Would you buy colorful, replaceable steel panels — a “smartphone case” — for your GE Artistry Series refrigerator and dishwasher? Well, more Breaking News here on this recently-introduced appliance line: We have now learned that GE is exploring offering iPhone-style skins to fit over the fridge and dishwasher — and the company has mocked up five potential colorways to elicit marketplace feedback. Read more below — then take our vote — would you go for appliances with with color panels like this, and if so, what color would you want?
As you may recall, we were first on the web with news about GE’s retro styled Artistry appliances early last summer — and since then we’ve heard from many readers who have purchased appliances from the line for their vintage kitchen remodels. The colors currently offered are a classic white — our favorite, and black.
Now, Lou Lenzi, Director of Industrial Design for GE Appliances has quietly (it seems) published a tumblr post indicating that GE has “been kicking around the idea of adding color to Artistry’s current glossy black and white finishes.” They also mocked up possible colors and finishes to gauge for market reaction.
We quickly asked some additional questions:
How serious is GE about this, really?
GE: We’re serious. We have had so many expressions of interest in colors that we need to quantify if this makes sense, and that’s the purpose of this outreach.
How much would such a skin cost?
GE: Our goal is a $100 adder over white or black.
Can you further share: What would the material would be made of? Obviously, some dishwashers and fridges (e.g. Sub-Zero) already are designed to take panels. … ?
GE: We are considering high-gloss, powder-coated paint on cold rolled steel with anti-corrosion protection.
We love this idea. But then we are color lovers here.
From the blog of Lou Lenzi, Director of Industrial Design for GE Appliances:
Artistry Color Exploration
The Design team here at GE Appliances is constantly looking at trends – “from culture to cooking” as we say, generating insights about the world we live in. These insights inform and guide us towards designs that make lives easier, more enjoyable and maybe a little more entertaining too.
It’s a pretty dynamic activity. Every new generation of homeowner drives new trends, demanding change, just as the newest generation, dubbed “Millennials,” were the catalyst for our new Artistry line of kitchen appliances.
While Artistry only entered the market last fall, we’ve been kicking around the idea of adding color to Artistry’s current glossy black and white finishes.
Before we fall into the trap of creating (and being blamed for) the next Harvest Gold, we thought we’d start with colors that might already be present in your kitchen – ginger, lime, cinnamon, aubergine (aka eggplant for the uninitiated), and lemon. Next, we considered a variety of finish scenarios. We started by bathing the entire appliance suite in color, then tried selected appliances as accent pieces within the suite, and finally landed on colored “skins” that could attach to the front of the refrigerator and/or dishwasher, which could be changed or swapped out for new colors, much like a smartphone case.
Scroll through our images to experience color in context. Notice how a light or dark surrounding environment can transform the feel and mood of a color or kitchen. What do you think?
Our take on the proposed GE Colors
Some of the colors GE is considering for their appliance skins seem to be channeling the Jonathan Adler line of kitchen and bath sinks from Kohler — bright and cheery, retro-mod.
My personal favorite among the proposed GE colors is their Cinnamon, above. This shade of orange-red might work in a variety of vintage kitchen styles from the 40s to the 60s.
The lemon color GE is considering is not quite right for a 40s or 50s vintage kitchen, but would look totally groovy in a retro mod, flower power late 60s or 70s kitchen, don’t you think?
The same can be said about the lime offering — though it doesn’t seem to be quite as acidic as a true retro lime, it would still blend nicely into a colorful mod kitchen.
We are amused that GE’s blog post dismisses Harvest Gold (Retro Renovation 2014 Color of the Year — because their “Ginger” reminds us oh-so-much of that same lovely shade. We like this one a lot! This would be a nice choice for anyone trying to recreate a 1960s through 1980s kitchen.
Of all of the proposed colors, GE’s Aubergine, above, may be the most problematic — because when it comes to purple, many people either love it or h*** it. Even so — at $100 per panel, it doesn’t sound like too big a risk.
Inspiration from 1968: Wacky-awesome!:
Go, GE, Go!
If GE moves ahead with this idea, we’d sure love to see them give a nod to the retro with several of their color offerings, of course! No matter what, though, we are super excited that color is returning to the appliance market once again. RESIST THE GREIGE NATION, America!
Janet in CT says
I am late contributing – I would jump on the turquoise to go with my vinyl buffet but alas, no room in my 1957 ranch for a large fridge or a dishwasher. What color is the basic case – white? I know for many years the models that were considered “built-ins” had black cases and stainless fronts. Nowadays it amazes me how many variations of one model are offered. I would think in the interest of trimming manufacturing expenses, they could offer numerous models in different sizes, including a counter depth smaller one as already mentioned, and then offer skins for all of them. Think how much easier it would be for GE to do that, than manufacturing so many models in different colors, and then how fun it would be for us to change colors when bored. I too applaud the idea and love all the color choices!
Chad says
I’ve got two words for you, GE, paint ready.
Wendy in St. Louis says
I think GE could totally open the market to all if they did this with slide in panels like the panels in the video. Color choices, even patterns or custom orders from the consumer. Panels are cheap, lightweight, easy to store and ship, and with today’s technology total customization would be a real possibility, or like the vid: DIY.
NOW on to the video ~ weird and fantastic! If you freeze it at 1:30, check out the ceiling tiles. I actually saw those in a house here! Wouldn’t it be great if they sold those again?!
Erin in Ohio says
I applaud GE for thinking outside the box and soliciting feedback from the marketplace! Those of us who already know we love color would scoop these up in a hearbeat, and I promise that once people saw these in my house, they would suddenly realize how much they love color and items with a retro vibe. Trust me, it happens every time someone comes to my house. “Where did you get those curtains? I love your turquoise couch. I would have never thought to paint a room this color, but I love it. Your house makes me want to go home and re-decorate. Etc.”
GE — Please do this! But please offer different/more colors than what you have presented (think classic cars and retro kitchens). And thank you for asking us what we think!
Olivia says
This is great. I recently used epoxy paint to transform my bisque refrigerator to white. It looks great, but was fairly time consuming. And my color options were severely limited. 🙂 These colors are so much fun! Here’s my white fridge below for anyone considering epoxy paint.
http://mcmodern.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/i-painted-my-refigerator/
Stacia says
Yes. I would do this in a second! Enough said!!!
JKM says
I think this is one of the smartest, cleverest things I’ve heard in a long time. Genius!
Laurie Louise says
Yes, yes, a thousand times YES! Gimme aqua! Gimme yellow! Gimme a range and wall oven and venter-thing! Give me choices! It is downright cruel–undemocratic even–that there are only three color choices for appliances. Can you imagine a color limit on anything else we buy? Black, white or stainless cars? Shoes? Clothes? Furniture? We’re in the market for all new appliances for our new 1961 (almost) time capsule (appliance replaced in the 80s and spent). If GE offers colors, Artistry will be at the top of our list. Sock it to me, baby!
Roundhouse Sarah says
Omg yes! I like all the colors presented by GE except aubergine and I love that Pam has suggested some other more retro colors. I’d buy aqua or yellow if I saw it out in the marketplace. Even though I have new appliances I’d consider selling them if this really happens and the price remains reasonable.
Kate H says
I like all the colors. Except maybe the one that’s the color of a scab. Aubergine?? Normally I like that color, but maybe that’s just too much in one place for me. Or maybe if it was pictured next to yellow or blue cabinets I would like it more. Love the red, lemon, lime and turquoise ideas. I like pink, but don’t see that getting off the ground with the general public. It’s funny they couldn’t do made-to-order, seems like it would be more cost effective than keeping large inventories of colors people may not buy.