I Need Some Kitchen Aid!
It’s time that I own an electric stand mixer. All the cool kids (who bake) have them and shoot, I bake, and people tell me I’m cool. So it only follows that I should own a Kitchen Aid. Right?
The thing is, I seem to have gotten by fairly well without one for the past 18 years. That is to say, ever since I moved out of my parents’ house when I was seventeen, I’ve been mixing batter and dough with my $15 Sunbeam hand-held mixer, but just as often I use nothing more than a fork, or a wooden spoon and plenty of elbow grease. During this time, I’ve turned out several (hundred) dozen cookies, muffins, breads and cakes, most of them well above average, if I may be so bold. Oh yeah, and a couple (hundred) bowls of fresh whipped cream, always with success.
Why, then, am I struck with the sudden impetus to take up valuable counter space with this unwieldy appliance? Like I said. I bake. And I’m cool. And, most importantly, it’s going to be free. You see, I recently realized that I am able to cash in my Capital One No-Hassle mileage points for items other than airline miles. I can exchange points for GIFT CARDS from a wide array of restaurants and retailers: The Gap, Target, Sears, Home Depot, Red Lobster. While it was tempting to trade in those points for $300 worth of gen-u-ine Eye-talian meals at Olive Garden, I have made my final decision, and when the gift card arrives in the mail, I’ll be heading straight to the house wares department at Macy’s.
Okay, so this is where I need YOUR help. The array of available colors for the Kitchen Aid Artisan 5 Quart Stand Mixer are indeed vast. So vast that I am paralyzed with indecision.
Here is my quandary: Practical or whimsical? I could be conservative and classy and stick with basic black (although there are THREE different shades of black, if you can imagine).
My kitchen looks like this:
The tiles, original features of my 1935-built home, are butter yellow and black. Naturally, then, black is the obvious choice; it is classy and neutral and, being that my mixer will likely be in my life longer than the house, it is the sensible choice. As for yellow, It has never been my favorite, but it IS a kitchen-y color and it is also the same color as my mother’s circa 1962 Sunbeam stand mixer responsible for all creaming of butter and sugar done by yours truly between the years of 1978 and 1988. So, yellow wins nostalgia points.
But look, here!
In my kitchen, as you can see in the above photo, there are highlights of red and even a bit of orange. Additionally (speaking of orange), get a load of my living room.
Granted, it is unlikely that I’ll ever be kicking out a bowlful of meringue or mixing up a batch of these excellent ginger cookies in my living room, but still. The tangerine color could provide a sort of traveling continuity throughout my home.
Yes, I know, it’s only a mixer. Functionality and performance should be my priority, here. This, however, is not the issue because I am already secure in the knowledge that this Kitchen Aid is a superior and highly-regarded product. I am, however, planning to be looking at this machine/baking partner for the next few decades. I am giving this no more thought and consideration than I would were I to be choosing paint colors, tiles or upholstery for my sofa. In fact, the mixer will be more permanent than any of those things.
Okay, so to the point: I’m taking an opinion poll. I usually am pretty directed and decisive about matters of home aesthetics, but as I said, I’m feeling paralyzed.
If you have a minute or two to spare, please go to this link to view all available color choices and then indicate your vote in the comments section.
Thank you in advance for your time and support. If you’re in the neighborhood, let me know. My 325-watt-motored, ergonomically handled Kitchen Aid and I will whip you up a fresh batch of your favorite cookies.
And, of course, we will look quite fabulous in the process.
It’s all about accessorizing, you know.
Photo of Kitchen Aid mixer courtesy of macys.com
http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=201396 Check out this brushed copper model. I wonder if it tarnishes? But seriously, I’d go with white if you really want to be retro.
My own KSM-5 is a 75th anniversary model (circa 1994) in limited edition ‘diamond white’ (sparkles a little). It even came with an extra laser engraved bowl with my name on it and the 75th anniversary graphic. White matches everything and is really easy to see where it needs to be cleaned.