Thread: Built in wardrobes improvements?

It should be possible to fit melamine doors and Hettich style hinges to give it a more modern look. (There's a name for this type of hinge but for the life of me I can't remember it. ) The door panels would overlay the current fascia, hiding it, so they're all you'd see... giving a minimalist appearance.

It depends on the width of the existing stiles between the doors. The Hettich style hinges are best suited to flat-pack cabinets and will only cater to a maximum overlap of around 20mm from memory. Don't quote me on that! So you may need to modify the stiles.

As for catches, you can buy these hinges in "self closing format," which avoids the need for cayches altogether unless you want to install positive locking.

(BTW... I only say Hettich 'cos they're the brand I prefer to use; there are quite a variety of other mfrs out there making similar hinges which would probably do the job. )

Thank you Skew
I am a newbie when it comes to doors and windows don't even know the correct terminology. Guess when it comes to stiles and so on I am in the dark.For that reason I have attached tow more pics
Replacing the doors for a melamime laminated type would be an advantage but what to do to the frame to hide it? is this possible?
I know the hinges can be replaced but still the frame will be visible won't it?

Thanks

Sorry. "Stiles" are the uprights of the frame. Where the existing hinges and latches are screwed to.

With the hinges I'm talking about, the doors don't mount inside the frame like the current ones, they mount in front of the frame, hiding it.

So in effect all you see is several doors, the sides of each almost touching the side of the door next to it. Giving you a look something like this or this.

My concerns is that the uprights of the frame are wider than they are deep; these hinges work best when the uprights are deeper than they are wide. ('Cos they're really made for flat-pack style furniture.)

I think it should be possible with a little effort and basic skills.

Andy,

I don't think what you are proposing is not going to be easy with that face frame. It will be easier to rip the whole thing out and build a melamine cabinet to fit inside the existing space.

Blum, Hafele also make very good quality cup hinges.

Well thanks for clarifying the term stiles Skew.
Actually the frame extends inside the BIR quite a bit and may be sufficient place to put a Hetich type of hinge on the side although I may have to remove the front part of the frame that shows it's ugly face there is room to work with

Originally Posted by markharrison

I don't think what you are proposing is not going to be easy with that face frame. It will be easier to rip the whole thing out and build a melamine cabinet to fit inside the existing space.

That depends on whether the face frame is just that: a face frame... and how solid the dividers are. It's one of those jobs that can go one way or the other.

Blum, Hafele also make very good quality cup hinges.

Cup hinges!

I'm a bit with Mark on this one.

cup hinges are designed for use with 16-19mm board, where the sides and doors are made from material of similar width.
doors can be overlap or inserted

the existing cupboard frame will need to be modified to mimic the thickness of the new doors, and then the cup hinges will need to be fitted.
not an impossible task, but it's probably easier to start afresh and install new cupboard sides

I must admit you have a point guys
The frame does not look the best yet it looks like it can be rescued on the other hand Take the old frame out and make melamime full length frames is a good idea also and the finish would be much neater.

It's hard to tell from your photos if the frame is timber or chipboard.

If the former, you could toss the existing doors, hinges and shelves, patch the hinge recesses and shelf support areas with with solid timber, sand and repaint the frame and then install new doors and shelves. Paint and new shiny brass hinges would make the whole unit look fresh.

Thanks the frame looks to me like solid timer so was the timber frame but the backing of the cabinets were chipboard in the kitchen (built around early sixties) although and strangely the block got refurbished in the early eighties and for instance the BIR and kitchen shelves were and are particleboard.
I knock the timber frame and feels very solid especially nailed to the brick wall for any other type of timber will have split I suppose

I've also seen a "European" style of kitchen cabinetry where the doors are fitted with cup hinges but the stiles are about 60-70mm wide and painted a dark charcoal.

The doors themselves are left white and overlap the stiles by about 20mm, leaving a 20-30mm gap between the doors where the charcoal stiles make a stark contrast. (I'm trying to find a pic... I'll upload one if I have any luck.)

It does look good in Euro style kitchens, but I dunno about elsewhere.

Still you could simply pack out behind your existing face frames stiles so the hinges sit flush.

(It wouldn't be my choice of style; I'm just throwing alternatives out there and this would be one of the cheaper and easier "updates" without so much of the skill-heavy "rebuilding.")


Edit: I couldn't find the pics that I had in mind, but these sorta show the style I mean. (Even if not well.)