Deffinitely have them put what looks like doors on them. We did and can see the difference by looking at the CAD program. Our kitchen hasn't been put in yet. We are getting the Kraft Maid cabinets on June 26. We had a phenomenal designer and things look very "finished". They don't put an actual door on the side but skin it with a panel that looks appropriately like a door. You'll be very glad you did. I believe that under our center island where the stools are, the back of the cabinets and the inner sides remain the flat panel. Why waste the money?

In hindsight, I think Kraft Maid puts the door panel on while manufacturing the cabinet. I don't know how it can be done after installation. I'm sure anything can be done. Ask at where you bought the cabinets or ask a finish carpenter or a cabinet maker. It may cost a little more but it's better than living with what you don't like. On our center island, the inside back and sides where the chairs go don't have the door panels; why waste the money.

I did it a third way, by applying strips of matching beadboard to the ends. It was the victorian look I was after. Kraftmaid end panels (full height doors) are attached individually be the installer. Some cab manufacturers will build an integrated finished raised panel (or matching panel) on the ends, but it is the most expensive upgrade you'll ever contemplate.
Casey

Do you have pictures? I'm not sure what you mean by 'island bottoms.' I'm not one that feels the ends of cabinets need to look like doors. Islands can be a different call because of the style and design, and the possible desire to make it all look like a finished piece of furniture. Sometimes the way islands are put together, with cabinet openings facing the ends and the sides, false panels are necessary to make things look right, but otherwise, some other kind of trim might do it. We build our own cabinets, so I'm not sure what's available to you in the line you're putting in.

You could probably get the look with attached moulding for a lot less $$.

I don't like flat wood panels in a kitchen myself...too clean and comtempary for my taste, but that said, it's great in a clean and contempary kitchen :) I was going to mention beadboard, which is a fabulous look for much less than a finished panel. But those are appropriate in some kitchens and not others. In my kitchen I have a finished panel in beadboard on one cabinet (bead/tongue and grove? is on the back of my bay window seat) but the rest are the expensive upgrade Casey mentions. Are they worth the cost....personally i'd say yes...I love the look of the finished sides, but that's entirely personal.

Style of kitchen should play a part in your decision as well. Your kitchen sounds like one that would benefit from finished panels (not a clean contemp kitchen) but I could be wrong there :) One big issue to consider is the counters. Are they templated or made yet? A finished panel will add 3/4" typcially to the end of the cabinet so if your counters are in place your clearance will be different on the sides than on the fronts...how do you feel about that???

You could also do finished panels (doorstyle) that are actually useful :) On the end of my island it looks like I have two doors on the end flanking the trash compactor and a bookshelf, but in reality if you open the doors you'll find a flat chalk board inside :) It's just an end panel (albiet one with doors that match my others) with a thin chalk board tucked into it :) It's one of the favorite pieces of my kitchen for both myself and my 3 year old son.

We did a variety of things on our island. The side with doors has a panel to match, the end facing the dining room and under the overhanging part have trim applied so that they aren't just flat sides, and one of the ends of the lower part facing the wall has nothing, but it isn't noticeable. Putting a panel or trim on that side would have made the countertop edges mismatched so we left off the panel.

thanks so much! GWebbers are the best!

They put up the cabs today and yes--it is way too much flat panel wood :(

Fortunately, it is before templating and there is room in all the places, although some will be a little tight, but workable. arggg! I don't know how much more the upcharge will be, but hopefully affordable.

I feel so sad because of the waste of $$ cuz of course, all the flat panels were painted and now I have to (if I can afford it) buy doors and have them painted. I love the idea of trim, maybe that could be an option in some places. I wish beadboard would work, but I don't think it'll be a match.

yes, I am feeling down in the dumps because this is so hard!!! on the other hand, in the scheme of life, this a pretty minor. that's what i keep telling myself anyway.

thanks again for all the suggestions. you all are so kind to reply!!