That’s not inset. That’s frameless. Your custom cabinet make can handle the details, no problem. But it would look better left visible, and done in an appliance color. With the rest of the appliances all done in a color as well. None of any project l e this will be cheap.

Thanks. My mistake on the "inset" terminology. I have already purchased the dishwasher. I do not want a yellow dishwasher, because if someone ever decides to paint the cabinets another color, that would be a problem.

By the time someone wants to paint the cabinets, the DW will be dead and replaced with a standard non panel ready model. They don’t last nearly as long as the cabinets. 5-7 years. Then say goodbye, and hello to a new one that the panel won’t fit, unless you can do the repairs and cabinets making yourself.

Ok, I was asking about putting a panel on a dishwasher I have already purchased, and whether it is possible to make the panel match my 1940s-style cabinet doors. I understand you would do things differently, but that was not my question. n.b., it is a Bosch 18-inch dishwasher. Bosch dishwashers are expected to last at least 10 years.

First, take a look at this picture. Locate the dishwasher to the right of the refrigerator. Note that the dishwasher door doesn't really match the other cabinet doors. The gap between the door and countertop is smaller than those of the drawers and the door hangs lower than the adjacent cabinet. This is because the dimensions of the dishwasher door are fixed and bear no relationship to those of the cabinets.

I think you could make something like this:

1. Following the instructions, use the template to cut the door to the required height and width.
2. Round the front edges of the door to match the surrounding doors and drawers.
3. Paint the door to match the other cabinets.
4. Attach a handle to the door.
5. Mount the door to the dishwasher.
6. Adjust the dishwasher within its cutout so the front of the dishwasher door lines up with nearby cabinet doors and drawers.

Will this look good? That's for you to decide. You will see narrow gaps between the dishwasher door and the cabinets on either side, just like you see in the picture linked above.

That makes sense. Thanks.

Here's another example. However I don't think it looks as good as it could because the front of the dishwasher door is not flush with the surrounding cabinet doors (i.e., the dishwasher is pushed too far into the opening).

That's a good example. If I can't make it work with a partial overly look, I'm willing to do it like this. The dw is at the end of the cabinets, so it might not look as out of place. Thanks.

Thank you, @wdccruise This dawned on me last night, though I couldn't quite picture it. It's gonna be a few weeks before we get to this stage, so maybe I'll come back and post a photo once it's done.

I'd either round the edges off, like wdccruise suggested to simulate one big cabinet door.

Or you could put one large flat panel on it, push the dishwasher all the way in so the panel sits flush with the frame of your cabinets (like in the "typical inset cabinets" picture) and then attach (glue or screw) drawer fronts or a door to that panel - if you get what I mean.

Here's a professional, 3-D, kitchen designer, high tech rendering of my idea. X-D

That's a great idea! It wouldn't make the whole thing too heavy?

The door springs support up to 16.5 lbs. There might be heavy duty springs available - Bosch will know.

@whirlpool_trainee: "you could put one large flat panel on it...and then attach...drawer fronts or a door to that panel"

I wouldn't do that. The "large flat panel" would be the width of the dishwasher's door and the attached (false) drawer fronts or door would be narrower. Doing that would just make the necessary gaps between the paneled dishwasher door and adjacent cabinets more obvious.

Cheryl, tell me about your cabinet door.s How are you getting these done? I know your example kitchen well as it is the inspiration for MY 40's kitchen as well. ALL the cabinet makers in my area will only make 1/2 in thick slab doors with a rounded edge and a standard overlay when the originals are only 1/4 inch thick because the door is inset into the opening of the face frame with an overhang onto the frame. (so you WERE right when referencing "inset" cabinets.) The old way was to inset the door into the face frame with 1/4 inch outside the face frame. follow me? So my question is have you found someone to inet the door so the profile is only 1/4 inch? Or are you going with a standard slab and a rounded edge? I REALLY want to find an old school maker to have "real" vintage cabinets.

Hi Denise - I totally get what you're saying. This was a concession I made, however. My doors will be thicker and without the inset. The people who own the house in my second photo used their original cabinets on one side of their kitchen, then had a carpenter make new ones to match on the other side. So it can be done! If you look at the oven side in these photos, those are the new cabinets: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/07/09/small-kitchen-makeover20-photos/

Hi,

I have been looking for cabinets very similar to yours. Would you mind sharing what they are (if you did not go custom). Thank you.

Hi jbrynda,

I did custom. There is an Amish cabinet maker near me, and they're great. He has his own shop and the price was about the same as the pre-fab ones. But they're so much better - hard wood, dovetail joints, etc. They are ½" thick, though. Here's a photo. I had to make the dishwasher panel flat, but it looks fine:

Cheryl G. great job for your historical space.