The DIY Dishwasher-Disguising Door Panel, via The Merrythought
Disguising appliances behind cabinet panels is a unifying trick, one that we often feature in our Kitchen of the Week. But integrated appliances are pricier than their traditional counterparts, and they don’t always come in the desired size. We were happy to see that the creative thinkers behind the Western New York lifestyle website The Merrythought have come up with a DIY way for handy sorts to camouflage standard dishwashers and fridges.
Photography courtesy of The Merrythought.
Above: Over the course of 16 months, The Merrythought co-founder Manda McGrath and her husband, Mike, entirely redesigned and rebuilt their kitchen themselves giving it a modern farmhouse look. The dishwasher is shown here as it looked when it was first installed.
Above: Inspired by deVol’s Real Shaker design, Manda wanted inset cabinets elevated on feet—and, after “going into sticker shock” as they browsed, the couple went with an affordable option from Lily Ann Cabinets that Mike customized himself (read about their cabinet journey here). Mike fabricated a matching painted plywood and pine panel for their dishwasher, as shown here: tools and basic woodworking skills required.
Above: Manda posted all of the details for their DIY dishwasher door panel, including a supply list and instructional video, on The Merrythought.
Above: Mike applied the same treatment to their fridge—they bought a floor model at a reduced rate because the door had scratches and added their own panel. Manda gave their unlaquered brass cabinet pulls a near-instant patina.
Feeling inspired? Peruse our DIY Projects archive for more ideas, including these favorites from The Merrythought: