Happy Friday guys! Since the first three days of this week were full of bigger updates (like this craziness, our desk haul & overhaul, and a bunch of showhouse progress) it felt nice to switch gears and knock out a few smaller updates at the end. It’s always refreshing to bounce from broad planning stuff – like office layout debates and showhouse furniture arrangements – to focusing on a few quick tasks (like yesterday’s mirror switch). And thankfully this update couldn’t have been easier.
Remember our lovely almond dishwasher?
As you know, we’re planning to replace our appliances during a full kitchen renovation down the line, but I heard an almost-sounds-too-good-to-be-true tip from a few of you that I had to try. Urban legend has it that appliances like these often have removable panels (i.e. the almond colored part) that can be flipped over or painted. So the other day I did some exploratory unscrewing.
With three screws removed on the side, I was able to pop off a thin metal trim piece.
And then, lo and behold, out slid this removable panel. The best part? The backside was white!
When I pulled it out entirely I realized there were actually two separate panels in there, and each one was double-sided. Which meant I could snap this side-by-side photo of the original cream-colored panel and the bright white one next to it for comparison. The color that you see on the dishwasher behind them is just some sort of cardboard backing that was in there.
On the backside of the cream panel was this mustard option that would’ve been… um… an interesting choice. I couldn’t resist holding it up just to freak John out.
Predictably, I put the white panel in, reattached the side panel, and stepped back to take pictures – ready to marvel at how much better it looked. Except I didn’t like it. Sure, it was white like the shelves and the upper cabinets, but among all of the dark lowers it just kinda of called more attention to itself.
The backside of the white panel was black, so I removed the panel again, flipped it over to the black side, and tried again. MUCH better.
It’s still not the prettiest dishwasher there ever was, but for the 10 minutes and zero bucks, I’m glad to have banished a bit more “almond” from the room – and it definitely helps the dishwasher blend in a bit more with the surrounding cabinets. You could even spray paint the panel a color before sliding it back in (red for a retro kitchen?) or buy a sheet of stainless steel at Home Depot and cut it to size with metal snips if you’re going for the stainless look. Lots of possibilities…
The best part is that something about that easy switch kicked us into high gear in the kitchen again, because we’re currently working on:
- Removing our broken trash compactor to add something that’s a lot easier on the eyes in its place
- Finally redoing the counters with concrete (holy cow, it’s messy – but such a dramatic change)
Has anyone else flipped their dishwasher panel? Or updated their appliances in other ways? We’re still really happy with our updated fridge, our secondhand range hood, and our microwave in the pantry – so our last remaining almond eyesore is the stove. Have you ever used Ardex on counters or taken out an old broken disposal? Kitchen updates are usually disruptive since it’s such a busy room, but it’s so nice to enjoy them when they’re done.
Ann says
Love how such a small change can make such a huge difference! I found stainless steel “magnets” that can be cut to the size of your appliance and was able to stick them to the fronts of my white dishwasher and black trash compactor. It’s a nice temporary fix (well, temporary? I’ve had them up about three years now!) But it does help create some consistency! I found them on applianceart.com.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a really great idea Ann!
xo
s
Lynn says
The mustard is the color from my childhood days, just a “few” years ago ;) The black panel is way better and helps the d-washer blend into the cabinets.
I just received my current issue of Garden and Gun and who did I see in the ad for VA? Maybe I missed your post about the ad, but I recognized your cute family right away! How fun that must have been!
Love your blog and best of luck with a smooth delivery Sherri! Congrats on your fun Target line…..can’t wait to see more!
~Lynn Wolf
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Lynn! When VA Tourism asked us to be part of their “real people campaign” we couldn’t wait to rep our favorite home state :)
xo
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Donna says
I have a question for you. We bought a stainless steel dishwasher, but didn’t do our research and bought the kind that leaves major fingerprints. Can I go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of the stainless that leaves no fingerprints and cut that to size? Thank you for this post!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a good question! I would go to Home Depot and see what happens when you touch the panels. They might also show fingerprints, or the finish might hide them more. Hope it works!
xo
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Melody Benschoter says
You guys. I had a dream about you last night! I dreamed that you hosted a contest and several winners were chosen to stay at your house for a weekend and help you diy several projects- all 3 or 4 of us at the same time. I was a winner! I was in your home, hanging out with you and the other winners and painting and we were all coming up with solutions and ideas to several of your design dilemmas. So funny. I woke up this morning feeling like I had really hung out with you!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s hilarious! A little DIY army. I like the sound of that ;)
xo
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lindsay says
they make stainless steel contact paper you could use as well if you wanted a different look!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s fun too!
xo
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Amy U says
We have a vintage double oven in chrome with aqua doors. Actually kinda cool for awhile, but I got tired of them screaming at me. No easy way to change the panels, and since we’re planning to replace the oven, I bought white magnetic sheets, cut them to size, and slapped them on maybe a year ago. They’re holding up just fine, maybe microscopic shrinkage due to heat.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that solution!
xo
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lee says
O my, we have an entire kitchen full of ALMOND appliances, all nearly brand new: fridge, stove and over range microwave just waiting for us when we move. I HATE THEM ALL.
