What color are the cabinets? Can you post your picture here? How about the floors and walls? I think you could make either scheme work.

Two kitchens ago, I had hard wood floors and a black range and MW, with a stainless fridge and DW. The cabinets were golden oak when we moved in but we painted them white. I think it looked very nice. I don't know if I would have liked it as much if I had gone for a white range

I've had low-end almond or bisque appliances for 35 years. They fit my budget and life style, and I like that color. So, in answer to your first two questions--yes and yes.

I had white in my kitchen before this one and had just replaced them (they all died)with that white. If it's a condo type unit with maybe one window; I personally would choose white because to me it would make the space feel brighter and somewhat reflect rather then absorb any light that came in.

Meh- tiny kitchen + black appliances= dark sadness. I would go with white and be done with it. Imagine how much light a dark fridge will suck out of the place.

Ha! Jumpilotmdm .. I did go for a walk & beautiful out today. But, I still came in pondering over white or black appliances!! It does matter if I am going to look at them the REST of my LIFE!! ;-) I'll see if I can master posting pics here..! Even tho I'm poor by many standards.. I'd still like to have the most attractive I can afford!!

imscattered, I'm with you - why on earth would we be on this site if not to worry about things like appliance color! Whether high budget or low budget many of us on here making sure we make the right move with whatever money we have to spend. Better is the enemy of good enough.

I like black appliances. We could have bought SS for our current house, but I really like black with our honey oak builders grade cabinets. Just my opinion with no real reason behind it. :)

Hopefully you can post a pic to end this debate entirely. I have to see the space to make a choice here. But I like both depending on the colors in the kitchen and amount of light it gets.

I think you answered your own question when you said you didn't like the look of white. Sounds to me like black is the way to go. I wouldn't worry too much about what is considered "in" (and not sure that white is "in"). Much more important to get what you like and what you think will look best in your space. I hope you get to splurge on a new black range soon. Enjoy your new home!

Glad you enjoyed your walk and didn't allow anyone to spoil your day. :)

We're doing a budget remodel... I guess that makes us low-end people. Although we did splurge on the stove.

We are keeping our white appliances, all are flavors of Kenmore. White wall oven, white micro, white dishwasher, white fridge. Only new appliance is our bertazzoni stove... and even that is lower end than most of the stuff discussed on the appliance forum.

I prefer white to black - but we're repainting our cabinets white - so it all kind of goes together.

I prefer white appliances over black. Black fridges scare me.

I'm planning to replace my white appliances with SS over time, starting with a new fridge next week. Now that my kitchen update is done, I've developed a fondness for my low-end white Kenmore stove. Stove, not range. It's very clean and sober. I even think the rounded high-rise backsplash is kind of sweet and homey. It's motherly and dependable. I think it might be the last to go.

there's a lot of us on here who don't buy the high end appliances. some can't afford 'em, some don't see the need to wrap a bunch of money up in them (especially when they don't cook much). I've also noticed that a lot of those high end appl have a lot of problems. I'd rather have a problem with one that didn't cost as much myself.

have you checked out scratch'n dent sales? floor models being updated?

I don't like black or white myself. black too dark and shows dust, white =? sterile to me. don't like SS either! i've bisque. If I couldn't have bisque tho, I'd get white. it's the what I like best of those I DON'T like - lol!

seeing a pic of your kitchen would help.

in the end it just depends on what you prefer.

I just bought a condo in Florida that has a over 20 year kitchen. it was up dated with black appliances. Not what I would choose, but not terrible.
A good friend of mine did a kitchen reno. White cabinets, white appliances. It is high end and and looks great.
But, there is something else to consider. Silver mist by Frididair. It is the same price as white or black. My sister bought hers at Lowe's and it does not show finger prints. It reminds me of stainless.

I'm so glad you found this site! You will find a bunch of everything here.

My mom moved into a senior living community 2 years ago, and she stressed over the same issues, dealing with a similar budget and desire to save her pocket change for more fun things. Her kitchen is small which steered her away from black. She was willing to settle for white or stainless steel, and was able to get ss.

It took her awhile to feel at home, but her small little kitchen is my favorite place to cook. Very handy and the used / budget items still get the job done!

Have fun hunkering down in your new space!

Here's my first try.. Let's see if we can see the black & white!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Low-end kitchen

Your link goes to a google page that says there is no access - forbidden error.

Go to the Appliances forum for suggestions on good product choices. Then search on craigslist or search tempest for options at reasonable prices. Have her reimburse you up to the allowance. I chose Miele panel ready Diamonte and got an $80 SS panel from IKEA. Put on a polished stainless drawer pull.

