When back of cabinet shows?

I would consider either a continuation of the side panels, or two raised panel sections made like the single large raised panel door, but large enough to span the height from top to bottom. Another option might be instead of raised panels, create two panels in the same style as the drawers. The overall effect in either case would mimic the front, giving the cabinet a visual balance.

-- Sam

I agree with sam, but I would probably go a bit further, and make two raised panels like the door on the front, so divide the width in two, and make it so the panel goes from top to bottom.

-- Nicholas, Journeyman Cabinetmaker, Partenkirchen, Germany

The raised panel idea is great if you already have the ability to make them. I did that on a desk for my wife. The back is never seen but I know it’s there and I made it. You could also use simple vertical boards 3-4” wide with a chamfer on each long edge to give it some character. Join them with tongue and groove joints.

ditto with the above ,
treat it as exposed end panel .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

you could also do a back from ship lapped boards…you would leave a small gap between each board and pin the center of the bottom and top. This would allow for wood movement where a solid back panel would not. However would this fit in with the aesthetic of your cabinet? Would the recommended raised panels? If your sides had been raised panels I would opt for the raised panel in the rear, but I dont think you want to throw in too many elements at one time…its a hard call…

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

I’d go with the continuation of the side panel look for the back. I like the look of the chamfered boards or the shiplapped boards, but agree with depictureboy about using too many different elements. Aesthetically, it would look better if the back matched the sides. IMHO.

Some of you are saying a continuation of the side panel for the back BUT in the photo above the sides are flat.
FWIW there will be a knife block on one side and on the opposite side a towel holder/bar. So making the same type of raised panels for the back as the front will likely be the way to go. Will leave the side panels flat for the knife block and towel holder.
The island will be pushed into a small square alcove so if the bar side is facing outwards they will have to rotate it 180 degrees to access the front doors(there’ll be 2 doors) and drawers. Wondering if the bar side should also have doors below the bottom of the dropped bartop so they can access from both sides?
Thanks a bunch for all the replies so far.

-- http://www.brianpenning.com/

If you’re wanting to access from either side, you could put all raised panel doors (front and back) in the uppermost portion of the front and back face. The drawer(s) could be done at the bottom such that the same drawer can be opened from either side. There are period furniture tables (like drum tables) that utilize the same design concept. You could have 2 drawers at the bottom, i.e., two inset drawer faces at the bottom on each aide – front & back. That way you can pull out the same drawer from either direction. You could even apply the same concept to the doors, i.e. hinged on both sides to access the same space from the front or the rear.

-- Sam

You all have come up with the options I would consider.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon