What are the different types of cabinets? GRYAN

The Cabinet Style Showdown: Why Euro, Inset, and Overlay Impact Your Kitchen Budget and Durability

When you start comparing cabinet quotes, the prices can seem wild. One company is half the price of another, but they both look new and pretty. What gives?

The Truth About Your Investment

Some people assume that a cabinet is just a box. The truth is, the style you choose determines the materials, the construction method, and the longevity of your kitchen.

While a Euro style cabinet starts at a lower cost, this is often because the construction relies on materials like melamine with simple edgebanding on the exposed edges. In contrast, face frame construction utilizes a durable 3/4 inch melamine box for stability, but then a hardwood face frame is attached to the front.

This hardwood frame provides superior durability and customization that a simple edgebanding cannot match. You are not just buying a look. You are buying a construction method that is hardier and allows for more customization.

European or Frameless Cabinets

European cabinets are built as boxes that are edgebanded on the exposed face. Edgebanding means a thin layer of plastic is glued onto the exposed particle board. When the doors and drawers are installed, they cover most of this edgebanding.

• Durability Considerations: If water drips into the box, it can get between the plastic edgebanding and the particle board.

• Potential Risks: This can often cause swelling and permanent damage to the cabinet structure.

• Budget Friendly: Since hardwood costs more than plastic, this is typically your most budget friendly option.

Overlay Face Frame Cabinets

Overlay cabinets include a solid hardwood face frame. While there are different types of overlays, the style you most commonly see is the 1/2 inch overlay. This means the doors and drawers are sized to cover exactly a half inch of the hardwood frame.

• Visual Style: Since the doors only cover a small portion of the frame, the hardwood skeleton of the cabinet is visible behind the doors.

• Hardware Options: You can use traditional handles or choose a door profile with a rounded backside that acts as a finger pull.

• Resilience: Having a solid wood front makes the box much more resilient than a Euro cabinet, especially in high traffic areas.

Inset Face Frame Cabinets

Unlike the other styles where the doors sit on top of the cabinet box, inset doors and drawers are fitted precisely inside the hardwood face frame. This provides a clean, flush look where the door and the frame are on the exact same plane.

• Timeless Design: This style is rooted in traditional furniture making and offers a look that never goes out of style.

• High Level Craftsmanship: Inset cabinets require the most precision to build. The gaps between the door and the frame must be perfectly uniform to achieve that high end custom feel.

• Design Complexity: Choosing inset allows for greater complexity and more diverse design options for truly custom projects.

The Final Result

Having confidence when choosing cabinets is the ultimate goal. The result of choosing the right construction is a kitchen that feels solid and stands up to daily abuse.

It is about more than just a pretty cabinet. It is about knowing your foundation is solid, ensuring your investment looks as good in ten years as it does on installation day.

Ready to find the perfect fit for your home?

Every home and budget is different, and we want to help you find the style that makes the most sense for your life.