KitchenAid's Color of the Year expands to ranges; Whirlpool brands emphasize tactile, design-led luxury

Benton Harbor rollout signals new design push at KitchenAid

KitchenAid is expanding its Color of the Year program into major appliances with a mint-green hue called Spearmint and a new sand-texture paint finish dubbed Sand, the brand announces from Benton Harbor, Mich., on Feb. 12, 2026. The eighth edition of the program pairs a limited-edition 36-inch Dual Fuel Commercial‑Style Range finished in Spearmint with a matching stand mixer, marking the first time the initiative crosses from small appliances into full-size kitchen equipment. KitchenAid frames the move as a design-led effort to bring calm and revitalizing energy into the kitchen while blending tactile finishes with appliance engineering.

The brand says Spearmint responds to growing consumer interest in renewal, presence and well-being, with Chad Ries, Senior Director Global Brand and Product Marketing at KitchenAid Small Appliances, describing the color as inviting people to be present and symbolizing positive growth. The Sand texture represents the first textural finish added to the Color of the Year portfolio, aimed at delivering both aesthetic impact and a tactile experience in the kitchen. KitchenAid positions the collection as marrying durable appliance performance with trend-driven color storytelling, informed by global consumer insights to shape product design and retail activations through 2026 and beyond.

KitchenAid Major Appliances frames the 36-inch range as a collector’s piece that is not sold in retail channels but awarded via a limited-time sweepstakes that runs until Feb. 26, 2026, with five winners selected to receive the pair. Kevin Sulaiman, Senior Brand Manager at KitchenAid Major Appliances, says the initiative launches a series of exclusive limited-edition product drops intended to tap global trends and cultural moments and to inspire consumers to explore the brand’s “fresh side.” The campaign signals Whirlpool’s broader strategy of using curated color and finish programs and scarcity-driven releases to create marketing moments and extend brand storytelling into higher-ticket appliances.

JennAir shows textured, integrated luxury at KBIS

At the KBIS trade show in Orlando, Whirlpool’s luxury JennAir brand debuts a “No Kitchen Kitchen” concept that contrasts appliances hidden within architecture with pieces celebrated as bold centerpieces. JennAir presents two immersive vignettes—The Daring and The Ethereal—highlighting RISE induction ranges, JennAir x Dekton panels, advanced refrigeration columns and precision convection ovens to underscore texture, contrast and integrated performance.

Design-forward strategy unites Whirlpool portfolio

Taken together, the KitchenAid Color of the Year expansion and JennAir’s KBIS presentation underscore Whirlpool’s push to unite high-performance engineering with couture finishes and tactile materials, targeting both mainstream and luxury consumers through curated product drops, panelization options and immersive design experiences.