Opinions run wild in the world of appliance finishes. (If you don't believe me, just check out the comments section in this article from a couple years ago.) Probably because it's one of the most important design elements in your kitchen, one which all but demands to be replicated across dishwasher, fridge, oven, and microwave alike. In some circles, you'll find folks touting Whirlpool's White Ice finish from a few years ago. Others are getting behind the new slate revolution, but even there you have dueling designs from GE and Frigidaire. Even at CES this week, GE unveiled two bold new colors for select fridges: Cupcake Blue and Red Pepper. But now there's a new appliance finish on the scene: Sunset Bronze. We're not huge fans of the name, but this subtle copper-toned finish offers a more subdued option for folks who aren't quite ready to ditch the silvery allure of smudge-proof stainless steel. Sunset Bronze isn't a whole new material—it's simply a new type of painted stainless steel.

It's also treated with a color blocking technique that retains the fine grain and texture associated with traditional stainless.Clawfoot Tub Curtain Surround Whirlpool sees Sunset Bronze as a necessary transition in kitchen design. Homes For Sale In Yacht Club Estates Acworth GaAfter more than a decade of stainless steel dominance—and the avocado, gold, and pastel tones that came before it—the unveiling reflects something of a gamble on the trend of the 2010s.House For Sale Idyllwild Ca The new finish will launch later this year as part of a specific line of kitchen appliances called the Sunset Bronze Kitchen Suite. It will include a fridge, oven, dishwasher, and microwave. Whirlpool claims the tone will work well for any kitchen layout or design, but is that really true?

We had a chance to see Sunset Bronze up close at this year's CES, and while we were impressed enough to give the finish a CES Editors' Choice Award, the jury is still out on just how versatile this finish really is. Still, we have to admit, it's really quite pretty. Whirlpool showed off its Sunset Bronze Kitchen Suite in a rather plain but modern display kitchen—one with black counter-space and brown wooden cabinetry. From this conservative setup, it's tough to say just how well the style would blend into a more sleek whitewashed kitchen, though it seems a safe bet. We were also tempted to test out Sunset Bronze's supposed fingerprint resistance, which Whirlpool claims is even more smudge-proof than traditional stainless steel. That's a bold claim, but try as we might, we could not get this thing to smudge. Chalk it up to the dry Las Vegas air if you'd like, but this finish is not going to blemish easily. All in all we like Sunset Bronze. In certain light, the bronze/copper tone is so subtle you almost have to do a double-take to notice it.

But that's the point. This is not the radical departure from stainless steel that GE's Slate promises—but rather, a subdued, elegant twist on a modern classic. At the very least, Whirlpool deserves a nod for offering something unique in the world of kitchen design, but not so unique as to be alienating. It's a conservative innovation—tasteful, attractive, and fresh. It might not work in every kitchen, but it's a safer bet than most other alternatives to the traditional, silver-tone stainless steel. Here's a closer look at Sunset Bronze in all its glory: The residences at The Andalucia feature signature interior design that matches contemporary looks with a nod to traditional Revival architecture. All complemented by luxurious finishes, materials and appliances. Spacious floorplans with one and two bedroom townhomes, flats and studios Light Oak plank flooring Interiors filled with natural light Oil-rubbed bronze accents and hardware Design reminiscent of a vintage 1920’s building

Download a PDF of the floor plansUpdating a kitchen doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars. Instead of replacing countertops or appliances, the cabinets might just need new pulls and knobs.So how can bits of metal hardware make a difference? Consider this: The average kitchen has 45 doors and drawers, most of which have pulls. That means metal sticks out of 45 surfaces in most kitchens."Although they're such a small detail, not much bigger than 3 inches, pulls show up over and over again," says Tom O'Malley, owner of Locks & Pulls stores in Kansas. "They're a part of the house you touch every day."O'Malley has seen houses that sat on the market for a long time, but when the seller replaced the outdated kitchen cabinet pulls, the house sold soon after. "It's weird," he says, "but it works."Cabinet hardware reflects the look of a decade. The 1970s and 1980s saw the brownish-gold look of antique brass pulls. Shiny gold brass, sometimes accented with white porcelain, marked the 1990s.

Currently, two finishes are hot. Oil-rubbed bronze, with its dark brown tone, has an understated, old-fashioned look. Brushed nickel has a clean, modern look that works well in kitchens with stainless steel appliances."Other silver finishes and pewter come in behind those," says Jay Marshall, who owns Knobs & Locks, another Kansas store, with his wife, Glenna. "But mostly people walk in and ask for the brown ones."The up-and-coming finish is French brass, a brushed, dulled gold. The patina has more depth than oil-rubbed bronze or nickel and would look good with ornate cabinetry.Besides color, Marshall has noticed another trend. People are matching the hardware to the function of the door or drawer instead of using the standard 3-inch pull. Heavy pantry doors are getting 6- to 10-inch pulls. Old-fashioned bin pulls are being used on drawers that hold hefty pots and pans."People have become much more comfortable with mixing the size and style of hardware in a room," Marshall says. "But it's typically best to stick to the same finish for a room."

Stores often let customers borrow samples of several types of pulls so they can determine what's best for their kitchen.O'Malley suggests that people choose smooth, simple pulls and knobs. Hardware with ornate details retain grease from the kitchen and dirt from hands. Eventually, the finish starts to pit, leaving permanent dark marks.Pulls start at 89 cents for a lightweight plain one and range up to $45 for a heavy 24-karat gold-plated model accented with a glittering blue stone that would make Donald Trump jump for joy.On average, people spend between $6 and $12 per pull for the most popular types.Although investing in new hardware is thousands of dollars cheaper than buying new cabinets or countertops, the expense of buying new pulls was too much for Alicia and Brian Alferman of Overland Park. Still, they wanted a fresh look for their "Brady Bunch"-era kitchen.Alicia Alferman, a muralist, decided to refinish the antique brass knobs. She bought several types of spray paint and spent a few hours during a weekend on the project.