Appliance White — Chrome (No stainless steel version) — Old fashioned logo — Analog!
Breaking news on the retrosphere — GE is releasing a new “Artistry” line of appliances with retro styling. The line comes in two colors — black and white — with a focus on simplicity and attractive design. The line will be released in Fall of 2013, and is marketed towards young, first time homeowners who are looking for stylish and affordable kitchen appliances. The retro-contemporary design of the line ensures it will fit in a wide range of kitchen styles from modern to vintage. It is great to see new, affordable appliance options becoming available for those of us with an eye for retro style.
Press release:
GE Unveils the First Line of Appliances Designed by a Millennial for Millennials
- Unique design focuses on simplicity, creating an entirely new aesthetic at an affordable price for first-time homebuyers, younger consumers
- GE Appliances has tripled investment in design over the last two years
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—June 26, 2013—(NYSE: GE)—With the introduction of the GE Artistry™ Series, GE’s designers focus on the needs of today’s generation of Millennials and their desire to uniquely express themselves. Created by a 27-year-old GE industrial designer with his own generation in mind, the Artistry Series provides first-time homebuyers with a distinctive and cool appearance at a price they can afford. This new line of stylishly sensible kitchen products includes five appliances: a gas range, electric range, bottom-freezer refrigerator, over-the-range microwave and top-control dishwasher.
Today’s Millennials comprise a significant number of first-time homebuyers; in fact, according to real estate brokerage company, Redfin, homebuyers in the 25- to-34-year-old age group make up the largest portion of homebuyers.
“These buyers are price conscious and design savvy, but also want appliances from a brand they trust,” said Lou Lenzi, director of GE’s Industrial Design Operation. “In today’s marketplace, affordable appliances tend to look the same; GE Artistry Series fills that void for consumers by offering unique-looking products not currently sold by other manufacturers.”
Designed to delight and disrupt at retail
Most appliances in this segment of the market have similar features that consumers use every day; the Artistry Series offers this, as well as a design aesthetic that will stand out in the home and on the retail floor.
“Investing in the design of these appliances was a top priority for our team,” said Lenzi. “We’ve tripled our design resources over the past two years, and after much research, Tomas DeLuna, industrial designer for GE Appliances’ Concept and Brand team, was tapped to lead the development of the Artistry Series. The look needed to be simple and approachable with very clean lines. DeLuna’s design sensibilities made him an ideal fit to lead the project.”
DeLuna took the opportunity to design for his own generation by focusing on touchpoints that mattered to him, in areas where consumers interact most with the product—handles, knobs and clocks. “Making the critical consumer touchpoints metallic, and set against either a pure, white gloss or black gloss finish, creates a look that is both familiar to our consumers, yet remains fresh and modern,” said DeLuna. “That’s what makes the GE Artistry Series special; the design is authentic and contemporary with a nod to the past not currently offered in the marketplace.”
The GE logo, visible as a badge on the appliances, also reflects this philosophy. The GE monogram with the words “General” and “Electric” recalls the product badges of the past, yet the juxtaposition of chrome and high-gloss color evokes the core, contemporary Artistry design principles.
Both the new dishwasher and refrigerator are ENERGY STAR®-qualified appliances. The bottom-freezer refrigerator costs $49 to operate annually.
The full GE Artistry Series will be available in September 2013. Estimated retail price of the full GE Artistry product suite is $2,416.*
*Retailers set their own prices. Estimated retail pricing per appliance is as follows: bottom-freezer refrigerator, $1,099; top-control dishwasher, $499; over-the-range microwave, $219; gas range and electric range, $599.
Pam adds: It is sooooo interesting to see how GE seems to go out of their way to avoid using the term “retro”. They say “contemporary with a nod to the past.” But this suite of kitchen appliances is so old skool looking — they used an old fashioned logo — appliance white (no stainless steel!) — chrome — and analog! It’s like they are afraid of getting tagged with the retro-moniker out of concern it will pigeonhole them. Oh well. I see a lot of readers going for the stove and fridge, in white, at these prices. However, if you want more sensuous curves — and color — Big Chill is still your likely best go-to.
