White Kitchen Design…The Intense Debate

Sitting at the kitchen island and drinking coffee while on my laptop this morning I took a few shots of my kitchen. This shot is looking into the family room with a trio of old stained glass windows that have been in my possession for a number of years now. It would be hard to find those these days, and they were all inexpensive…in fact one was found in a dumpster! I love my white kitchen, really I do. There has been a debate around here for the last couple of weeks and I’ll explain why…

We have lived in our home for 25 years now and the kitchen was white when we moved in. You can read more about that in THIS post…
There have been many changes over the years from cabinet refacing to replacing countertops (twice) to the family room which we added on as part of an entire new wing back when the kiddos were growing up. We also made the huge living room smaller and the kitchen larger by busting out the wall where you see the fridge and added an island. All of this was in the days BEFORE digital cameras (although I do have real photos:~) and way before Pinterest… or blogging!

So what is our debate?

The intense “discussion” has been about the appliances. We have a very large built~in fridge and it’s now about 15 years old or so. It’s made with wood panels to cover the front and is taller than regular fridges and deep like a Sub~Zero, but the brand is KitchenAid.

Our aging girl has had a couple of repairs over time. The ice maker has been on the fritz for awhile now and we have had the repair guy out here 3 times in the last few months for a fix and it doesn’t seem to work for long. As someone who loves her frozen drinks, not to mention cocktails I need my crushed ice! I know…modern day problems.

So what to do? There is going to be one more fix attempt, but this time by my husband. He’s pretty smart and a problem solver so hmmm, will see what he comes up with! If it needs to be replaced do we go with stainless steel?

We’ve already replaced the dishwasher that bit the dust and was part of the same package of wood front appliances. Did I mention that we scored the appliances for free in the way back days? We were working on a high end home remodel that was sold and the new owners were replacing them…
With stainless!

So… is stainless a fad or is it here to stay? Has it been oversold to every new builder home in every community like granite had been and now fading as a choice like granite is?

I love our home and the personal touches that we have put in over time. Time has a way of dating things and styles come and go, but some things are timeless…like white…kitchens…
For now the appliance debate goes on. For more of my kitchen and dining and some tips about the French country touches that you can add to YOUR own home, I invite you check out THIS POST that I know you’ll enjoy!

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19 Comments

  1. Stephanie says:

    We are building our cottage and I've been debating on white versus stainless for appliances. I'm not a fan of stainless and when I saw your white appliances, I made my decision!!! White appliances for my cottage!! Now you are putting in stainless, so I'm debating again!

    Love your style.

  2. I just read an article that stainless is going out and white is coming back in. I guess that means that our kitchen won't be out of style. I quite hate stainless. Ha ha! (*_*) Your kitchen is gorgeous!

  3. I love a white kitchen (though that is not what I have). Eleven years here, and if we were to replace appliances, it would probably be with the same white. No choosing granite, either, as we do need to do a bit of remodel. I like Corian (with the sink molded into it), but our plans are not going to get underway anytime soon, it appears.:-) I like the idea of wood panels on the appliances, too!

  4. Take it from someone that just bought a refrigerator, stick with white. Always clean and never out of style. I was told stainless is fading out. It definitely has been oversold and over rated. Every time you touch it you have another mark and scratches come easy. If you do decide on stainless here's a little tip to remove the fingerprints and make it look shine again….rub it down with baby oil on a soft cloth. Hope this helps.

  5. I also have an all white kitchen with black pearl granite counters. I have a stainless cooktop and a stainless wall oven with a stainless microwave above it. I also have a white panel dishwasher and white subzero fridge. The fridge is almost 28 years old and has been needing quite a few repairs. I know when I replace it, it will be with white again because I couldn't look at a giant rectangular box of stainless steel. I love how stainless looks in all white kitchens, but personally I prefer an appliance that large to just blend in with my white cabinets.

