I was about begin this post with "johnliu, I understand completely with a period kitchen" but I see that's been done. We also are trying very hard for a kitchen that feels appropriate to the rest of the house (a 1923 bungalow.) Our goal not historical accuracy, but, more modestly, to keep people from feeling jarred when they cross the threshold from the dining room. We chose cabinets that follow the patterns of the woodwork in the rest of the house--easy enough. Our hang-up came with the discussion of hinges. I had imagined we'd use traditional ball-tip exterior hinges. The cabinet maker argued successfully for interior hidden hinges, citing the benefits of adjustability (both for him and for us.) He suggested that he could mount faux hinges on the outside to give us the traditional look. For about five seconds I thought this would be a fine idea. Then I had forehead-slapping moment. What part of the craftsman ideal would favor faking mechanicals for the sake of appearance? None that I can see. So we will not have visible hinges. The interior type we're using is reasonably unobtrusive, so I don't feel that too much visual rightness has been compromised for modern function.

Hi Carrie, sounds like those glides will do the job. It's great they upgraded them for you for free! I think leaving the others is a good call. If worst comes to worst (which it hopefully won't) it's something you can change later, as others have done. I am an occasional poster but mostly a lurker, and I have been following your process from the beginning. I just wanted to say how thrilled I am for you that your reno is starting next week! (Living vicariously, since my own is still years away.) You may be more stressed at this point than excited, but you've planned really carefully and your new kitchen is going to be amazing. Do you know how long it is supposed to take? Good luck, hang in there, and please keep us posted!!

I neglected to say that Barker has great instructions for measuring Blum and another, side type. Other than that, you'd have to dig the specs out of the manufacturer's website. You're getting into some tedious work. I would consider either having him remake the drawers completely, buying new ones, or getting glides that fit better in the space and with the drawers you have. This is getting to be way too much work than I'd take on, and I will fuss with something for months. The one and only modification I'm going to make to a drawer to make it fit my space, is on a 17" deep drawer. The next glide is 18" and they must match. I'll put a piece on the back of the drawer above the notches, and drill the little holes for the glides. But that's about as retro on drawer boxes as I'm willing to go. One cabinet I'm retrofitting, is going to get drawer boxes I got at a reuse center. Nice and deep, but definitely not Blum Tandem ready. They're going to get the old fashioned Blum 230 (or KV) types. They'll only hold towels in the MBR, so I don't care. Better to have drawers than 2 reach-in cabs. They're getting inset doors, too. It's A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. how much cat fur will settle into a cabinet between an overlay door and its cabinet box. Enough about me. I would suggest you either reconsider this endeavor, or how it's to be accomplishd.

Do any of the ball bearing kind install at the bottom of the sides of the drawers? It's hard to tell from the photos, which usually dont know installation pics. I checked some drawers in my other furniture, and those were all installed at the middle of the sides. Thanks.