Black steel has become a leading colour amongst our appliances. This bold and daring finish has risen amongst the ranks, becoming one of the most popular choices for a contemporary kitchen. Especially when it comes to fridge freezers. But is this new-fangled colour worth investing in? Will it look good in my kitchen? All of your burning questions will be answered below!
Black steel appliances are created with the same materials as stainless steel, however it has a matte black coating over the top to give it the desired finish. The colour itself is matte in comparison to just ‘Black’ appliances, and has an overall more premium and luxurious feel to it. Black steel is a fantastic alternative to your bog-standard stainless steel, silver and white finishes that everyone has in their home.
There are many different variations of black steel, and they vary between manufacturer’s. The champions of this colour are certainly LG and Samsung. However other brands such as Haier, Liebherr, Siemens, Bosch and Fisher&Paykel are also well known for making them.
We’ll start with the obvious benefit: the appearance. Noughties kitchen trends really did favour wooden cabinets. Oak, pine and lots of other dark wood options were rife in kitchens everywhere.
And then our design choices changed. Contemporary kitchens favour grey and white cabinets, for a more overall streamlined and fresh look. And what better way to break up the cabinets than with dramatic black appliances? This is where black steel comes in.
Matching black steel appliances across your kitchen will give you a punch of colour, but not step out of the monochrome design that you desire. And as we all know when it comes to colour design, black goes with absolutely anything. So if you ever want to change up your kitchen cabinets, these dark appliances will match perfectly no matter what colour you choose. Even if it’s bright yellow!
Stainless steel is known for being a pain to clean. Fingerprints pop up easily, and then when you try to wipe them down, there are solid streak lines left behind. Black steel hides this. You’ll definitely spend less time seeing the fingerprints, so you’ll spend less time wiping them too! Especially if you decide to go for a “Fingerprint resistant” one like this Samsung French Style Fridge Freezer.
One of the main complaints about black steel is it’s scratch resistant quality. Samsung claim their black steel appliances can resist the scratch of a pencil. However, we all know pencils aren’t the most common utensil in the kitchen. We’re constantly busy in the kitchen, and things like baking trays, washing baskets and kids toys can easily ding and scratch appliances without even noticing. Unfortunately with black steel, a scratch will show rather prominently due to the stainless steel beneath.
It is possible to find touch up pens, however, they’re not as common as you’d think! If this doesn’t seem like a good way to go, you can try following the instructions of The Appliance Doctor.
Another thing we find wrong is the differing styles between manufacturers. Although similar, the grain of the black steel appliances can often differ greatly. For example, the Hotpoint black steel has a greener tone to it, whereas the Samsung black steel has a horizontal grain. We find that LG, Samsung and Liebherr are incredibly similar, so much so that you can barely see the difference.
When it comes to buying appliances across different brands, it’s always worth doing extra research. Give yourself some time to go to your local appliance showroom, and try to see if the models you like are similar–or not. Obviously if you’re buying one appliance, this shouldn’t be an issue! But if you’re going for many appliances, you should take a look into our Multibuy savings tool. We’ll give you a discounted price for your own bespoke package, making it much cheaper than a lot of other retailers.
The biggest pro of black steel is the gorgeous colour of it. So how will it look with your colour design? We think grey, white and black are the best base colours for going with black steel; this keeps it incredibly monotone. So if you’re in love with the monochrome aesthetic, fantastic! But don’t think you can’t go for a bright and beautiful colour either, as we said earlier, black goes with anything. Just look at the bold blue kitchen design below!
Here at Appliance City, we have a fantastic selection of appliances on display for you to look at. We’ve got a massive selection of range cookers, washing machines and fridge freezers ready for you to measure and inspect. Quite a few of these models include Black Steel, including this gorgeous Instaview model!
If you’re local to the East Midlands, you can find how to get to us here. But if you are planning on coming down, make sure to give us a call to double check exactly what models or styles we’ve got on display. This way, it’s not a wasted trip for you.
