Seems like a plan to me.

When our portable dishwasher died, many years ago now, I did not replace it and have been hand washing ever since. I have a couple of dishpans and use the dishwater to water plants. Our kitchen is so tiny, there's no room for a built-in, and there was barely space for the portable.

Dishwashers are a great convenience, but they can also damage things, since dishwasher detergent is so harsh.

And you could possibly change your mind later anyway, right?

Makes sense to me!

Go for it. But as a look to the future I'd put a 24" cabinet next to the sink. Then if you change your mind or sell it can be pulled out and a dishwasher installed. It's good to have options.

I would do what is needed to make the kitchen function for you. But as is noted, keep the size space required for a dishwasher to be added later and cap off the plumbing behind it with a water shut-off valve under the sink (plumber should be able to recommend the proper solution) to prevent any water leaks yet still allow future easy access.

I would rather chew nails than live without a dishwasher, so I'm no help, lol. I would probably investigate to see if there are things available to shut off water if there's a leak, or set off an alarm, etc. And with all new plumbing in the area, I'd assume I have many years leak free.

I’m in the same boat. I only use the dishwasher once a week to keep all the seals from drying out. I wouldn’t miss it if I didn’t have it. I agree with most posters here. Do what makes sense for you.

Also, while you are having your kitchen remodeled, make sure to add an accessible shut-off valve to the water line to your refrigerator if you don’t have one already.

Me? I've been known to run out and buy a replacement the same day mine broke beyond repair. I brought home a dishwasher once as an impulse buy to a replace and older one. That's how much I hate doing dishes by hand.

But I would say do what pleases you. I'm on the side of make it your home and don't worry about future buyers.

We bought our house in 1981. The dishwasher died shortly thereafter. I never replaced it and used it for extra storage space for 25 years.

When we gutted the kitchen in 2007 I did have a DW installed, but it's only used once a week. I hand wash dishes every single day. I even had to hand wash dishes in a bus bin in the tub for a year during the remodel. Didn't make me long for a dishwasher in the slightest.

Do what works for your lifestyle.

I'm sorry, I'm no help with this one - finding myself in Olychick's camp. I would never in my life plan on living in a house without a dishwasher - I hand washed dishes too many years so have paid my dues. But then I wouldn't consider a house with only one bathroom at this stage either. It's just the two of us but I don't particularly want to share and neither does he ;)

I can't think of anyone in my circle who has had damage from a dishwasher and I'm not young. I do have young friends who lost the flooring in the their kitchen and dining room in their new house but it was the line to the ice maker in the brand new refrigerator, not the dishwasher. Insurance remedied.

If your kitchen is small, had you thought about an 18" apartment sized? My SIL put one in the downstairs guest quarters that is apartment sized 18" and it holds much more than one might think. It would be space saving more than cost saving though, they are not really much less money than a 24" unit.

Our dishwasher was installed by the previous owner back n 1998 and it still works a-ok, it's a Maytag :-). We rarely use it, maybe once every 2 weeks to keep it going but since I installed an oversized farm house kitchen sink we just wash by hand for the 2 of us. A cabinet works and if you do sell later on the agent can point out that space is ready to go for a new DW if you cap off the plumbing intakes and outlets for future use.

When my husband and I saw that the house we were looking at didn’t have a dishwasher we knew it was for us! That was in 1986 and we still don’t have one.

Fun to Be Here, I had them disconnect the water line to the refrigerator when they came to pull up the flooring. It wasn't being used anyway. The ice maker died years ago and I don't plan to buy another fridge with one in it.

I can't endorse the Fisher Paykel efficiency, but I did like my dishdrawers for convenience and ran the top drawer nightly. When the set died, I put in the bottom-of-the-line Bosch full size unit. Now we use it alternate nights. I don't want to look at dirty dishes, and I don't want to wash dishes as they are used throughout the day.

I always heard that handwashing uses more water.

It does, but I don't live in an area what that's an issue and so many things shouldn't go in a dishwasher.

Thinking that's if you run the water throughout. I use 2 dishpans and only run water to rinse over the 2nd pan, then recycle that rinse water on my plants outside - don't think I'm using more water than a dishwasher.

Definitely not using as much electricity.

I always heard that handwashing uses more water.

I am pretty sure that is a fact. The use of dirty dishwater to wash dishes in may be a savings but I imagine you still have to rinse in clean water.

The leaking issue is a defect and not likely to repeat itself.

Obviously, you do you, is the way to go. I much prefer using a dishwasher even for small loads. The dishes are unquestionably cleaner and its easier for me.

@Zalco/bring back Sophie!, that’s why you have a double sink, so you have a second sink full of clean water for rinsing.

I’ve never owned a dishwasher- worked in a lot of kitchens that had one and didn’t want one for myself. When we remodelled the kitchen after we bought this house in 1991, DH asked if I wanted a dishwasher and I didn’t and still don’t. I could not understand why my mother craved a dishwasher in her teeny kitchen- when she had one installed it literally took out 1/3 of her storage- and it was just her and stepdad living there and not entertaining at all.

I don’t mind handwashing- I have a sink full of hot soapy water and wash as I go while I cook. By the time we’ve eaten there’s just our plates and utensils to worry about. It doesn’t even bother me to wash up after a meal for 16, which is the extended family visiting.

