Advice from the pros at JWH Design & Cabinetry…
Appliance Panel or Stainless Steel?
Deciding where to add an appliance panel in a Kitchen or leave it as exposed stainless steel? The visual effect can make a big difference in the overall style and feel of the space. Are you going for a streamlined look of cabinetry with matching finishes and hardware? Or does the punch of stainless make you feel like you are a chef in a commercial kitchen? (This can be a good or bad feeling, depending on your love-hate relationship with cooking.)
Some Guidelines
There are a few key guidelines we explain to our clients in helping them make these key decisions. The first one is painfully obvious: a stainless dishwasher doesn’t look great most of the time. After being touched by wet hands loading dishes, and the endless parade of kid fingerprints, a stainless dishwasher can become an unwanted focal point. The cost of adding a custom appliance panel is close in price to paying for the upgraded stainless steel. But if you are re-using an existing dishwasher—not a big deal—just keep the can of Stainless Magic on hand. But if you have the option at the time of your renovation, or when then the existing unit runs its natural life, buy the panel-ready dishwasher that can be fully concealed for a custom, streamlined look.
The bigger decision is the refrigerator/freezer, in terms of cost and aesthetic result. The high-end units like Sub Zero, Thermador, Monogram, and Viking all take panels beautifully. They fit flush with the side panels, hide most of the metal, and accept matching hardware pulls. You may still prefer the look of a stainless model. But in this price range, at least you have the option of adding custom panels for a finished look.
The next-tier appliances like Kitchen Aid and Jenn Air offer lower prices, deeper projections, and more exposed metal and hardware. And they just don’t look great with a panel attached to the front. A quote I shared at my last Client meeting: “a bad appliance panel looks like lipstick on a pig”– not the desired look in your new Kitchen!
Hope this helps! Jennifer & the JWH Team
