Judy, I'm not sure how useful my opinion is since I panel everything, but I think in your design, having the run of cabinets interrupted with a metal or glass DW front would look jarring.

Is there a carpenter making the panel, or is it a stock panel from a cabinet company? If it's the latter, I agree, the chances that it'll look just like a cabinet door are slim. But I still think it will look good. If it's being custom made, perhaps you can work with the carpenter to get it to look just the way you want. He can rout the edges, for instance, to create a bigger visual void before the stiles begin. That's really hard to do with stock, however, because you won't know until installation 100% exactly how the unit lines up with the drawers.

Since it's flanked by drawers and a pullout, not another similar sized door. There isn't even a door like that on this run. So I don't think it'll look bad, no matter what.

OTOH, you're the only one who knows what will bug you. If having the panel a little not like the others will bug you, and having no panel won't, go for it!

plllog, I prefer a wood panel, too. The cabinets are custom made. The KD said 'trust me'. She has had little creativity in designing this kitchen. Her suggestions look like every other ordinary kitchen. It's okay, I am not criticizing, but that is not what I want for my old house. I think neither the contractor nor the cabinetmaker has ever done such a custom design. Yikes! I suppose as long as they are willing to make it right I would be okay with it. Between the DW and the sink, the towel pullout is open; it has no covering, which may make the DW panel less noticeable without an adjacent door.

I am leaving for the big city, now, to order appliances. I think I will order a fully integrated panel ready DW :)

Judy

Cool! Judy, I hope it's a successful trip!

So, talk to the cabinet maker, hopefully without the KD, and tell him your concerns. I can't tell you how thrilled all the workmen are to be doing my kitchen, because it's unique. The electrician told my friend (from whom I met the GC) how much he liked working on my project. It's just wiring! But I guess it's more interesting than most projects he works on. :) So maybe your cabinet maker will be thrilled to be asked to make a fully integrated DW look like a proper cupboard, even if that means making fake framing for it, or something.

There's the rub, the KD works for the cabinetmaker. I called her this morning to talk about the DW panel. It will work, it has to work. ha

Judy

I think that if you are able to use a full sized piece of 1/4" thick material, and attached to it a door which is 1" smaller all the way around (or whatever your overlay is) that would work.

The door might need to be thinner than normal, if your other doors are partially inset into the face frames?

Also, double check the dishwasher specs yourself - depending on the brand, you may need the cabinets next to it to be extra deep in order to push the dishwasher back far enough in the hole for it to look truely built in.

What Dishwasher are you planning on purchasing? We can help you decipher the specs if you would like. :)

ofealia, I read your post on my phone while waiting for the appliance salesman to return with a spec sheet. I ended up ordering a Miele fully integrated Inspira DW.

I'll link the specs for that dishwasher at the end - You'll be happy that you got a Miele :)

Not only are they quiet and reliable... but they're shallow enough you don't have to worry about the depth. Just make sure that when they install the cabinets, that they don't leave 24" for the dishwasher - which is what most installers automatically do. The Mieles only need 23 5/8".

I really think that using a 1/4" thick finished panel which is about 23 1/2" wide and about 30" high (those measurements will depend on the rest of your cabinets) and then installing the false door (which is smaller than the panel the same amount that the other doors are) on top of the panel will work.

Actually, rather than a 1/4" thick panel - you may need a thicker panel - I'm not sure how it will line up with the front face frame of the cabinets next to it. Also, you do need some meat to the panel when you screw the dishwasher bracket onto it. It might need to be 1/2" or 3/4" thick (I'm thinking 3/4")

Do your doors completely sit on top of the faceframes? Or are they 3/8 lip - where part of the door sits inside the opening? If they are partially inset, that will be a little different - but still definately doable.

I'm thinking that your KD will do all this - but at least you'll know what questions to ask her if you talk to her about it again? Worst case - they install the cabinets, put the panel on, it looks funny, you tell her that it needs to be redone, and they do it. The Panel is something that can be taken off and put back on without affecting anything else.

I hope that was all as clear as mud! =)

Here is a link that might be useful: Miele Inspira

ofealia,

Thank you!! While the cabinetmaker's KD said I was over thinking this, I really think she is not understanding my concern. You totally understand what I was trying to explain. She wants to order a door panel only that covers the entire DW without the face frame. With your explanation, I hope she understands.

The doors are not lipped like my old cabinets are. The full door is on the outside of the frame.

Thank you so much.

Judy

We just installed the same dishwasher. I'm not familiar with different terminology- overlay, etc., but here's a picture of what it looks like so far. We still need to do some adjustments to make the door flush with the cabinets but so far we love the way it looks.

Pebbles, your DW panel is very nice. The slab front is pretty. But for the little handle, it looks like the adjacent door.

I think mine are like what you're describing - partial overlay shaker. Here's my dishwasher.

{{!gwi}}

Gibby, your kitchen came to mind immediately. When I began thinking about the new kitchen, yours is one of the first ones I loved. I should have listened to my first inclinations and stopped trying to find something else two years ago. It would have saved a lot of frustration and time. My cabinets are very similar to yours.

I was not sure you had a paneled dishwasher. Thanks for the picture. The panel you have is exactly like your adjacent cabinets! I am still trying to have mine in partial overlay, too. Do you have any specs on how it was done?

Thank you,
Judy

KD came by the house yesterday to locate the cabinets for the GC. She said the original owner/cabinetmaker is consulting, and he designed the DW front with an overlay drawer and door. Yippee!! I am so relieved it will match the style of the other fronts. Lesson learned: don't give up or give in when it's been done before. Gibby thanks for your pics. They helped alot!

Judy