Rosenlew (Finland) range of color fridges presented by a major appliance retailer in Russia.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rosenlew fridges

Americans don't seem to want to do it.

A few years ago, someone like Whirlpool or Amana had a dark red and a navy refrigerator in their lineup (in their small apartment sized fridge) --they disappeared pretty quickly.

A number of companies will introduce colors in their washers and dryers only to have them disappear as well. There are a few colors but most of them are variations of grey.

Smeg offers a lot of colors but their fridge is small and geared toward the "quirky" market I think. It's not that practical as a kitchen fridge.

If I wasn't so cheap I would buy a Big Chill fridge, but can't justify it, our 7 year old F&P scratch and dent works perfectly, but when it dies, we're going to get something fun and colorful, even if I have to buy a white one and spray it.

I also think that Heartland and Aga offer colors, navy blue and maybe a claret color, but that could be old info, I haven't fridge shopped in a few years. It's interesting that high end ranges come in a rainbow of colors, some of which are present in GW kitchens, but very few around here seem to go for colorful fridges (except you, gsciencechick, love your blue BC). Personally, I want Ruth Fischer's green fridge on "Six Feet Under", well, actually, I want her whole house, but on my land.

sandyponder

All of the colored offerings for fridges are faux vintage, which I think indicates something.

I think the high end range in the different color and finish started back when people doing high end kitchens put in pro ranges that were stainless but did not necessarily want a True or Servel commercial fridge in stainless so the non-matching idea started then.

Viking has been offering a wide variety of colors for their ranges for a long time and have recently expanded the color option.

But the margins are so thin in the US that inventory costs are killer, so it only pays to stock the colors that they know will sell. So few even offer almond which was a stock color a couple of years ago. I saw a fridge in sears that had a black mirror finish which was lovely, but it was only on one fridge and I don't think they offer it any more. Plus there's the trend to cabinet front the appliances like fridges and DWs to just make them go away.

You could always buy appliance paint and paint the fridge yourself to any color you want....

Here is a link that might be useful: viking colors

Thanks, Sandyponder! I also loved the Six Feet Under Kitchen! You probably know that was just a set. The "real" house looks nothing like that, but whoever was the set designer clearly loved vintage appliances.

My extended family was just here for my birthday, and everyone loved the fridge. Just had the Stanley Steemer guys here to clean the white tile grout installed by the PO, and they just thought it was the coolest thing.

We were able to use state energy star rebates for it, so we saved some money. It makes me smile every day. Size-wise, it works great for us. If we ever move, it is going with us!

I go back and forth about getting the matching panel for the DW or the microwave, but we like keeping the fridge the focal point.

I did have the courage to buy colorful appliances, but it was in 1974. I had a Harvest Gold fridge and DW. You get tired of them a whole lot faster than you tired of the neutrals (black, white and SS), plus you are far more limited in your decorating choices.

In 1967 I moved into an apartment in West Philadelphia that had an aqua colored range. It was cute.

I also think that many Americans are also faddish but non-committal and a bit worried about having something that might make the "wrong" impression.

In the thread on the integrated-handle cabinetry, you posted a photo of your kitchen in Russia with chintz patterned cabinets and a heavily patterned floor and backsplash. Clearly to some degree the difference is cultural, and from what I've seen this kind of heavy pattern mixing is not uncommon in Eastern Europe.

Clearly, patterned things are a commitment, and it's one that a lot of our culture doesn't want to make--which is okay I guess.

I don't really get the parameters of some of the safe choices though.

Rarely, no matter what the rest of the finishes are in a bathroom, people mostly commit to white fixtures. There are a lot of beigey colored stone look tile bathrooms in my region, but they never have one of the beige colors offered by Kohler for the fixtures.

So people buy white bathroom fixtures, but most of the same buyers won't buy white appliances for the kitchen, even if they would look good.

The most popular paint colors are mostly tans and beiges --so why don't they make beige appliances?

