Stainless Steel V. Black Appliances

Personally, I like the stainless steel look. Also, A quick shine to a stainless steel appliance...rubbing alcohol. This works great, and dries in record time.

I understand what you are saying about the fingerprints--but I really think in the long run you would be happier w/stainless.

Go with stainless. Everyone I've ever known with black appliances HATED them because they show every stray hair and piece of dust if not dusted at least daily.

go stainless steel they have a cleaner that is real easy to use and makes it look great

A.,Being in the kitchen design and granite business for many years previous to running a home daycare I can understand your dilema! With black granite and dark wood cabs white would not look good, although easier to keep looking clean. In your shoes I would go for a textured black fridge, but the rest is kind of a toss up. Have you considered matching your woodwork color and doing panels for the fridge, dishwasher etc? Just a thought. you may also consider a smudge free stainless, they mesh well with the colors you have going on. Good luck!!

We have a black refridgerator that has a textured finish, and it doesn't show fingerprints at all. Our dishwasher is stainless steel with a black control panel, and you can see every little drop of water that gets splashed on it. With little ones, you will always have fingerprints on everything, so I would just choose what you like best.

Good luck,
J.

Stainless is better in the market...it's really hot right now. With my two kids I really know how it shows fingerprints, but they easily wipe away. We have dark granite, too, and stainless makes our kitchen look great. Plus with your dark wood cabinets, you don't want to darken up the room with black appliances. Stainless is the way to go.

Personally, I think stainless would look best with your counter and cabinet colors. It would make the room look a little more organic, not too cold and formal. We have all stainless and have really liked them.

Hi A.,

My husband and I just moved into a new house this summer and had the same decision to make. Titanium is a new material available that looks like stainless steel, but does not show fingerprints or smudges. AND it's less expensive than stainless steel because not many people are aware of it yet, gotta love supply and demand :)

I'm sure whatever you decide will look great, it's making the decision that's the tough part.

~A.

Stainless does show EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY with a 15 month old! It sounds like black would look really good! Just my opinion, I'm sure either would be great!

Stainless steel just make sure you only clean it with stainless steel cleaner. Stainless steel just looks way cooler and I just heard yesterday for the resale of a house stainless steel is a huge factor people just are drawn to it for a professional looking kitchen.

Stainless is going to give your kitchen a more modern look in your kitchen and this will play a big part in showing your house when or if you move. I'm pretty sure that there is a stainless line that doesn't show finger prints, or something that looks like stainless. The stainless will compliment your black granite, where black appliances will keep everything very dark. This is just my opinion. Good luck.
M.

I think Stainless Steel is trendy. Go with the black. Good luck!

We did stainless steel, and they now have stainless steel that doesn't show fingerprints. I think black would look nice as well. We also have dark countertops with dark wood cabinets...

A., I think white would be beauitful. We use to have a b/w bathroom, loved it. I think black may be to much. Good luck with your choices.

Stainless, definitely.

stainless steel I would think would be much better with children. I haven't had the privelage of owning any yet. Black is easy to clean I have a black stove you don't notice as much but greese realy stands out. Black would probly look best in your kitchen

Good Morning;
If I were you I would do the stainless steel. With a granite countertop, stainless steel will look classier I think.
Good Luck, enjoy those fingerprints :) they don't stay little very long.
Mama Merz

I have black appliances and they are IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean! I keep a container of windex wipes under sink and almost every time I go into the kitchen I'm wiping prints off everything. As soon as I can afford it, those appliances are out of there and I'll have stainless steel!! Let me repeat, kids and black appliances do not mix! Husbands and black appliances do not mix!! Can you tell I don't like my black appliances? :-o

I am fairly certain they have fingerprint resistant appliances both in black and stainless. I am uncertain of the cost. I have never had a black appliance, but my sister in law has all stainless appliances (they are the "in" style now) and she said never again. When it comes to cleaning, scrubbing is necessary. Again, maybe hers isn't the fingerprint free version, which I know exist now. They even have combo black fridge with fingerprint free stainless doors.

Good luck with your shopping!

B. :)

Congrats on your new home! I think you would probably be happier with the stainless steel appliances. They would really bring a more modern look to your new kitchen. There is a new type of stainless steel out now that is supposed to be fingerprint proof. It's not quite as shiney as the regular stainless steel, but it still looks really nice. Best of luck with your decision!

I have black- it does show streaks from drips...don't notice fingerprints much. I think the stainless steel would brighten up the kitchen for you if you have dark counter & cabinets. My friend has stainless steel & her only complaint is she can't put magnets on the front of hers.

Wouldn't stainless ones and black matte ones attract finger prints the same? I bet they'd both be a pain to keep clean! Maybe black would be good, but something that's got a little texture on the coating, nothing with a matte finish.

Considering the high quality countertops and cabinets, I would recommend stainless. Just my opinion, but I think it would just complete the project and you will be very pleased with your high end kitchen.

Go with the stainless steel. I had the same situation with my new house last year. It looks really good against the black and dark wood. I to have little ones and the stainless can be a hassle with finger prints, but they have some great cleaners that you can buy at Walmart that work just fine.
K. M.

I had the same issues and chose the black...couldn't be happier! I have a little stainless steel beverage fridge in the butler's pantry and i canNOT get it clean.

Congrats on the new house... sounds beautiful!

K.

Personally, I think I would like the look of black, but keep in mind that stainless steel brings a better return on your money when it comes to resale value of both the home and the appliance. As for finger prints, I can't tell you from personal experience if one is better than the other as I've never owned either. Have you tried Yahoo Answers or an online searched to find any other information besides this site? I would personally try Yahoo Answers to see what other people have to say. Good luck!

I vote for black. We just finished our house & we went with black. We have a 22 month old son and finger prints on the appliances haven't been an issue. Although he has left his finger, hand, & face prints all over our glass windows & doors. :-) We have dark wood floors, medium (fruitwood) cabinets, black countertops, & black appliances. The backsplash is a light to medium tumbled stone, which keeps the kitchen from getting too dark. We really like it. I was afraid after awhile, I would get tired of the stainless. I think it's more of a fade... black looks good forever. Good luck building!

I absolutely hate our stainless steel sink. EVERYTHING shows up even water droplets! I havent ever had black but I dont recommend stainless steel. Hope this helps!
--S.

We have a stainless looking refgerator and we love it! No finger prints no steaks or anything. I have had alot of people not belive me when I say it's a paint and stainless, costs alot less than stainless too. For a 26 cubic foot frigidaire we only spent $1,100 and the stainless was $1,600 for a 24 cuibic foot

I like stainless steel and a vinegar/water mixture for cleaning. I think that the stainless steel would contrast nicely with the black coutnertops.

I think stainless looks cleaner and more high end. Even if the appliances are the same brand and model, people will assume stainless cost more.

As far as fingerprints go, there are some great quick cleaners for that. Congrats on the new house!

I would go with the new stainless steel look. It is not suppose to show fingerprints and it would look great with your coutertops. My sister-in-law put them in her new home and she has dark brown counters and they are gorgeous.