Spotlight on Hinges

Hinges, in the context of kitchen cabinet refacing or remodeling, can make a world of difference in how your cabinets feel as well as look. When it comes to wear and tear, this hardware sees daily use, and can make the difference between loud slamming and dinged surfaces and a quiet, long-lasting style.

Cabinet door hinges can be distinguished by quality, decorative style, features, and installation style.
Quality is fairly easy to distinguish based on materials, and this is one area where “you get what you pay for” rings true. Decorative style includes both the finish and the design of the (if any) exposed parts of the hinges.  if your cabinet door will cover your hinges, well that’s one less thing to worry about. If your hinges will not be covered by your cabinet doors, consider matching or complementing the rest of your kitchen hardware, appliances or overall style. (or contrasting, if that’s your thing).

Full-face cabinet doors cover hinges completely

Hinges can have features that impact a cabinet’s look and feel in everyday use, and one of the most-valued of these features is what’s known as “soft-close”.  Soft-close hinges have a small hydraulic function built into the them. When you close your cabinet door, that function takes over once it’s almost closed, gliding it silently closed, eliminating all the banging cabinet noises that sometime emanate from a kitchen. Not only are soft close hinges easy on the nerves, they are great for prolonging the life of your cabinet doors. The device that creates the soft close feature also reduces contact against the hinge components, which extends the life of the hinges, saving you hinge replacement costs down the line while providing a cushion for the doors, which for most refacings and remodels, will be brand new.  They’re also a great option for those with inquisitive children or grandchildren, whose little fingers can get pinched in cabinets with traditional hinges. Folks without those concerns may opt for more decorative hinges, especially if they want a more vintage experience or to match existing older cabinets.

The installation or mounting style will determine how much of the hinges are decorative, if any. Face frame cabinets, common in America, have a 1.5 – 2″ frame around the front edges, while the more European style frameless cabinets are completely open boxes. The overlay of the door to the cabinet or cabinet frame will also make a difference in what type of hinges you use. Hinges can be either completely concealed, partially concealed, or completely exposed. If you opt for the exposed type, you’ll need to pay more attention to the decorative style to match the rest of your hardware. For completely concealed hinges, matching won’t be as much of a priority for all but the most detail-oriented of homeowners.

Exposed hinges, especially in a contrast color, is a strong visual statement, usually in vintage looks.For many people, hinges aren’t given much thought when doing cabinet refacing, they just put the same builder’s-grade hinges back on or replace them with identical hinges. But after considering how new and different hinges can add more value, style and functionality to your kitchen cabinets, you may find yourself wondering why you hadn’t considered it sooner.

If you’re ready to start considering with a professional, call on us!