If you don’t want a dishwasher, don’t have one.

If you don’t want a dishwasher, don’t have one

Just be sure you have counter space for a dish drainer. Says the Mother-in-law who has washed mountains of dishes and pots in a single sink with no place to put them to dry off.

I don't have a dishwasher either; I didn't want to give over the space in two kitchens in the two small houses I built. The only time I wish I had one is when I use my food processor. They're not easy to hand wash, especially if they're greasy or sticky.

Since you are okay with drying the dishes right after washing them, I would say that you do not need a dishwasher. When I wash dishes by hand, I also dry them right away, as I do not want counter space taken up by dishes that need to be dried.

I have a small kitchen in Cathedral City, but we do have a dishwasher there, and I would not be without it. I'm more a fan of upper cabinets than lower cabinets. When I renovated the kitchen in CC, I put drawers in all of the lower cabinets, but in L.A., only one cabinet is drawers and the rest have doors, which I do not like. I would also hate to have a kitchen without enough upper cabinets.

I read a thread recently from someone who wanted to have TWO dishwashers, but they must have a huge kitchen. Even so, I would not want that.

😉 I'd never do without a dishwasher. You have a BIG family Thanksgiving dinner and tell me you don't mind washing dishes. I LOVE my washing machine & dryer too!

I do not use a dishwasher. I have a bran new one in my rental, that we have turned the water off to, so it won't do much except sit there (and stay new) I would use the space for shelves . That would make me happy, and the next person would have a space to place one.

Lars brings up a good point. I, too, prize the upper cabinets -- and drawers rather than cabinets below.

I see ads for businesses that install pull-out shelves in lower cabinets. A few deep drawers would be more efficient.

You could put in the dishwasher but not hook it up, and use it as a drying rack! I did that when we lived in a rental.

Just be sure you have counter space for a dish drainer. Says the Mother-in-law who has washed mountains of dishes and pots in a single sink with no place to put them to dry off.

That's why you need a double sink or at least a 60/40.

When I renovated the kitchen in CC, I put drawers in all of the lower cabinets, but in L.A., only one cabinet is drawers and the rest have doors, which I do not like.

I did the same in our remodel. The only lower cabinets besides under the sink are 2 skinny cabinets for cutting boards and sheet pans, and of course a corner lazy Susan.

Me three! And had my dishwasher raised to save my bad back. Love the drawers.

If you decide not to replace it make sure you have pictures/schematic of how 'easy' it will be for the next owner to put one in. I think it will affect resale. No matter how much/how little we use the dishwasher there are always those things we hand wash. There's been one in my life my entire life. I fail to see the reason for hand washing--except when NEEDED. The heat the dishwasher uses for it's water cleans down to germ level. Hand washing not so much.

So, I got the rough sketch plan from the Amish cabinet maker and he only put drawers in the middle of the island. I had asked for them in most of the bottom cabinets except the sink. I guess he thought I wouldn't like the price if he did them all. I could live with his plan, though, as long as all the bottom cabinets had pull outs. One thing I liked is he added a 12 inch cabinet between the stove and sink. The old kitchen had a maybe 4 inch strip of counter between the sink and stove. There is also a lazy susan in the corner base cabinet instead of a deep dark hole.

The uppers go all the way to the ceiling and he has a built around thing for the fridge, which I don't really care about.

I have an appointment on Wednesday with a local contractor in my town. They're the ones who don't do anything in December.

I'm going to hunt around for at least one more place and go visit tomorrow if I can. I've given up on Lowes.

The heat the dishwasher uses for it's water cleans down to germ level. Hand washing not so much.

Funny, in my entire life that's never been an issue and I'm 70 years old. 🙄

I could live with his plan, though, as long as all the bottom cabinets had pull outs.

If I were you I'd ask for pricing on drawers. So much easier to use.

I'd never NOT have a dishwasher. In fact, I'd choose a dishwasher over a stove.

If it can't go in the DW, I probably won't use it. I don't put iron skillets in, but I seldom use them. Everything else goes in, pots, pans, silver, wineglasses...everything. I can't think of the last time I hand washed anything. I don't own a dish drainer.

FWIW, I have a couple of these pull out organizers in my lower cabinets - I installed them myself - the only hard part was being down on the floor to do it. They were pretty inexpensive and very durable. I got mine from Lowes, IIRC.

water usage

i would never be w/o one. it is just 2 of us and we run it at least 3-4 a week. if u are on well water that's a difference in cost for sure. but we are not and we pay not only for the water out of our sink, but every drop that comes in and out, Sewer Rent Bill (yearly). so for us, it definitely saves us $$$ Almost everything we use can go in the DW., so not an issue there.

and frankly, i don't like to waste water in general, it is a precious resource.

Well, after talking to my insurance company and getting quotes for two different cabinet makers, I may be keeping my dishwasher afterall, if I go with one of those two companies. The third company is coming tomorrow to measure and give me an exact quote. They're quite a bit cheaper than the other two.

I agree with Judi - ask the cabinet maker to price out the drawers that you want. They are soooo much nicer for storage - more efficient space wise, too, I believe.

OP: best of luck! these big projects are nerve wracking for sure!

and yes, i would do drawers vs. cabs.