In-frame vs Lay-on Shaker Door Styles

When customers visit our showroom, a fair proportion of them enter with the bold opening statement of "we want an in-frame kitchen."

Sometimes, this is swiftly followed by "we only have a limited budget."

Now, we're open and honest from the start about budgets and cost, and 'in-frame' and 'budget' don't always go hand-in-hand. Or what I should say is; 'true in-frame' and 'budget' don't go hand-in-hand.

Our clients usually ask about in-frame cabinets because of their stylish and classic look. But, not all things are created equal, and as such, there's not just one in-frame door. This type of design can be divided into two distinct styles: in-frame and false in-frame doors.

Which one you choose will depend on your vision for the space, your budget, and the result you want to achieve.

In-frame doors are the more traditional option and are made by fitting the door panel into the cabinet's frame. This method results in a more robust, sturdier door that can withstand daily wear and tear well.

On the other hand, false in-frame doors are attached to the carcass with invisible hinges. As a result, the face frame is part of the door rather than being left attached to the carcass.

In-frame doors tend to cost more than lay-on ones because they require more expensive materials, as well as more time and effort to produce. The frames also require more precise installation to ensure that the structure is level and square to the front of the cabinet.

In addition, in-frame doors allow for greater flexibility in terms of customisation, so they are often used in high-end kitchens.

Because most people want an in-frame kitchen because of its look rather than its functionality, a faux in-frame kitchen is often a perfectly suitable and more cost-effective alternative. They’re also quicker and therefore cheaper to install.

And it’s pretty difficult to tell them apart. The kitchen below is our Chartwell kitchen which is faux in-frame rather than a true in-frame kitchen. Can you tell the difference between the picture below and the traditional in-frames ones above?

The good news is that we offer both of these kitchen styles. Both are in demand today, and either can result in a beautiful space!

Look at our kitchen ranges page on our website for more examples of both, and if you'd like to discuss what works best for your project, contact us to arrange a chat.