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Design

Cabinet Overlays 101

November 10, 2021


It's been an exciting week in the kitchen with the installation of our lower cabinet frames. Our countertops got templated yesterday and once they are installed, the rest of the cabinets will be placed. So, while I've got cabinets on the mind, I thought it would be a good time to break down some cabinet anatomy here on the blog. Hopefully some of you find this helpful if you plan on installing cabinets in the future! The more you know, the easier it is to know what you want, so then you can communicate it! There's a lot to know about cabinets, but today I thought we would talk about the 3 different cabinet door overlays.

To keep things simple, let's go over some basic cabinet anatomy.

The box - a bit self-explanatory, but this refers to the box of the cabinet.

The frame - the front part that attaches to the box on the front, although there is a such thing as frameless cabinets

The door or face - the part that opens and closes (you know how it goes)

Cabinet door overlay refers to the way the cabinet door connects to the frame. This can also determine which type of door hinge is used!

Let's get into the three types that you've probably seen, but maybe didn't even realize you were seeing them or that they were different.

1. Inset Cabinets

Source: Jean Stoffer Design


Source: Park & Oak

Inset cabinets sit flush with the frame when the door is closed, rather than resting on top of the frame. They are indeed inset to the frame. This look is classic and sought after because of the clean, precise lines. They are typically the more expensive fit because of the exactness. Our kitchen here will have inset cabinets. The initial bid on the kitchen in the Spring, before we even began the design process, was $65K. We expected this price to go up as we continued to add what was important to us: a drink station, a walk-in pantry with glass-topped doors, and an overflow section with extra dishes and flatware and a spot for cookbooks. The ultimate retail price of our cabinets was just under $80,000. (Full Disclosure: Stoffer did give us a discount for promotion). That price includes the design and working with the Stoffer design team, which has been such an honor. We paid a 10% deposit before the first design consultation (this deposit went toward the final cost of the cabinetry).

Of course, every kitchen will have a different price tag depending on size and type of cabinet overlay. We've had every type of cabinet overlay and price point.

2. Overlay Cabinets

Source: Patrick Maziarski

Source: Fullmer Kitchen

Overlay is another commonly seen cabinet type--especially in recent years. They are actually less expensive than inset, but in my opinion still look really clean. Overlay cabinets actually go in front of the entire cabinet box and frame, versus set within. It's almost like overlay is the dupe of inset. You get a really clean seamless look on the outside, but at more of a budget price.

We've used IKEA cabinets loads of times, and actually have a line of cabinet fronts with Semihandmade. Semihandmade has cabinet fronts that can integrate with IKEA SEKTION cabinets, which are all overlay. A lot of people are doing this right now to get the clean look of inset, for less the cost.

3. Partial Overlay

Source: Kelsey Leigh Design Co.

Source: Our Modern Cottage Kitchen

Partial overlay is what you will especially see in older homes. Similar to full overlay, partial overlay cabinets are attached in front of the frame. The difference is you can still see the frame that it's attached to. It's the least expensive overlay type, because less material is used, and these don't require as much precision as full overlay or inset cabinets do. In our modern cottage house, we did a phase 1 renovation for under $1,000. Painting the existing cabinets and upgrading the hardware gave us a beautiful kitchen that served us well, and I would recommend anyone do that if they're wanting upgrade the look of their kitchen with a smaller budget.

We made a graphic to demonstrate the differences between these three types! Pin it and save it to reference to later! Which type do you have in your kitchen??

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  1. We live in an "older home" as in extremely old (built in 1900!)
    The kitchen still has the original cabinets in the Butler's Pantry section, and they're inset. We love them so much, and are definitely planning to replace all our other cabinets to match in the eventual kitchen remodel!

  2. I love the clean look, and I think I would choose full overlay whenever I had the choice. In my experience, the edges of the frame get a little dinged up from moving pots, toasters, etc in and out of the cupboards so I want that hidden when the doors are closed. Don't think I would ever choose inset for that reason.

  3. You mentioned the initial bid was 65k, and then that the price of the cabinets was ultimately 80k - so is the 80k just for the cabinets? Or is that what the kitchen price overall increased to?

  4. Personally, for me, inset is worth the cost. EVEN if foundation shifts. I would rather have the imperfection of inset with moving soil every day of the week! The look is classic no matter what, in my opinion. We live in northern Minnesota, so our inset cabinets (8 years old) shift with the seasons. Our cabinet company strongly recommended not to do inset bc of seasons in MN, but our builder was a great advocate. He knew the look I wanted and knew that full just wouldn’t achieve the look I wanted. So, yes, you do have to be mindful that inset may shift. This may drive you crazy, or it may just be the icing on the cake. :)

  5. The Stoffer cabinets really are one of the nicest ones out there. Your kitchen will be beautiful! I am wondering if you can share how the size of the cabinet interior is affected with the inset cabinets.

  6. Great blog post, Julia! I'm very green when it comes to all things home renovation/design. Just having terms broken down for me paired with a visual aid is hugely helpful!

  7. Thanks for the informative post! Just wanted to add one thing- IKEA cabinets are frameless, full overlay cabinets have a frame and typically have a 1/4” reveal around the doors.

  8. Cant wait to see your kitchen finished. It will be amazing!

    One thing to consider is that you do lose usable storage space with inset cabinets. When limited in space, the partial or full overlay style offer a little more space within the cabinet box. This would not be an issue in most cases but is worth considering if the space is limited. 1/2”-3/4” can make a difference sometimes. We’re remodeling and there are a few spaces where those small increments mean big net gains.

  9. I absolutely love these posts that break down and fully explain what each piece is, how it works and why it's there. I loved the staircase posts like this, and this is great too. I appreciate the education so we can make better informed decisions! Thanks for what you all do!

  10. Your kitchen is coming along so nicely! It's going to be beautiful and functional!
    One thing people should consider when choosing cabinet fronts is the type of foundation or soil you have. If your home has any movement at all, inset cabinets are not for you. We have soil with heavy clay called "gumbo" soil. It swells with moisture and shrinks when dry. Our house moves a little bit even with a pier and beam foundation off the ground. Our previous house had inset cabinets, and if any cabinet opening was askew it visually bugged the daylights out of me, and I got really tired of yanking on the drawers to open. When we built a new house we went to partial overlay without one moment of regret.

    1. I think this is a great point to note! The house I grew up in was a very, very old farmhouse (way before farmhouse was cool) that shifted with the seasons. It was pier and beam and just part of the *charm.*

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