DIY Tips

Adjusting Kitchen Hinges

The concealed hinge that holds up the vast majority of kitchen cabinet doors is a perfectly engineered little levelling device. If your cabinets are yawning open or crooked, they may need just a quick adjustment. The cross-shaped part attached to the cabinets is where you make the adjustments. This slides along a slot to connect it to the second element of the hinge on the door.

YOU WILL NEED:

* A crosshead screwdriver.

* Patience

* Adjust both hinges unless stated.

1 For loose doors: Tighten up the locking screw at the point furthest inside the cabinet. Leave a 1mm gap between door and cabinet when open. Check the fixed door screws on the door are tight.

2 For creaking (binding) door. Loosen that same locking screw, deepest inside the cabinet to release the door a fraction.

3 For doors hanging too low. Loosen and adjust the screws on the vertical element of the hinge. These will pull the door up and down a few mms on the frame. Re-tighten.

4 For moving doors to left or right. Loosen the screw on the cabinet closest to the door on the horizontal of the cross. You may have to loosen its counterpart (the locking screw) if you need more leeway. Re-tighten.

5 To align a crooked door. Use your screw nearest the gap again, on one or other of the two hinges to set straight.

Q&A

Q. I have an open plan house and want to re-design the ‘L’-shaped kitchen. What built-in elements are most appropriate for a young family?

A. An island or deep bar would not only give you extra snacking room on the room side (double height counters are super kid friendly), but sets a clear no-go area when keeping little ones out from under your feet. It will also partition visually and practically the function of that area in a wider space. Add some low storage for children’s stuff.

Q. I want a country-style kitchen but I’m worried it will look dated. Is it a bad investment?

A. Of course not. The classic country kitchen has never really gone out of style. If you find raised panel designs too busy, explore in-frame designs where the door sits inside the cabinet in a sleek up-to-the-minute Shaker look.

Q. Coloured cabinets seem too daring, and I would prefer to stick to cream. What other ways can I have a colourful contemporary kitchen?

A. Paint is cheap and easy to alter, tiling a greater and more permanent investment, and for something truly eye catching you could run a glass splashback right around the area over your main counters. Digital colours and images make this an infinitely creative process. Try www.splashbacks.ie created by Cork Glass. You can mix cabinet colours, to create a colour block effect too.

Contemporary plain splashback from www.splashbacks.ie