I'd do black. Is that an option for you?

Can you panel the dishwasher? Then I'd probably do stainless for the refrigerator, black as my second choice.

I like the idea of black too but to answer about maintaining stainless appliances, I think you shouldn't worry. I have a stainless fridge and it hardly needs maintenance. No fingerprints, nada... Just to occasional wipe down.

Black.

mullde, read through this thread and you might change your mind about SS. :)

Thank you all for the replies.

I did think of black, but am not crazy about the idea. After posting I did think about panels that match the cabinets, but will have to inquire how much they will cost.

Beth, thank you for the link to the SS cleaning thread, that is helpful.

White. But I'm biased. I think they match in most situations, but from your description of a farmhouse style, they will look great.

I have stainless. Do they need more frequent cleaning? IMO they do. However, I'm not anal about them being spotless at all times so I'm not stressed about them being perfect.

I do have to say that my Bosch stainless dishwasher has water runs on it all the time which does drive me crazy. Haven't found a solution for getting the water streaking out.

We had stainless in our last house, and we are currently living in a temporary house while we build. The refrigerator and stove are stainless and my refrigerator is white (my spare fridge from our old house) and I have always felt that stainless is more work. Like you Designsavvy, my dishwasher is streaked with water runs, while the fridge looks clean all the time. Plus, with the fridge I can take a wet wipe and wipe off any spills and it does not leave smudges showing where it was wiped down. Maybe I just need to learn new ways of doing things.

One of my main goals for this house is low maintenance and easy care. Now if it could just clean itself that would be awesome! ;-)

Paneled, Black, Stainless in that order.

Love the brick red range idea! Almost went there for my Bluestar, but chickened out and went black...

I have all stainless appliances and they don't require anymore maintenance than my former white ones did. I don't have a fingerprint problem at all.

Oh, around the knobs for the range, I do get waterspots if I've cleaned with a too-damp cloth. I keep a microfiber cloth in the drawer with my oven mitts and hot pads which I use to quickly buff it dry. I don't do that every time but only after a bit of waterspot build-up has happened and starts to be noticeable and detract. Maybe 2-3x a week. Or if picky company is coming like my sister. ;)

Just my opinion, but I think of black or white appliances as appearing cheap, but thar's probably because i've never seen anyone using the higher end ones in white/black. If there is any SS trim on your red stove, using other stainless appliances would tie it all together.

I think ss requires more care as well. We have white in this house but bought ss at our last home. My husband "pressured" me into it, I thought it would be more care and I was right. Of course white isn't without it's issues when you have boys that somehow seem to always get jam on the handle of the fridge . We have a farmhouse style kitchen and our cabinets are light chocolate. The white look alright, but black would look better. I think black and farmhouse work much better than ss.

what cook said. I think white will stick out like a sore thumb.. My sister did a bright red chambers with white cabs, soapstone counters and she paneled the DW and fridge. her wall oven is stainless. It looks fabulous. I'll try and post a pic

I'd go stainless. But, I'm not a fan of black appliances, which look like giant black holes to me...

I vote for stainless. My entire kitchen is stainless. It will simply reflect that red and tie the kitchen together.

I think white appliances (e.g. the White Ice ones) look great, but only in a white/light kitchen.

Here's the red stove.

Red Stove

And here it is with her stainless wall oven

Red Stove and Stainless

PS: Notice what's above the microwave? Wondering how much is left after this reno of hers. ;)

Wow, lots of great feedback!

Cookcarpenter, yes I am going with the Bluestar RNB in brick red.

I agree with all of you who said that white does not necessarily fit into a higher end kitchen, I am just trying to find another solution other than SS. I am not sure if I like the idea of a black refrigerator and dishwasher, I would prefer SS over black. Paneled might be okay.

Cpartist, great pictures! Thank you for posting them. Hehehe, maybe that is what I need to start drinking to get through this house project. ;-)

Lots to think about. Thank you everyone!

The red I was considering is RAL 3011, I believe called "Brown Red" As I said, I chickened out, but did order it with one knob for the griddle in the RAL 3011 which goes very nice with both black and stainless.

Do post pics when you get it, I so enjoy seeing Bluestars in different colors!