That's the question these days. And, what does inset or overlay mean? Inset doors and drawer fronts are set into the cabinet and are flush with the face frame. This is a timeless, sophisticated look that ages well. We prefer to use concealed hinges, rather than exposed hinges, due to our experience installing inset cabinet doors with exposed hinges. It can be difficult to get things spaced just right. And as wood moves in the changing seasons, it's nice to have some adjustability with concealed hinges. One downside of inset cabinetry is the reduced storage in the cabinet; doors and hinges are inside the cabinet. However, the smooth appearance, clean lines, and sophisticated look often outweigh the reduced storage.

Overlay cabinets consist of doors and drawer fronts that sit proud of the face frame. They "lay over" or on top of the face frame. Depending on the size of the doors, we can make full overlay cabinets or partial overlay cabinets. Storage is maximized. All of our cabinets will have concealed hinges. So, inset or overlay? It's up to you. Our rule of thumb is to try and match existing door profiles in your home. Thus, if your kitchen cabinets are partial overlay and we're building built-ins for another space, then we'll go with partial overlay doors to maintain that motif. If you are doing a kitchen remodel or building a new home, then that's a conversation to have during the design and planning stages.