In-Frame Kitchens
Bespoke In-Frame Kitchens - Premium Handcrafted Quality
An in-frame kitchen is defined by its construction. Doors and drawers sit within a solid timber face frame. The frame is visible when closed, giving a genuinely furniture-like appearance.
What Makes an In-Frame Kitchen Different
In a standard fitted kitchen, the doors overlay the cabinet box - they sit on top of the front edge. In an in-frame kitchen, the doors and drawers sit inside a solid timber frame that is fixed to the front of each cabinet. When the door is closed, the frame is visible around it, creating a precise, shadow-line border.
This has two consequences. First, the kitchen looks more like freestanding furniture than fitted units. The visible frame gives each cabinet a defined presence. Second, the build is more demanding. Gaps between door and frame must be consistent across every unit, which requires precise manufacturing and careful fitting on site. This is why in-frame kitchens are considered the highest specification of fitted kitchen available.
Design Options
Frame Options
- Natural hardwood - the frame is left in its natural timber finish (usually oak or ash), giving the kitchen a warm, handcrafted character. The doors can be painted in a contrasting colour for a striking two-tone effect.
- Painted frame - both frame and doors are painted in the same colour for a seamless, cohesive look. This is the most popular choice and works in both traditional and modern settings.
- Coloured contrast - the frame is painted in a different colour to the doors. For example, a charcoal frame with pale grey doors, or a navy frame with white. This highlights the in-frame construction and makes it a deliberate design feature.
Door Styles
- Shaker - the most popular in-frame door style. A flat centre panel with a square-edged frame. Clean, versatile and timeless.
- Solid - a single flat panel with no frame detail. Gives a more contemporary, minimal look within the in-frame construction.
- Glazed - glass panels set within the door frame, used on selected wall units to display glassware or ceramics. Available in clear, frosted or reeded glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. While in-frame construction is traditional in origin, the style translates well into contemporary settings. A painted in-frame kitchen in a clean, modern colour with minimal hardware looks sophisticated and current. The visible frame adds warmth and texture without making the kitchen feel old-fashioned.
In-frame kitchens do cost more than standard lay-on kitchens because of the additional materials and the precision required in manufacturing and fitting. As a guide, an in-frame kitchen typically costs 20 to 40 percent more than the equivalent lay-on design. The difference reflects a genuine step up in construction quality and finished appearance.