I think I missed some responses to one of my comments. Sorry for the late response. xedos My Miele overlay panel was made by my cabinet maker, Tedd Wood. It was not warped when delivered. It became warped over time at the intersection between the upper "drawer" panel and the lower "cabinet" panel. In my panel style, there is a gap there that has to look like wood. The Miele mounting frame is too wimpy to restrain warping. The interface was a thin piece of wood, and perhaps could have been veneer plywood. I tried training the door back into shape using weights, but eventually fractured the thin panel at the intersection. This I re-glued and I added some some stainless steel supports on the back, bonded when the door was flat. In hindsight, a stainless steel back plate with a thin red birch veneer covering the intersection would have been better if used from the beginning. Note that any stainless steel used has to be shape-compatible with the Miele mounting frame. Davis Janowski In my Optima, the door screws somehow capture the tabs on the door mounting frame so one cannot just lift it out without loosening them. It has been too long since I installed the door panel to recall the exact "feel" of the screws. The door frame tabs have to be fully in place. I "think" that the screws are turned CCW to loosen the door frame, and CW to tighten it. It is probably necessary that they be in their loose position before the door frame is settled in place and the screws tightened. kas

We've just installed a custom panel Thermador single-door bottom freezer fridge. Although there is an "accessory" called a "freedom frame kit", I have yet to figure out what that is, and neither got it nor needed it. FWIW, the custom panel fridge also has available a stainless steel door panel set, so I wonder if you're right - that stainless is just another version of the custom panel.

Thanks to all. My space is 24" x 24", and when looking at it I realize that my current KA does protrude. Since it is just a standard model, not a paneled, I don't mind that much. But, I can see how it might be an issue with the panel-ready. 1929 Spanish--Lovely kitchen! I assume your dishwasher is to the left of the sink under the pumpkin. You say it protrudes a bit, but I can't tell from this perspective. Out of curiosity, what does the side look like where you can see it? Kompy--Great kitchen design! I also looked at the Asko dishwashers today at the store and would love some feedback on the brand from you since you are on your third one. Do you know which model you have? Is it the one with the three racks inside? Is it a lower or mid or higher level model?

I think some like the look of the metal and some don't, Beth. It's just personal preference. I also think things like layout, views from entry and other parts of the house, the colors used, and style of decor all come into play. For example, in DIY2Much2Do's kitchen I can totally see how it would detract from a SS apron front sink to have a SS DW right next to it. However, in my kitchen, I see no need to panel as my SS sink will be undermount and both it and the SS DW next to it are in a peninsula that you have to be right in the kitchen to see. You can't see it from the rest of the house.