Friday, March 24, 2006

You Say Shallow, I Say Screw You!

My blogfriend, MIM has taken a beating of bloglical proportions this week for her views. Some of the idiots have posted some rather mean and ugly comments and have called her a host of things. Shallow, in particular comes to mind.

You wanna see shallow? Read on!

I was hoping it would never come to this, but I am in need of opinions concerning a rather delicate matter in my home. While I already know what all of my female readers will say, I also desperately need the opinions of males as well in order to prove that I am right save my marriage.

Let me start off by saying that it is a rare event for Herr and I to argue. Sure, we have the token squabbles over who took the last beer without telling the other and nitpick over who should bathe the girls. We have similar views and ideologies. I even trust his judgement when it comes to things like art or furniture for the house. That said, I am distressed that we are currently in a bitter dispute over something so damn idiotic.

THE ISSUE

This is my dishwasher. I luuurve it. I love it because one can't hear it when it's running. It's true. We are fooled frequently and sometimes open it mid-cycle thinking it is off. I made it clear to Herr that we are taking the dishwasher and the refrigerator with us when we move. I told him that we should buy a plain ol' $250 dishwasher in a couple of weeks and have it installed and put the one we are taking with us to the basement and then the movers can move it. He agreed.







This is my kitchen. See the white cabinets. See the countertops that are gray with BLACK and blue flecks of color. See that the sides of my stainless steel appliances are BLACK. Should the dishwasher be white or BLACK? Herr feels that the dishwasher should be white to blend in with the cabinets. I told him he was on crack. The current dishwasher doesn't blend in now, and besides, the sides of the other appliances are BLACK. It's going to look really stupid and out of place to have a white dishwasher.

I am the first one to say that there are so many other more important topics to debate (Abortion, Sudan, Iraq, etc.) However, none of those issues will ever be solved on my blog. I need to choose my battles and this is the one I have decided take on at the moment, no matter how shallow and idiotic it appears to be. Besides, I never said this was the Huffington Post. Oh, wait--of course it's not the Huffington Post: I don't make stuff UP! Herr has completely refused to further debate this. I thought this would be an impartial forum to come up with a viable solution. Even if you have never commented on my site before, I am begging you to respond, even if it's the answer I don't want to hear. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. I can take it. I just figured this would be a more democratic method than buying the dishwasher behind his back while he's away interviewing over the next couple of weeks.

****UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who provided feedback. After further discussion, we discovered that Lowes has a cheap stainless steel dishwasher for only $50 more than the one we were going to buy. Suweet! And, we can advertise that it is brand new. Crisis averted.

19 comments:

The June Cleaver Diaries said...

Please. Stainless. Remember what I told you--- he and Mr Cleaver need to stick to thinks that make guys swoon, like a tool bench with shelves, and we need to stick to the girlie things, like how the kitchen looks. We know what chicks dig in a house. Sexist, but true.

The June Cleaver Diaries said...

Er, I meant BLACK.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Cleaver states white given that the cabinets dominate the color scheme. It should be white with black trim to match the other trim on the stove and fridge.

The June Cleaver Diaries said...

Whatever, dude.

mama speak said...

From the perspective of someone who just redid her kitchen--Black, black & more black. However, that being said, IF it's cheaper/faster in white, and since YOU don't have to live with it. White would be ok. But if you had to live with it--BLACK.

Susan said...

Okay, aesthetically, I'm with the Hausfrau, but I think Mama Speak speaks the logical truth: go with what's cheapest.

Which may very well be the white white white. Is there any chance that it makes the kitchen 'look bigger' (or whatever the hell those people on HGTV are always saying)?

(Also? Ask your realtor. The nice people who buy your house may like that all white look! And while I think they could use some decorating HELP if they do, god love them if they BUY YOUR HOUSE. For MORE than you are asking, preferrably.)

Jenette said...