Here is a link that might be useful: !8

I always like white...and I plan to have all white appliances in the kitchen, unless I can find a blue range...on major sale! Otherwise, white goes with everything, it's cheerful and bounces around the light. Just my two cents :)

I don't think you will ever NOT be able to buy white appliances, so doesn't that make them IN, though maybe not as popular as SS. Personally, I would never have black and agree with Joslin...big black boxes suck the life out of the room and bring it down unless the kitchen is very very large. But it's your kitchen,you have to look at it every day, so you should get what makes you happy.

Hello imscattered. Low end sounds so negative. Yes, there are plenty of us here with simple kitchens, generic appliances and single digit budgets :-)

White is in. . . I never knew it was out. Please get what you like - you have to look at it and live with it. I myself prefer white appliances although I have always felt a black stovetop would look cleaner. I don't care for SS at all.

As far as budgets, you can check out the clearance section in stores in your area as well as CL. I scored a brand new out of the box 18 in white DW with stainless steel tub for $139, regularly $579, in the clearance section at Sears. I have also sold a portable new (black) DW and the white gas stove that came with the house, like new, on CL.

Good luck!

Here's a pic of one of my favorite smaller kitchens with a white stove and SS? dishwasher.

{{!gwi}}

I'd also check out Ikea for appliances. They seem to be well made and the prices are really good. I had already bought my appliances before checking out Ikea and the prices made me do several double takes. You can see their products online...
As for colors, I like a white fridge much better, but to me, a black dw looks nicer than some of the white ones we saw. We have a stainless wall oven and a white stove. There is no rule saying they all need to match. You just don't want things to clash...
I do think that black shows more smudges or water spots than white.

If you like black appliances, then just get them and don't worry about what is in or out.
Not only did we use black appliances in the small kitchen of our condo,we also used a dark wall color as well. When we sold the condo not too long ago, we did not get any negative feedback about the appliances or the finishes. He are a couple pictures to show all black appliances.

Why are you changing your mind based on the opinon of a likely non-designer (or even a designer) who says white is the new black?

You liked a certain color and made a decision...stick to it. You will always regret being talked into someone elses opinion.

As to white or black...I personally wouldn't enjoy seeing a white appliance in a kitchen full of deep dark cabinets. It feels too stark. But in a gray kitchen it's gorgeous. In a white kitchen I feel a black range is the same problem...too dark and a sudden shock to the eyes.

I don't know what your other pieces are, but you liked black before you made this post. That said, I'm leaning towards black for you because remodeling a few homes has taught me that my first inspiration is always the one I wish I'd have stuck with. Go with your gut...screw us :) and get your black.

IMO either is lovely...as long as they fit the space. The same can be said for purple, green and pink :P

I have always thought that black looked more elegant whereas white looks kitchen-y. I think you would be happier with the black and as you say in the future you could replace the range as needed with a black one. Maybe Santa would bring you one : ) Enjoy your new home!!!

Imscattered, yes and yes here too. Buy your appliances off Craigslist for almost nothing. Next year if you tire of the color, sell them and apply the money toward another color. We've purchased a new washer dryer once in 40 years, and that's all. The only thing we dislike more than writing a check for something that depreciates by a third or more as soon as we get it home would be making payments on them. Not that we ever have. Just the way we prefer to live.

I'm about as low-end as you can get, building my kitchen from reuse centers, donated things and things I find on the side of the road.

I have white appliances because I could get clean, working, less-than-10-yrs-old items on CL for $300. (Fridge, Oven, Microwave, DW, and for another $100 she threw in all her 1950s cabinets, countertops, sink & faucet [white].)

I would probably buy white all over again. Black is fine, but I had black in another life and it never was cheery.

I also wonder why you'd listen to the person whose vested interest is saving the living place $$. Even if it's the same, people think white is less.

Go with what you like. "End" doesn't matter.

Sorry about the link. Picasa Web was taken over by Google+ and it is not user friendly. Photos are there but I can't seem to make them public. I'll get it done.

Anyway...Thanks to all of you who were so kind and helpful. I will admit to being a little "snarky" since I was looking for just ordinary, everyday, out-of-date type kitchens, and was amazed at so many of you have these absolutely beautiful magazine kitchens..who knew!! We have worked hard and never had these advantages. You all should feel very lucky to have all this. We have the money to buy what appliances we need but it was the color!! ;-) Through your encouragement,.. I have chosen Black!! I will just say that we are retiring to this little continuing care community with no debt!! We will be able to do & go because we will live in a dinky 15 yr old house!!
Thanks again to all of you who were so nice to me.. maybe I'll get those photos posted.

Yea! Glad to hear you've made a decision that you're happy with. The fact that you're retiring with NO DEBT makes you richer than a whole lot of people! Good for you! I hope you'll post pictures of your shiny new black fridge in your new space. Enjoy!

