Guide
Framed, frameless or inset cabinets: how to choose
We build all three in our shop, so we have no reason to push one. The difference is how the door meets the box, which changes the look, the storage inside and the price.
Frameless
Also called European or full access
No face frame on the front of the box. The doors cover the box edge to edge with slim, even gaps, for a clean modern look.
With no frame narrowing the opening, you get a bit more usable room inside.
A good fit for
- Modern and contemporary kitchens
- Slab and slim shaker doors
- Getting the most storage per foot
About 20% less than framed full overlay
Framed full overlay
The classic, and the most common
A hardwood face frame on the front of the box, with doors that cover nearly all of it. It is the look most people picture when they think of a shaker kitchen.
The frame makes the box stiff and is forgiving on walls and floors that are not perfectly straight.
A good fit for
- Most kitchens and built-ins
- Shaker and raised panel doors
- A timeless look at a middle price
The baseline the other two are measured against
Framed inset
The finest work we do
The doors and drawers sit inside the face frame, flush with it, with an even gap all the way around.
Every door is fitted by hand to its opening, which takes time, and that is what you are paying for. It is the look of a fine old house.
A good fit for
- Traditional and farmhouse kitchens
- Furniture style built-ins
- Anyone who loves a detail
About 8% more than framed full overlay
See each one on a real cabinet, with end panels and feet What custom cabinets cost
See it in dollars for your kitchen
The instant price shows your kitchen in all three, plus our semi-custom line, side by side. It takes about a minute.
Get my instant priceQuestions people ask
Which one lasts the longest?
We build all three with the same plywood boxes, dovetailed drawers, soft close hardware and finish, so they last the same. The difference is the look, the storage and the price.
Do inset cabinets lose storage?
A little. The doors sit inside the frame, so the openings and drawers are slightly smaller than framed full overlay. Most people who want inset decide the look is worth it.
What is full access or European cabinetry?
Another name for frameless. With no face frame in the way, the whole box opens up, which makes it easier to slide big pots and trays in and out.
Which costs the least?
Frameless, at about 20% less than framed full overlay on a typical kitchen. Inset costs the most, about 8% more, because every door is fitted by hand.
Built in Huntersville, installed across Charlotte and Lake Norman
Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Charlotte, Concord, Denver, Statesville, Troutman, Gastonia, Mount Holly, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Monroe, Waxhaw.
Areas we serve