GE Unveils First Appliance Line Designed for Millennials

By Mike Ratliff, Senior Associate Editor

The most successful multifamily communities are often designed for a particular market demographic. A prime example is the urban core community with small units and large, social-oriented amenity spaces tailored for young urban dwellers. But what about the appliances inside those units? No hip renter wants a cookie-cutter apartment, so why would they want a cookie-cutter kitchen?

GE has taken notice and recently unveiled its first line of appliances designed for Millennials by a Millennial. Though the five appliances were created with first time home buyers in mind, the line is aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient, durable and priced to sell—all factors that translate perfectly into the needs of the multifamily owner. Designer Tomas DeLuna used the opportunity to create something for his own generation by focusing on the areas where consumers interact most with the product: handles, knobs and clocks.

Known as the Aristry Series, the distinctive pieces (there is a hint of retro flare) include a gas range, electric range, bottom-freezer, refrigerator, over-the-range- microwave and a top-control dishwasher. Both the dishwasher and the refrigerator are ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances.

The full line will be available in September 2013. Estimated retail price for the full GE Artistry suite is $2,416.