Ah, the kitchena room so vital to modern life its become a fraught battleground.
But is stainless steel always the best choice?
Lets dig into why stainless steel isntalwaysyour best option.
Stainless steel is a terrific finish choice for several reasons:
Durability.Stainless steel is remarkable stuff.
Youll be cleaning constantly.
Expense.Stainless steel isnt always the most expensive finish, but it often isand its rarely your most affordable option.
Considering how much we use our kitchens, minor irritations can eventually drive you insane.
Its just afinish, after allwhat truly matters is the function of the appliance itself.
Design limitations.One of the most-overlooked downsides of stainless steel is how it limits your design choices.
The alternatives can be pretty terrific:
White.The classic old-school appliance finish remains an excellent choice.
They also work well with almost any choice of cabinets, backsplash, and countertop.
And, again, they will be the most affordable option without sacrificing function.
Black.Black appliances can be a bold choice, especially when paired with white cabinets and other light finishes.
Other stainless finishes.Stainless steel comes in a range of grains.
But this is not a zero-sum game.
You dont necessarily have to match all of your appliance finishes.
Why would you mix and match finishes?
Its practical, for one thing.
That goes triple for kitchens.
Think about your color combinations carefully.
Dont be that personunless you know youre going to die in this house and you want to do you.
Think of your background.When choosing colors and finishes to mix, consider the walls and cabinets.
Are your backsplash and cabinets light in color?
Soft, pastel color choices for your appliances will produce a calm, zen kind of look.
Go for subtlety.Just because youre mixing finishes doesnt mean the colors have to be loud and vibrant.
A matte black or graphite finish isnt showy, but it feels luxe and sophisticated.
