If you have white cabinets then a white dishwasher will probably be best, but it's your choice in the end.
If you install a built in the landlord will ask you to leave it or replace the cabinets it replaced. Portable sounds a better deal to me.
A dishwasher will ruin the finish on the outside of a stainless thermos bottle, making the outside unsightly. As far as durability goes, if the thermos bottle contains a vacuum seal, washing in the dishwasher will cause the seal to malfunction and the thermos will begin to leak.
there should be a relevant link in the manual, if not just search for the part numbers online
Yes. Read your manual for your dishwasher. Manufacturers recommend certain cleaning agents or chemicals to be used in dishwashers. Adding dishwash soap into any dishwasher may cause the unit to foam and leak.
The aluminium is WAAAAY better than any stainless steel quality.
Stainless steel should be a better option for serving trays. There is no set rule unless there is a specific purpose though.
Stainless steel knives are safe in the dishwasher. However the best knives are made of carbon steel which should always be handwashed and immediately dried. The brand is irrelevant. What matters is the material which the blades are made from.
You should install kitchen cabinets in the kitchen most likely. If they are floor cabinets you should install them against a wall on the floor under a sink or counter. If they are wall cabinets you should put them on the wall. If they are corner cabinets you should put them in the corners.
The inside of your dishwasher should be cleaned regularly.
You should first decide what you will be using these knives for fillet, ordinary tasks? Then you should definately choose knive sets that have a variety of blades and sizes that comes within one set. This will then allow you to have many types of knives for all types of cuisines. Secondly you should always choose stainless steel and if you are using a dishwasher if they are dishwasher safe.
I am considering refacing my cabinets. How can I know if I should replace them or reface them?
Well some people think that buying a new dishwasher is the better soultion but it all depends on you and how you think you can fix this but I mean it also depneds on how much you are willing to spend