I think stainless steel is here to stay for a while. The only other thing that pops to mind as competing with it are appliances with cabinet panels. These already exist in many high-end kitchens, but maybe they will become more of the norm!

Stainless is forever. It recently became more affordable. However, the stainless look with finishes not susceptible to fingerprints are probably the way to go for the future. Right now a darker slate color has been introduced. White also never goes out of style either....check out White Ice from Whirlpool.

People constantly ask this question on Houzz. I believe it contains an incorrect assumption: that stainless steel is a "color". It is not; it is a material, specifically an alloy of iron, chromium, and nickel. It has an inherent color due to its elemental composition. It is completely unlike a pigmented coating, such as paint or enamel, which can be given any color and thus is reasonably subject to the whims of fashion. Stainless steel will not be easily or quickly replaced as its nature gives it a function that supersedes aesthetic considerations. From its inception in the industrial world, stainless steel has been chosen primarily for its function of resisting corrosion, as well as being strong and fireproof.

Aesthetic evaluation of stainless steel as an architectural surface (i.e. kitchen appliances) is relatively recent. It has led to a few people (not me however!) growing tired of the surface, particularly its perceived ubiquity. Yet in many ways, ubiquity is one of the reasons stainless is as entrenched as any appliance surface ever could be: it's safe. You will always be able to match it. Manufacturers have been hunting for the "new stainless" for a while, so far fruitlessly.