Inframe or Shaker?

Wewereonaspringbreak · 2021-09-25T06:51:32+00:00

Just that really. I’ve always wanted an inframe kitchen, but a few people have said to me that the lip on the doors is actually a pain and not worth it. Any opinions?

chickensafari · 25/09/2021 08:29

We have gone for an in frame- the only down side is that the drawers are slightly smaller. The lip is no problem, and it doesn’t make the cupboards smaller. Ours is shaker style doors in the frame, so both! I think that an in-frame kitchen may last a little longer as the doors can’t drop as easily on the hinges as they can with on-frame kitchens.

CellophaneFlower · 25/09/2021 14:52

I hate my inframe. I inherited it when I bought my house. The lip annoys me when cleaning cupboards out and also stuff gets caught when shutting the cutlery drawer and chips the frame. I won't be getting another when I replace kitchen.

Agadorsparticus · 25/09/2021 15:24

We went all out on an inframe kitchen. It looks lovely but wouldn't do it again, constantly catching the frame taking stuff out.

NewNameADayKeepsSpiesAtBay · 25/09/2021 15:28

Love my inframe kitchen. And there’s no lip on it, nothing to catch. Only downside is as PP said, smaller drawers and that’s only a problem for cutlery trays. I’ve found Joseph Joseph expanding ones work a treat though so no real problem.

KitchenKhaos · 25/09/2021 15:50

Ours doesn't have a lip either and looks amazing.

Ozanj · 25/09/2021 15:52

I prefer shaker style. Grew up with an inframe and it was a nightmare to clean.

longtompot · 25/09/2021 15:59

I got the Howdens brochure this week and it took me longer than I'd like to admit to work out just what inframe units were
Can you take a photo to show what the lip is @CellophaneFlower I was leaning towards the inframe units but would like to see just what this is.
@Agadorsparticus what bit do you catch things on? I would have thought the units inside were the same for both types?

Agadorsparticus · 25/09/2021 16:11

There's a 2cm lip all around so pulling out pans, baking trays, the wok and bottles from the cupboards would get caught on the frame lip. It often takes some maneuvering to get big heavy items out.

We'd not bother again as nice as they look.

MissSmiley · 25/09/2021 16:13

I've got an inframe from DIY kitchens, previously had something very similar from Harvey Jones but prefer this one, looks great and it was bargain too

CellophaneFlower · 25/09/2021 17:08

@longtompot I can take a pic later if you like as not currently at home. Basically the frame part you see from the outside is what sticks out, it's not flush with the cupboard interior. I'm not sure if it's the same with all inframes, but if they were flush the cupboards would be smaller inside I guess. With my cutlery drawer, things seem to get caught easily, as the opening part is shallower due to the frame. Then they sometimes chip the frame. If this happened on a normal drawer you wouldn't see the mark as the drawer front would cover it.

mobear · 25/09/2021 23:18

I thought in-frame and shaker were two different things. You can have any style of kitchen in-frame or not, whereas shaker is a style. Anyway, we have an in-frame shaker kitchen at the moment (DeVOL). I'm planning something more modern for our next kitchen, which could be in-frame or not, and I'm leaning towards not, as I don't think it makes much difference visually with a modern kitchen, and it's a lot more expensive.

maofteens · 25/09/2021 23:53

Don't like in frame - seems to waste space. I'm against shaker too - grime just seems to collect in the ridges. I'm going fit flat slab handleless, but it's a real modern look which may not be your taste.

Talipesmum · 26/09/2021 00:21

In frame looks nice but the drawer capacity is really puny. Had it once and would never again. Just seemed to reduce space for everything.

PigletJohn · 26/09/2021 01:25

The frame gets in the way especially when wiping the inside. It performs no useful function.

minipie · 26/09/2021 01:25

Sorry to be pedantic but you can have in frame shaker kitchens!

Shaker is the style of the door
In frame vs Lay on is whether there is a frame around the door or not

Personally I like in frame for more traditional designs of door but lay on for handleless and other modern door styles.

In frame is less space efficient
Also the frame makes it much harder to change the style later whereas with lay on you can just change the doors
You don’t have to have the “lip” pp mentioned with in frame but some companies will do it that way
Having said all that… I like the look of in frame in a period house, it looks more like traditional joinery and more bespoke.

I have in frame but flat fronted doors

Original poster

Wewereonaspringbreak · 26/09/2021 06:57

@minipie

Sorry to be pedantic but you can have in frame shaker kitchens!

Shaker is the style of the door
In frame vs Lay on is whether there is a frame around the door or not

Personally I like in frame for more traditional designs of door but lay on for handleless and other modern door styles.

In frame is less space efficient
Also the frame makes it much harder to change the style later whereas with lay on you can just change the doors
You don’t have to have the “lip” pp mentioned with in frame but some companies will do it that way
Having said all that… I like the look of in frame in a period house, it looks more like traditional joinery and more bespoke.

I have in frame but flat fronted doors

I know what they are - I have been looking for well over a year and had quotes from the world and his wife. It’s just that these are the two options I am torn between. I have had shaker kitchens before and get the groove being a dust collector, but have also had slab doors and personally it’s not the look I am after with this house. .

OP posts:

LittleOverWhelmed · 26/09/2021 12:23

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CellophaneFlower · 26/09/2021 12:43

Your kitchen is beautiful @LittleOverWhelmed I'm sure I could be more careful with mine, but it's old and I have small children so it gets manhandled more than it should!

The design of your cupboards is much better than mine, which isn't flush at the bottom. I also don't have masses of cupboard space, which adds to the issue, as I have so much stuff crammed in that the drawers are always over flowing.

mobear · 26/09/2021 13:01

@Wewereonaspringbreak I think the title of your thread is a bit confusing. As you can have in-frame or not in-frame shaker kitchens, the choice isn’t as simple as inframe or shaker. It would be like saying should I have an architrave or a four panel door.

LittleOverWhelmed · 26/09/2021 13:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

longtompot · 26/09/2021 16:14

Thank you for those photos @LittleOverWhelmed I think I will have a good look at kitchen showrooms before deciding, but from those pics, I'm thinking of steering away from inframe.

BringPizza · 26/09/2021 19:47

I have a shaker in-frame kitchen and am slightly confused by the lip issues. Mine doesn’t have lips at the doors, and I’ve not had issues getting pots out of the drawers. It’s personal preference but I think in-frame looks neater, and just better made. Maybe visit a couple of different places to see if they build with or without lips?

chimneyextractor · 26/09/2021 21:31

Bringpizza - inframe means that the door is smaller than the actual cupboard therefore there has to be a "lip" in as much as the cupboard is bigger than the door opening. Unless it is fake inframe.

BringPizza · 28/09/2021 14:31

The stoppers for my drawers are inside but right at the back so there’s no lip just inside. The doors have little sprung soft close stopper things that hold the door at the right place when closed. Not sure what fake in frame is, sounds a bit MFI

BringPizza · 28/09/2021 14:33

The plinth looks horrifically dusty on the pic of the dog’s cupboard, it doesn’t look like that irl I promise