Small hardware, big difference: toe kicks, door hinges, and other details
While you’re on your way to designing that aesthetically pleasing cabinet set that will check all of the boxes, there are always little details that you have to work out along the way. So far, we’ve talked about costs, design trends and have guided you through the measuring process and specifics regarding Conestoga, Executive and Fabuwood cabinetry. What now? Well, as mundane as it may seem, someone will most likely have to make the minute decisions about smaller, lesser-seen pieces of hardware like those pesky toe kicks and door hinges. As far as most of these go, the better your pick, the more they will go unseen (that means it’s doing its job!). Good hardware can compliment your top-grade cabinet pick and, generally, make your cabinets even easier to use.
Toe Kicks
Okay, so we all know that something has to stop those annoying little crumbs from getting kicked under your new cabinets like a midfielder scoring straight on goal, but how to do so with style? That’s where toe kicks come in. A toe kick will slide in at the base of your cabinets and bridge the gap between the bottom and the floor and hide the cabinet supports (useful and they really visually finish off the space). They can also serve to hide any cabinet joints you may want to patch up. Generally, toe kicks are widely available in a variety of materials from light metals to plastic and wood.
The best news? Each one of Fabuwood’s collections boasts a perfectly matching toe kick option. All of the options range in size, with Fabuwood collections like the Allure series whose kicks measure ¾” x 4½” or the Quest and Value collections, which are ½” x 4½”. What about material? The Allure series uses solid birch, while the Quest and Value series offer veneered plywood and are even stained to match.
Tip! If you want a bit more continuity, all of Fabuwood’s collections provide additional versatile pieces to better hide your cabinet joints (available upon request)!
If you have particular needs for your space and are planning on going the “custom cabinet” route for your project, Conestoga has a number of wooden toe kick options and famously offers: “premier stains, glazes and paints on cabinet exteriors including face frames, doors, drawer fronts, end panels and toe kick strips.” For all of the available finishes and help deciding what may go well with the rest of your cabinets, this guide can lend a hand. Talk to one of our sales reps for a full list of toe kick materials and for ideas on which may pair well with your cabinet set.
Designing for the home office or living space? Conestoga Wood cabinets can be configured with flush toe kicks for these spaces to enhance the visual effect. This provides a more finished look where standing in front of the cabinet is less common – as with kitchen cabinets.
Door Hinges
As you may be aware, there are a number of great hinge options and systems available to get your cabinets and their doors to reach their functional potential. Among these, you can consider concealed, exposed, semi-concealed and, a must-have these days, soft closes (especially if there are kids in the household). Below, we’ll dive into what the “big two” manufacturers have to offer!
Luckily for you, all pre-made, ready to assemble Fabuwood cabinets default to the highest quality. All of their hinges open at 110°, but keep an eye on all of the construction specifications because not all cabinets are assembled the same.
The Fabuwood rundown: the Value and Allure series from Fabuwood feature soft-close mechanisms on their 6-way adjustable hinges for their doors. The Value and Allure feature Blumotion soft-close mechanisms and the Allure series features concealed hinges. Don’t know if you want concealed hinges? Check out this post for a full guide!
If flexibility to mix and match is what you’re looking for, let us be the first to tell you that Conestoga actually offers just that. Included with most cabinet door fronts, you can request to have either exposed or semi-concealed hinges on your cabinet set, or even request specific boring for the concealed hinges you’ve picked out beforehand (check out this sheet for specifics). When you’re planning your next custom cabinet order, also keep in mind that with all custom products, door hinges should be placed at least ¾” away from the frame to leave space for the boring.
Tip! How do you want your doors to open? It’s an option you probably didn’t know you had, but for long, slim cabinets, you may want to consider doors that open down and out or up and away!
From your doors to your cabinet joints and on, you, like many others embarking on their cabinet journey, will want to make sure every piece, no matter how small, fits in seamlessly with the cabinets you’ve chosen and the finishes you’ve finalized. So take the little decisions in stride, do your research and, if you’re unsure, let us help.
