Framed vs. Frameless ? A Question For Your Next Cabinet Purchase

Posted by Builders Flooring & Design on September 19th, 2017

Framed vs. Frameless – A Question For Your Next Cabinet Purchase

When it comes to kitchen cabinets there are lots of choices to make, but the question you might want to start with is, "Do I want framed or frameless cabinetry?" You can get a great look from either style.  It really comes down to personal preference and your individual design.  

Framed cabinets are the most common within the United States. These cabinets have a wood frame, or as known in the industry, a face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box.  The doors of the cabinet attach to the face frame itself.  When it comes to structure, framed will add stability as the front face of the box is reinforced by the frame.  Typically the construction is either plywood or particle board.  Both have their own advantages as well.  High quality particle board is actually stronger, heavier, and has less chance of warping than plywood and can be the better choice for box construction.

Frameless or Euro cabinets are very popular in Europe and are making their way across the United States.  Frameless cabinets do not have a front frame attached to the cabinet box and the door is hinged on the inside of the cabinet box.  When it comes to construction of frameless cabinets, most manufacturers use high quality particle board. As stated earlier high quality particle board is actually a better choice over plywood as the wood does not warp or twist, stays true to shape and gives you a great manufactured cabinet box.

Both frameless and framed cabinets can look the same on the outside depending on whether the door style is traditional or full overlay. A traditional partial overlay reveals more of the face frame it is attached to. A full overlay is a more popular updated look that covers most of the face frame and all you see is the design of the door. The style of the door and sizing determines how much of the cabinet box you see.  Different looks call for different styles.  Again it is a personal preference and each can look great depending on your overall kitchen design.  Framed lends itself more to a traditional or antique design, especially if you want to have decorative hinges.  Frameless lends itself more to a transitional or modern design with a streamlined look.  And of course the door style itself makes all the difference!

One of our favorite advantages to frameless is that you don’t have that extra lip from the frame to reach over or around.  So when you reach in to take out your favorite dishes it’s smooth sailing and you gain that extra couple inches of storage space that everyone wants!

Framed or Frameless, there is no wrong answer. It all depends on your personal preference. Ask yourself what do I want for storage? Do I want a cabinet with more storage and ease of access? What do I want the finished product to look like. And that all important question, what is my budget?

At Builders Flooring & Design we can help you with all of these important questions.

For more information visit www.buildersflooringanddesign.com a cabinet design company in Chandler where their kitchen cabinet designers are ready to help with your next kitchen and bath remodel.