Black steel has been on the market for about two years now, and it’s firmly planted itself as a staple in the appliance industry. It’s a great way to make a statement in the kitchen, no matter what style you like. And it’s never a bad time to jump on the black appliances trend!
What’s black and cool and red hot all over—in appliance showrooms and up-to-the-minute kitchens and laundry rooms? It’s black stainless steel, the modernistic finish gaining popularity for refrigerators, washers and dryers, stoves, and dishwashers, currently available from such manufacturers as LG, Bosch, Frigidaire, Samsung, KitchenAid, and GE. While black stainless isn’t yet close to toppling traditional stainless steel from the top of the major appliance scene, it’s definitely on the upswing, and not just for its sleek good looks. But before ditching your old-school white or familiar stainless steel in favor of this up-and-comer, you’re wise to consider the pros and cons of the new black finish. Read on for all you need to know to make an informed decision.
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One of the biggest drawbacks to traditional stainless steel is how smudges and fingerprints seem to multiply across its metallic surface, meaning extra work for you to keep it looking flawlessly clean. Black stainless steel, however, is much more resistant to smudges, fingerprints, streaks, and water spots. And when the finish does need a touchup, it’s easily accomplished with a damp cloth and a bit of gentle liquid dishwashing soap or a homemade stainless steel cleaner featuring diluted vinegar—no need for special cleaners or wipes.
The black surface is created with a colored acrylic coating across regular stainless steel that unfortunately scratches fairly easily. That means any ding or nick—from a piece of furniture, a child’s bike, even a laundry basket—could remove the coating to reveal the silvery stainless steel underneath. Such scratches are glaringly obvious, marring the beauty of a pricey appliance. And while some manufacturers offer touchup kits to hide the scratches in stainless steel, it’s generally very difficult to restore black stainless steel to its original pristine appearance.
Just as basic black works well with virtually every color in your wardrobe, black stainless steel complements many design concepts and color schemes—largely because it “feels” a bit warmer than traditional stainless steel. Black stainless steel appliances are beautiful against white and gray in all their variations, which designers are touting for today’s clean, contemporary kitchens. Yet the new finish also suits natural wood tones as well as most paint colors, including brights.
Photo: istockphoto.comSurely you’ve seen how a pair of black pants with a greenish undertone can clash with a black shirt that has a reddish undertone. So don’t assume that all black finishes are the same and will automatically look good together. Black from one brand may not match black from another because each has a slightly different undertone. To avoid an off-putting look, buy all new appliances at the same time from the same brand.
If you like to be the first on your block to show off any new trend, then you’ll love the fashion-forward appeal of black stainless steel. With its cutting-edge vibe, it makes clear that your taste is securely anchored in the 21st century, not hanging on to decades past. That’s also a strong consideration if you plan on selling your home in the near future, and you live in an affluent neighborhood where potential buyers will be expecting the latest look.
The downside of adopting the latest trend is that sooner or later, something newer will take its place. After all, when was the last time you saw an avocado green fridge in someone’s kitchen? Although trends in interior design don’t change with the seasons, as they do in the fickle fashion world, within a few years, black stainless steel appliances might eventually date your kitchen or become difficult to replace as manufacturers drop the finish in favor of whatever replaces it.
Just as interior decorators will use a dramatic piece to create a focal point for the living room, a black stainless steel appliance can serve as the statement piece in your kitchen. And as open kitchens continue to become the norm, and serve as the entertaining hub of the home, such a statement piece becomes more important. With choices ranging from soft and matte to sleek and shiny, a black finish is a sure attention-getter and a way to spice up a space that might otherwise be seen as utilitarian.
Regular stainless steel costs $100 to $250 more than the same model of appliance in white and, not surprisingly, you’ll also pay a premium for trendier black stainless steel. While prices vary considerably from brand to brand, as a general rule, expect to pay around $200 to $300 more for the same model appliance with a black stainless steel finish instead of regular stainless steel.