The exposed hinges are not soft-close compatible, however all the drawers are soft-close in this project. Having exposed hinges is more of a personal preference as you can do inset cabinetry with soft-close concealed hinges as well. It could make the space look more busy if you have smaller width doors rather than wider single doors (ex: a 24" cabinet with 2 doors vs 1 door). They also come in a variety of finishes that may blend in better with your cabinetry! Our hinges are installed during manufacturing at Cabico in Quebec/Ontario. Hope that helps!