Should you buy an in frame kitchen?
When people are looking for a new kitchen, a popular choice nowadays is the in frame kitchen style. You only have to look at the online images from suppliers such as Tom Howley and Harvey Jones to see why.
There is something very appealing about the look — but is an in frame kitchen really the way to go?
Why you should buy an in frame kitchen:
The big reason to go for an in frame kitchen is, quite simply, that it looks fantastic. There’s something about those framed doors that oozes class, offering what could be taken for the ultimate bespoke look.
Why you should not buy an in frame kitchen:
That’s a compelling argument, but unfortunately it’s not the whole story. There are several good reasons why an in frame kitchen is not as attractive as it looks.
Cost
In frame kitchens are one of the most expensive kitchen styles you can buy. The reason they are so expensive is because of the additional cost of all the framing that goes around the doors and drawers.
in frame kitchens typically cost at least 50% more than shaker kitchens without frames. Shaker kitchens without frames are also called lay-on shakers. So, for example, say you’ve been quoted £15,000 for shaker units without frames. The same units in an in frame shaker will probably cost £22,000 – £30,000.
Practicalities
Besides this, in frame kitchens are not particularly user friendly. So, for example, with frameless units, when you want to clean out the inside of the unit, you just open the door and and brush out the dirt and debris with a brush. Alternatively, you can use the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner instead.
In contrast, in frame kitchens are not as easy to clean out because the base of the unit sits below the frame. So, when you try to brush the unit out, the brush hits the frame. Therefore, you can only clean out the units with a vacuum cleaner and nozzle. Even then, when you reach the front of the unit, you still need to awkwardly tilt the nozzle backwards against the frame to remove the remaining dirt and debris.
The other problem with in frame kitchens is it can be awkward to get large items in and out of the units. So, you’ll be forever tilting large items diagonally to give you enough space to get them through the frame.
Loss of storage
The other problem with in frame kitchens is that you lose storage space in the units. This is because the space in the unit behind the frame becomes almost un-usable.
Mock in frame kitchens – a better solution?
If you want the look of an in-frame kitchen, without the associated price tag, you may be better off buying a mock in frame kitchen instead. Mock in frame kitchens usually only cost about 10-15% more than shaker units without frames.
So, if you take the same example from before, if you’ve been quoted £15,000 for a frameless shaker. The same units in a mock in frame shaker will probably be about £17,000.
Plus, mock in frame kitchens are just as user friendly as frameless kitchens.
Below are some examples of mock in frame kitchens.
Frameless kitchen with in frame style accessories – another better solution?
Another way of achieving the look of an in frame kitchen for a lower cost is to pair a frameless kitchen with some in frame style accessories. Again, this should only cost about 10-15% more than having a frameless kitchen.
Examples of in frame style accessories are three panel larder units, two panel wall units, fluted glass wall units, skirting/moulded plinths and Buster & Punch style handles.
Below are some examples of these.
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