See all our stories about REFRIGERATOR options here — and be sure to see the Fisher Paykel counter depth, which has similar lines and is counter-depth!
Smeg refrigerators look great for smaller retro renovation kitchens 
Retro style refrigerators for your 40s 50s or 60s kitchen – from Big Chill 
Counter-depth refrigerator-freezer from Ikea 
Amazing vintage refrigerator from GE that includes both wall and drawer fridges 
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I wanted to purchase this refrigerator to replace a 1950 GE Refrigerator but it is not available in a larger cubic measurement. Why not? This model was smaller than the old one I already had! The reason I wanted to replace the older one was the fact that I had to DeFrost it, what a Pain! These refrigerators look classic but they are not large enough to a
accommodate large families. If you decide to make these larger let me know. Wider and taller NOT DEEPER. Thank you, Ramona
Ramona, you should be able to see most of our refrigerator stories here: https://retrorenovation.com/tag/refrigerators/
There are other models out there that are larger capacity and which have a retro(enough) look.
Is this refridgerator available with a top mount freezer?
We bought the fridge in white recently and love it. Everyone who sees it says, “Wow!”
I will agree that it’s not suitable for large families, but we just have to please my husband and me. So we did. 😀
So, what is the status with color? Will we be seeing color soon?
We are evaluating color options. Please visit this page and share your information and feedback with us! Thanks!
http://www.geappliances.com/products/artistry/color-picker-dark.htm?icid=ArtistryLanding_Color
I LOVE this line of appliances! I am so pleased to have found your website and discovered these appliances. I am NOT a “Millennial” by any stretch of the imagination – LOL! I have been living in and improving a 1960s ranch that had some really bad 1970s & 1980s budget renos performed for 22 years. It is time to replace my “just for now” appliances and I’m buying these. I did just what you recommended and “lived” in my MCM home and discovered what worked and what didn’t. I had to do a couple renos over the years to get a sanitary kitch and correct “flow”, but tried to keep the integrity of the house while making it work in the modern world. I must say, thses appliances will give me that “nod to the past” I want in my kitchen – not too much – just enough. The handles will match the upgraded knobs I added to my cabinets 4 years ago. I found the entire suite at my local appliance center today and will be ordering shortly before I have another appliance crisis! P.S. I have your site bookmarked, also working on fixing the laundry corner in the far corner of my kitchen – fabulous design ideas here – best I’ve found so far!
My 1980 brown refrigerator finally died after a 2-day power outtage so I just ordered the new Artistry fridge! Rather than rushing to get any old fridge immediately, I am going to patiently wait the two weeks for my GE to come in. 🙂 I believe this is the second new fridge I’ve ever purchased in my adult life. LOL!
I ordered the entire appliance suite yesterday too! :). Can’t wait, Mine will arrive Wed., purchased from a local appliance distributor that has them in stock. This will be my 2nd refrigerator purchase too, and the first compete matching set of appliances.
I FINALLY have the entire suite of blck Artistry installed in my kitchen and I LOVE them. Thank you soo much I would never have discovered this line if I hadn’t tripped over your website. I am so happy to have new, matching appliances at a very reasonable price. I don’t have to change another thing from my 17 year old remodeled kitchen. It took stamina, with 4 stove delivery attempts (first 3 damaged in the distribution line) and mounting peices that failed on the microwave/hood when we did the DIY install – but it all worked out! I couldn’t be more pleased!
Hey Pam,
Well I’m super excited to say that I am finally the proud owner of the majority of this beautiful group of appliances. For some reason the retailers in my area, the Tri Cities area of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City, TN, don’t seem to be able to come up with the refrigerator for me. I took delivery of the oven, dishwasher and microwave earlier today and after waiting for them to be mine since the first day that I read your story about this gorgeous line of appliances I have to tell you that it was like a dream come true!!! My appliances came from a local Sears and so far even now the fridge is not able to be brought up in their computers for ordering and delivery. Both myself and my family members have been working on this “project” for weeks but so far nothing 🙁 !!
