18.5" cabinet width: How wide should my door be?

[javeryh]

I am hinging the panel that my coin door is on.  I framed out the opening using .75" thick MDF so I can mount the hinges and so it has something to close up against.  I guess this is really a cabinet-making question but how wide should the door be?  I want to give the illusion as best as possible that the coin door panel does not move but if the door is as wide as the opening it will not pivot on the hinge.  How much is customary to shave off of each side?  The hinges I bought are the kind that you have to use a forstner bit to cut out a circle in the door in order to mount...

Any help would be great!  Thanks!!

[Tahnok]

Make the panel the same size as the opening and just open the entire thing. There are hinges designed to do this. I think they're called flush cabinet hinges or something.

[javeryh]

That's what I thought but the panel I cut fits snugly and there's really no way it can move on the hinges because it is restricted by the cabinet sides.  There's got to be a little bit of play in order for it to open properly (1/16"? 1/8"? 1/4").  I just don't know. 

I'm hoping someone who makes kitchen cabinets or something would know the answer...