  6. The experts have been saying for the last few years that stainless is on it's way out…..they are wrong!!!! They can wish it all they want but it isn't going anywhere anytime soon for the average home owner. Now for high end homes where money is no object well….anything goes! I really like the wood panels on the appliances and if I were building a new home that is what I would go with. I like my stainless appliances alright but absolutely HATE that a portion of them are black. What idiot thought of that….why don't they make the rest of the appliance grey? Hmmm….guess I wan't much help was I? LOL!!!! Your kitchen is gorgeous!!!
    ~Des

  7. Rachel Shepherd says:

    Replaced all our appliances with stainless a couple years ago…I have a love hate relationship with them. Love the look…ties in with a lot of the galvanized accessories I have …love that. There is more upkeep…hate the fingerprints…Honestly though I would buy them again.

  8. Hello Janet 🙂 ahhh i love your kitchen! as you know mine is pastely and cottagey but i had the same problem this weekend while shopping for a new cooker and in the end i chose a white one,i know that won't help you any but i a know which ever you choose it will look gorgeous and stylish as you have such great taste xxx

  9. I think stainless appliances and granite countertops will still be in for a VERY long time. I have a mix of stainless and white appliances and love the look. I'll probably go with another white refrigerator when mine needs to be replaced because it is such a large appliance and I like it to blend in with the cabinets. Of course, it's always a personal choice.

  10. Well, you could always nix both and go with what Rachel Ashwell had in one of her Malibu homes…a see thru glass door fridge:) Honestly tho, I'm not a fan of stainless steel but I think it comes down to your own personal preference. Your kitchen is so lovely that whichever you choose, it will still be beautiful:)

    1. Oh I love her see-through fridge – and, well, Janet, YOUR fridge area and huge kitchen could actually house it – it's a bigger size. That really IS an option for sure!

  11. You just get to love what you love, it will all always be available

  12. Cherie ~ Bella Rosa Designs says:

    I've always gone with white, I think it's classic and beautiful (and the stories I've heard about stainless needing constant polishing scares me!) Awhile back I read about the new trend that was supposed to replace stainless, something called "white ice" but I have not seen it yet.

  13. My thoughts on style: WHO CARES if it is "in" or "out!" If you like it, it's in enough. Seriously , that spin media only say that to sell more and more often – they'd have you hating something after having for 11 days, I swear.

    I think SS and white are going to stay a long while. Funny, I mixed mine. I have both in my kitchen, not too matchy matchy – but golly jeepers you have a fabulous kitchen. It's AWESOME. Oh, we spent a little more and got the upgraded anti fingerprint SS huge French fridge and love it.

  14. Do what you like and makes you happy. I am not a stainless steal kind of gal. But that's me, do what makes YOU happy 🙂

  15. We have stainless, and it does take time to polish it….but my white appliances needed to be cleaned too!!
    I like the stainless…it gives my kitchen that restaurant kitchen feel. I know that sounds silly…but with my butcher block, and stainless stove with the large grates, I really love cooking large meals for my family in there. I love the mix of the white cupboards and ironstone dishes, black counter tops, and the large white sink. Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful, Janet.
    Debbie
    xo

  16. We have stainless, and it does take time to polish it….but my white appliances needed to be cleaned too!!
    I like the stainless…it gives my kitchen that restaurant kitchen feel. I know that sounds silly…but with my butcher block, and stainless stove with the large grates, I really love cooking large meals for my family in there. I love the mix of the white cupboards and ironstone dishes, black counter tops, and the large white sink. Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful, Janet.
    Lucas

  17. Tanja Pickrell says:

    We just renovated our kitchen and bought all new appliances, no stainless steel in sight. I so dislike trying to keep it clean! Our brand new Samsung fridge is a thing of beauty, with white glass panels that look a bit like milk glass. It is so pretty, is clean, sleek, and fine, so easy to clean, and goes with my lovely white cabinets (white uppers, alder wood lowers). This fridge would work in all sorts of designs, too, as my look is very vintage farmhouse but the sleek white looks perfect in it.

    1. Sounds like a lovely renovation that suits your style Tanja!