The 18" Miele is well designed and reviewed and should be fine for two people. Even if it is run more often, they say nowadays that dishwashers use a lot less water than hand washing, so that wouldn't be so bad. Thinking toward the future, however, one of the few appliances that really comes in a pretty standard size is the dishwasher. There are variations of less than an inch, but they're all pretty much 24". If you get the 18" unit, you're betting that in the future, because even Mieles wear out, there will be a nice replacement. Also, that if you should ever want to sell your home, the buyers won't be put off by it. Happy medium: Before you get too far along, why not talk to a carpenter or cabinet installer and see if the cabinetry can be customized so that the sink can be supported properly in a smaller cabinet, with the drainboard extending over the DW, and that the DW can be installed under it. There are many dishwashers that anchor at the sides rather than the top, so if the drainboard is pretty flat, and won't be affected by the heat of the machine, it might be possible. I know what it's like to be in love with a sink, but between one and the other, I'd chose a standard sized sink and dishwasher, rather than an oversized sink and undersized dishwasher.

I suspect the actual cabinet dimensions are incorrect - at least the way we're used to seeing them. Usually, cabinet measurements are exterior measurements; I think New Homeowner is measuring the interior of the cabinets. (All of this is probably new to New Homeowner, so cut him/her some slack as s/he learns about cabinets, appliances, and electrical circuits!) . Stated dimensions: 15 W X 20H X 22.5 D . 15 W......If you look at the picture accompanying the dimensions, New Homeowner is measuring the doors, not the cabinets. If they are standard framed, then the cabinet is probably actually either: 36" wide (15" + 15" + 3" center stile + 1.5" left face frame + 1.5" right face frame = 36") --or-- Two 18" wide cabinets (15" + 1.5" left face frame + 1.5" right face frame = 18") . 20 H......Again, that's the height of the doors, not the cabinet. . 22.5 D......I suspect that's the interior, not counting the back cabinet wall (if there is one) and the front face frame. If they are standard framed, then the cabinet is probably actually 24" deep. 22.5" + 0.75" back wall + 0.75" front frame = 24" [This is assuming it's a standard cabinet. If it turns out it's stick-built and uses the actual wall for the "back" of the cabinet, then it's probably 23.25" deep: 22.5" + 0.75" front frame = 23.25" This is also assuming 0.75" cabinet walls & face frames, not 0.5". That's what my parents' stick-built cabinets are - no back cabinet wall, just the actual wall, and only 23.25" total depth as opposed to 24" deep.] . Regarding the 32" height shown in the picture......it looks like it's not counting the toekick. Assuming a standard 4.5" toekick, the actual height of the cabinets is 32" + 4.5" = 36.5"...taller than today's standard of 34.5" - so there should be no problems with the DW fitting under the counter once the cabinets are removed.

Workers do strange things around construction sites. Manys a time I've removed nails and trash from inside dishwasher. I once was walking through a new home with developer's sales lady when she picked up a few bits of trash and threw them in the washer.. From then on when I installed dishwashers in new construction,I disabled switch at door latch so noone could start machine between install and when I returned to do final set up for owner. You must pull machine a few inches from beneath counter top to look at door switch. I generally pulled one wire and taped it. It's also possible latch isn't properly adjusted to close switch when latch closes.

It appears that the trim pieces are pushed down firmly onto the tub flanges which are just behind the door as shown in Step 11 of the Installation Instructions. The mounting brackets in Step 12 are screwed to the tub frame from the rear* and extend over the trim. Because not all models have trim, the diagrams in Step 12 don't show the trim. Trim would have been installed onto the "Tub Front" flanges in the Step 12 diagrams. *which is why you can't push the dishwasher into the opening before the brackets are attached.