Cabinetry Questions & Helpful Answers

  • Cabinet costs vary significantly based on:

    • Kitchen size and your desired height

    • Cabinet brand and level of customization

    • Wood species and features like soft close slides and hinges and dovetail drawers

    • Wood vs MDF construction

    • Storage accessories

    • Moldings and trim

    Melissa's Cabinetry and Design offers cabinetry solutions ranging from budget-conscious remodels to luxury customized kitchens. After discussing your needs and wants, we can provide an estimate based on your house plans or basic measurements. For best results, use care to find out exactly what each cabinet company is including when comparing estimates.

  • Current cabinet trends include:

    • Warm white

    • Soft greige

    • Sage green

    • Natural walnut and dark stained hickory

    • White oak finishes

    • Warm painted neutrals

    • Two tone kitchens with stained islands

    Melissa’ attends the annual Kitchen and Bath conference (KBIS) and stays current on all market trends.

  • Melissa's Cabinetry and Design serves homeowners throughout Southern Middle Tennessee including:

    • Winchester, Decherd, Estill Springs, Cowan, Huntland, Sewanee - All of Franklin County TN

    • Tims Ford Lake

    • Tullahoma, Manchester - All of Coffee and Warren Counties in TN

    • Shelbyville, Bell Buckle, Christiana - All of Bedford County, TN

    • Fayetteville - All of Lincoln County TN

    • Lynchburg - All of Moore County TN

    • Monteagle, South Pittsburg - All of Grundy County TN

    • Murfreesboro - All of Rutherford County, TN

    • Jasper - All of Marion County TN

    • Neighborhoods like River George Ranch, Crown Harbor, Twin Creeks, Fannings Bend, Cooley’s Rift, and many others

    and surrounding communities within approximately 80 miles of Winchester.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email or by phone (931-247-5609). We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

  • Melissa's Cabinetry and Design offers cabinetry solutions for a wide range of budgets from ProGrade semi-custom cabinetry to American-made custom cabinetry.

    Popular cabinet lines include Shiloh, Timberland, Wellborn and other quality cabinet options selected to fit each client's design goals and budget.

  • Popular upgrades include:

    • Pull-out trash systems

    • Deep drawer storage

    • Spice pull-outs

    • Roll-out shelves

    • Appliance storage

    • Soft-close drawers and doors

    • Large pantry storage

    • Functional island designs

    These features improve daily usability and often increase homeowner satisfaction more than cosmetic upgrades alone.

  • Yes. We create realistic 3D renderings so you can visualize your new kitchen before purchasing cabinets or beginning construction.

  • Yes. Appliance specifications often influence cabinet dimensions, clearances, and layout. Coordinating appliances early is helpful in achieving an accurate design.

  • The best cabinet designer is one willing to spend the time to work with you through the process. They work to understand your goals, communicates clearly, creates functional designs, and offers quality products that fit your budget. Experience matters, and so does working with someone that has an eye for good design. Look at their work (website gallery or social media) and see what others say about them. The primary designer ad owner at Melissa’s Cabinetry and Design has a reputation for excellence.

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    How to Adjust Soft‑Close Hinges and Drawer Glides

    Description Soft‑close hinges (for doors) and soft‑close glides (for drawers) use adjustable mechanisms to control closing speed and alignment. Proper adjustment keeps doors and drawers closing gently, aligned with adjacent cabinetry, and prevents gaps or rubbing. Before adjusting, check that hinges, mounting plates, screws, and drawer slides are tight and that door/drawer faces are not warped.

    Tools needed

    • Phillips screwdriver (or screwdriver bit)

    • Flathead screwdriver (if required)

    • Hex/Allen key (if required by your hardware)

    • Small level (optional)

    • Soft cloth to protect finish

    Adjusting Soft‑Close Hinges (overlay and inset cabinet doors)

    1. Identify the adjustment screws

    • Many European-style concealed hinges have three adjustments:

      • Side-to-side (left/right) — usually a screw on the hinge arm near the cabinet face.

      • Depth (in/out) — usually a screw at the hinge cup or mounting plate that moves the door toward or away from the cabinet.

      • Height (up/down) — typically adjusted by loosening the two mounting screws on the hinge plate attached to the cabinet, sliding the hinge up or down, then retightening.

    1. Side-to-side (left/right)

    • Close the door slowly. If the gap is uneven or the door rubs the adjacent door/panel, turn the side-to-side screw:

      • Turn clockwise to move the door toward the hinge side (usually moves the door left or right depending on hinge orientation).

      • Turn counterclockwise to move it the opposite direction.

    • Make small adjustments (1/8 turn), then test.

    1. Depth (in/out)

    • If the door is too far from or too close to the cabinet face, adjust the depth screw:

      • Turning one way pushes the door out; the other pulls it in.

    • Adjust in small increments and test closing. Confirm the soft-close mechanism engages before the door shuts fully.

    1. Height (up/down)

    • If the top or bottom of the door is misaligned:

      • Loosen the two mounting screws on the hinge plate slightly (do not remove).

      • Move the door up or down to align edges with adjacent doors.

      • Retighten screws and test.

    1. Soft‑close tension/speed (if adjustable)

    • Some hinges include a small dial or screw that adjusts the closing speed or the point at which the soft-close damper engages.

    • Adjust per manufacturer markings: increase damping for slower close; decrease for faster. Test several closes.

    1. Final check

    • Ensure all screws are snug.

    • Open and close doors multiple times to confirm consistent soft, quiet operation and good alignment.

    Adjusting Soft‑Close Drawer Glides

    1. Identify glide type

    • Undermount soft‑close glides (mounted under the drawer): adjustment screws typically control side-to-side and front-to-back.

