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Kitchen cabinet retractable doors

last year

Hello!

We were planning to install retractable cabinet doors around a coffee station in our new kitchen akin to the picture below. Our GC however is concerned that the cabinet hardware may be problematic over time. Curious for those of you who have installed this type of cabinet door if you are glad you did so or if it has been problematic? Also conscious you do lose some storage space with this style of cabinet.

Thank you!

Claire

Comments (10)

clt3
last year
Yes, ours became problemstic. One side worked fine,, but the other would catch. We had 3 but when we refreshed last year we got rid of all of them.
Claire Love
Original Author
last year
Super helpful! This is what we were worried about. Thank you! Did you replace with normal doors? We are instead toying with this style of folding cabinet door just on the top so it can be left open more too.
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I suppose you could have the doors retract to an area OUTSIDE the TV cavity. In other words, build it w/ a gap between the middle cabinet and the outer cabinets, and have the doors slide into that gap. But then, of course, you'll see the gap, sort of. You could cover whatever parts of it don't involve the retracting doors, and maybe the doors would cover the gap where they are. I'm not really familiar w/ exactly how the retracting-door hardware works, but maybe that would work. Another idea would be to have the TV cavity doors BE inset and the others all be over a framed cabinet (and therefore a tad smaller than the cabinet itself). But they CANNOT be the exact same construction, the same size, AND retracting.
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barncatz
last year
We have had them on a TV cabinet for over 10 years with no problems. They were Merillat's highest option.
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Floored You: TileDesigners
last year
The bifold door hardware is problematic also. Especially with larger doors, like pictured. Most of the appliance garage type hardware gives problems when using frequently. The lift up, especially so. Pocket doors often need adjusting to not scrape and interfere. Most specialty hardware is for light usage situations.

Things that are frequently used, should be much easier to access than behind doors. Things that are less frequently used, should be removed from behind doors, placed on the counter, used, and then replaced behind the doors. Doors staying open so that you can use things frequently, is not exactly good function for a kitchen Either be in, or out.
M Miller
last year
For a coffee station, I'd just omit the doors. You even mentioned you'd want it open more.
clt3
last year
We got rid of them completly for our bar cabinet

Changed our mixer cabinet to a drawer microwave, and used regular dooes where our microwave and TV used to be.

After :
Dominy
last year
last modified: last year
After exploring retractable doors, we ultimately chose standard open with a rollout coffee shelf. The space created when I stand between the open doors is rather cozy. I'm happy with the decision.

Our pantry/microwave/coffee station is just under 30" with doors extending 15" when open. It's on the edge of our kitchen so the doors don't interfere with other activities when they are open. Your space and experience may differ.

For context you can see additional photos below from our talented kitchen designer Anna Butler.
Classic Modern Kitchen and Nook · More Info
Sally T
last year
@Dominy - what a GORGEOUS kitchen! How deep is that pantry?
Claire Love
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Beautiful kitchen!!
Dominy
last year
@Sally T The pantry is 17.5" deep. It had to be shallower than standard counter depth to accommodate the window. I was quite excited to find a tiny microwave to fit.

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