Full overlay cabinet spacing for custom cabinetry?
We recently installed a kitchen with full custom cabinetry. I am a little disappointed in the final result because the spacing between the doors/drawers is more than I expected and it also isn't consistent throughout the kitchen. For people who have been involved with custom cabinetry projects, what is typically done?
1) Do cabinetmakers typically confirm the spacing when customers place their orders? Our cabinetmaker never specified the spacing anywhere in their documentation and never discussed it with me. I wasn't aware that this was something that needed to be specified, since the kitchens I've seen with full overlay cabinetry all had pretty tight seams. I take some responsibility in not having specified it, but I also feel like the cabinetmaker should confirm these measurements if this isn't something standard across the industry.
2) Is the spacing typically the same for horizontal and vertical seams? In our kitchen, all of the horizontal seams (the ones running above/below drawers) are 1/16-1/8" high. The vertical seams (to the left and right side of drawers) are all 1/4" or slightly more. In all the images I've seen, the spacing is typically the same throughout. I don't get why they would decide to use two different measurements throughout the kitchen. It makes it much more noticeable than if they had just done 1/4" all around.
I understand that sometimes more spacing is needed for vertical seams because the cabinet doors need room to swing open, but most of our kitchen is made up of drawers. Additionally, I know that there are hinges made to open in very tight spaces because our bathroom cabinetry (not from the same cabinetmaker) has 1/16" seams and the doors open without an issue.
Any feedback about the right course of action at this point would be appreciated.
Comments (26)
Heather N
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PROKristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHeather N thanked Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.ci_lantro
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5 years agoCole Man - here is a picture of some of the drawers. It's hard to back up further because the island is in the way. The top left drawer in this picture is also a little crooked, but my contractor said that they can't adjust it any more, and it doesn't sit completely flush when closed.
Heather N
5 years agoHere is another - the space to the right of the tall thin cabinet is 5/8". The top drawer under the range top doesn't sit flat with the drawer below it - you can see that it sticks out a little where they meet. The space to the left of the cabinet door is 1/4". Looking at the stack of 3 drawers on the right, the spacing is larger between the top and middle drawer vs. the middle and bottom drawer. The middle drawer can't be adjusted because it is a paneled appliance (warming drawer).
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