I have spoken with GE Customer Service who told me that there is no reason that local retailers cannot get these to customers because they are available in all of their warehouses except for one out west. Also we have spoken with GE Corporate in Chicago who basically says the same thing. There is a model number change for both the fridge and the optional ice maker but these have been available since August 2014 yet here my appliances set waiting on the elusive final piece to their little retro family 🙁 !!
Help !!!!!!!
Thanks
Cool – not sure there’s any way for me to help with this, though. Find another retailer??
Hi Tracy,
We’d like an opportunity to check into this for you. Please email us at eResponse@ge.com We look forward to hearing from you.
Karin
GE Appliances
Great response, Karin of GE Appliances. Good e-customer-service!
Thanks Pam, This is exactly the kind of help I was looking for. I was so hoping that someone from GE would be following your awesome site and find out about my dilemma and be willing to help me.
This is just another example of the wonderful world of Retro Renovation helping out us mid century modest and mid century modern lovers!!!
Since finding you and your site on fb you have been my go to for this vintage voyage that I’m on !
Thanks for all that you do for all of us like minded retrophiles 🙂 !!
Thanks again,
Tracy J. East TN
So glad I stumbled across this site!!! My family of 4 is purchasing/moving into my grandparent’s 1963 ranch style home this spring. I’m looking to keep the retro look but am struggling with a color for the fridge. The kitchen was hardly used, as there was another full kitchen and family room in the basement, which is where by grandparents cooked and spent thrir time. (I think that mindset was an old school Baltimore thing) The unused kitchen’s cabinets are solid wood, oak stained with white formica countertops (thst have silver glitter in them) with silver edges/trim, and BROWN wall oven and gas cook top (there is not, nor has there evrr been a fridge or dishwasher in this kitchen as it was hardly used).
All of the retro fridges I’ve seen are all colors but brown. Any designer ideas/recommendations on retro fridge colors that would work with this kitchen, that are reasonsbly priced, such as the GE Artistry line??
Welcome, Gina — and what a wonderful legacy! I think you could either do white (a classic retro appliance color) or stainless steel (which would harmonize with your trim). Or — go the Big Chill route and have them custom-color paint it for you!
Hey APPIANCE MAKERS, want to QUAD TRIPLE your PROFITS, bring those 50’s pastel colors back and designs but give all the wants people love. I am waiting for more 36in and 40in stoves with 2 and 3 ovens, sm, med, & lg, yes they made them late 50 to early 1960’s. They also had the drop down back burner that is today’s crock pot! You drop down the burner and place a lg pot down inside it, which came with the stove. These stoves were GREAT!! They also had an electrical outlet, clock, and timers on them. Made cooking oh so nice. If you’re in your 60’s, you know what I mean!! Get to the drawing boards appliance makers, thanks for listening, D L.
Is the range gas? Freestanding? And does it come in 36″ width?
Sara, the link to the products are right in the beginning of the story (in bold blue). You can check out the specs there.
I have a new kitchen with the cream color wood cabinets with a brown glaze over and these would be perfect. I just emailed whirlpool and am hoping for a positive response..
It appears that GE is no longer making this line, at all. Does anyone know if that is true? Did it not sell well? Or was it GE’s appliance division sale somehow kill the line? This is really upsetting for me, as I just bought a house and was so excited to have an affordable, retro appliances option. I am priced out of buying from the other retro applicants companies.
We are in the planning phase of updating our vintage kitchen and I was so excited to come across this line. Unfortunately, I too found out that the GE Artistry line has been discontinued. I would like to know if anyone is aware of other similar appliances lines out there. Smeg and Bigchill are too spendy for our budget.
See all our refrigerator research in Kitchen Help / Appliances subcategory.
Does GE still make its artisans collection of kitchen appliances?
I couldn’t find them on the GE website.
now discontinued…