Choosing a theme for your kitchen for the first time or renovating an old one creates genuine excitement. But then stress follows when you realize there are so many things you will have to consider to achieve the look you want. You start thinking too much, “What color should I choose? What materials should I choose? And more importantly, what cabinet do I want?”
Knowing that cabinets make up the bulk of your kitchen interiors, choosing cabinets can be a bit overwhelming. But do not worry; once you identify which type of box, framed or frameless, suits you best, it will be much less stressful down the road.
Designer: Lang’s Kitchen and Bath
So what exactly is framed and what is a frameless cabinet? What is the difference between them? Which is better? Hold your horses because that's what we're here for, to answer your burning cabinet questions.
The Importance of Cabinets
You may not realize it, but you often start your day in the kitchen. It is where you have a coffee in the morning and where you end the day preparing a delicious meal that your whole family will enjoy. Kitchens are, in fact, the heart of every home.
Knowing how much time and memories you will spend in your kitchen, it is important to set up all the elements correctly, especially the cabinets. Kitchen cabinets don't just tie everything together, they open you up to more nice benefits, like:
A more organized pantry
Keep dangerous utensils away from pets and children.
Cleaner tables and countertops
Keep staple foods away from pests
Contribute to your aesthetically pleasing home
So don't rush into buying anything without considering what items and materials are right for your remodeling or building goals.
Framed Cabinets
These cabinets are considered traditional styles. This was how Americans made cabinets in the beginning, so don't be surprised if you hear some refer to it as "American style."
As the name implies, framed cabinets have a face frame on the front. Your cabinet door is attached directly to the frame, where the hinges are also mounted. You could say that the front frames serve as the skeleton of the cabinet and their purpose is to make the box more sturdy.
Designer: Melissa Bovee Photographer: Renn Kuhnen
Pros:
Built to last: due to the added support and strength offered by face frames, you can expect these cabinets to be less susceptible to warping and damage.
Customizable: you can further amplify framed cabinet styles through inset doors and even hang them on irregular walls.
Flexible Installation: it doesn't take as much time and effort to mount a framed drawer in your pantry.
Cons:
Small Storage Capacity: the face frame is the strongest suit of the framed style, but it is also its downfall. Due to the area the frame consumes, you will end up having less storage space.
Adding pull-out shelves is tricky: installing pull-out shelves is a great add-on to your box, but a little challenging with face frames.
Frameless Cabinets
Frameless cabinets obviously do not have face frames. The doors and drawers are mounted directly to the edges of the cabinet box. And the hinges are attached to the sides of the cabinet walls.
They are often referred to as "European style" and are sometimes referred to as modern cabinets.
Designer: Andrew Phillips
Photographer: Northwest Architectural Photography
Pros:
Ample Storage Allocation: its storage is about 10% more spacious due to the absence of face frames. If you have a lot of stuff, this is a real winner.
Sleek and stylish: your drawer and door gaps look complementary. It gives you a clean, modern and contemporary look.
Highly customizable: you can personalize them after installation, such as mounting drop-down shelves and other interesting features.
Cons:
Not suitable for uneven walls: installation on uneven walls may cause it to warp; you do not want that.
Framed or Frameless Cabinets: Choosing What's Best for You
Now that you know the assets and flaws of each cabinet type, you can make an informed decision based entirely on your kitchen needs.
Framed cabinets will look beautiful if you’re going for traditional and classic themes. It is versatile and allows you to mix and match using decorative hinges and door options. As long as the room can accommodate plenty of cabinet space, and more importantly, you're okay with its smaller storage capacity, it's perfect for you.
Framed Cabinet
But if you have a smaller pantry space, you may want to consider frameless cabinets. It has a larger drawer and cabinet. Not to mention, it's modern and minimalist, making your kitchen look so much more organized. If your goal is to make the most of your small kitchen space, frameless designs would do you a favor.