I have a very dark island and used a large, plain panel. It's so dark, and with the stools, you can't see detail.

Islands are focal points, so I always finish all 4 sides off nicely, even if there will be stools there. There are some budget choices involving a plain panel and fillers to create a paneled look. Choosing a beadboard panel is also possible, but it's a lot more expensive than people think it will be. If at all possible, it's a more finished look to have the authentic finished ends on the cabinets themselves, as well as either applied decorative doors for the back, or a single wainscot piece.

You can see the beadboard on the island here.

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Sophie, So using a decorative panel on the two ends and not the very back wouldn't look okay?

Bbtrix, our island won't be as dark as yours. I can see how it's hard to see detail on an island as dark as yours.

There will be only one visible cabinet end from living room. That's the end of the sink run.

I think you should do the whole island. I did mine and am so glad I did. I skipped a couple of others that you can't really see and I am sorry that I did. I will probably order end panels and pay my carpenter to come back and install.

I think you might also consider both ends of the range run, and a little more importantly, the end of the cabinet on the sink run facing the dining room. If you can get the sides of those cabinets to have integral finished ends, that would look fine but particularly the sink run cabinet is a little risky with a skin - it's very exposed.

I'd vote for wainscotting on the seating side of the island also. in our experience, along with its visual advantages, it resists kicking much better.

Bmorepanic....what do you mean by skin? The cabinets will be made by dutchwood, a Mennonite company near Lancaster, and I thought all ends were wood.

How about the surround for fridge and freezer? They will be a large expanse of white.

Here are the prices for each item, and i can't do them all.

Wall cabinet ends- $85 each

Base cabinet ends - $150 each

Fridge sides- $ 375 each

Island ends - $150 each

Island back - $618

Have you seen the finished wood ends? If they are high quality and you are ok with how the unfinished ends look then skip the end panels on everything but the island. Also ask if you can add end panels later on down the road. I dont love my cabinet ends - my own fault. I had to be careful to not overspend on this house/remodel.

Lily, I was very impressed with quality of dutchwood cabinets. Far superior beyond my expectations. The decorative ends were beautiful in person but the plain ends were quality as well, just simple. I've always been raised very simply without any extras ever in a house. Coming here to gardenweb and seeing all these beautiful kitchens makes me notice things I've never thought about before and never thought I needed, if you know what I mean. Budget is definitely a major consideration as we are already over our expected limit. Doing just a couple exposed cabinet perimeter ends I kind of feel like it would be an obvious mistake as all ends wouldn't match. If I stuck to just the island, Would you do the entire island then, lily?

Yes GW does make you notice things you have never noticed before that's for sure! I also grew up without many extras so I get that too and I hate debt so I usually do what I can afford to do and nothing more. My DH says I am too practical :) if you are uncomfortable spending more money then don't. Yes I think I would still do the entire island since it tends to be a focal point.