatever you guys can agree on. Good luck. I bet it will be beautiful.
Neither!!! Stainless always looks dirty and ukkkkkyyyyy. Black will show every speck of dust and dirt and scratch.
I have a textured 'no fingerprint' refrig and I have to get at it with a brush every now and then. The dirt sinks into rhe low part of the texture. I honestly think smooth white is best.
I bought new appliances last year. I bought Frigidair "Silver Mist". They have the look of stainless, but they are basically painted silver. They are very easy to keep clean and magnets work on them. They are also cheaper to buy than stainless.
We replaced ours with stainless ... worst decision ever! Totally impractical with two kids. It's constantly a smudgy mess. I hate it! I wish we'd stayed with white.
My parents recently bought a fridge in a special smudgefree stainless, so if you go that route, only consider that kind.
Stainless looks the best if that is something that is important to you. I have had no trouble with min and I have two little boys. I hate the look of a cluttered fridge so the no magnet thing is fine with me. You can put them on the sides though. If you can't do stainless then get the stainless look. Big no to black-white if you must.
I prefer the stainless. We hang our art on an "Art wall" in the family room or in their bedroom. In fact, their whole bedroom has their "Art" hanging everywhere, and now we have covered a wall in our family room. No need for magnets on the frig. Just find a wall somewhere and decorate away!
As to cleaning, I wipe down our stainless frequently. Yes, water marks happen and stuff, as do finger prints, but with a good glass cleaner, it only takes a minute to get it clean. Also, dirt shows on black. In fact, I think it shows just as much as on the stainless.
There are new alternatives to Stainless. We can put magnets on ours and it doesn't show fingerprints as much but looks just like stainless. Highly recommend it! I think it goes well no matter how dark or light you decide to go with the rest of the remodel.
Unless you plan on selling your home in the next several years, go with what is low maintenance--black. Stainless is pretty, but oh so unforgiving.
My parents just got stainless last month and no magnets, and its all dirty all the time. I don't recommend it. Oh, and the designers are moving away from stainless becuase it's so Last Season! :)
My mom was pretty upset when she found out that the stainless is just a front piece and that she can't hang up the kids' magnets now. I personally like white or beige better. Black is good too, but dark I agree with that.
