When was Avocado introduced as a kitchen appliance color? On various sites, I've seen the answer to this question generalized as "the 1960s". But, there is a real answer, and given the popularity of the color, along with its longstanding place in the American zeitgeist, this particular moment in interior design history deserves to be acknowledged. Avocado green appliances were a popular color option for household appliances, particularly in the United States, during the mid-20th century.
The distinctive green hue was a result of a combination of yellow and green pigments, which gave it a unique and eye. Avocado Green Not really the color of an avocado, this shade of green more closely resembles olives. Kohler Design Center lists this color as "fresh green," in use between 1971 and 1979 on their appliances.
This color's yellow tones mark a departure from bluer greens and teal shades of the late 1960s. Like harvest gold, avocado green was used on stoves, refrigerators, washing machines and. The color was associated with a sense of freshness and vitality, and it added a unique and distinctive touch to interior design.
During the 1960s and 1970s, avocado green was widely used in home decor, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. It was a popular choice for appliances, tiles, and even wall paint. Colors like harvest gold, coppertone, poppy red, and avocado green are often shunned and dismissed as unfortunate or downright ugly.
But in the era where these colors were in vogue, manufacturers were turning out truckloads of stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers and small appliances in these earth tones and people were buying them. Appliance manufacturers capitalized on this movement, introducing a range of kitchen appliances in shades of green that complemented the earthy tones popular in interior design at the time. These home appliances weren't just functional; they were also a statement of style.
Manufacturers like Whirlpool, GE, and Frigidaire offered lines of avocado green refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers. The 1960s kitchen was a unique blend of futuristic aspirations and post-war optimism. It was a stage set with bell bottoms, beehive hairdos, and, yes, even avocado-colored appliances.
Let's explore this remarkable era of kitchen design. Colors that Pop Perhaps the most striking feature of 1960s kitchens was their vibrant colors. If you lived through the 1960s or 70s, you probably remember avocado green.
It showed up on kitchen appliances, bathroom tiles, shag rugs, and even refrigerators. Paired with mustard yellow or burnt orange, the color combo became a defining feature of mid-century homes-and eventually, one of the most mocked. But now, in a twist only fashion and design trends could deliver, avocado green is.
Where did all of that color go? Today -- unless you order from a specialty company that makes vintage style kitchen appliances -- it's virtually impossible to purchase a brand new, groovy fridge or dishwasher in avocado green. Nearly every manufacturer only offers them in a modern but cold-feeling stainless steel, or white. Following my story about when Avocado was introduced as a color on major kitchen appliances, here's a look at how some readers have used Avocado in their kitchens - along with a reminder about where to find this color (in one version) in my go-to paint color collection.
Above: Wendy's kitchen, from American Beauties: 25 vintage stoves and refrigerators from readers' kitchens.