Framed vs. Frameless Cabinets – What style of cabinetry is right for me

The kitchen is the heart of your home and functionality is key. When the time comes to have your kitchen remodeled, there’s a lot to consider. One of the main considerations is cabinetry. As the cabinets can be a big part of the investment, it is important to select the ones you will be happy with for years to come.

There are basically two types of cabinets: Framed and frameless and there are pros and cons to both styles of cabinets for your home or office.

Framed Cabinets

• They are considered the traditional American made cabinets with standard or full overlay.
• Standard and full overlay, as well as inset cabinet doors, can be used with framed cabinets, to give you many design possibilities for creating a customized look.
• In a standard overlay, you will see a lot of the face frame once the cabinets are installed.
• The full overlay design usually leaves about a quarter inch from the outside of the door to the outside of the face frame.
• When you are putting cabinets up against the walls, they can be tricky to install, as you need to make sure you have enough space for the doors to open.
• Face Frame actually adds more strength to the cabinet due to the extra members that help support the overall cabinet.
• They are also harder to mass produce as compared to the frameless cabinets.

Frameless Cabinets

• Considered to be European cabinet design style.
• They consist of stiles (vertical portion) and rails (horizontal portion) which make up the front portion of the cabinet to which the door is attached.
• The side panels are inset and attached to the stile and rail.
• Spacing is very tight as the door hinges directly to the side panel.
• Each cabinet line varies, but you may only have a sixteenth of an inch from the outside of the door to the outside of the side panel.
• Once installed, you only see the flat door and drawer fronts, providing a sleeker contemporary look, that can work with many design themes throughout your home.
• Sometimes called “full access” cabinetry due to the greater accessibility of inside the cabinet because the face frame is eliminated. Therefore, more room and shelves are adjustable.
• Drawers tend to also be larger because of the space saved by not having a face frame attached to the front.
• Easier to mass produce and often sold at big retailers.

So which style appeals to you? We just love to help our clients make the right decision for them. Let us give you the most beautifully designed kitchen and bathroom.