1/2" Overlay

The transitional kitchen used 1/2-inch overlay doors to show the beautiful maple face frame. A 1/2" overlay is the industry standard for a "partial overlay" look, commonly used in traditional American kitchens to show a bit of the cabinet's face frame. 1. Sizing Example: Ordering a New Door If you have a cabinet opening that is 15" wide x 27" high, you need a door that extends 1/2" past that opening on all four sides. Calculated Door Width: 15" + 0.5" (left) + 0.5" (right) = 16" wide. Calculated Door Height: 27" + 0.5" (top) + 0.5" (bottom) = 28" high. 2. Installation Example: Double Doors When two doors meet in the middle of a single large opening (like under a kitchen sink), they share the space. For a 30" wide opening: Total width coverage: 30" + 1" (total overlay for both sides) = 31". Individual door width: Divide by 2 (15.5") and subtract a small gap (usually 1/16" to 1/8") so the doors don't rub against each other when they close. Final size: Each door would be approximately 15-7/16" wide. 3. Usage Scenario: The "Classic" Kitchen Look You would choose a 1/2" overlay if you want your kitchen to have a traditional or cottage feel. The Reveal: Because each door only covers 1/2" of the frame, you will see about 2 inches of exposed wood between adjacent cabinet doors. Hardware: This style is very "forgiving." If your cabinet boxes aren't perfectly square, the visible frame helps hide small misalignments that would be obvious with "Full Overlay" doors. Cost: It is generally more budget-friendly because the doors are smaller (using less material) and the hinges are standard and widely available at retailers like The Home Depot or Amazon. 4. Hinge Identification Example If you are at a hardware store looking for a replacement, check the mounting plate or the hinge arm. Many manufacturers like Blum or Baoertai stamp "1/2" or "13mm" directly onto the metal to indicate the overlay size.