NEW YORK CITY - Stainless steel may soon go the way of the avocado appliances of decades past.

After 15 years of stainless everything, from refrigerators to stoves and dishwashers, manufactures are now moving on to new finishes.

A report from The Wall Street Journal contends that while the professional, sleek look of stainless was once thought to signify a homeowner had arrived, the design choice is now "on overtime," and has even caused "stainless fatigue" within the industry.

As evidence of the new trend, the report cites Whirlpool's new Ice Collection, which calls white the "new stainless," while GE is pushing a new line of metallic slate appliances.

But The Journal stressed that despite the push to new colors, consumers continue to buy stainless steel, and are even rejecting darker appliance colors, such as oiled bronze.

Just to cover itself, Whirlpool is also offering the line in stainless.

Remodeling experts claim kitchen looks have just a 10- to 15-year lifespan.

The `60s was the brown decade, `70s brought gold and green, followed by black appliances in the `80s, white in the `90s and stainless in the 2000s.

Of course, if white catches back on, those who never changed over in the first place will be back en vogue, and the change will be welcome news to homeowners with young children who know that true stainless steel shows fingerprints like no other finish.