Shopping for cabinets is not as straight forward as you think. Your cabinets define the look of a room and influence the feel of an entire home. If you want a more custom look to your cabinets one of the decisions you have to make is whether you want full overlay cabinets or inset cabinets. After some digging, we found good points for both sides that will help you make your decision.
Full Overlay Cabinets
The doors and drawers on a full overlay cabinet cover the face frame almost completely with a ¼ inch of space between the doors and drawers. This differs from a standard overlay which has at least 1 ¼ inches on all sides of the doors and drawers.
Full overlay cabinets require hardware because the space between the doors and drawers is tight. Double doors on a full overlay don’t require a vertical face frame stile, which allows you to fit large odd shaped items into your cabinets with no problems.
With so many door styles available, full overlay cabinets can be bought in almost every style, from modern or traditional, it all depends on the door style you choose.
Inset Cabinets
Inset cabinet doors and drawers are fitted inside of the cabinet face frame. This gives you a full view of the cabinet frame, with only minimal spacing or gaps between the cabinet components.
You can customize your inset cabinet design with either beaded or flush face frames and with concealed or exposed hinges. The beaded inset construction is fitted into the cabinet door itself, providing an edge detail that evokes fine craftsmanship. Typically, hinges on an inset cabinet are exposed but you can conceal them.
Inset cabinets are making a comeback and are ideal for traditional, transitional and contemporary design styles. They give a nod to classic styling, providing a distinctive, heritage look that many homeowners and designers like.
Precision construction is essential for inset cabinetry and we recommend using a certified installer. Every door and drawer must fit squarely in their designated space with only 1/8 inch between the frame. Because of the added craftsmanship, these cabinets tend to cost more and can have a longer delivery time.
Now when it comes to picking one of these styles over the other it will depend purely on your preference. They both offer a beautiful look with clean and modern lines. The one major difference between the two is price. Inset cabinets can cost approximately 15-30% more than overlay cabinets. You can also lose some storage space for those larger dinner dishes in inset cabinets.
At Factory Builder Stores we provide various lines that offer full overlay and inset cabinets. To learn more about choosing the right cabinets for your space speak to one of our cabinet designers in your area. They can answer any questions you might have and design the cabinets for your new kitchen.
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