Control panels; Hidden, Visible, Sleek or ?

[petek]

Odd thing when it comes to control panels. Perhaps on dishwashers more than anything and more to do with machines that are not meant to blend in with the cabinetry ie (disappear).

When they first came out they were usually the TOL models but over the years more got them. Now there seems to be TOL makes/models that are putting the controls back out front and the lower ones have the controls still hidden.. Just saw it the other day somewhere and can't remember which it was.

Just an observation really.. how something once sold as upscale later becomes the opposite and the cycle repeats in the other direction.

Me.. I always like to see the controls and lights and stuff

 

[aquarius1984]

I wonder

if things like dishwashers are so common in homes now they are not seen as the status symbol they used to be and manufacturers are making them back that way to create a new market for the homes lacking them.
Dishwashers are cheaper than ever and probably not that much of a deal to install like they used to be with people having new kitchens about every 5 or 10 years or so.

In the UK from the 1950's to I would say the 90's and If im daring even the late 90's /2000's dishwashers were a luxury item, and one to been shown off. Sleek integrated appliances in kitchens gave the wow Factor when folk proudly announced they had every appliance hidden away behind cupboard doors. I suppose the ubiquitous fitted kitchen took the shine off such luxury appliances and people I thnk became uninterested because they coundt actually see the dishwasher or hidden away gadget as it was clearly not on show. I mean it could just be anything behind that door. And if its just anything is it really needed?

Thus now TOL models have some kind of indication that hey yes this is a dishwasher and this person has a different lifestyle to you. One that you need!

I have noticed this with Bosch, basic models are just white boxes with very few lights dials if any and an almost integrated look. The look we wanted in the 2000's as a top of the range item. Now the TOL models have visible lights and screens. Even House brands like LOGIK for Currys and Proline for Comet seem to have this kind of styling.

interesting thought there.

 

[whirlcool]

Just a side note to this thread. Since I've lived all over the country it seems that more people in the south have dishwashers than people in the north or west do.
It's actually hard to find a house or apartment without one in it.

Back to the thread.... I prefer ones with visible controls and it must have a count down timer for time remaining. Just a preference.

 

[foraloysius]

It depends on the kitchen design. Although I prefer a visible control panel, with certain modern design kitchens it looks better not to have a visible control panel.

BTW, the TOL Miele dishwasher with Navitronic controls are only available with a visible control panel.

 

[toploader55]

Lights and Stuff...

I'm with you on that. Love buttons, lights, dials.

I like to know what's going on. Just my preference.

 

[peteski50]

Control panels!

I perfer to view what is happening also. In fact I wish they all even had windows!
Peter

 

[joeekaitis]

I would have liked a hybrid arrangement on my Kenmore (hidden touchpads with a front-mounted countdown display and status lights) but, hey, it was a Consumer Reports Best Buy only 3 points below the top scorer so I can't complain.

 

[coldspot]

Me I want to see them. Heck if something is wrong I want to be able to stop it without having to open the door and such.

 

[dj-gabriele]

I wouldn't ever buy a not totally integrated dishwasher, it ruins the "ensemble" of the kitchen, unless I were forced to.
Plus I find it not true that TOL models are only available with visible control panels.
In fact many are totally disguised in the top side of the machine VS being in the front.

 

[cornutt]

It's been a trend around here for a while now to hide all the appliances behind wood panels to make it look like the kitchen has no appliances. I say, what's the use in that? We don't live in the 19th century, and good riddance. We have machines to do the work for us; let's celebrate that! Yay for modernity!

 

[logixx]

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