Can anyone give me a suugestion as to what I can use as appliance panels for my Thermador Freedom columns, and Bosch dishwasher? I do not want any ss in my kitchen but I have no standard cabinetry with panel option, as I have done an unfitted kitchen. Temporarily, my contractor has put on plywood doors. I thought that I might paint them and embellish them somehow. I have considered antique iron trellises, as their shape is perfect, being so long and narrow. I also thought that glass tile mosaic coordinating with my backsplash would be beautiful.

Here is the difficulty: how much weight can the hinges support? Trade magazine articles claim that the Thermador can support as much as 220lb. I have seen in magazines panels of granite. I contacted Thermador, whose representative maintains that any more than 30lb. will void the warranty. If that is truely the case then even the plywood exceeds the limit (as would any of the custom cabinetry generally used, I imagine.)

Please tell me your experiences - I am tired of seeing my Duverre handles on bare plywood.

Thanks,

Nora