The most popular beige carpet colors don't seem to correspond all that well with the beige paint colors to my eye, either. So there is a certain amount with goes with everything but looks great with nothing kinds of purchasing going on, which is a fairly typical non-committal outcome.

Interesting thought that all colored fridges are vintage and that the colorful range trend is tied in, palimpsest, I had not made that connection. I would love to see a super modern Liebherr fridge in a glossy mango or deep pink, but since my budget is more scratch 'n dent at the local Sears Outlet, I'm going to have to take the dent du jour model and take the glossy spray paint to it one of these days.

I think North Americans are paranoid of things looking "dated" (and defining that is like defining "normal"), which is too bad IMO, but I'm more about spaces feeling happy and welcoming than au courant or passe anyway.

Great discussion.

sandyponder

Pretty much all fridges in built-in German kitchens are paneled.

I have sadly ended up with stainless steel appliances in this kitchen because the induction ranges that we could afford came ONLY in stainless. I have never liked stainless all that much so it was hard for me to accept, but ultimately function trumped form for me.

When we ultimately remodel this kitchen I would love, love, love a refrigerator in a fun color. If I weren't constrained by budget and what's available, I'd have white appliances (because I like white appliance with white cabinets) except for a refrigerator in a great color--probably blue.

I remember in one of Sarah Richardson's Design, Inc. episodes, they had standard refrigerator doors professionally spray painted in a deep blue to match the cabinetry. I have no idea how that held up long term, but it sure looked good.

This post was edited by Fun2BHere on Sat, Jun 15, 13 at 15:26

I would have those Big Chill appliances in a heartbeat! I clicked over there the other day just to "ooh" at the fridge in Beach Blue (Just like gsciencechick's *swoon*), and I saw the colored ranges, wall ovens, and hoods and darn near lost it. Those appliances would be so perfect in our home. I really love the "Beach Cruiser" fridge in Beach Blue and White. So charming! So not in our budget. At least not now....

We have a mixture of stainless and white because I didn't want all stainless. Our dishwasher is paneled, and I do like that. I would *love* to have fun-colored appliances. Colorful appliances that we could afford would be a bonus. ;)

Big Chill's colors are fabulous! I've heard of Viking and I love their style, but, sadly, the prices for BC and Viking are way out of reach.

Your fridge is such a feature in your kitchen, gsciencechick . Makes me teal green with envy. :-)

Not sure if I'd want to spray paint (or that my DH would let me do it to a brand new fridge!) But the idea is so tempting...

Pal, you're so right about the cultural thing. Besides pattern mixing, there's another factor - a strong focus on personalization in home design.

In fact, about 80% of new residential construction is sold "bare bones" in Russia. No interior finishes, no lighting, no bathroom fixtures, no doors, no cabinetry, and often no interior walls. The builders' view is that homebuyers don't want to pay extra for generic finishes and fixtures that would be ripped out right after the sale is closed. This holds true for both $10,000 studio condos and $10M properties. Our longtime neighbors in Moscow bought a brand new townhouse without interior walls. They partitioned and finished it the way they wanted. Russians don't want move-in ready, they want to finish it to their taste and needs, and avoid looking like their neighbors. Of course, there are some popular trends, but also a lot of variety and personal creativity (for better or worse!).

This brings up another interesting question: How do conformity and self-expression play out in home design? Do popular trends like granite countertops act as an indication of conformity?

Sandyponder,

It seems that German manufacturers don't really have a broad range of colored appliances. I came across some cool modern designs from LG, Samsung and Hitachi that use colors and patterns. Not sure if any of them market the designs in the US.

Wish that LG would market a broader range of designs in the US. LG is mostly mid-market, and they have a nice sand colored fridge for about $550 (Moscow prices) that could go wonderfully with my butcherblock Formica. Their fancier designs are more expensive - typically from $800 and up.

Pictures below:
1) An example of a condo for sale in a new development in Moscow. It has wiring, plumbing, gas line, windows, ventilation and heating in place but nothing else.

