In Houzz, use the search term "Kitchenaid paneled dishwasher". I got a lot of hits, and many of them look "flush", but I can't tell whether the cabinets are standard depth.

There's another factor. The install width is 23-5/8" and will need adjustment for Miele to ensure it is as quiet as it should be.

My Miele has a panel and sits absolutely flush.

I definitely like a cabinet panel and the top controls. I feel this keeps the kitchen from looking dated. I often can date a kitchen from the look of the DW.

Had 2 Mieles now. Loved them both and would not ever buy a different brand as there is no significant advantage.

Cutlery for a dinner party for 18:

32 places just on the bottom rack

IMO capacity isn't a really valid issue.

If you are looking for a true flush paneled dishwasher and your budget allows for it, go for Miele or AEG, both european makes. But you're also getting the energy efficiency with those models. Especially AEG, one the highest energy efficiency models on the market. Performance is second to none with those two brands, and life expectancy is great. If you can find on with a built in water softener, i believe both those units work as well. The problem with going with a larger appliance in a large cavity is if you ever want to or need to replace the dishwasher you have to make sure there will not be any issues either. From a pure design stand point, go for the european brands.

This is very helpful, and, rococogurl, that definitely is a LOT of dishes you have in the Miele. I think I am going to have to go do some careful measuring of my existing opening and the dishwashers I am looking at.

I am out to hit the appliance stores again in a bit so this is really useful info to have. Thanks,

If you're out to visit appliance stores, take some of your dishes, glasses and silverware with you to see how it fits in the tines of the specific dws you are looking at.

Yes, Yale is correct. With normal cabinets you will get the best results with a European dishwasher if you are paneling the front.

"I am wondering if I should now eliminate the KA as a brand under consideration."

Yes .

It is much harder to to integrate a 3/4" thick panel to be flush with adjacent cabinetry on a KA. The toekick detail is also not as good , so it too detracts from the "hidden" illusion.

2. They are also not as robustly built as their miele and bosch counterparts.

The Bosch units are easy to integrate and come with gaskets already attached to allow them to fit a 24" opening.

The American units are larger - strictly speaking, but............................

you aren't going to be able to fit an xtra pot, or lasagna pan or salad bowl in them. Tehy just aren't that much larger. You MIGHT fit an xtra plate in one. Then again you might not, because the euro models tend to have more efficient racks.

I am kind of coming to the conclusion that if I want a paneled DW it will need to be one of the European brands. And, I found a pretty good deal on a floor model top-of-the-line Bosch that I am going to go back and take another look at.

Most of the current Bosch dishwashers (most of which are manufactured in the US) have moved to a deeper tub, with only the top of the line German-built models and the low-end Ascentia (sp?) plactic base dishwashers retaining the European shorter depth. They're still not quite as deep as the Whirlpool/Kitchenaid DWs and will fit flush between US-standard 24" deep cabinets.