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When remodeling your kitchen, selecting your appliances is one of the first and most critical decisions you’ll make. The size, style, and finish of these appliances set the tone for the entire space, influencing everything from cabinetry layout to countertop design and overall color scheme. Since appliances play a central role in both the functionality and aesthetics of the kitchen, making these choices early on allows the rest of the design to seamlessly integrate around them, ensuring a cohesive, well-planned final result.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through popular appliance finishes, discuss their impact on design, and highlight key considerations to help you make the best choice for your kitchen remodel.
Range Hoods: A Statement Piece
Often overlooked as a mere functional appliance, the range hood can be a powerful design element that adds a dynamic element to your kitchen. Its style, size, and finish can significantly elevate the overall aesthetic, turning it from a utilitarian necessity into a unique and custom-made focal point. While traditional approaches include blending the range hood into the surrounding cabinetry or installing a wall-mounted canopy hood, there are so many more options to explore that can add a unique architectural flair to the space.
Consider incorporating a contrasting material or designing a custom mantle around the hood to provide a unique architectural element and add visual interest to the space. For instance, a stucco or plaster finish can lend a rustic Spanish-style charm to a modern kitchen. A natural wood range hood can infuse a warm, natural element into a traditional or contemporary space. Stainless steel offers a sleek, metallic look that complements both traditional and modern designs. Drywall can be used to create a seamless transition between the hood and the cabinetry. Or, opt for a seamless look by paneling the hood and complementing the existing cabinetry.
Popular Kitchen Appliance Finishes
1. Panel-Ready Appliances: A Seamless Blend
For those seeking a more cohesive and uninterrupted look, panel-ready appliances are a great option. These appliances are designed to accommodate custom panels that match your cabinetry, creating a fully integrated look. While paneled appliances require early planning and are suited for new installations, the end result is visually stunning and worth the investment.
Panel-ready appliances offer several advantages that can elevate the design and functionality of a kitchen renovation:
- Seamless, Custom Look: Panel-ready appliances are designed to blend seamlessly with your cabinetry. Simply add matching panels to the front, and everything comes together for a polished, built-in appearance. Your appliances blend seamlessly into the kitchen’s design, creating an overall space that feels clean and coordinated.
- Design Flexibility: With panel-ready appliances, you can match or contrast the finish to any cabinetry style, color, or material, offering unmatched flexibility. This feature is especially beneficial if you’re looking to incorporate unique or high-end cabinetry materials that align with the rest of your kitchen design.
- Brand Flexibility: Panel-ready appliances eliminate the need to coordinate finishes across all your kitchen appliances, granting you the versatility to mix and match brands while maintaining a cohesive, integrated appearance throughout your kitchen.
- Higher Resale Value: The high-end, custom appearance of panel-ready appliances can increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. The streamlined design is often associated with luxury kitchens, adding to the kitchen’s perceived value and attracting design-conscious buyers.
- Reduced Visual Clutter: By blending appliances with cabinetry, panel-ready options help reduce visual clutter in open-concept kitchens or small spaces, creating a more spacious and airy feel. This approach focuses on the overall design rather than individual appliance finishes.
- Timeless Appeal: Panel-ready appliances are less likely to go out of style, as they integrate into the kitchen design rather than standing out as trends change. This timeless look can make your kitchen feel fresh and modern for years to come, avoiding the need for updates as appliance styles shift.
- Fingerprint and Smudge Resistance: Panel-ready appliances benefit from the same finish as your cabinetry, which often shows fewer fingerprints and smudges than stainless steel. This makes them easier to keep clean, especially in high-traffic kitchens.
2. Classic Stainless Steel
Stainless steel appliances are a kitchen favorite because of their timeless and versatile style, which suits both modern and traditional designs. The neutral color and sleek look blend with nearly any color scheme. Stainless steel’s durability makes it ideal for heavy use, as it resists rust, heat, and damage. Stainless steel is also easy to clean—its non-porous surface prevents grime buildup and can be made fingerprint-resistant, making maintenance simple.
However, stainless steel finishes have some downsides. If you don’t opt for the fingerprint-resistant finish, traditional stainless steel can be prone to highlighting surface smudges and fingerprints —something to consider if you have young children. Stainless steel can also be susceptible to scratches and dents, which may be hard to repair. It often comes at a higher cost than other finishes, and the reflective surface may show imperfections or create glare in bright lighting.
