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.
As a general rule, in frame kitchens cost at least 30% more than frameless kitchens. So, for example, say you have been quoted £15,000 for a frameless shaker. The same units in an in frame shaker will cost at least £20,000.
Practicalities
Besides this, some 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.
Unfortunately, some in frame kitchens are not so easy to clean out because the base of the unit sits below the frame. So, when you 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.
There’s another problem when the frame is attached to the carcass. It makes the opening smaller than the space inside the unit. Therefore, 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.
Mock in frame kitchens – a better solution?
If you want the look of an in-frame kitchen, without the associated price tag, you will be better off buying a mock in frame kitchen. Mock in frame kitchens cost at least 25% less than in frame kitchens.
Plus, mock in frame kitchens are just as user friendly as frameless kitchens.
Below are some examples of mock in frame kitchens.
How do you find the best value in-frame and mock in-frame kitchen suppliers?
Simple, just contact us and we will tell you who they are.
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Our free service recommends the best value kitchen suppliers in your area.
Their kitchens cost similar to places like Wren, Magnet and Howdens, but are higher quality and will last longer.
Their bespoke kitchens are comparable in quality to places like Tom Howley and Harvey Jones, but cost substantially less.
Showrooms offer free, no-obligation quotes and are within 30 minutes drive.
Read what our customers say about our service below:
“The kitchen your guys came up with is far more competitive than anything I have had quoted so far and the quality is in a different league”
Samantha Michaels, Watford, Herts
“I had a quote for a very expensive Harvey Jones kitchen and they did the same for about a third less!”
Marguerite Mosafi, Bushey, London, NW11
“No-one should buy a kitchen without speaking to Kitchenfindr first. The worrying bit is that if you don’t get his advice, you could easily end up spending £15k upwards more”
Bal Pabla, Romford, Essex