There are about a million decisions to make during a kitchen remodel, and some of the biggest decisions definitely have to do with your cabinets. Cabinets are the foundation of any kitchen design, so you have to do them well. Built-in cabinets are making a comeback as one of the latest trends in home cabinetry for homeowners. Today’s built-in cabinets embody a nostalgic style that offers many homeowners and unique, traditional look pursued by designers. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of built-in cabinets
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What Are Inset Cabinets
Generally, the cabinet itself is a box with an open front and the door is open. In framed cabinets, this front has additional railings and lintels that form an edge or frame around the opening. These wood strips provide space for your cabinet doors to attach and close.
When you have a recessed door, the door is designed to be flush with the face frame. For example, when a drawer is closed, it will line up perfectly with the cabinet’s face frame rather than sitting on it. This provides a streamlined look. Recessed cabinet doors may have visible or hidden hinges, depending on your preference.
The way the cabinet doors are arranged determines the overall look of the cabinet. Recessed cabinet doors lie flat inside the cabinet, which means they require hardware to open and close. There are two options for hinge placement, either hidden or exposed; it depends on your style. Visible hinges can add visual interest to a design, but hidden ones work well if you’re looking to create a minimal look.
Recessed cabinets feature doors and drawers that fit into the cabinet frame openings. This type of cabinet construction provides a full view of the cabinet frame with minimal spacing or clearance between cabinet components.
The Pros of Inset Cabinets
- Neat Appearance: The smooth front provides a neat look and the corners won’t get scratched easily as they are protected inside the cabinet when closed.
- Historical Accuracy: In older homes, built-in cabinets help emulate the style of a particular period.
- Better craftsmanship: Since recessed doors require more installation skills, these cabinets are generally well made overall.
- Streamlined Appearance: The full-coverage cabinets also present a uniform front due to the smooth overall appearance. This is a departure from the partially covered cabinets that were popular decades ago, which showed face frames in the spaces between the doors and drawer fronts.
- Lower cost: Full coverage cabinets are less tricky to install and therefore cost less. They are a good alternative to built-in cabinets on a tight budget.
- More storage space: Because the door is mounted on the door frame, rather than in it, there is more room to squeeze large items through the opening than with built-in cabinets.
The Cons of Inset Cabinets
- Higher Costs: The craftsmanship and time required to create built-in cabinets can add to the overall price, often by thousands of dollars.
- Humidity Issues: In humid climates, wooden doors and drawers can swell and stick, making cabinets difficult to use and possibly rubbing away tight spots of finish.
- Hardware Required: There’s no place to slide your fingers between the doors of the full-coverage cabinet, so you’ll definitely need to add knobs or pulls.
- Exposed corners: Because the corners of doors and drawers are exposed, they are more likely to be scored or rounded over time.
Why Choose Inset Cabinets?
If your style leans more towards traditional, transitional, or even contemporary built-in cabinets are the right choice. Clean lines and a minimalist yet timeless look make it a great choice. They also come in a variety of colors, including two-tone pairings. Built-in cabinets, because the doors are in the frame, look like elegant furniture and give the space a luxurious feel. If you’re looking for cabinets that will stand the test of time, illustration is for you.
Summary
Inset cabinets offer clean lines, flush recessed doors, and functionality to change the look of standard cabinetry with full coverage doors. With built-in cabinets, you can personalize the design with beaded or non-beaded inserts to create your own look and complement your home’s decor. A bead-embedded structure is installed into the cabinet door itself, providing an edge detail that evokes fine craftsmanship.
Inset cabinets are available with a plethora of additional modifications, including color and finish options, molding, and trim, enabling you to create beautiful cabinets that celebrate tradition and simple elegant transitional styling.
