Maybe you’re remodeling your kitchen, or just updating your kitchen cabinets. There are so many details to be taken into account! The type of cabinets is one of them. While the decision will not affect the functionality, it might have a great influence on the aesthetics and looks of your kitchen.
What are the different styles of kitchen cabinets?
Construction-wise, there are two types of cabinets: framed (or face frame) and frameless. Each of them can have a different style of the cabinet front: Partial overlay, full overlay, or inset.
Frame vs Frameless Cabinets (Euro Style Cabinets vs Face Frame)
The difference between frameless and face frame cabinets is simple: Frameless cabinets are left without a frame to the front side, while face frame cabinets have a cabinet frame attached to the cabinet box. While both of them are structurally sound, framed cabinets offer an extra layer of support.
Framed or unframed cabinet boxes can have three different types of doors: full overlay, partial overlay, or inset. Not always, but more often than not, inset cabinets are more often used with framed cabinet boxes, while partial overlay cabinets are often used with framed cabinets.
There are remarkably beautiful exceptions to those stereotypes: many northern European producers offer partial overlay cabinets on frameless boxes, and the designs are absolutely stunning.
Inset vs Overlay Cabinets: Which One Looks Modern?
The difference between inset and overlay cabinets is the way the cabinet door sits on the frame or cabinet box. Overlay cabinet fronts sit in front of a cabinet box or a frame, while inset cabinet fronts sit inside the frame or cabinet box.
Stereotypically speaking, inset cabinets are often designed in traditional style kitchens, while full overlay goes well with both, traditional and modern designs. The partial overlay is considered outdated, but I do not agree with these stereotypes: partial overlay can be used in very chic kitchen designs, and inset cabinets do not necessarily belong only to traditional style kitchens, and are often used in modern European minimalist kitchen designs.
In modern style partial overlay cabinets, the producers often use a Rabbet cut, which means that part of the door slap is inside the cabinet frame, while the other part overlays the box from the front.
Sometimes the inset cabinets are associated with traditional style and framed cabinets. This is not true. Many Northern European cabinet suppliers offer modern designs that are attached to frameless cabinet boxes.
Different cabinet front types require different hinges. Usually, the hinges are hidden inside the cabinet fully, but sometimes they are visible. Both of them are elegant and beautiful.
Full Overlay Cabinets: Are They More Modern?
While some designers claim that inset cabinets are associated with more traditional designs, while full overlay cabinets look modern, that is not necessarily true. While full overlay offers a full-length continuation of the cabinetry that is stereotypically associated with modern designs, there are many inset cabinet styles that look extremely contemporary.
Nordic countries are masters of such kinds of designs. Swedish or finish suppliers have perfected any kind of cabinet design to an extent that there is no actual differentiation between them in terms of what looks more modern. They all look extremely sleek and beautiful.
Oftentimes, they use Rabbet cuts on cabinet doors to offer flawless perfection for partial overlay cabinet doors that sit on frameless cabinet boxes.
Partial Overlay Cabinets: Do They Look outdated?
Partial overlay cabinets are not outdated. In fact, many nordic kitchen cabinet suppliers offer partial overlay cabinet designs that look extremely modern, chic, and stylish. Oftentimes, a rabbet cut is used to achieve a sleek look.
According to stereotypes, partial overlay cabinet fronts that sit on framed cabinet boxes look a bit outdated. That’s not necessarily true. Both, frameless or framed boxes combined with partial overlay, full overlay, or inset cabinets can look very modern and delightful if designed with high-quality materials and proper proportions in mind.
Frameless Cabinets vs Full Overlay vs Inset cabinets
Full overlay cabinets can be framed or frameless. Frameless refers to a cabinet box having no frame, while overlay or inset refers to a style in which the door sits on the cabinet box.
In traditional-style kitchens, the inset cabinets often sit on framed cabinet boxes, while in modern minimalist nordic style kitchens we often use frameless cabinets for both, inset and overlay cabinets.
So the bottom line is: You can have a cabinet box that is framed or unframed, and they can both host a door that can be full overlay or inset. Unframed cabinet box with inset cabinet doors is considered more of a European style, but there are many great companies that offer that kind of design in America as well. Kerf Design is one of them.
In either case, there are no structural consequences: framed or unframed cabinet boxes are extremely solid if constructed properly.
Are inset cabinets framed?
Inset cabinets can be framed or unframed. Inset refers to a cabinet front type, while framed/unframed refers to a cabinet box having a frame to the front or not. Inset cabinet fronts sit inside the frame or, respectively, the cabinet box directly. Inset cabinets are different from overlay cabinet fronts, which sit in front of the frame or cabinet box.
Is frameless the same as inset?
Frameless or unframed refers to the type of cabinet box. Sometimes, there is an added frame in front of a cabinet box, and the cabinet fronts are attached to that frame. If there is no frame, then cabinet fronts are attached directly to the cabinet box using hinges. Inset refers to a cabinet front style. Inset cabinet fronts sit inside a cabinet box or frame, instead of being attached in front of them as overlay cabinet fronts do.
Half Overlay vs Full Overlay: What is the Real Difference
Full overlay cabinet fronts cover the cabinet box or cabinet frame fully, while partial overlay cabinet fronts cover only part of it. Full overlay cabinets provide a continuous uninterrupted look, while partial overlay cabinet fronts are used to emphasize the cabinet borders. In both cases, the cabinet front sits on top of a cabinet frame or box. This is a principal difference between overlay and inset cabinet types.
Some online sources claim that full overlay cabinets look more modern than half overlay. This is not necessarily true: many nordic kitchen designs use partial overlay cabinet fronts to create an extremely modern sleek look.
Cost of Inset Cabinets vs Full Overlay: Why Is There a Difference
Full overlay and partial overlay cabinets cost almost the same, on average, while inset cabinets cost 10-20% more compared to them, keeping all other factors the same.
The price difference exists because it takes more time and skill to build them. If you are modeling inset cabinets, it is extremely important to keep the distance between the cabinet box and the cabinet fronts equal on all four sides of the cabinet front. Otherwise, the whole kitchen might look a bit tacky.
Another reason is that inset cabinets are stereotypically associated with custom cabinetry / high-end looks. Therefore, suppliers can and will charge more for such cabinets.
Inset vs Overlay cabinets: Which One Is Better
It all depends on personal preferences and budget. Inset Cabinets are preferred usually due to their classic and refined looks. However, Inset cabinets cost often 10-20% more because it takes more time and skill to build them.
If you are modeling inset cabinets, it is extremely important to keep the distance between the cabinet box and the cabinet fronts equal on all four sides of the cabinet front. Otherwise, the whole kitchen might look a bit tacky.
Making sure that the cabinet maker is skilled enough, and cares enough about his work to be perfect is crucial. Check the showrooms, if possible, and check their past works.
Often times full-inset cabinets are used in more traditional kitchen designs, while full overlay cabinet fronts are associated with modern-style kitchens. It depends on what aesthetic you want to achieve. However, there are some basic differences that might be tie-breakers: if you have a really small kitchen, even several centimeters might matter. Therefore, you might want to go for inset cabinets.
However, if the interior space of the cabinetry is the top priority, then you might want to go for overlay cabinet fronts. Otherwise, the inset cabinet fronts might steal the cabinet front thickness from the interior space of the cabinet box.
Once you choose the right cabinet type it’s time to move on and pick the right hinges. This article covers the types of hinges in detail and the reasoning behind making the choice.
