Will Stainless Steel's Popularity Ever Be Dethroned?

Appliance manufacturers are providing home owners with modern finishes to their kitchen appliances, and some of the offerings have even been touted as the “new stainless steel.”

Appliance makers are in the search for a potential successor to stainless steel, which some designers say will eventually wear out its welcome. But so far, no introductions have touched upon the popularity of stainless steel, and stainless isn't likely to be doomed to the same fate as 1970s avocado-colored appliances anytime soon.

Still, some home owners have complained about the annoyance of fingerprint smudges and the upkeep in keeping their stainless polished. Eventually, that annoyance may tempt them to look more closely at some of the alternatives popping up in the last two years. Some appliance makers are choosing to still channel the stainless look in their alternatives so that home owners could even make a gradual switch. Other manufactures, however, are opting to offer more bold alternatives.

Could any of these finishes have the potential to dethrone home owners' love for stainless steel one day?

ICE-GLAZED

Whirlpool introduced last year its White Ice collection of appliances, and at the time called white “the new stainless.” The glossy white appliances feature silver accents. Whirlpool also offers a Black Ice version -- black appliances with silver accents.

SLATE

General Electric is offering up slate as an alternative. The low-gloss gray finish is “inspired by the rich texture of stone” and “provides a warm, inviting alternative to stainless steel,” GE says on its website. GE also notes that  the dark matte finish hides fingerprints, smudges, and dirt.

COLORFUL OPTIONS

Viking Range offers several various colors of appliances, such as in cobalt blue.

Viking Range Corp., which was a pioneer in stainless with its debut in 1987 of a stainless steel open-burner range, is providing home owners a colorful array of options with appliances. It has 24 color alternatives, from cinnamon, wasabi, kettle black and Dijon to plum, sea grass, and cobalt blue. Or, the company’s graphite gray may be a little less bold for more home owners who are looking to make a switch from stainless.