It would be helpful to see the kitchen but I vote for white. I agree...black fridges scare me! White is bright and cheery, especially in a small space. I have a white fridge, sink and DW...stainless micro and range. I really DON'T like my fancy Bosch stainless range...it is a bear to keep clean! We're remodeling now and I think I'm going to keep my white appliances!

I have a small low budget kitchen. I did just luck out on a fabulous buy on a new stainless range which I love, BUT it is a darker presence in my small kitchen when compared to my old white range. I've heard black fridges called Darth Vader, and I have to say I agree -- in a small place they can feel overwhelming, even ominous.

White may not be trendy, but it will always be around. I'd focus instead on things you have more control over and enjoy them to the max.

It sounds like she just didn't want you changing your mind because it meant she'd have to change her order. As others here said, you need it to be your choice & choose what makes you happy. White makes me happy, but with dark wood I think it is too stark (black looks good with oak).

I have a tiny low-end house. I was shocked at the many high-end homes posted here, but the mix is part of what makes it a great forum - mix of styles, mix of budgets (& even the 'rich folks' seem supportive of us low-enders).

My kitchen is 44 years old. I just made the decision to put my new kitchen on hold & instead put the $ towards the mortgage (to avoid a big ballon payment at the end). I will continue to dream, hanging out here gathering ideas for some day. I think you are really smart for retiring debt- free - that is truly more important. Congratulations!

low end here all the way ;)

i would go with black... i think its just a bit more of a punch with the cabinets...plus i had white for years and just tired of looking at it.
go with black, replace the stove when you can, change out cabinet handles and you'll have a really cute kitchen!

I'm remodeling my kitchen on a very low budget, but even though I don't have much money I refuse to think of myself as poor. Even when I was homeless and broke I never thought of myself as poor.

I like white because I like light, and black does suck the light out of a room. But it depends on the room. Maybe too much white could feel harsh.

Second the suggestion to look for appliances on CraigsList. There are no good refrigerators being made today, I don't care what they cost. It made me sick to think of paying between $1400 and $2000 for the refrigerator I wanted, a side-by-side without an ice maker or water dispenser. But I found a used appliance shop on CraigsList and they actually had one, a year 2000 Amana. They plug them in, test them and rebuild them. The one I'm getting is going to look like new for $350. Even if it breaks in a few years, the new ones break, too, and I can get six of these for the price of a new one. The money I save is letting me get some other things for my kitchen that I couldn't have afforded, like soapstone tile counters.

Soapstone tile is costing a fraction of slabs and will work just as fine. There are ways to get what you want without paying a fortune for it.

Our kitchen is neither high end nor low. The costs for many things were low yet the value was not low. I wholeheartedly agree with amritakaur about "There are ways to get what you want without paying a fortune for it."

We got a lot more than someone who was not careful would have for the same budget. To get the same dw, venthood and wall oven for retail would have cost us approx $3k more than we actually spent on them (Bosch top of the line dw, Broan island vent and GE Monogram convection oven = total $2,150). We managed to get good appliances for what the cheapest ones would have cost.

I find that how one spends what they make is as important as what they make in how well they live. We have nicer things because I put the effort in to get the best deals. We could buy cheaper stuff, but they may not work as well or last as long and just may not be as pretty or functional. We wait when patience is needed and only buy when the best value is found.

I hope you find the best possible appliances for your budget!

I could see the photos just fine. I think your choice of black is a good one. If you get a black frig then the range can be your accent piece! Enjoy your debt-free new home. No matter what my financial status has been and it's been varied, I've always enjoyed nice quality and looks within those current means. You should too.

amritakaur...this is a shot in the dark, but did you grow up on a street named Candlelight?

Finally got to see your pics. Not low-end at all (you should see mine).

Meant to say "the mix is part of what makes it a great forum - mix of styles, mix of budgets, and mix of opinions"

"Low-end people" is rather harsh. How about some other terminology that is better and clearer.

I'm into "modest and quirky." I'm also old enough to have plenty of perspective on life and a vision of my deep old age. We retired and then added a new kitchen to the house. We re-used our old white range and dishwasher and refrig, although I splurged on a scratch-and-dent white double oven range two years after the project began. White is an accent color in my kitchen. I would never consider black--I don't like the look of dust or grease on black shiny surfaces. Stainless appliances sometimes aren't that much more expensive any more.

You can find lower budget kitchens on the GW Kitchens forum but you need to look hard for them--sometimes they're incognito, so pay attention to what the photos show. I've been reading the forum for about 4 years and it seems to me that I'm seeing more high-end ones, especially from people who are not extremely active posters--lately lots of posh kitchens have begun to pop up as a surprise. The Finished Kitchen Blog* is very helpful in illustrating modest kitchens, esp. kitchens from its earlier years. You might want to search for "laminate" since that often is a discriminator.

