I find I'm constantly having to sort out what is good for the cabinetmaker versus good for the buyer. Cabinet makers love concealed "euro" hinges because they are easy and adjustable. Why would I want them, though? Apart from the look, I mean. All my house's interior and exterior doors have mortised barrel hinges, and they all work fine. I never need to adjust them. I think the suggestion that you may want to adjust your own cabinet doors on some future date is a red herring. It's cheaper and quicker and easier for the cabinetmaker. (Note: This may translate into cheaper for you or not) There's a well-respected Amish cabinetmaker near us that advertises that they use "French Dovetails" for their drawers as they are stronger. As far as I can work out, they are less attractive, reduce the space in the drawer, and have less wood-to-wood glue surface (i.e. less strong), but they are probably machined in about a tenth of the time as traditional (English) dovetails. Advantages for the cabinetmaker: many. Advantages for you: none. I know it's a trade off. The cabinetmakers time equals my money. But I get annoyed when they aren't upfront about it and try to hide behind supposed benefits of changes that are really to reduce their work and costs. As an amateur woodworker I can see some of what they're doing, but I wonder what I miss when dealing with other disciplines. For what it's worth we want exposed barrel hinges for our craftsman house. And I expect them to be perfect if I pay a custom cabinetmaker.

Thank you everyone. We have a local cabinetmaker making these cabinets, but he has only done inset doors once before and used Euro hinges on them. For our inset cabinets in the dining room we want visible hinges that at least look like mortised hinges so that the cabinets look like ones that were originally in this 100 year old house. We thought it best to avoid mortised since it cannot be changed easily if there is an error. I got samples of the above hinges and the only ones that are big enough visually are the non-mortised extruded brass (the second ones) These create a 3/32 inch gap. http://www.myknobs.com/clb2581bz.html (Classic Brass) OR http://www.horton-brasses.com/products/hinges/butthinges/100 (Horton Brasses) The Horton Brasses ones are much less expensive. The only other option is some non-mortised wrapped steel from Classic Brass or Alno: They don't look as good, but leave a smaller (1/16 inch) gap. http://www.myknobs.com/clb2511bz.html (Classic Brass) http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewProducts.asp?Cat=952 (Alno) Does anyone know anything about the quality of any of these hinges? Has anyone used them?

LOL Francy, "It never ever occured to me...that I would hire someone who would lie abou his skill" etc. Gad that killed me...after three tile guys, two GCs, redoing the floors twice, the stairs twice...oh and the three painters...It sure as heck occurs to me now LOL (You too I bet!) I have hidden hinges on my inset doors. The reason being, I live in an earthquake zone, and I'm on pilings verses a foundation. My house moves like Michael Jackson once did :oP Insets aren't used as much here because of the earth quake and frost heave movement of our ground. So where you live should come into the factoring at some point (and might be why the cabinet maker hasn't done many with exposed hinges?) I do however find it very frustrating when a KD inserts their own opinions into the mix, either with or without knowledge. FOr instance, one KD here told me that inset cabinets don't work in Alaska and that I'd hate them so because she didn't want to see me back complaining, she wouldn't price them for me (and priced a more expensive european brand instead). She was fortunate I guess...since she didn't have to see me again after that :OP Then I went to the top place in town and chatted with them about it. The KD (very experienced, highly awarded) laughed and said "With adjustable hinges it's no biggie...I do them quite often". And she was right...it's not hard to adjust the hidden hinges at all. I also have an exposed hinge at the end of the island because the space isn't deep enough for any other type of hinge. I ordered it in pewter and the balance of my knobs, handles, squirrels are in antique pewter. You really don't notice the difference in the colors (there is a little) because there is so little exposed. But with some of the fancier hinges (ie that H hinge up above) you might notice it more because they're more of a feature of the design astetic. Had I been making an attempt at a period look, I'd have gone with exposed hinges, and I think I probably would on white cabs as well, just because I love the look of a Chistopher Peacock kitchen. But of course, that kitchen in my dreams has silver...real silver...knobs and hinges...and the maid of my dreams says she won't clean them :o(

I can't find the specs on the hinges we used, but when I measure them they are a little bigger than 2.5'' tip-to-tip. I used 2 for each door on the glass-front uppers that we did with exposed hinges and 3 hinges on our larger breakfront doors. I think the scale looks good. Go for the sale! :)