3. Creamy White Appliances- Not the 80s Style You May Be Envisioning
White appliances have come a long way since the 80s, when they first gained popularity. Modern-day white appliances from brands like Café offer a clean look that brightens a kitchen and complements various design styles, from farmhouse to contemporary.
Today’s luxury white appliances feature softer, creamier tones, offering a range of options for custom hardware, including matte black and copper, as well as brass, bronze, and more. This light, neutral look pairs easily with all kinds of cabinetry colors and finishes, making white appliances a smart, flexible choice. They also tend to be lower maintenance because fingerprints and smudges are less visible compared to stainless steel or darker options, and small scratches or marks are generally less noticeable.
However, white appliances are more prone to showing stains, especially from food splatters, and may require frequent cleaning to keep a clean appearance. While white appliances are versatile, they may not suit ultra-modern or industrial kitchens, where darker or metallic finishes might be preferred for a sleeker look.
4. “Smoked” and Black Stainless Steel
Black stainless steel appliances bring a refined, modern edge to your kitchen, combining bold style with everyday practicality. Their darker, matte, or glossy finish offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional stainless steel, resisting fingerprints and smudges for a cleaner look in high-traffic spaces. This versatile finish complements a wide range of cabinet colors and styles, from crisp whites and soft grays to warm, natural wood tones, making it a smart choice for both contemporary and transitional home designs.
However, black stainless steel has a few drawbacks. The black finish typically consists of a coating applied to the top of traditional silver stainless steel, making scratches more noticeable compared to those on standard stainless steel surfaces. Black stainless steel is typically more expensive than traditional stainless steel options, and its specific tone may vary slightly between brands, making it more challenging to match across different appliances. Additionally, the appearance of dark or black stainless steel may not be every homeowner’s preference, which could impact resale value.
5. Other Major Appliance Finishes to Consider
In addition to the finishes mentioned above, there are several other options to consider:
- Copper: Copper appliances can add a warm, rustic feel to your kitchen. They are durable and can develop a patina over time, giving them a unique character. However, like stainless steel, copper can dent, scratch, and be more difficult to clean and maintain than other finishes.
- Colored Appliances: For those who want their appliances to become a focal point of the kitchen’s design, appliances that come in a variety of bold colors are an eye-catching choice that can add a new dimension of character to your kitchen. As the all-white kitchen trend fades, more homeowners are embracing colors that add a pop of personality to their spaces. Opt for deep, rich hues to add contrast and create an intimate atmosphere, or select soft neutrals for a cozy, welcoming vibe. Mixing and matching appliance finishes and colors also offers fun possibilities; try pairing vibrant pops of color with classic finishes like stainless steel, black, or white for a balanced yet unique look. Consider Aga Ranges, a classic example of luxury appliances that come in various colors or classic finishes.
- Custom Hardware Finishes: For a versatile way to personalize your kitchen appliances, consider options like Café Appliances or Wolf which allow you to customize handles and knobs in a range of striking finishes. With choices like copper, brass, bronze, rose gold, red, and blue, you can add a unique touch to classic appliance colors such as black, white, or stainless steel, depending on the brand you choose. This customization adds a pop of personality without investing in a bold appliance finish that not every homeowner may like.
- Retro-Style Appliances: Retro-style appliances can be a delightful addition to your kitchen for a nostalgic and playful touch. With their distinctive shapes and colors, they are designed to evoke the charm of bygone eras. Popular premium brands, such as Smeg, Elmira Stove Works, and Big Chill, offer a wide range of retro-style appliances that can serve as a focal point in your kitchen.
Achieving Style and Practicality in Your Kitchen Remodel
Appliances are a significant investment and a foundational part of any kitchen remodel, making it essential to choose options that align with your kitchen’s aesthetic and your unique lifestyle and daily routines. While the finish and style should reflect your personal taste and complement the overall design, each appliance's functionality plays an equally crucial role.
Selecting new appliances that support your cooking habits, storage needs, and cleaning preferences ensures that your kitchen not only looks beautiful but also enhances your daily life, creating a functional space tailored to your specific needs.
Ready to unlock valuable insights for your kitchen renovation? Download our eBook, Elevate Your Everyday: The Kitchen Remodel Guide for Style and Function, and start planning the kitchen of your dreams!