And by the way, "cheap" is not a good way to describe a low-cost kitchen. "Less expensive" or "affordable" or "modest" and similar terms are more accurate. High end kitchens can have "cheap" things in them, either shoddy or bargain-priced, just as any kitchen can. It's important to tell the difference between shoddy stuff and a good buy. The forum is wonderful for that--lots of real-life experiences are shared. Sorting out what is fad and what is enduring is a real skill and one you need to acquire if you 're not independently wealthy.

During the economic downturn, we had a lot of commentary about re-setting our personal priorities. Good stuff--you can find it here if you dig.

Some people put in a low-cost kitchen because that's what they can afford. Some do so because they recognize that they don't need any more than that. Some do so because it's a conscious decision to save money, resources, and hydrocarbons. Some live in neighborhoods in which lavish furnishings are out of place. Every modest kitchen query or photo posting does greater good for this forum. Glad you presented the topic as a reminder!

* see the Read Me file that is on page 1 for directions to the Finished Kitchens

That's a nice looking kitchen, better than I expected to see by your initial post. It looks to have enough light that you could get away with either color. I prefer the look of black - though not sure about a black refrigerator. If you haven't had black in the past, be aware that it shows every bit of dust. My biggest regret in my kitchen is that I have a black top on my range. It is a PIA to keep clean.

There is only one reason I have some of the nicer things in my kitchen - I paid for no labor. Lots and lots of sweat equity means I have custom white cabinets that would have cost over $30,000, but I only paid about $5,000 - and two years of my life!

I feel fortunate that I prefer white over black and stainless. I love it when I actually like the cheaper items! Getting what I want and paying less for it is the best, but it does not usually work out that way and then I need to compromise.

That is not a low end kitchen. It's quite lovely as well as being spacious and functional.

Having seen it, I'd definitely go with the black as you did. You can change the range over time and meanwhile, as owls4me said, it can be your accent piece (ha, I love that).

Enjoy your new home!

You have a very nice kitchen.
I think either white or black appliances would look fine in your space.
I would pick whichever YOU like the best.
I would, however, be bothered if they didn't all match.
Call me matchy-matchy!

Thank U florantha.

hlove- No, I didn't grow up on a street called Candlelight. Must be my doppleganger you're thinking of ;-)

to the original poster's original question:

I looked at the photos, and this is what I see. Nice condo kitchen, nice functional layout, decent cabinets with many more years use in them, nice white laminate counters. White fan. White backsplash. Whitish floor.

I would personally stick with white, not change anything out until you need to do so, or until you find a really cool used alternative locally.

You can always change out the handles for a brushed nickel if you can find pulls with the same hole distance, this will look nice, and would fit your budget. If you collect any kind of pottery or interesting glass you can put your collection on top of the uppers and put some inexpensive LED rope light up there to light your collection and give the place a more open feel.

To me, this kitchen space as it is without any major updates would not benefit from black, but you need to go with what you love.

I was picturing "low end" based on your description but your pix show a nice kitchen! I also thought that being in a condo it might be smaller. I think your space is functional and spacious.
I can see what you mean about the white stove with the black micro hood. In my opinion, if you don't like white very much, I'd try stainless for the stove. It is often the same price as black and white. If not, then stay with white and get a new micro hood in white or stainless. That is a lot cheaper than swapping out the stove.
As for the fridge, you can really go with any color over on the other side of the run, but I am not a big fan of black unless it really works with black counters or some other strong element. Again, if white does not do it for you, try stainless there as well.
I really think this is a good kitchen where would be just fine to use. If it ain't broke, no need to fix it!

sorry to hijack...amritakaur...I grew up with someone with the same name...so at least your doppleganger in name... :)

To the OP...I think either white or black would be fine. And your kitchen does not come across as "low end". As others have said, there is a wide variety of budgets (by choice or by necessity) on this forum. Wasn't there a thread a while back about "modest" kitchens? As I recall, there were more than a few people on that thread who relayed their previous reluctance to share their kitchens due to their perception that they weren't "high-end" enough.

I, for one, love looking at both the high budget and lower budget remodels (as well as those inbetween!). Both types had great ideas unto themselves which helped inspire my newly finished kitchen.

Found the old thread:

Here is a link that might be useful: modest or quirky kitchens (gardenweb)

hlove, thanks for finding the link to that old thread. I've just spent a little nostaligic time skimming through it. I'd forgotten about the direction that the conversation took...we got to talking about what we really want from a kitchen.

I find that I wrote this..."comfortable, authentic, unapologetic kitchens" ...and I think it's still pretty good as a summary of what I'm about. There are a lot of other good one-liners in the thread and many of the links still work. Have fun stormin' the castle, folks!

Ms. Freeman, you are very kind.