Traditional or Frameless Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are generally constructed with or without face frames. Though construction may vary from one manufacturer to another, all cabinet units conform to these 2 basic design styles. This results not only to difference in look but also distinctness in functions. Both choices offer their pros and cons, but the decision of most homeowners still boils down to aesthetics.

Traditional Cabinets

This type of construction features visible frames around the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Aside from serving as a characteristic visual element to the design the frames or trim panels that are fixed to the front of the cabinet framework also provides added strength. These provide installation point for the doors as well as other external hardware. Also referred to as face-frame cabinets, these are commonly seen in traditionally set-up kitchens.

Manufacturers offer different styles when it comes to door-to-frame overlay for traditional face-frame cabinets allowing this choice to offer more style variety.

• Full-inset cabinetry showcases door and drawer fronts that are built to fit exactly within the frame opening.
• Partial Overlay cabinets have their doors and drawers installed to cover up a portion of the frame.
• Full Overlay cabinet pieces have doors and drawers designed to totally hide the frames fixed to the front of the cabinet carcass. This style makes traditional cabinets look more like frameless cabinets but with the frontal support of the trim panels.

Frameless Cabinets

Also known as European-style cabinets – because this is their place of origin, this is the choice of many homeowners because of the simplicity of construction and clean lines that make them look sophisticated. Inside the frameless cabinets are 5mm holes on 32mm centers where shelf supports, doors, and drawers are installed. The openness of the interior makes shelves easier to mount.

The absence of trim panels along the front face of the framework makes the cabinet interior more accessible. This full access is the greatest advantage of frameless cabinets over their traditional cabinetry counterpart. Because there are no vertical styles between cabinet doors, this makes storage of larger items possible. But this lack of front frames also requires that the side panels be built with thicker materials for stability.   

The clean, simple lines also make them complement beautifully with other kitchen design such as classic, casual and transitional, as well as they do with modern ones. The simple construction also allows for easier and faster cleaning which is important in maintaining kitchens in this modern time.