For the past decade or so stainless steel has been the ne plus ultra of appliance finishes. The gleaming look of stainless steel is an ode to industrial chef kitchens. Stainless steel appliances also coordinate with every kind of kitchen decor, from country style to contemporary chic. Now there's a new entry into the appliance market that's sure to shake things up. The finish is called "slate" and is not only a darker grey than stainless steel but is actually "matte." > GE Appliances developed the innovative finish in answer to what they call a "stainless fatigue." According to Lou Lenzi, GE Appliances’ Director of Industrial Design, "Slate's strong earthy feel is what sets it apart from stainless steel, giving consumers a new option in the kitchen that can blend seamlessly with pre-existing appliances." For those of us who love the look of stainless steel but hate how hard it is to clean "slate" is the right choice. Says Lenzi: "The slate finish resists fingerprints making it easy to make them look clean and polished. And who can resist that? Here are the two finishes side by side. Both sets of appliances are from GE. (And note that the GE slate appliances STILL have stainless steel knobs and pulls!). Please comment below about which appliance you would prefer and tweet me @erinmclaughlin1 with your answer!