We are considering getting all new appliances for our kitchen. Currently we have a 15 year old refrigerator that is having trouble refrigerating (every 3-6 weeks I have to remove everything, pull the panel off the back of the freezer, and let the rock solid ice buildup thaw overnight, then clean up all the water), a 40 year old oven with only 3 of the 4 heating elements working (the one that doesn't work is the larger one in the front making it a bit of a pain to cook using two large pots at the same time) and we're currently dishwasherless.
We went to a local furniture store over the weekend and they quoted us a package of Frigidaire Gallery appliances for $1,700, which includes a top freezer fridge (what we want, don't want to spend the money on a french door bottom freezer, plus they don't fit in the space we have available), a nicer quality dishwasher than we were originally looking at, a very nice 5 burner convection oven, and a "free" over the range mount microwave (we currently have a countertop microwave).
The price was for white or black appliances, but if we wanted to go stainless steel it would cost an extra $300. I prefer black, to keep the price as cheap as possible and because it will still look infinitely better than our current 'bisque' fridge and vomit yellow oven. My wife, however, wants to go stainless. Her argument is that it would look better (I agree that it would look marginally nicer than black) and that we would make the money back when we sell the house (which I'm not sure if I agree).
Stainless seems to be the mode right now but I'm wondering if in 5, 10, 15 years when we may be looking to sell if it will be dated. I believe black and, especially, white are more timeless.
In all honesty I am not displeased with the price of $1,700 for the four appliances, I had previously priced lower quality stuff for $1,500 at Lowes which didn't even include an over the range mounted microwave. But should we buy into the stainless 'upgrade' and spend an extra $300?