Move over, stainless steel, a new “it” metal is in town

Darci Marchese, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – It has been the “it” product in kitchens across the country.

Stainless steel has been one of the premier finishes in kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves and microwaves for a couple of decades.

But some are wondering if slate will catch on next.

General Electric launched its slate-finish products last year. In advertisements, GE calls it “sophisticated and modern.” It describes slate as a gray metallic with a low-gloss finish and a more natural look than stainless steel.

Some say slate does reduce the amount of fingerprints seen on the appliances, as compared to stainless steel.

GE says before launching the slate finish, it conducted a wide survey and found that while 35 percent of kitchen appliances sold today are stainless steel, many homeowners are looking for something different.

Jessica Elliott writes in the Dallas News that it is a gamble whether slate will become the new stainless steel, but she says it is “easy to integrate the deep gray hue into your kitchen design and tabletop.”

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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