Choose Appropriate Hinges and Knobs for Kitchen Cabinets
by Francine L. Huff

The type of hinges and knobs you use can really dress up your kitchen cabinets and give your kitchen more personality. Hinges come in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, brass, and satin nickel. Materials used to make kitchen cabinet knobs rage from a variety of metals to acrylic to porcelain. When choosing hinges and knobs for kitchen cabinetry, it's important that they match the overall style of your kitchen.

The type and location of hinges also depend on the style and size of your kitchen cabinet doors. Some basic types of hinges used on kitchen cabinetry are:

Overlay Hinges
Overlay hinges have a short leaf attached to the exterior surface of the kitchen cabinet frame and a longer one attached to the back of the door. For frameless kitchen cabinets where doors have full overlay over the side edges of cabinets, use a frameless overlay hinge. Half overlay hinges are used if doors partially overlay the side edges of cabinets.

Inset Hinges
Inset hinges have a long leaf that is offset and can be attached to a lipped cabinet door. A 3/8" inset hinge is used with cabinets on which the doors partially overlay face-frames. Full inset hinges are used if doors are flush with face-frames and if frameless kitchen cabinet doors are flush with side edges.

Choose and Order Wisely
The number of hinges you'll need depends on the height and weight of cabinet doors. Make sure you have all the hinges you'll need and the instructions for installing them before beginning your project. If you're installing all new cabinets, choose the hinges while designing your kitchen cabinetry.

Sources
Creative Homewowner
Rockler woodworking and hardware

About the Author
Francine L. Huff is a freelance journalist and the author ofThe 25-Day Money Makeover for Women.She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows.