Hallelujah, I have a dish washer door!
When I ordered my kitchen from IKEA the dish washer door was out of stock and they couldn’t tell for sure when it would be available again. Turned out I had to wait 6 weeks and after I got it I couldn’t install it right away because it was stainless steel and I wanted it white.
I tried covering it with white sticky back plastic first but that didn’t go well so my other option was to spray paint it. That took almost a week! Why? First I used a spray primer. Then I bought “appliance” spray paint and it turns out that you need to either put additional coats on within four hours or wait 36 hours. I missed my four hour slots a couple of times because of other ongoing projects so the process dragged out endlessly it seemed. Also it turned out that the appliance paint sucks, the coverage is really bad. When I ran out and went to my nearest DIY store they recommended regular glossy spray paint instead and after a coat of that I was finally done.
Then I just had to attach the dang thing. Sometimes I hate IKEA. The dish washer manual included instructions on how to attach the door by using certain holes at the back of the door. Well, my door doesn’t have a single hole at the back so it was down to measuring it all out myself. Not an easy feat trying to balance the HEAVY door on my foot while trying to hold it straight AND marking it at the same time.
It’s up though and I love that it’s white. The shade of white isn’t perfectly matched to the cabinet doors but then again so isn’t the oven so I don’t really mind.
I can not believe that my kitchen is finally finished and actually exactly two months after moving in. Oh, forgot I still need to paint the window. Ah well, ALMOST finished.
Benita, your kitchen is beautiful! The pops of green are fresh and enliven the space.
Posted by: Caroline | July 18, 2011 at 02:05 AM
Oh, and thanks for showing us your perfectly completed kitchen! The white dishwasher door looks just right, why does Ikea not get it? You went to so much effort, and it was worth it.
Posted by: Caroline | July 18, 2011 at 02:13 AM
It is amazing what a white rectangle can do for a room. :) Love your kitchen.
Posted by: Monica | July 18, 2011 at 02:15 AM
such a trial! clearly all worth it. it must be a pleasure to have your kitchen just the way you want it. x
Posted by: elisa rathje | July 18, 2011 at 02:27 AM
Wow - beautiful kitchen! How are you liking your refrigerator?
Posted by: Vicki K | July 18, 2011 at 02:31 AM
Switzerland (ahm, at least my co-worker and me ;-) ) loves your finished kitchen! Well done, makes me also want a new kitchen...
Posted by: nicolezh | July 18, 2011 at 02:45 AM
Love your kitchen, it's perfect!
Posted by: Mirjam | July 18, 2011 at 05:20 AM
And me! Three Swiss people.. thats almost all of Switzerland, isn't it? :-)
Posted by: Lena | July 18, 2011 at 05:49 AM
Looks great! I love the hood and the tile makes me week in the knees every time you show us a glimpse of it.
Posted by: Zosia | July 18, 2011 at 05:53 AM
I love your kitchen! Pure bliss!
Posted by: European Chic | July 18, 2011 at 06:12 AM
if it was a challenge for you it would be almost mission impossible for the rest of us!
So you will keep this door, not wanting original white from producer? Since it is dish washer, and that door gets warm, maybe the producer product would be of a higher quality?
It looks great!
Posted by: jja | July 18, 2011 at 06:33 AM
The kitchen looks beautiful!
Posted by: Dru | July 18, 2011 at 06:57 AM
You know how to make your post understandable for most of the people.Thumbs up and Thanks.
Posted by: Business logo design | July 18, 2011 at 07:10 AM
I'm curious, why didn't you just buy the abstract dishwasher front? :)
Posted by: moi | July 18, 2011 at 07:22 AM
I love the look of it but the interior is a bit weird and I'm still getting used to it :)
Posted by: Carlos | July 18, 2011 at 07:42 AM
That is the producer. The dish washer is from IKEA.
Posted by: Carlos | July 18, 2011 at 07:42 AM
There isn't one in 45 cm width! The stainless steel one is what's available!
Posted by: Carlos | July 18, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Congrats on the door. Not only is the kitchen (practically) finished, but if I remember your images from before, it is quite what you had envisioned as well!
Posted by: homestilo | July 18, 2011 at 09:01 AM
White perfection!!!
