Framed vs Frameless cabinets

last year

Hi - My KD mentioned frameless cabinets to me today. Storage is not a problem in my

kitchen, but more room inside a cabinet still sounds good to me. Any downside to frameless?? A quick internet search did not help, as some mentioned sturdiness could be a problem but others did not. Thoights??

Featured Answer

John Liu

last year

last modified: last year

Personally I had to go framed because of the concept and style of my kitchen, but I sure am losing a lot of storage space. 2” wide rails means I’m losing basically one drawer per stack.

The other advantage of frameless is that you can change drawer heights more easily. Suppose you want to go from a three-drawer stack to a four-drawer stack. You can order some new drawer boxes and drawer faces, reposition the sides, and done.

To me, frames mean real furniture, where the frames are a part of the structure and needed for rigidity. Kitchen cabinets are not furniture and not built like furniture, no matter how dressed up they may be. They are just plywood or MDF boxes, ganged up together and screwed to the wall, built to a price, intended to last a few decades but not a lifetime and certainly not expected to be passed on to the next generation.

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Comments (18)

John Liu
last year
I think it’s just looks, either way.
chispa
last year
I like frameless, full overlay cabinet. I also like to add finished end panels that cover up the drawer/door sides.
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sushipup2
last year
Quality frameless are just as sturdy as framed cabinets, and are the standard in European cabinetry. Prejudice against frameless cabinets usually comes from sales people who don't carry frameless or cabinet makers who don't have the precision equipment necessary. Quality is not synonymous with price, since Ikea's cabinets are excellent quality. Don't confuse cabinet construction with door/drawer styles.
drwass
Original Author
last year
Thank you all!!
herbflavor
last year
you can do just fine with framed cabinets and full overlay doors. watch out and avoid center stiles so that has to do with sizes you are choosing for the double door wall cabinets. Frameless has been around ,but newer in N America so the constructuion details/ materials are variable [ pick durable and good warranty] . You might find cost differences between framed and the newer frameless unless you stick w Ikea for big savings in your budget. Ikea has their own planners and installers ...FYI. What brand of frameless does she work with? And does she provide installer for you who has done installs w these??
drwass thanked herbflavor
drwass
Original Author
last year
She uses Holiday and Dura Supreme.
herbflavor
last year
they would both have good offerings in the framed cabinetry. meaning 1. size increments to get what you want 2. storage features within the cabinets .3. nice options w door style finishes etc. A relative had a Holiday kitchen and the designers really maximized the space avail w various kinds of storage ..meaning a variety of drawer base cabinets..... an area with a vertical pantry......a coffee bar area etc . Think of a reason you need frameless .
drwass thanked herbflavor
dan1888
last year

Frameless.
drwass thanked dan1888
jakkom
last year
last modified: last year
I've had both framed and frameless. Frameless wins hands-down for efficient use of space. Also, I've owned my frameless kitchen cabinets for 35 yrs under heavy use, and have no complaints.

Pay attention to the quality of the melamine used on the interior. I've always hated those liners people use inside their cabinets. On these cabs I can put my dishes away wet with no issues, and cleaning only requires a spritz of Windex and a quick sponge wipe.

The company that made them is a national name, but they dropped the frameless line about 5 yrs after I bought my cabs. Then after a long interval (10 or 15 yrs) they began manufacturing them again, so now offer both framed and frameless.

Since I can't speak to the quality of their new frameless line, I can't offer a personal recommendation.
drwass thanked jakkom
herbflavor
last year
Really its finer points . what price difference will there be? im not certain that 2 in frames is standard. is there a plan shes developed yet? is the storage so critical you need frameless? sometimes that is the case. what are the warranty differences between the two? installation is one of the key things w frameless .. what will those costs be?
Meg Ackerly
last year
last modified: last year
For those of you who have recently installed frameless cabinets and are happy with them, what brand do you have? I am looking for wood, not thermofoil. Thank you!
sushipup2
last year
Separate the drawers/doors from the cabinet construction. You can get excellent value from Ikea cabinets and add fronts in a large variety of materials and styles from Scherr's or other companies.
Rory (Zone 6b)
last year
I just ordered Ikea kitchen cabinets to finish my kitchen (dark brown cabinets are going). We put the Island in 3 years ago and it's amazing how much more the drawers hold than my old island that had only cavernous door storage. I have not had one issue with the Ikea cabinets.

I am using Ikea fronts but I know you can get fronts for Ikea cabinets from other companies.
Kim G
last year
My daughter has Shiloh Eclipse in her kitchen and we have it in our study. We are both vbery happy with them. She did painted and we did walnut.
PRO
mabsy
last year
Kim G - I am pretty sure that Shiloh has a full inset cabinet. Do you have the inset or the overlay?
Kim G
last year
Both of our Shiloh cabinets are full overlay.
Meg Ackerly
last year
Thank you for the replies & info. I did find the Eclipse cabinetry by Shiloh and they do have frameless full overlay which is what I was seeking. Unfortunately not the door style I was looking for so I may have to compromise if I can't find it.