Dishwashers and matching handles

14 years ago

How important is it to match appliance handles? I'm looking at two Bosch stainless DWs: Evolution 500 and Integra 500. Both are about the same price. The Evolution doesn't have handles and has the controls on the front; the Integra has a clean look with only a handle and the controls on top. I prefer the clean look but am concerned about being wedded to a matching refrigerator that I may not want. I'm also wondering if I'll have a permanent bruise on my hip since its adjacent to a smallish sink and might be bumping against a handle when I'm working there.

I don't know what refrigerator I'll buy yet, maybe the bosch FD when it comes out; I'm thinking about a full depth stainless model but also I like the Electrolux full depth too. HOw important is it to match the handles in a smallish kitchen? My hood and cooktop are also stainless but aren't by the same maker (Miele and Wolf), I'm using an older model aluminum and glass double Gagg wall oven so I'm already 'outside the lines' when it comes to matching appliance finishes. I'm concerned about the appearance of visual chaos.

I'll likely have a white kitchen with very tall cabs and stone countertops with matching island, tall windows and built in victorian era white cabs and pantry against a wall. Is all this too much?

Thanks for any suggestions.

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Comments (8)

chris45ny
14 years ago
I have handles on my DW drawers, stove, and refrigerator. The DW and stove are Kenmore but handles not a perfect match. DW handles look more like Samsung ref. handles. Personally, I could care less but know that this bothers some. Even if you buy same make, you might not get a perfect match. My kitchen is around 14 x 13 so not really big. My bigger concern would be to get the stainless finishes to coordinate/match.
palimpsest
14 years ago
I would choose the features of the appliances I wanted first hands down. There wasn't really much consideration of matching handles until relatively recently in the kitchen design game. I think it has become a "perceived need" that they all match. So go for features first and if the handles match, great; if they don't I wouldn't get too upset about it.
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cakequeen
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone had a problem 'butting' into the handle on the dishwasher next to the sink? My sink is narrow, only 24" bowl size from side to side so that might be a factor in choosing a DW w/ handle or not.
mailfox7
14 years ago
The handle issue came up in our kitchen, too. We don't have a large kitchen, the house is built in 1939 and we wanted a new kitchen but one that looked like it belonged to the rest of the house. Along one run of cabinetry we had the fridge, two DWs (one on each side of the sink) and the oven. That's alot of handles looking at you in a row, not to mention alot of stainless! We decided to integrate the fridge and DWs and get cabinet pulls to match. We have the new look of the oven and cooktop, but the kitchen doesn't feel overwhelming for the rest of the house. And no, with 18" pulls on the DWs next to the sink, never had a problem with bumping them.
ccoombs1
14 years ago
I think the appliance handles should be at least similar....either bar style or curved arch style, but not a mix of both. They don't have to necessarily be the same brand though, just similar in appearance. I solved the problem by getting a dishwasher that has no handle. Then I only had to worry about the refrig and the oven having handles that matched since they are right across from each other.
portland_renovation
14 years ago
how close together are the appliances? we have a kitchenaid DW and a GE Profile fridge. They are both stainless, but have different finishes, since they are two different brands. They are on opposite sides of the room, and you can't tell that the finishes are different, because the light from the window hits them differently. The handles are also different, which no one notices since they are not next to each other.
cakequeen
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, this is helpful feedback.
The appliances are in an 'L' shape with the DW, cooktop/hood and oven on one run, the fridge on the other, separated by a couple of feet of wall space. After reading these posts I'm thinking the DW handle might not be a big deal but I'll look carefully at both the fridges I'm considering just in case. Things are getting roughed in within a few weeks.

This forum is so helpful!
pricklypearcactus
14 years ago
My stove and refrigerator are close to each other and have matching handles. My dishwasher is across an aisle and has a different handle. It does not bother me and I've never received any comments from visitors on the difference. My dishwasher has a handle that sticks out and controls on the top and is located directly to the left of my sink in an area I use for drying dishes and some prep work. I have never bumped my hip on the handle.