Posted by: Anna H Pruitt | July 18, 2011 at 09:30 AM
Wohoo for ready! You're kitchen looks amazing. I still cannot get over the subway tiles, I want some too!
Posted by: Leena | July 18, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Wow! Look so beautiful!! Your kitchen shelves doors so bright. I really love them all...Can I ask you about the cutest bloom and bloom stand I can seen in the photo(left side of it?) Where did you find it? I'm so curious about it. The bloom looks so cute! I really like it. I just put mine to the shelf door...
Posted by: Yoko | July 18, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Gorgeous! And great problem solving.
I'm with Yoko, where is the broom and stand from?
Posted by: Kari | July 18, 2011 at 10:15 AM
If it's any consolation, we had the same frustration with the panel on the Ikea dishwasher. Love your space! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Posted by: Abbe | July 18, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Looking great and another tick - that's always good x
Posted by: Hxx | July 18, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Fantastic! Your DIY is soooo inspiring! Very empowering for this "average Joe" to give it a go. I just noticed that you have drawers under the kitchen sink instead of a two-door cabinet, which in the U.S. is the standard set up. I knew you were opting for drawers in the kitchen, but for under the sink, drawers never occurred to me. How is that working, and how is the access to pipes, etc. if necessary? Looks very cool!
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | July 18, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Gorgeous! LOVE the lines of the Smeg peeking into the shot :)
Posted by: Judith | July 18, 2011 at 11:31 AM
I got it and a second one at IKEA a very long time ago and love it. They don't sell it anymore unfortunately.
Posted by: Carlos | July 18, 2011 at 01:40 PM
You're a bloody marvel, Benita!
Posted by: Karen | July 18, 2011 at 02:26 PM
It's mostly an illusion :). The top "drawer" can't be pulled out and the two bottom ones are actually just one huge tall one. In there I keep the trash and recycling containers. If you pull the whole thing out the pipes are easily accessible at the back.
Posted by: Carlos | July 18, 2011 at 04:11 PM
AWESOME kitchen! I love it! Your kitchen is a work of art!
~ Ali
Posted by: Ali | July 18, 2011 at 04:39 PM
Benita! The kitchen is wonderful! How are the cats? Anymore runaway issues?
Posted by: ~Rian | July 18, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Love, love, love it!!! So fresh, so clean, so YOU!
Enjoy it!!
Bisous from Versailles, Chantal
Posted by: Abacaxi & Hortelã | July 19, 2011 at 06:40 AM
Oh, what a difference a door makes!
Posted by: Diane | July 19, 2011 at 11:47 AM
gosh that's a beautiful kitchen. well done!
Posted by: blake @ salt teak & fog | July 19, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Bonus has gone missing again. We kept him indoors and on a leash for five weeks and then successfully let him out during the day for four days and in at night. On the fifth day (Friday) he didn't come inside and is missing since. We go to our old neighborhood every night but so far we haven't seen him but our old neighbors and new owners say he's around there some where. Naughty kitty!
Posted by: Carlos | July 19, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Your kitchen is stunning. But it would never stay that clean in my house!
Posted by: Jason @ Chesterfield sofa | July 19, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Thank you Benita, for letting me know! Oh, it's a IKEA product! I hope they will sell it again!!
Posted by: Yoko | July 19, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Well you did a great job on the door because it blends in perfectly with your kitchen! Fantastic job! :)
Posted by: Natalie | July 20, 2011 at 08:47 PM
It's beatiful this IKEA'S white kitchen.Your houses are some special,and are decorated with much love and pleasure.
Posted by: Patricia | July 22, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Looks beautiful! So white and clean - love it :)
Can I just ask, although this is an old post, where you got the broom from? It looks so nice, especially for something that is often so ugly. Tack! :)
Posted by: Kristín | September 05, 2011 at 10:39 PM
saw that you had already replied, hope IKEA starts selling them again :)
Posted by: Kristín | September 05, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Boy, you really could have used an extra pair of hands for that door placement. I can't imagine trying to do a job like that with only one person. And it didn't come out crooked! Amazing.
Posted by: Jenn | October 11, 2012 at 07:17 PM