Every kitchen cabinet is built one of two ways, and the choice affects your kitchen's look, storage and budget.
Framed cabinets
A solid-wood face frame is attached to the front of the cabinet box. Doors mount to the frame and can be full-overlay, partial-overlay or inset (doors sit flush inside the frame for a furniture look). Framed construction is the traditional American standard and suits shaker, transitional and classic kitchens.
Frameless cabinets
Also called European or full-access cabinets, frameless boxes have no face frame. Doors attach directly to the box sides, giving slightly more interior access and a sleek, seamless look — ideal for modern slab and gloss doors.
Quick comparison
- Look: framed = classic and transitional; frameless = clean and modern
- Storage: frameless offers a bit more usable drawer and shelf width
- Inset option: framed only
- Install: frameless rewards very precise installation
Our lines
Fabuwood's Illume series and Spring Forest's Frameless line are our go-to frameless options; Fabuwood Allure, Spring Forest, ROC and Trumade cover framed styles, including ROC inset. Your designer can show you both in your 3D design.