05/13/2026
Typically, I don't purchase appliances for my clients. Primarily, I want them to hold the contract with the vendor through whom the appliance was purchased so that in the event that the appliance is in need of repair, especially during the warranty period, the homeowner will have a direct line to the vendor and can submit their service requests more expeditiously.
That being said, I do offer to review the appliances my clients want to purchase to assure compatibility with the kitchen cabinetry design/layout I have developed on the behalf. Occasionally, I am asked about panel ready appliances. I am more than happy to design a kitchen to accommodate these appliances however there are several factors to consider:
1. The appliances themselves are significantly more expensive than the traditional counterpart.
2. The panels for the appliances add appreciably to the cost of the cabinets and installation charges.
3. Panel ready appliances are notorious for breaking down/in need of repair.
4. Repairmen and parts for panel ready appliances can be hard to find resulting in lengthy periods of time wherein the appliance is out of commission.
5. The design trend for panel ready appliances is over. Nothing will date a kitchen faster than incorporation of last decade's hot design trend.
You picked the wrong dishwasher.You won't know it for about three years — until the proprietary panel warps, the repair technician tells you the part is discontinued, or you realise the filter has been sitting in a puddle of standing water since you moved in.By then, you've already spent $1,400.Sp...