I weigh in with black or stainless as well, if you were going to have to live with it. But given that you are leaving this lovely area of ours, I say white-- cheap, cheap, cheap. :)

LoryKC said...

My first reaction was BLACK--knowing for CERTAIN that in the same situation, my hubbie would say white, too!!
We move fairly often but I've never taken the dishwasher--never loved one--never had a quiet one. (Though after Mary P's comment up there, I can't complain!)
I've taken way too much space already to agree with others up there:
1. Ask the realtor.
2. Get what's cheaper. (You're just buying this so the strangers who buy your house have a dishwasher)
3. If realtor has no guidance and $$ is the same either way, I would go with BLACK.

kimmyk said...

We had white and I hated the white dishwasher that I too went to black. But if your cabinets are white maybe a white one would blend in but black looks sleek. But you're not gonna live there-I say go cheap like everyone else. I love the stainless steel though...very nice.

Anonymous said...

Since the range is staying, match it to the range. I think everything should match, it just looks nicer. And at Lowes, they have a dishwasher that came with 3 different faceplates, white, almond and black. You never want to much white anyway. I side with you, sorry Herr. And besides, any dishwasher is better than none, who gives a shit about color. I don't have dishpan hands. It could be purple. Fight over the beer.

Velma said...

Since you are leaving it, I would *definitely* go with whichever color is the cheapest. The other option is to use this difference of opinion to your advantage. You let him pick the color of the dishwasher in the place you are leaving, and then when you disagree over something in the new place, you get *your* choice, no arguments!

Chris said...

Like everyone else said, go with what's cheaper. Or just include an allowance for a dishwasher & let them pick the color. But if you have to pick now, go with black.

Kara said...

the thousands of hours i have invested watching hgtv and bbc america say get one that matches the other appliances. buyers have no imagination so putting in an allowance for a new appliance might irreparably rock sme potential buyer's world.capebuffalo unless, like you, they have one they want to bring with.

Kara said...

okay, i didn't mean to do some weird me subliminal with you there, my login name happened to slip in the middle of my comment. how random.
if i did, [movetomassachusetts] i totally wouldn't admit [ourkidscouldplaytogether] to it.

Kristen said...

If it's the same price, I'd go with black to match other appliances. But I also like Chag's suggestion about just giving the buyer's an allowance and letting them pick.

Anonymous said...

I'm almost ashamed to admit my first thought was white. I've looked down my pants and there is no penis there, so WTF is wrong with me? Now you will understand the awful lack-of-decor if you ever come to my house. LOL

Anonymous said...

You're gonna hate me, but I say white. Here's why:

If you haven't sold your house yet, someone is going to come into the kitchen and look at all the stainless steel appliances. Nice, they'll say, this will look great, until a BLACK block of color will attract their attention and they'll say, Hey, the appliances are inconsistent. Maybe we should offer less money...

Now, if it's white they'll walk in and say the same thing, BUT it the D/W will blend with the cabinets more, and they are far more likely to not notice that it's different than the other appliances.

If you're already sold the place, and there's nothing in the contract that says you need to leave your appliances, then you could leave exposed pipes and electrical equipment if you want. Even if it's used, they'll probably replace it anyway. Go with what shows well...

L. said...

I would personally favor black if it were my kitchen, but since you`re just buying a replacement dishwasher to leave behind, I think the commenters above who say, "white, or whatever!" have good points.

And Mary P., for six years, we lived without a dishwasher in Tokyo -- but we weren`t running a daycare center. I feel your pain!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to tune in so late but you're completely right. Black would be the choice but I see now that you've found an even better solution and saved your marriage:-))
One other question. Is it really that big deal with the dishwasher after all. Why don't you just leave it as it is and buy a new one when you relocate?? YOu will be selling the house for hundreds of thousands or dollars, or perhaps millions, what does a few hunded bucks really mean? I would personally leave it as is to save the trouble of buying a new one and installing it.

Best of luck

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