2) From an online portfolio of a Russian interior finish firm, showing the kitchen they put in their client's new townhouse. The ceiling lights haven't been installed yet. The dishwasher is paneled to blend in with the cabinets. The white door is the fridge with the front panel taken off. On the right is a Hitachi fridge in metallic brown that could work great with the cabinetry in the photo.

3) A tiny kitchen in a Russian studio apartment. Just love the green color of the range and hood, although I don't agree with the placement.

4) An interesting use of a copper toned dishwasher to blend in with oak cabinets. Again, done in a Russian house.

5) A marketing image - loved the combination of the accent tile and Smeg fridge.

6) Fridge designs offered by LG in Russia, altogether with the sand colored version I want.

Don't know if anyone mentioned it already, but Americans move a lot and don't take their kitchens with them. They have to expect to have to sell them. So hidebound expectations become an unfortunate side effect of a mobile society.

As for would I? White's my favorite, but in a heartbeat if I could have my pretty soft yellow fridge back. Don't remember make or year, but it was large and fairly tall and had a slightly curved front. Maybe late 1960s-early 1970s. I held onto it as long as I could, but ultimately it just couldn't be fixed any more, plus advances in energy efficiency meant it no longer was better than most of the newer stuff around.

LanaRoma, I hate the thought of black or white in your kitchen. Does anyone take fridges to be powder-coated?

Is there a way to paint an appliance with good results? Auto paint?

Yes, people on RetroRenovation have repainted them with auto body paint. Of course, the challenge is to get them there! The Big Chills are factory powdercoated.

Just got the West Elm catalog, and they are carrying Smeg refrigerators, cost $1999. It is less than half the size of our fridge, and the freezer is tiny.

Well, I found some info but not sure if the paint really holds up:

Also, anybody ever tried appliance paint?

Here is a link that might be useful: painting fridge

Various colors available here, also custom, I believe. Not sure how great the appliances are, though.

Here is a link that might be useful: The refrigerators come in the same colors

Auto paint sounds like a great idea! Would check that out for sure.

Smeg is Italian, and, strangely enough, everything Italian carries a hefty markup in the US. Another interesting culture twist, since a lot of Italian merchandise in Russia often falls into the "cheap chic" category. Think Target wares. Of course, we have the "haute couture" Italian imports selling for crazy prices, too.

A tall two-door bottom-freezer Whirlpool fridge my folks bought for about $350 in mid-90's in Moscow was made in Italy and marketed in the lower price range. Whirlpool manufactures its appliance lines for European markets in Italy.

I can see why frequent moving around would discourage people from putting too much effort into personalizing their homes.

I came across this blog post about painting appliances. The final look is a bit too DIY to me, although hand-written text could be cute in certain decor schemes. The blogger has a link to her re-decorated laundry room with painted washer and dryer. I liked her "crafty-chic" approach, as she dubbed it. Check it out too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Appliances makeover

Several years ago Jennair had a lovely bronze color in their line-up. I only know this as my kd recommended it to me as he had used it in another kitchen that he designed. They no longer make it as it didn't do well.

I just asked DH about powder coating and he said no, the high heat required to liquify the paint would ruin the gaskets etc. Then I asked him about clear coat (auto body) and he said yes but it would scratch easily.

There are other metallic finishes that I think would look great in the kitchen. Bronze or copper like finishes would be a neutral and look fabulous.

Thank you so much for your input!

I looked up Jenn-Air in bronze. Sigh. Exactly the thing I need. Modern and goes with my vintage bronze hardware, but doesn't make a kitchen a time capsule.

Turns out they still market the oiled bronze finish in Canada. Why Canada and not the US?????

Here is a link that might be useful: Jenn-Air Canada

Geesh! Lana I agree, I so wanted that color. It really is neat. I didn't want to do stainless because it is so ubiquitous. When KD recommended the oiled bronze jennair I was so excited. I was so bummed when the distributor said it was no longer available.