My pet peeve is the honking huge fridge that sticks out 8 inches from the counter top edges. In the L shape kitchen, it blocks the drawer located in the corner. I want a counter depth fridge but may have to use the almond for a while…thinking of spraying all of them. Not a fan of over the stove micros either, rather like my little SS micro to fit catty corner on counter by fridge.
Dusty says
Dude, thank you so much for posting this. My black dishwasher has always stuck out like a sore thumb in my all white kitchen and it did my head in, but I could never justify replacing it because it still works really well. Well, now I don’t have to worry about it because while I was waiting for dinner to cook this evening I got out my trusty screwdriver and undid the side on the dishwasher and low and behold the flippable panels. I’m so pleased, my dishwasher is all shiny and white now and matches everything else. Yay! Thanks again.
YoungHouseLove says
SO glad!
xo
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Susan says
Our dishwasher has been broken for a month, about the time that my father-in-law from Bolivia moved in with us. He is used to washing by hand and is a great help with the kitchen clean-up. Definite tricks I’ve learned: wash everything as soon as you get up from the table and clean up as you’re cooking.
I’m surprised that I don’t miss the dishwasher that much. I can clean up faster than the cycle on the dishwasher and don’t have to listen to it run on and on.
I’m sure we’ll replace it one day, although a whole kitchen remodel would be nice…it’s in the corner and blocks everything. That’s so interesting that you could switch the color so easily!
Amanda says
Have you seen this? It’s so sweet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7-v7xVm3I#t=169
YoungHouseLove says
SO CUTE! Even Clara loved it!
xo
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Jennifer M. says
Not mustard, but Harvest Gold, baby! Just like my mom’s kitchen in 1974. Ugly now, but the height of kitchen fashion then.
Janine says
Hi Guys,
I was wondering, I live in the Netherlands, and over here everybody has a build-in dishwasher. It seems like in Amerika this is not usual…? I like it so much better, because you can’t even see the whole thing. But for now…the black is much better! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds cool! Definitely not common here, but I love how streamlined that must look!
xo
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Amy says
I once rented a place where the landlord used appliance paint on the stove (to give it a stainless look). It did the job and we (my husband, myself and our realtor) didn’t even realize it was painted until our second trip through the house. It did eventually start to chip after about a year and they replaced it because, well, paint chips in your food probably isn’t all that safe (or tasty).
Roxanne says
Love that you changed it to black. Also like the pop of red and blackboard paint suggestions – could even try red blackboard paint, no? Also what about staining a panel (maybe the gold side?) the same color as the stain on the adjacent cabinets? Then it would match your cabinets – kind of like a custom DW or fridge with stainless trim.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun too!
xo
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Erica Baker says
I am so excited to see the concrete countertops!!
leah says
How stinking cute is it that the inside of your dishwasher is an aqua-blue color! Love that pop of cheery color!
Pam says
Love the dishwasher! The reason you didn’t know about the panels is because you’re so young. I think my mother told me about it a long time ago. That mustard color you referred to is Harvest Gold. Wasn’t your house built in the late 70’s? That’s why. Another cool thing I learned a long time ago is if you have a regular fridge, not side-by-side, you can reverse the door handles easily if you don’t like the side it opens on. But you probably already knew that. Love your blog and your family!
Pam
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip too Pam!
xo
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Sudhaa says
I am not sure if you explained in your earlier posts somewhere why you were going for concrete counter tops, I might have missed it probably…also something that you might already be aware of…if not, here is a link….you might be able to stain your concrete counter top to match any color….did you guys think about that?
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/acid-stain-concrete-countertops-24413.html
YoungHouseLove says
Love that! We think once we seal ours and they darken a bit we’ll love the current tone, but staining them sounds fun too!
xo
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hollyloo says
you totally should spray the mustard one with copper and rock that look for a bit. so fun!!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh fancy!
xo
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Tim says
Can you provide some details on the installation and materials/hardware used for your white floating shelves above the dishwasher? They look sturdy enough for many plates. How much more weight do you think it can withstand?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re lack shelves from ikea. Very good about holding lots of plates if you go into a stud when hanging them (that’s how you hang cabinets that are filled with dishes). I believe they have weight limits if you look them up on ikea.com. Hope it helps!
xo
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Deb says
Actually, my mom did the paint-the-panel trick. She had an old farmhouse, had painted the upper kitchen cabinets a rich cream and the lower ones hunter green. She popped out that panel (after someone clued her in), painted it hunter green with her leftover paint, and popped it back in – it looked fantastic! Like a custom built-in. No pics, sorry.
kat ayers mannix says
not sure if anyone mentioned this yet (didn’t feel like digging through all the comments), but how about stainless steel look contact paper?
YoungHouseLove says
That would be awesome too!
xo
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Jill says
Omg! We just moved into an older house and have an old stained almond dishwasher. Since it works, it definitely is staying for a while. After reading your post, I couldnt wait to see if we had additional panels….success! The panel was black on the other side. So excited!! Great post!!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad, Jill!
xo
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Aksahy says
Hey Thank you for the update