DIY FAUX PANEL DISHWASHER

I decided that a global pandemic was the best time to gut my kitchen and rebuild it myself, from scratch...I've had better ideas...I've also had worse ideas. For the most part, I'm really happy with how it's turning out.

The plan was a kitchen "refresh" as opposed to a full remodel. So the cabinets, counters, backsplash and decor was getting redone, but I was keeping the appliances. Which means the dishwasher that came with the house, that ugly but unfortunately it still works dishwasher had to stay.

So what's a gal to do with an ugly dishwasher in the middle of new cabinets...paint it of course! I decided to try to make it look like a built in "panel" dishwasher. It turned out it was super easy, inexpensive, and did the trick (until we can replace it)! So if you want to cover up an older dishwasher, this could be the solution for you. Here's how I did it...

This was the kitchen when we moved in. I know some people love the 60's aesthetic, but it was just not me. I had about a week before the academic year started and knew I needed something I could live with until we could remodel. I painted the cabinets white, painted the countertops to look like marble, and put some vinyl flooring down. I late painted the backsplash, and we lived with it for four years.  I finally hit a point where the kitchen just couldn't function the way I needed it to. Bring on the great kitchen pandemic refresh. Except...the dishwasher..that was going to have to stay!

I actually painted this dishwasher when we first moved in. I used chalk paint on the panel and silver paint on the top...this turned out to be a huge fail and it looked awful, but I lived with it and just tried to pretend it wasn't there. It would have looked better if I just left it. So step one for me was scraping the remaining silver off to get it back to it's original plastic.

The lone remaining piece of the lower kitchen.

I painted the door the same color as the cabinets, BM's Chantilly Lace. I used the same semigloss paint. I wasn't sure if it would stick, but it did. I had previously painted though, so you may need primer. I know you can remove the door panel in some models, but I didn't bother, I just painted it as it was and it worked out fine. 
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This was after one coat, it took 4 coats in total, two before trim and two after trim.

Next, I cut strips of 1/4 inch plywood to create a "shaker style" trim and used liquid nails to attach them to the door to mirror my cabinets. I used painters tape to keep them in place while they dried. I used scrap wood, but you could buy a piece of inexpensive trim for around $8 and cut it to size.

Once the trim was secure I caulked the gaps and around the interior of the trim. I then gave two final coats of BM Chantilly Lace to the whole door.
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The result isn't perfect, but it's much better than what it was, and it visually blends in enough when you walk in the kitchen that I don't even notice it.

The kitchen is still in progress, but it's come so far from the red and brown laminate situation!

I don't know if this is a long term solution, I suppose it could be, but I do think it's perfect if you have an older dishwasher and want to get a few years out of it before purchasing a new one. You could paint it whatever color your cabinets are. I'm going to be very blunt, it's not perfect and up close there are lots of imperfections, it is after all 15 years old and was pretty beat up. It is serving it's purpose though. You don't always have to buy new right away. This is what we call a "Bandaid solution"

I would love cafe appliances, but they are out of budget right now, but this little hack is making me very happy in the mean time! I truly believe there is always a solution to help you love your home now.

What small changes have you made that have made a big impact?

Other projects in this kitchen:
​One Room Challenge 
DIY Laminate Countertops
DIY Pots and Pans Organizer