You can't (according to the manufactures website) put softclose on the exposed hinges. My hinges look just like the common door hinge that is selfclosing.

I like the look of the exposed hinge!

Nancy

What do you mean by "soft close"?

Mine have magnets in the front bottom. If I had hinges that were not exposed, I would not need the magnets?

I think exposed hinges just look right on inset doors. I also like that with the exposed hinge, I can open the doors wide. I don't miss not having soft close on the doors.

My last kitchen had inset cabs with exposed hinges and they also had soft close. I don't know the specific manufacturers of each but the soft close feature was high on my priority list.

Exposed hinges can be really pretty. There are a lot of choices out there. Just personal preference whether or not you like them.

Soft close means that when you close the door, the last bit of closure slows the movement and pulls it slowly and quietly closed. Think of flipping the cabinet door to close it, it rushes to the close position, but then slows and finishes the close gently. If you close it, but not quite all the way, it finishes the close for you.

From the Rockler website:
"The Blumotion system has been around for years, sparing the savvy cabinet owner from the typical self-closing hinge slam-bang scenario and the unnerving sound of an over-zealously closed drawer rebounding off of a cabinet front."

Here is a link that might be useful: Rockler on Blumotion

I'm using nonmortised hinges on my stuff, but I am also using the little $2.59 soft close mechanism. I guess I didn't get the memo.

I am thinking it might be a heck of a lot easier to just go with the concealed inset hinges, then use this thing i found on eBay!

I like the traditional hinge look. These people are selling these faux hinges with finials you apply to the door. They end up looking just like you've got hinges -- but don't!

The best of both worlds, perhaps?

Ok Suzanne, gotcha. I have the Blumotion on my drawers. I didn't realize there was something like this for doors too. Mine are very loud when I close them. Reminds me of the flight attendants shutting the overhead bins!

Will someone post a picture of the inside of a door with the concealed hinge.

If you look at Houzz, most of the inset cabinets do not have hinges exposed. Is it more of a transitional or updated look? A less fussy look perhaps?

Once you choose the hinge color, you are stuck with that color hardware? So you better be sure. Mine are antique nickel, and I am not thrilled with them 6 yrs out.

What color hinge goes with polished nickel hardware? If there is a polished nickel hinge, is it a durable enough finish to last?

Lots of questions. Trying to plan for another house. Thanks.

Just missed you Christine. Do you have a picture of the 2.59 thing?

This is the only one I have in Photobucket...HTH

Nancy

Ok. I gotcha. I had those in my last house, in regular cabinets. Now I know what hinges you guys are talking about.

Thanks.

Your shelves are soo pretty.

I'll have to find it.
I saw them at Rockler and have some in my Norcroft cabinets, which I've moved into others. It's just a little piece!

Gotta leave for work, so I'll check back to see if you found it.

Thanks! Glad to try to help! Tha shelves were a surprise, I just thought they would be plain.

Namcy

Love the Blumotion add-ons. I installed them on all my doors in under an hour with my trusty little Dremel stylus. Huge bang for the buck.

I am such a ditz sometimes. Just realized that I have the same hinges as Nancy on my non-kitchen cabinets.

And I see what you're talking about when you say the cabinets do not open 180 degrees. I'm not sure that would really be a problem. Think I could really dig the soft close mechanism.

Linelle-good on you doin it yourself. You go girl.

Here I am. :)
They're not $2.59, they're $6. Sorry.

These are not the big hoo-ha they make them out to be. You just screw 'em in.

The funny part is that I have cabinets where they came installed on the hinge side of the door, then some where they were installed on the opening side. When I put my own on, I did it by the hinge.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blumotion Soft Closers

I don't have the hinge showing on my inset cabinets. DH and I both liked the hidden look better... I do think the look is more transitional/updated/less fussy (which aren't good or bad things.... just more appropriate in my new build and to my eye. :))

Lolauren-do you have a picture? I'm thinking I may do the same thing in our house.

Christine-if you have two hinges on one side, do they have to go on both hinges to get the soft close effect?

Nope. They're installed just above the top one, but thinking about it, I don't see why they couldn't just be installed above the hinge that would be least in the way.

I did learn that your doors must be heavy enough to push against the soft closer. I have a bunch of evidently, really (crappy) lighter doors, because they're not heavy enough to push against the closer! So. I took some 2.5"w x 1/4" thick craft wood and cut pieces to fit against the back panel's top and bottom. Glued 'em in and painted them to match. Voila! Done.

As to the Blumotion add-on compact closers, I got mine at Woodworkers Hardware for $3-something each. Before I bought all of mine, I ordered one with and one without the adapter, because I wasn't sure if I needed one or not. I turns out I didn't which made them not only less expensive but easier to install. These are a total piece o' cake to install.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Woodworkers Hardware

{{!gwi}}

Soft close hinge:

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Normal hinge:
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Here is a link that might be useful: my finished kitchen thread with pics of exterior

I have a lot going on in my traditional kitchen, so I opted not to go with the exposed hinges on the inset doors. I love the look of it, but it does lend to a traditional or vintage look rather than a more transitional or contemporary look.

Thanks for the links guys! Lauren your kitchen is very pretty. I enjoyed looking at your pictures.

Finestra--I do see what you are saying. I went back and looked at my kitchen idea book on Houzz. One of the things I noticed is that a lot of the kitchens with darker hardware ie orb, tend to have concealed hinges.

What color hinges are used with polished nickel hardware? Does anyone know?