Transitional Kitchen by Lafayette Interior Designers & Decorators Home Systems , Wendi Zampino
If you are remodeling your kitchen, or just replacing an old appliance in your kitchen, you probably want to know that your new appliance won’t go out of fashion right away.
When they introduced the new Artistry line, GE also announced they had tripled their investment in design over the past two years. They have shared some of their research publicly about the major trends they have identified.
For interior designers, contractors, and new home buyers, this is definitely something to consider before making your next appliance purchase.
Stainless Steel Alternatives
GE’s slate finish is a low-gloss, warmer alternative to stainless steel.
Stainless steel has been one of the most popular color in kitchen appliances for almost 20 years. The relatively new color has constantly topped design lists along with long time traditional colors white and black. According to the 2011 Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers Color Report, 35% of all appliances sold in the USA are stainless steel.
GE has revealed that their research has shown growing interest in alternatives to stainless steel. That is why last year GE rolled out their new exclusive Slate line of kitchen appliances – a less shiny, warmer color that still was flexible with other kitchen design options.
Other brands have been acting on the trend by introducing stainless look appliances or silver alternatives to stainless steel appliances.
Last year we interviewed Chris Bissig, Manager of Concept & Brand Development for GE Appliances about the Slate finish from GE.
Traditional is Out – Transitional is In
A survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association found that “traditional” is finally losing its spot as the most popular style of design. In its place, “transitional” has become the most common style in both kitchens and bathrooms.
Transitional style is defined as a combination of contemporary or modern elements with a traditional looks, marked by simpler lines than a traditional piece, but with more elaborate style than a contemporary design.
You may have noticed a change in GE’s Profile line of appliances. This was due to a re-imagining of the line in the summer of 2013. Keep an eye out for similar changes in appliance design.
Smart, Connected Appliances
Smartphones and tablets are becoming a regular part of our lives. Those appliances and other aspects of our lives are evolving to take advantage of the more accessible and connected devices.
Whether it is a wall oven from GE that can be controlled by your smartphone or a Samsung refrigerator with a wifi enabled LCD tablet built in, the current and future generation of appliances will be smarter and able to connect and communicate with us.
Aside from major appliances, GE has partnered with crowdsourcing site Qwirky to create new inventions to make even the smaller appliances – and older major appliances – work smarter with your Android and iOS devices.
Made in the USA
It really is not all that surprising that Americans are turning more and more to products that are made or assembled here at home. We wrote about GE’s own manufacturing move back to the USA in an earlier post.
The move back to the USA is a growing trend after years of moving manufacturing offshore. Not only is consumer demand driving the issue, but also an increase in transportation costs, quality issues, language and communication barriers, and the lengthy time from design to distribution.
It should no longer be a challenge to find US-made products, including your appliances.
Ergonomics For Better Health
The number of persons in the US aged over 65 is growing, and will continue to grow in the next few decades. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that by 2030 there will be 72.1 million persons over the age of 65.
The growing aging population, as well as insights into the science of ergonomics have started a trend towards appliances that are easier to use, with less back, neck, and leg strain. Wall ovens have been popular in part for this reason, but new developments in appliance design are expected to make appliances even easier to use for everyone.
You can check out the ergonomic and accessible appliances currently available at Goedeker’s by browsing our ADA compliant appliances.
LED Lighting
Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) bulbs took the lighting industry by storm a few years ago, but already the next generation of lighting is taking over. LED lighting has been growing in acceptance and even preference at an alarming rate. In a 2012 National Bath and Kitchen Association survey, 70 percent of the designers polled specified LED lighting for their projects.
The small size, efficiency, brightness and clarity of LED lights has made them a perfect fit for inside your appliances. GE has taken the possibilities further than just bright white lighting – some models have color-changing LED lights in the drawers to serve as visual cues as to the current temperature.
Which of these new trends are you most interested in seeing more?
