An informed buyer makes a smart decision.
Once you’ve settled on the design, finish, and layout of your cabinets, it might feel like the hard part is over. But the truth is, the things you don’t see or don’t notice right away play a critical role in how your cabinets function day after day.
We’re talking about hardware: the slides, hinges, and mechanisms that determine how your cabinets open, close, and feel in daily use. While it’s tempting to focus only on the exterior beauty of your cabinets, soft close hardware is where the real quality of a cabinet often reveals itself.
Real Example: When Cabinet Hardware Goes Wrong
In a video Anton (ARKA CO-founder and Production Manager) opens a wide drawer in a recently remodeled kitchen. The drawer jitters and sticks because the builder cut corners with cheap, non-adjustable slides. Now imagine that drawer is part of your dream kitchen. It might look perfect from the outside, but it won’t feel that way when you use it every day. Not to mention the melamine box and drawer construction (you can read more about why it is a significantly less desirable material and what goes into the pricing of custom cabinets in this blog post), this video is a prime example where the cabinets look nice, but inside it is very low quality.
This is the reality many homeowners face when they go with the lowest bid. Hardware is often the first thing downgraded to save costs and the first thing to fail under daily stress.
What Is Soft Close Hardware?
Soft close hardware includes dampers in the hinges or slides that allow your doors and drawers to close gently and silently. No more slamming. Even if you push a drawer in quickly, soft close systems will catch it and guide it to a smooth stop. This not only protects the cabinetry over time but also keeps things quiet, especially helpful in busy households or open plan living areas.
What Are Full Extension Slides?
Most people don’t realize how much space they lose with standard slides. Full extension drawer slides allow the entire drawer to glide out past the cabinet frame, so you can see and reach everything inside, even items at the very back. No more blind rummaging or wasted storage space.
Together, full extension and soft close features significantly elevate the everyday experience of using your kitchen, bathroom, or builtins. Don’t be mistaken: cabinet hardware isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are countless models of hinges and slides, each with different opening angles—105°, 94°, 106°, and more. Some are best suited for small wooden doors, while others are built for thicker, heavier doors or specialty materials like aluminum or glass.
Hardware options also vary in their mounting technology. Depending on the application, your cabinetmaker may choose clip-on systems, face-frame-compatible solutions, or concealed mechanisms. The right hardware must be matched not just to the door material, but to the cabinet’s construction, layout, and functional demands. This is where working with an experienced cabinetmaker makes a real difference.
Why ARKA Uses Blum and Salice Hardware
At ARKA Cabinets, we use hardware from Blum and Salice, two of the most respected brands in the cabinet industry worldwide.
Blum is an Austrian manufacturer known for precision, innovation, and reliability. Their drawer systems are buttery smooth, incredibly strong, and designed for decades of use. Blum also offers concealed hinges with integrated soft close that are fully adjustable in multiple directions, making installation cleaner and future adjustments easier.
Salice, based in Italy, is another industry leader recognized for sleek design and advanced technology. Their hinges and slides are often favored in modern and Euro style cabinetry for their compact form factor and exceptional performance.
Both brands are trusted by high end cabinetmakers around the world. And we choose them for one simple reason: they work—consistently, smoothly, and beautifully.
You Deserve Cabinets That Look Great and Work Effortlessly
The reality is, even the most stunning cabinetry will disappoint if the drawers don’t slide properly or the doors slam shut. That’s why at ARKA Cabinets, we never compromise on hardware. It’s the invisible ingredient that protects your investment, elevates your daily routine, and ensures your cabinets feel as good as they look.
If you’re planning a remodel or custom cabinetry project, don’t forget to ask what kind of hardware is included and why.
Need help making sense of all the choices? We’d love to walk you through it. Book a consulataion with our designer.
