OK I have been there and I can relate. So take my advice in the spirit in which it's intended, which is kind. Get over it and embrace stainless for the neutral material that it is. Honestly. I belabored it and put off replacing appliances, or insisted on white, only to realize it's no big deal. Get good looking stainless and you will forget about it in no time, I promise you! The thing with white is that it's not going to match your other whites anyway. And even if it does, guess what--it's going to change in a few years and you'll be like me staring at white cabinets next to a white dishwasher and wondering in my head "which one of you discolored?"

The SS bothered me at first, especially fingerprints. But if you choose attractive ones, I almost guarantee you'll be happier than if you went through all the trouble to go with white. Panels are nice, if you can afford them, but really the lower-end brands that advertise "panel ready" products are disappointing at best. A cabinetmaker that I know tells me they're simply not designed for a good-looking panel installation.

Share some pics of what you've got, and maybe people can help you out.

In a small kitchen, I'd choose appliances (especially the fridge) with the fewest bells and whistles on the surface. Ice dispensers and curved fronts are really distracting. Go for low-profile, streamlined stainless and you'll be surprised how much it just disappears. I do totally understand your dilemma, but I think you'll be just fine ;-)

IMO too many whites are distracting and stainless lets you choose appliances that actually work for how you cook.

I'd suggest a new location for the micro. Over the range is where a good venting hood goes. You don't get good venting with a micro/vent.

scottie mom- I already have SS appliances. When I replaced my MW a few years ago I chose SS i/o white b/c I thought all my appliances should match & have regretted it since. Having a SS MW with black glass–as most do—looks terrible in a white line of top cabinets. All the new appliances I'm getting are as bell/whistle-less as possible! No handles, ice makers, etc. which are similar to what I currently have. As I mentioned, I have a L line of cabinets which are visible from my lr & entryway & the DW is closest to the opening so it is the 1st thing you see when entering my apt & it breaks up a line of white cabinets. The wall with the frig/range are opposite & not visible until you walk in. I get what you are saying & u may be right but I'm still not sure. Thx!