Beyond Stainless Steel

BlueStar™, the manufacturer of professional cooking equipment for the home – takes color into another dimension with a new line of 10 textured paints and finishes that add depth and fresh appeal to kitchen appliances. With the addition of the Textures line, BlueStar is now available in over 750 colors and finishes, offering a new level of customization options for its discerning customers.

“A big trend we've been seeing in recent years is related to texturing – in flooring, wallpaper, furniture and textiles. People want to be able to see the texture as well as feel it,” says Eliza Sheffield, vice president, Marketing, BlueStar.

BlueStar has been a leader in color customization for nearly a decade. Now, this appliance innovator offers a new alternative to the typical stainless steel or white finish to help people make a unique statement in their kitchens. The new Textures collection includes three textures – River, Silver Vein, Mini Texture – for each of the existing 190 colors, plus seven unique metal textures, from grey to copper and even gold to expose the sparkle and underlying metallic tones of colored paints.

“Texture is a design element which may be overlooked when decorating the kitchen, but it has the ability to add a novel dimension to the room's interior,” says Sheffield. “Consumers are looking for new ideas to help make their kitchens more personalized, so having a unique option like Textures is truly exciting.”

About BlueStar

BlueStar boasts a 130-year-heritage of marrying form and function. Handcrafted in Reading, Pennsylvania, BlueStar cooking equipment is manufactured to provide the home chef with a cooking experience that only can be matched by a restaurant kitchen environment. Their high-performance gas ranges, include 24”, 30”, 36”, 48”, and 60” ranges, featuring a unique open burner system produces 22,000 BTU of cooking power, resulting in shorter cooking times and an even simmer. For lighter cooking, the ranges feature a 130˚ simmer burner – preparing delicate sauces and soups has never been easier. Since each BlueStar range is hand-crafted, the burners can be custom configured at the time of order. All BlueStar models are available in more than 750 colors and finishes for virtually unlimited personalization options.

For more information about BlueStar or help configuring your BlueStar range, call or visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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Recently, GE launched Slate appliances – a collection of appliances in a new finish. Not stainless, and not glossy, but….well, SLATE. It's really quite attractive – substituting a longed after subtlety and quietness to the bright sheen of stainless. The slate collection is available now at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

We've written about GE's foray into a new appliance color/finish before (click below):

NEW SLATE APPLIANCES

Now, GE is offering savings up to $300 on purchases of select Slate finish appliances. A great way to save money on the latest new finish which some see as a cost saving alternative to stainless steel. There is certainly a lot of buzz right now on this new finish, and we've even heard some folks say that they prefer the look of slate – stainless without the “shine”.

Here's the offer from GE, but hurry it is only good until January 30th.

Receive a Visa® prepaid card* valued up to $300 on select Slate finish appliances.

Save $300 when you buy 4
Save $200 when you buy 3
Save $100 when you buy 2

Offer valid January 10 – 30, 2013.

Call or vist the professionals at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today:

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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What does it mean when we hear the phrase “POP of color”? Ask a designer and they will describe a room full of neutral colors that is brought to life by a bold and surprising use of color. Sometimes it's a bright accent wall. Sometimes it's colorful throw pillows and flowers. But always its a contrast created by adding color to an otherwise neutral room. The POP calls the attention of the viewers eyes to the bright spot or POP, and often creates a focal point in the room.

Here's an example of a room that would have been a blinding snowstorm without the blue cushions and pillows. Notice also how the flowers create some balance and flow, and the clever addition of the touch of yellow in the chandelier.

In the picture below, the colorful chairs create needed interest, and the color-matched light fixtures help fill the volume of the room, an important consideration in large rooms with high ceilings.

In today's kitchens there are more ways than ever to add color. Kohler has recently teamed up with designer Jonathan Adler from Bravo's Top Design to introduce colored sinks that help bring life to a kitchen.

Jonathan Adler

Adler says, “It's the surprise factor that makes color work.” According to Adler, there's nothing better than a colored sink to bring a kitchen to life. Even better, he says, “These colors work in just about any kitchen color palette to add a little punch.” Kohler's new collection of sinks created in collaboration with Adler includes four special-edition colors available on six enameled cast iron kitchen and bathroom sinks. Available on select sinks in limited quantity, the punchy colors include Greenwich Green, Piccadilly Yellow, Palermo Blue and Annapolis Navy.

While we've previously blogged about color choices in major appliances (see link below), an important area worth considering for color splashes is in the vent hoods. The dramatic island hood from Best Hood's Sorpresa collection would be attention-getting without the color, but the red will bring any kitchen to life. It is appropriately named “lipstick”.

