no, that side piece is cut just like the door with a beveled edge to hold it in place, it slides in from the top down just like a mini door so nothing could be sticking out from behind or it wouldn't be able to slide into place. probably easier to see from the top down but hard to notice because the panels not thick like the door.
the side panel is pretty thin and the back is flat so it can slide down into place. those stainless button heads are only as deep as the panel is thick. there's a lip on the inner edge of each button head so they can't fall out, but there just little button heads I made from cutting down some stainless steel screws. on the reo body side there are mini push button type switches mounted flush to the inner face of this panel, when the panel is slid into place it holds the stainless steel button heads directly over the mini switches. the button heads actuate the mini switches.
the end result I wanted was the whole mod flush and smooth inside and out. all the switches and the screen are built to be within the thickness of the reo sidewall with nothing sticking in or out and this was the only way I could think of doing that
on the wood, the body of the mod is fiddleback royal black walnut and the door and button insert are done in white teak burl. the camera doesn't do that white teak burl justice it's a beautiful wood in person, look and feel