Set up will be similar - sink and dishwashers will be "behind" an island

I’d leave both as is, or panel both. I like symmetry in work spaces. My preference overall is no panels anywhere; it’s a workspace and appliances should be obvious.

Panel both of them. When I remodeled my kitchen I paneled the DW and the integrated SZ fridge and freezer. Not having to clean/maintain all that stainless is well worth the cost. So easy to wipe down a painted/stained door compared to dealing with the constant spotting and streaking of stainless.

Is the refrigerator going to be panel ready also? Then I’d do the dishwashers too.

I would panel them. I think they would look great coordinating with the surrounding cabinetry.

I have a paneled dishwasher and love it. Easier to keep clean than stainless. Especially if you have a very licky Labrador Retreiver...

Brown dog, those licks, nose prints and paw prints show up on the oddest of places sometimes! I just noticed some paw streaks on a vertical outside wall, several feet up from the ground ... they must have been trying to get to a rat or squirrel!

so now my question is, is there absolutely any cons to paneling a dishwasher? Besides an additional cost?

Higher labor cost to install too- cabinet maker has to attach the door panel to the DW, then the plumber and the electrician do their part. Depending on the cabinet line the attached panels can be pricey.

Also, realize that some dishwashers will sit flush with the adjacent cabinets while others will not. If you are using panels, it is more attractive to have all the panels on the same plane. Bosch and Miele DW are flush with the cabinets; Kitchen Aid is not.

I would let the stainless shine brightly!

Ok first to Chispa, the stainless cleans so easily and to Jordyn, there might be problems with the controls mine are on the outside, so panelling won"t work! And I think think the panelling looks dorky!

Life span of dishwasher - no panels

Having a little contrasts is good instead of a sea of cabinets.

Eitherway agree with symmetry

to mjkjrobinson: Dorky? Really--you couldn't come up with a better reason than that???

And panels definitely work even if the controls are on the outside. I had a panel on my outside-control DW for 27 years. You just need to give the make and model # to the cabinet company and they do the rest.

I personally like the look of mixed materials and textures, visual relief from all that white.

No panels because dishwashers don't have great life expectancy. Old panels most likely won't work on the replacement dishwasher.

I loved my panel dishwasher. And than after 6 years, the dishwasher broke. I have ikea cabinets that are no longer in stock. So the panel used on the old dw wouldn’t work on a new one. Since we have white cabinets, I won’t with a white dw. Something to keep in mind as dishwashers have a shorter lifetime than they should!

Sarah, that is a very valid reason not to use a panel that matches your cabinets. If you're starting over and doing a full renovation, it's really just your preference. There's no right or wrong, contrary to what some Houzz posters have stated.

Interesting thread, lol.

I tend to like paneled. DD did a budget remodel and stuck with stainless and it’s darn pretty.