I've got hidden hinges - they're great! Sure, if you're looking for a strict period look, the exposed hinges are better. But I'm happy with my hidden hinges.

advantages to hidden hinges...
they're hidden
they are more adjustable than exposed i think
cleaner look
easier for cabinet maker and installer

Advantaqges to exposed hinges
they're exposed--if you want that period look
they allow you to open your doors 180 degrees rather than only 130

those were the 2 reasons I chose exposed

Here are a few traditional cabinets with cup pulls. One with hinges and one without.
{{!gwi}}From Misc photos

{{!gwi}}From Misc photos

With hinges:
{{!gwi}}From Misc photos

The first kitchen isn't that traditional, being frameless cabinets, so I think the hidden hinge look is nice. The second kitchen is traditional, with face frames and actual inset doors, and I think the exposed hinges complete the look.

Traditional butt hinges kind of say craftsmanship to me, as in someone took the time to get an even 1/16" gap without newfangled adjustments. But the doors need to hold the gap over the years - I don't know, will they?

From a cabinetmaker's perspective the hidden hinges are way better...ability to adjust the doors. It is better for the client for the same reason since most doors move over time.

In our last kitchen I kept insisting on the hidden hinges, They lasted 24 hours when I realized the space they took, I must have skinned 2 or 3 knuckles trying to put stuff away. My DH was disappointed with the lack of the traditional look so we went through the expense of having the doors taken apart and a new piece put in and refinished all of the doors so we wouldn't have the router-ed holes from the hidden hinges and went with the traditional exposed hinges. Overkill for holes inside the doors but the disappointment was great for our new custom built cabs.

I have inset doors with hidden hinges. I like the look, but one disadvantage is that if you have drawers behind a door, like a pantry (open door, pull out drawer), the drawer has to be a lot narrower than if you had exposed hinges.

Thank you so much, the pictures help a lot firsthouse. I have lots of saved images, they all have exposed hinges. That should tell me something.
I didn't realize the hidden hinges were bulky and didn't open as wide.
I love the look, it's what I had envisioned. DH likes the clean look of hidden, which I think is too contemporary. Good point Johnliu about the frameless/hidden combo. Then I also notice the beaded frame, which I can't afford, and wonder how much that contributes to the look I love.
Mamalynn, Melanie, do you have pictures posted anywhere?
Eandhl, I feel your pain, glad it was worth it!Any "before" pics taken in that first 24 hours?
Again, thank you everyone. I'm excited to be at this stage.

I don't like hidden for the same reason - they are a big ol' ugly hunk of metal in the way when I want to open the door wide and put things away. I believe the hidden euro hinges are now available for 180degree opening (instead of the standard 90), but you might have an upcharge for that. I love my insets with traditional butt hinges. :-)

No pictures of the hinge fiasco sorry. We no longer live there but when we did the kit in this house I again went with exposed but they are hand forged butterfly hinges.

I remember igloochic also has inset with hidden hinges, b/c I was asking the same question a few months back. I'm not sure how to find pics now, though, with the weirdness. It wouldn't find the post in search.

just remembered that you can search this forum by google

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0923254025953.html

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1111252324219.html

I've posted this same picture in response to several questions, so I'm sure everyone is tired of it. It was the only part of the kitchen that looked decent that day and I'm only just now getting the rest to look decent for "finished" pics. This is the coffee bar (by what I cleaned up first, can you tell I love my coffee?) and the double doors to the left is the pantry. I don't have any open door pics. Hopefully within the next week or so I'll be ready for DH to take pictures of everything; he's the photographer, I do the editing.

Thank you all for your responses. We have decided on the exposed, now the dilemma is the mfr. The price seems to vary a lot; do any of you know the mfr. of your hinges? I have found what I like at Horton Brass; they have the finish I want (nickel or chrome) and a matching pantry latch. Their hinge is more expensive than others. I found a slightly adjustable hinge at Rockler, but they only have Brushed Nickel, as do many other companies. Is the brushed finish that noticeable on the hinge? I won't do brushed on my other hardware. Thanks so much. Again!

I'd ask your cabinetmaker for his preferences, since he has to make the hinges work. There are traditional butt hinges which require mortises to be cut, no-mortise hinges, and full or partial wrap-around hinges. I think all of these will look pretty similar when the door is closed. Some may require specific thickness frames and doors, others may offer a little bit of adjustment, others are designed to result in a specific gap which might or might not be what your cabinet-maker likes to work with. I'm sure there are other considerations that a cabinet-maker will mention, he might have had good/bad experiences with specific brands too. Then choose the finish and style (ball end, finial end, etc) after you know what basic design works best. I'm no expert but anyway that is what would go through my mind.

Thanks johnliu, we talked to the cabinetmaker and decided on a nonmortised hinge. He is usually using a concealed hinge so the mfr. will be new to him. The door frames will be 3/4" with (I think) 1/8" gap. I think that is everything... So my concern is for durability, both mechanically, and of the finish. So much to think about...