Whirlpool Sunset Bronze kitchen appliances: Yes, the company has introduced this color and it will be available for purchase this fall. We first wrote this possible introduction a year and a half ago, and got 200 comments from people who eagerly wanted this warm color for their kitchen. Whirlpool was coy about whether it would actually introduce the color, but howdy hudee: Here it is. I like it because it reminds me of: vintage coppertone appliances. Whirlpool says the color, which is “achieved by color blocking painted stainless steel, is a perfect blend of gold, copper and bronze tones.”
BuilderOnline.com, which was at the show where this announcement was made, reported that the suite would be available on Whirlpool’s French door refrigerator, built-in dishwasher, over range microwave, and range oven.
BuilderOnline.com also talked to the company’s color manager for finishes, and reported that the company wanted to “soften the design of its appliances” and make them less industrial looking. It’s hygee time for kitchen appliances, tee hee!
The finish is also fingerprint proof. But it’s still stainless steel underneath, so that means no magnets on the fridge. Pooh. Now that would be cozy!
What do you think, readers? Are you interested in this new color for your retro kitchen?
Diana Iliff says
I am so excited to hear the good news that sunset bronze appliances are actually coming soon. I have been patiently waiting but my patience is running thin.Please hurry.I am hoping that you will also have gas range hoods available as well.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
June says
I love love love the color. Due to a budget we’ve bought all new appliances one at a time then I saw this new color. I was explaining this fact to my adult daughter as she said she also liked this new color. Then she kindly informed me we could buy those for her house she is planning on building some day. Just crazy about that idea.
Charles says
I like it. Because it’s different, for one. The other reason is, if you want appliance mfr’s to offer more variety, they’ve got to see the results of offering choices. If no one buys these, you’ll never see a chocolate brown or almond fridge again.
Joe says
If these appliances manufacturers really want to capture more consumers, they would have a “designer” line. By “designer” I mean as follows:
1) Offer an appliance suite consisting of a refrigerator/freezer with freezer on bottom; freestanding range; dishwasher; and trash compactor. Offer a cabinet choice of stainless gray or sunset bronze. Appliances front would be preferred color, with a slimline “frame” around it.
2) Offer optional color panel groups that can be installed within the slimline frame. Groups as follows:
A – Contemporary (Gloss White, Gloss Black, Gloss Charcoal).
B – Fashion (Cherry Red, Marine Blue, Dark Teal)
C – Earth (Harvest Gold, Avocado, Coppertone)
D – Retro (Pale shades of Yellow, Aqua, Orange)
3) Problem solved! Each manufacturer is responding to the demands of all consumers. Consumers are happy and purchase the products!
Pam Kueber says
I think this is a great idea. Also, the custom panels could be something each individual gets from the laminate manufacturer of their choice. There’s an incredible variety available right now, although not necessarily in high gloss finishes in the colors you identify, although I believe there are some of those.
Sub-Zero would be as close as I can guess at having such an option right now. Our Bosch dishwasher also allowed for a panel, which is why we selected it. We cut a piece from the side of a steel kitchen cabinet to get matchy matchy.
Pam Kueber says
I’m going to look around and see if there are any ways to cobble such a solution from available manufacturers today. I tend to think it’s gonna be hard.
Joe says
Of all the manufacturers, Whirlpool should have done this already. I know that in 1968 & 1969, they went so far as to offer washers and dryers with vinyl woodgrain veneer on the front. This was an effort to keep up with the fashion trend of installing panelling throughout the house. I believe Kelvinator offered color panel options for the refrigerators.
Jane Panama says
Super good idea!
terri says
although it’s a pretty color, I believe it’s a fad (like brass right now) and won’t have the staying power of stainless steel. What’s next? Rose Gold appliances? Now that would be really pretty.
Pencils says
You can get rose gold metal beds–instead of brass, or nickel, there’s rose gold now. It’s very pretty, I’m tempted to get one for my daughter’s updated “big girl” room, although she’s trying to get away from pink.
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Furniture-of-America-Melly-Rose-Gold-Metal-Bed/11624607/product.html
Mike Smith says
About time a stainless replacement color came out ! Tired of the cold icy look. About time for some warmth.
Jan says
I like it – in its own way, it resembles the stainless steel stove top and wall oven my parents had in 1965. Although it was definitely stainless steel, it had a much warmer tone and feel than today’s stainless appliances.
I’m holding out for the big appliance companies to bring back yellow and turquoise and mint green with lots of chrome and less roundness than Smeg – I know, I’ll be waiting a while…
Alison says
I like it, it would look nice with the warm shellac color of my cabinets. My 1959 house did not come with any of its original appliances anyhow. The wall oven is vintage brown like the one in my grandma’s 1967 house, BUT when you look closely at the cabinet in which it rests you can make out that the original oven was a more rounded shape. So maybe it started out with pink appliances that complimented the pink and gray counters. FWIW I am not attempting to “restore” the house just re-use the elements that appeal to me and I am horrified at the energy consumption of a vintage frig. I grew up with a 50’s Norge in the 1970’s and 1980’s and then in the 1990’s my dad acquired a rebuilt 1960’s frig so I have experienced plenty of manual defrosting.
Siobhan Greene says
I like it but it “pales” in comparison to Granny’s coppertone appliances! Before coppertone, she had an aqua fridge that had a three level Lazy Susan in the main compartment! I say bring back the original colors on appliances and cars!!????
Kathy says
It reminds me of the rose gold aluminum canister set my mother once had, but a bit lighter. I like it, but I would too worry about matching replacements if I got the full set. I could see buying one to showcase and plain white for everything else.
Been seeing some hardware and light fixtures in this sort of finish lately too. To me it has sort of an early 60s feel to it, but not a literal reproduction.
I have a 1962 pink kitchen with a silver painted GE retro-style fridge (now discontinued), stainless sink and microwave, and white stove and dishwasher drawer. Glad to hear that mismatched appliances are a vintage design feature!
My kitchen is so small that only a dishwasher drawer would fit, and when I ordered it in white, they automatically sent stainless! Stainless is the same price as white and apparently so few people order the white, they assumed I really wanted the stainless.
Stella M Bowman says
Do they still make white appliances? I like white!
Pam Kueber says
Yes, see our stories on White Ice https://retrorenovation.com/2016/04/26/whirlpool-white-ice-appliances-good-choice-vintage-midcentury-style-kitchen/