Another dramatic and colorful hood is the Italian Elica Euphoria model which features interactive color panels.

For more information about color POPS click on the link below to our previous blog:

More POPS of color to make kitchens lively

For more information on the products featured above call or visit Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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Today's kitchens are often a sea of stainless steel, contrasted perhaps by a granite top or wood-grained cabinets. In some contemporary-styled kitchens, the stainless may even be offset only by stark white cabinets and walls. Designers have taken to adding what they describe as “pops” of color. Some have boldly added color “accent” walls, while others have used colorful back-splashes. Here are some examples that might inspire you to color your kitchen.

Below is a stainless steel kitchen inset in a wood-grained wall, behind a matching wood-grained island. With a white back-splash countertop, and ceiling the room desperately needs color. Fortunately, the floor to ceiling windows add greenery, and the orange bar chairs create a bright visual focal point.

This European kitchen adds color by avoiding the wood-grain or white cabinets that are so often used in today's kitchens, and using bright orange cabinet panels.

Sticking with the same orange theme, the color of the year for 2012, this kitchen back-splash provides that much talked about “POP” of color.

Notice that this kitchen not only integrates the appliances with the blue-green (verdigris) kitchen cabinets, it also has a cream colored kitchen island with a contrasting dark countertop. Somehow, it all seems to work together, and in fact makes a small kitchen look larger.

The kitchen below features a wall of stainless steel appliances, with wood-grain cabinets and island. The adjacent and opposite blue walls add to the visual flow of the room. The under cabinet lighting, and dramatic island hood help create balance in the room.

We could call this wall 50 shades of green. However many shades there are, it certainly creates interest and has a pleasant, peaceful effect.

Finally, appliances themselves can help create that “POP” of color. Here's a turquoise range that not only jumps out at you, but the Retro styling creates plenty of interest aside from just the color.

For more suggestions on color in your kitchen consult your designer. For ideas about appliances call or visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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GE has launched a new appliance color, Slate, that quite literally takes the shine off stainless steel. It's worth a look. The muted grey finish really goes well with a variety of cabinet as well as countertop finishes.

GE says that it not only looks good in a matched suite, but also works well in a kitchen with Stainless or other color appliances. The shiny brushed metal touch points (knobs, handles, etc.) provide a bit of contrast and also help bridge the slate color to tie together with stainless or other brushed finishes in a kitchen.

Unlike Stainless Steel, the Slate finish resists fingerprints and is easy to keep clean. The subdued slate color is both unique and sophisticated. Offsetting a flat finish with bright polished accents gives the appliance an eye-appealing, streamlined look. The Slate Collection from GE includes a Freestanding French-Door Refrigerator, a choice of Ranges in both Electric and Gas, Over the Range Microwave, and Dishwashers. See selected slate products and features below:

GE® ENERGY STAR® 28.6 Cu. Ft. French-Door Ice & Water Refrigerator

GFE29HMDES

Slate finish

Express your unique style and harmonize your kitchen space with this sophisticated, rich and amazingly versatile matte metallic finish

Dual icemaker

An icemaker in both compartments gives you more ice whenever you need it

TwinChill™ evaporators

Separate climates in the fresh food and freezer sections help maintain temperature and humidity levels to keep foods fresh

Advanced filtration system

GE’s exclusive filtration system removes trace pharmaceuticals from water and ice

Showcase LED lighting

Positioned throughout the interior and under fresh food doors to spotlight foods inside the refrigerator and in the freezer

Space-saving icemaker

Located on the door with integrated bins to create more usable storage space

GE® Built-In Dishwasher

GDWF150VES

Slate finish

5-stage filtration with Piranha™ hard food disposer

5 self-cleaning filters ensure clean dishes

Dedicated silverware jets

Highly pressurized spray jets target the silverware area for improved cleaning

Steam PreWash

Loosens tough soils before any cycle virtually eliminating the need for soaking or pre-rinsing dishes

52 dBA sound level

Nearly silent two-pump system cleans dirty dishes without disruption

ENERGY STAR® qualified and CEE Tier II rated

Meets or exceeds federal guidelines for energy efficiency for year-round energy and money savings

GE Spacemaker® 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Sensor Microwave Oven

JVM1750EPES

1.7 cu. ft. capacity

1000 watts (IEC-705 Test Procedure)

Sensor cooking controls

Automatically adjusts time and power

Auto & time defrost

Defrosting times and power levels are programmed automatically or manually for optimal results