    • Side‑mount soft‑close glides: may have similar adjustment points on the cabinet or drawer bracket.

    1. Side-to-side alignment (lateral)

    • If the drawer face is skewed left or right, look for a lateral adjustment screw or tab on the glide bracket:

      • Turn the screw clockwise to move the drawer face one direction, counterclockwise for the other.

      • For a tab, lift or depress according to the mechanism to shift the drawer.

    1. Depth (front-to-back)

    • If the drawer face is too proud or recessed:

      • Use the depth adjustment screw on the glide or mounting bracket to move the drawer front forward or backward.

      • Some systems require loosening the drawer front mounting screws and shifting the front on its mounting slots before retightening.

    1. Height (up/down)

    • For undermount glides, small height adjustments are usually at the cabinet bracket:

      • Turn the height adjustment screw to raise or lower the drawer front slightly.

      • Recheck gaps with adjacent drawers/cabinets.

    1. Soft‑close function adjustment

    • Many glides have a small clip or adjustment lever that sets the soft‑close engagement point or force.

      • Slide or turn to increase/decrease damping.

      • Test closing at different settings until closing is smooth and the drawer fully seats gently.

    1. Final check

    • Tighten all screws, verify full extension and retraction operate smoothly, and confirm the drawer closes softly and fully without misalignment.

    Safety and tips

    • Work with the door or drawer supported while loosening hinge/plate screws to avoid dropping and damaging the face or finish.

    • Make small adjustments and test often.

    • If a hinge or glide is damaged, replace it rather than forcing adjustments.

    • Keep manufacturer instructions for specific hinge/glide models; designs and adjustment directions vary

    escription

    How to Adjust Soft‑Close Hinges and Drawer Glides

    Description Soft‑close hinges (for doors) and soft‑close glides (for drawers) use adjustable mechanisms to control closing speed and alignment. Proper adjustment keeps doors and drawers closing gently, aligned with adjacent cabinetry, and prevents gaps or rubbing. Before adjusting, check that hinges, mounting plates, screws, and drawer slides are tight and that door/drawer faces are not warped.

    Tools needed

    • Phillips screwdriver (or screwdriver bit)

    • Flathead screwdriver (if required)

    • Hex/Allen key (if required by your hardware)

    • Small level (optional)

    • Soft cloth to protect finish

    Adjusting Soft‑Close Hinges (overlay and inset cabinet doors)

    1. Identify the adjustment screws

    • Many European-style concealed hinges have three adjustments:

      • Side-to-side (left/right) — usually a screw on the hinge arm near the cabinet face.

      • Depth (in/out) — usually a screw at the hinge cup or mounting plate that moves the door toward or away from the cabinet.

      • Height (up/down) — typically adjusted by loosening the two mounting screws on the hinge plate attached to the cabinet, sliding the hinge up or down, then retightening.

    1. Side-to-side (left/right)

    • Close the door slowly. If the gap is uneven or the door rubs the adjacent door/panel, turn the side-to-side screw:

      • Turn clockwise to move the door toward the hinge side (usually moves the door left or right depending on hinge orientation).

      • Turn counterclockwise to move it the opposite direction.

    • Make small adjustments (1/8 turn), then test.

    1. Depth (in/out)

    • If the door is too far from or too close to the cabinet face, adjust the depth screw:

      • Turning one way pushes the door out; the other pulls it in.

    • Adjust in small increments and test closing. Confirm the soft-close mechanism engages before the door shuts fully.

    1. Height (up/down)

    • If the top or bottom of the door is misaligned:

      • Loosen the two mounting screws on the hinge plate slightly (do not remove).

      • Move the door up or down to align edges with adjacent doors.

      • Retighten screws and test.

    1. Soft‑close tension/speed (if adjustable)

    • Some hinges include a small dial or screw that adjusts the closing speed or the point at which the soft-close damper engages.

    • Adjust per manufacturer markings: increase damping for slower close; decrease for faster. Test several closes.

    1. Final check

    • Ensure all screws are snug.

    • Open and close doors multiple times to confirm consistent soft, quiet operation and good alignment.

    Adjusting Soft‑Close Drawer Glides

    1. Identify glide type

    • Undermount soft‑close glides (mounted under the drawer): adjustment screws typically control side-to-side and front-to-back.

    • Side‑mount soft‑close glides: may have similar adjustment points on the cabinet or drawer bracket.

    1. Side-to-side alignment (lateral)

    • If the drawer face is skewed left or right, look for a lateral adjustment screw or tab on the glide bracket:

      • Turn the screw clockwise to move the drawer face one direction, counterclockwise for the other.

      • For a tab, lift or depress according to the mechanism to shift the drawer.

    1. Depth (front-to-back)

    • If the drawer face is too proud or recessed:

      • Use the depth adjustment screw on the glide or mounting bracket to move the drawer front forward or backward.

      • Some systems require loosening the drawer front mounting screws and shifting the front on its mounting slots before retightening.

    1. Height (up/down)

    • For undermount glides, small height adjustments are usually at the cabinet bracket:

      • Turn the height adjustment screw to raise or lower the drawer front slightly.

      • Recheck gaps with adjacent drawers/cabinets.

    1. Soft‑close function adjustment

    • Many glides have a small clip or adjustment lever that sets the soft‑close engagement point or force.

      • Slide or turn to increase/decrease damping.

      • Test closing at different settings until closing is smooth and the drawer fully seats gently.

    1. Final check

    • Tighten all screws, verify full extension and retraction operate smoothly, and confirm the drawer closes softly and fully without misalignment.

    Safety and tips

    • Work with the door or drawer supported while loosening hinge/plate screws to avoid dropping and damaging the face or finish.

    • Make small adjustments and test often.