 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
One of the big names in high-end kitchen appliances — the Viking range company — seems to offer the widest variety of colors to choose for your refrigerator, stove, oven and dishwasher. Including: Yes, some pretty decent proxies — well, close as I could find — for famous (or infamous) postmodern kitchen appliance colors including harvest gold, avocado green, Brady Bunch orange and even poppy — a color that the industry made a big, failed push to introduce in the early 1970s. Of course, Viking does not use these names. Theirs are the more socially acceptable Golden Mist, Mint Julep (which I acknowledge is not a good avocado, really), Pumpkin and Apple Red. And of course, these appliances are not going to be inexpensive; I never said this was a site only about cheap and cheerful. Did you know that Viking bought the famous St. Charles steel kitchen cabinet brand a few years ago, and is marketing these steel kitchen cabinets again today? The cabinets are so expensive they won’t even tell me how much a single one costs.
Hey: If I were rich rich rich enough to afford a kitchen full of Viking appliances, you can bet I’d be getting the colors. My favorite right this very moment is the harvest gold.
pam kueber says
PEOPLE: READ what I wrote. I said “some pretty decent proxies — well, close as I could find.” STOP hocking me cuz they are not exact. Sheesh. You are stressing me out.
Deb G. says
Certainly not my intention! I love your site and was just interested how the color palettes have been updated for a more modern look – far more gold than the mustard I associate with harvest gold.
pam kueber says
not to worry, deb. and it wasn’t just you. assume i pushed back with a GREAT BIG SMILE
Melanie says
That is definitely not Harvest Gold! I have a harvest gold stove in my kitchen right now (just replaced the avacado) and that Golden Mist is but a pale comparison to the real deal.
Now, retro or not, if I had the funds, I’d be all about getting the frig in purple!
Deb G. says
Those are beautiful, but definitely don’t look like the Harvest Gold appliances I currently live with in my fab 1975 kitchen – complete with yellow formica countertops, scalloped wood accents, and the same linoleum pattern I grew up with in 1980! At least, we think it was remodeled in 1975, as that is when the adjoining breakfast nook was added. I’ve always meant to send in a pic so others could help guess my kitchen’s age. 🙂
Jan says
I do like the harvest gold (the color of my first appliances I had after leaving home. There doesn’t seem to be a true avocado green like the appliances in the house my parents had during my junior high years (and still had the avocado Maytag washer and dryer until about 8 years ago), or a true turquoise, the color of my dreams and of the big old Revco refrigerator and all of the other appliances and fixtures that were in the house my parent have now. But I really do love that orange!
Matt says
I grew up with poppy red appliances. I always felt special because every time I would discuss growing up in the seventies with my friends they would always ask “Avacado green or harvest gold?” and I would smirk and reply, “Neither! Poppy red!”
pam kueber says
Do you have any photos of the old kitchen with the poppy appliances, Matt? I would LOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE to see one!
Katherine says
I am currently renovating a kitchen and lust for the orange stove. Our local showroom carries St. Charles kitchens. They were informed recently that the line is going out of business. Can anyone else confirm this? Looks like we will all be scouring Craigslist.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip — I will check on this tomorrow!
Dave says
I recently tried to buy cabinets and all sales have been put on hold while Viking tries to find a buyer for the brand. You can’t buy new St. Charles right now for any amount of money. Sad really, we are back to the drawing board for our 1951 re-do…
gsciencechick says
Great colors, but no turquoise?
My favorites are the Cobalt, Lemonade, and Pumpkin.
wendy says
I have a vintage pink fridge and a vintage pink range. I would have preferred turquoise, but the retro renovating gods brought me pink, and they are delightful.
As for the Vikings…..not that they would go with really anything, but I love the Seaglass and the Pumpkin. How opposite can you get? 🙂
CindyD says
I believe Viking appliances are manufactured in the US – if that helps ease the sting of the pricetag.
Cynthia says
Orange for sure. I have a longstanding love affair with all things orange. Shhh……don’t tell my husband (like he doesn’t already know… ;-))