The first major renovation in a home often brings down the wall between the kitchen and living room, creating an open floor plan. It also reveals a direct line of sight from the soft furniture textures of the living space to the hard surfaces of a kitchen.
“That really questions these harsh finishes and material choices for appliances,” says Maggie Bellinger, the lead industrial designer for GE Appliances, a Haier company. “Stainless steel is harsh, and it can be perceived as cold and clinical. So we wanted to introduce slate, something a little softer with a matte look to really harmonize with the rest of the furniture in your home.”