Customers seeking quality craftsmanship, classic beauty, and smooth clean lines tend to turn to inset cabinets. Known as the time-honored way early woodworkers made fine furniture, inset cabinetry is experiencing a style resurgence.

What are inset cabinets?

Inset cabinetry features doors and drawers that fit inside of the cabinet face frame openings. This type of cabinet construction gives a full view of the cabinet frame, with only minimal spacing or gaps between the cabinet components.

Inset cabinetry is ideal for traditional, transitional and contemporary design styles. It can be customized with:

  • Beaded or flush face frames
  • Choice of a 1/4″ bead or a 3/8″ bead
  • Concealed or finial hinges.

Inset cabinets can be modified to fit any style with a large range of color and finish options, moldings and embellishments.

Inset Cabinet Construction

The side panels (end panels) are 3/4″ thick hardwood plywood.

Options include:

  • Flush construction
  • Beaded flush construction

The back panel is 1/2″ thick hardwood plywood.

Options include:

  • 3/8″ thick beaded back panel
  • 3/4″ thick flush back panel

The top and bottom are 1/2″ thick hardwood plywood.

The interior is natural birch melamine.

Options include:

  • Veneer that is stained to match the exterior color
  • Natural maple veneer

Shelves are 3/4″ thick hardwood plywood.

  • Shelves in base cabinets are two-thirds deep.
  • Full depth shelves are available in base cabinets.

The toe kick is fully enclosed.

Inset Cabinet Assembly Notes

  • Inset cabinets add a few days to the lead-time.
  • Not all door styles are available in inset configurations. Solid doors, mitered doors, MDF doors and veneered single piece doors are not available in inset. Traditional mortise and tenon doors are all available.
  • Inset cabinets require more attention over time. Doors and drawers need to be adjusted as the wood moves seasonally as the 3/32″ space between door and frame will possibly change.
  • Hinge brackets should be installed on the cabinet face frame before assembly.