Recessed turntable with On/Off

Controls turntable operation

Two-speed, 300-CFM venting system

Removes smoke, steam and odors

Removable two-position oven rack

Flexibility to cook large quantities of your family’s favorites

GE® 30″ Free-Standing Gas Range

JGB600EEDES

Gas convection oven

Circulates heat for high-quality results

Self-clean oven

Cleans the oven cavity without the need for scrubbing

Self-clean heavy-duty oven racks

Can stay in the oven during the self-clean cycle

5.0 cu. ft. oven capacity

Enough room to cook an entire meal at once

17,000 BTU PowerBoil™ burner

Delivers intense heat for faster boiling

Precise simmer burner

Delivers a low setting of 140 degrees

To find out more about GE Appliances and the New Slate finish contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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Whirlpool and GE have recently launched new appliance colors in an effort to unseat stainless steel as America's favorite appliance finish. Even Wolf has begun production of its ovens in black in order to provide an alternative to stainless steel. The Wall Street Journal recently ran a feature article, Is this the end of a 25 year run for stainless steel?

Whirlpool Ice Collection

In the article, author Ellen Byron writes, “It is a pivotal moment in kitchen design: While stainless steel is still the dominant look, there are clear signals it has outworn its welcome, even with no clear successor in place.” It isn't every day that the big names such as GE and Whirlpool launch new colors. It's a serious effort to at least put a dent in the hegemony of stainless steel. Launching new finishes is a costly proposition. Especially considering that unlike washer/dryer colors, kitchen appliances must be matched across a wide variety of platforms, eg. refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, cooktops, and even vent hoods.

Whirlpool has launched its new “Ice Collection” of appliances a glossy black finish with stainless trim and a similar glossy white finish. “White is the new stainless” Whirlpool claims in their press release.

However, there is hardly unanimity among competitors. Wolf claims, “Black is the new stainless steel” in announcing its new line of black wall ovens.

Not to be outdone, GE has introduced a new line of appliances in a color they call “slate”, a grey alternative to stainless steel.

GE Slate Dishwasher

Who's right? Who will be the winner, and who will be the losers? One thing is for sure, nobody is betting the farm on these new finishes, and no appliance manufacturer is dropping stainless models in favor of the new colors. Viking Range Corporation makes its appliances available in 23 colors in addition to Stainless Steel. Yet, Brent Bailey, design director at Viking make this interesting comment. “I'd say 80% of our sales are still stainless steel. I could add another 100 colors and the percentage wouldn't change much.”

In looking at the new offerings, it's with noting that the Ice Collection is only in the Whirlpool brand, not in Whirlpool's premium KitchenAid and Jenn-Air brands. Similarly, GE is not rolling slate out in its luxury Monogram brand, and the initial GE model selection includes no built-in ovens or cooktops. It's entirely possible that the new GE and Whirlpool colors are meant to appeal to more entry level or step up buyers who are looking for a more cost effective replacement for stainless steel. Certainly, without the added cost of stainless steel customers should be able to get more appliance features for their investment.

Either way, consumers will have new choices. To help them make the best decisions, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has the most complete selection and the most expert sales associates in Southern California. Call or visit them today for help with the appliance colors and finishes that work best for you:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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The designer of this Jenn-Air display followed one of the color trend predictions from kitchens.com and added an orange backsplash.

This wall of burgundy lacks the brightness of the orange, favoring a hue with a rich depth and warmness.

Another option would be to choose appliances in colors. Amazingly, appliances from some manufacturers are still available in white and black. Viking manufactures appliances in a host of colors. Jenn-Air makes appliances in oiled bronze. Other brands that offer interesting color choices include Aga, Bertazzoni, Capital, and La Cornue.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center can’t advise you on your kitchen’s color palette, but they CAN help you with your appliance selection. Call or visit them today:
Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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Black Appliances

Black is not new as a category in appliances, but selection is definitely improving in high end appliances that have focused primarily on Stainless Steel finishes. Wolf appliances showed a black glass front wall oven that received a lot of attention at the show. Dacor displayed its Renaissance wall oven in a black glass version. Jenn-Air offers an entire black glass suite of appliances including black glass front refrigerators.

Black faucets

Matte black faucets are now offered by many leading faucet manufacturers. Jason Wu had designed a special line for Brizo that was displayed at KBIS 2012. Delta and Kohler also showed black faucets at this year’s KBIS.

Whether you’re looking for appliances and plumbing fixtures to provide color for your kitchen or want to stick with stainless, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has a fantastic selection of all the best brands. Visit us soon:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987