Hempston

Cabinetry Construction

Frameless vs Inset Face Frame

Before the door style and finish, there's the construction — how the doors meet the cabinet box. It's the single biggest driver of a kitchen's character, from crisp modern to furniture-grade heritage.

100% Custom Construction

Request a custom cabinetry build.

Frameless, inset face frame, or a hybrid across a single kitchen — every Hempston box, door and drawer is built to order. Tell us what you're planning and we'll spec the construction to suit.

01 — Construction Types

Two Ways To Build A Cabinet

Frameless (Euro) cabinetry construction example

01No face frame at all

Frameless (Euro)

Doors mount directly to the cabinet box with no face frame, for full-access interiors and a clean, uninterrupted European look.

  • Maximum interior storage
  • Fully accessible openings
  • Seamless, frame-free face

Best for Modern, storage-driven kitchens

Inset Face Frame cabinetry construction example

02Doors flush inside the frame

Inset Face Frame

Doors and drawer fronts are set flush within the face frame, fitted to exacting tolerances. The hallmark of fine furniture-grade cabinetry.

  • Furniture-quality craftsmanship
  • Crisp, precise shadow lines
  • Timeless heritage character

Best for Heritage homes and high-end builds

02 — Inset Face Frame

Inset Face Frame Cabinetry Examples

Our most exacting construction — doors fitted flush within a hand-built face frame for furniture-grade shadow lines. Here are inset doors across shaker, recessed-panel, beaded and slab profiles, finished in a range of paint colours.

Noto — inset face frame Inset Raised Panel door in Setting Plaster

Noto

Inset Raised PanelSetting Plaster

Tracadie — inset face frame Inset Raised Panel door in School House White

Tracadie

Inset Raised PanelSchool House White

Torquay — inset face frame Inset Raised Panel door in Hague Blue

Torquay

Inset Raised PanelHague Blue

La Gomera — inset face frame Inset Raised Panel door in Charleston Green

La Gomera

Inset Raised PanelCharleston Green

Frameless vs Inset

What's The Difference?

It comes down to the presence of a face frame. With frameless (European) cabinetry, doors mount directly to the cabinet box. There is no frame between doors, which maximises interior volume and creates a clean, contemporary face.

Inset face frame construction is the most labour-intensive and exacting — the gaps around every door must be perfect — which is why it carries a premium and a distinctly high-end, furniture-like character. It's the classic choice for heritage homes and bespoke builds.

Both are built to order in our shop. Whether you need the full-access efficiency of frameless construction or the tailored shadow lines of inset cabinetry, we fabricate every box, door and drawer front to suit the project.

Choose your construction

Book a consultation — frameless or inset

Tell us the construction style you're drawn to and we'll walk you through the trade-offs, pricing, and lead times — and hand-finish a sample door in the profile and colour of your choice.

Prefer to keep exploring? Browse the full product range.

Request your free consultation

No pressure, no obligation — just expert guidance and an honest budget.

Photos, floor plans, or inspiration — PDF, DOC, or images up to 10 MB each (max 5).

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