Did we all breathe a collective sigh when we closed the chapter on 2024? What is new and trending in frameless versus framed cabinetry? CP Build has the answers. In 2025, CP Build will feature trends like two-tone cabinetry, natural wood tones, dark and sophisticated hues, and the slim shaker, an updated classic.
As designers evaluate frameless vs framed cabinets, in most markets we see a distinct preference for frameless euro cabinets. When choosing between frameless vs framed cabinets for multifamily projects, designers must consider both aesthetics and functionality. Frameless cabinets or euro cabinets offer more storage space than framed cabinets. Frameless cabinets offer a cleaner & more modern look than their framed cabinet counterparts. The use of blind cabinets with both framed or frameless can also increase the usable space available to tenants.
Color Choices
Multifamily markets are typically pretty conservative when it comes to color. However, we have seen the design community embrace new calculated color choices in both framed & frameless cabinetry. Black is evocative. It blends richness and sophistication. Use pops of gold hardware with your black frameless cabinets to double down on this luxurious trend. Use Black lowers with our Sugar Maple or Natural Oak uppers in frameless cabinets for a design forward solution on your next multifamily project. Warm greys and taupe are muted colors that serve as a blank slate for your framed or frameless cabinets. White Dove or Grey Velvet lend a modern spin on the traditional all white kitchens. Sage Green is having a moment. As we move towards incorporating sustainability & wellness into our building materials, colors found in nature like Sage Green will continue to increase in popularity.
Differences in Framed vs Frameless
The main difference between framed and frameless cabinets lies in their construction: framed cabinets have a face frame around the cabinet opening, while frameless cabinets, also known as European-style cabinets, do not, resulting in a more modern, streamlined look and potentially more storage space. Here’s a more detailed comparison:
Construction Details
Framed Cabinets
- Construction: Framed cabinets feature a solid wood face frame around the cabinet opening, with rails and stiles reinforcing the front.
- Aesthetic: Framed cabinets offer a more traditional look, with the face frame creating a slight lip or gap between doors and drawers. Finishes for framed cabinets are primarily stained or painted.
- Installation: Framed cabinets offer more flexibility during installation as the frame allows for some adjustments to compensate for uneven walls or floors.
- Accessibility: The face frame can create a slight lip inside the cabinet, potentially making it slightly harder to access items, especially in double-door cabinets with a center stile. Consider this when designing.
- Storage: The face frame can slightly reduce the usable storage space inside the cabinet.
Frameless Cabinets (European-Style)
- Aesthetic: Frameless cabinets offer a more modern, sleek, and minimalist look with full-overlay doors that cover the entire cabinet opening.
- Installation: Frameless or euro cabinets require precise measurements and careful installation to ensure proper alignment of doors and drawers.
- Accessibility: Frameless cabinets provide full access to the interior of the cabinet, making it easier to store and access items, and easier to clean and maintain.
- Storage: Frameless cabinets may offer slightly more usable storage space inside the cabinet because of the lack of a face frame. Whether choosing frameless or framed cabinets for your next multifamily project, consider how the cabinet construction impacts both aesthetics and functionality. Frameless designs continue to dominate contemporary spaces, while framed options remain popular in traditional settings.
Slim Shaker: Modern Profile for Frameless Designs
CP Build offers stained, painted & thermofoil versions of Slim Shaker cabinets, which first emerged as a design trend in 2018. Designers looking for a more modern aesthetic should consider the Slim Shaker for their multifamily projects. Why is Slim Shaker popular? This door style is clean & sophisticated. It is perfect for multifamily designers looking for more detail than a flat slab door, but not something as heavy & substantial as the classic or traditional shaker. The narrow detail gives it a modern design. The Slim Shaker door style pairs best with frameless cabinets vs framed cabinets.
Extended Seating at Island
As multifamily designers look to increase features found in hospitality or single-family homes, one of the trends emerging in frameless cabinets is the creation of extended seating at the island. This allows tenants to entertain more easily.
Fully Finished Open Shelving Cabinet
Many of our competitors do not offer matching interiors as a standard. CP Build’s frameless or framed cabinetry comes standard with matching interiors which allow CP to offer fully finished open shelving. Get creative with open shelving. Incorporate finished open shelving above the fridge. Consider incorporating open shelving at the end of your islands.
Glass Accent Options for Both Cabinet Styles
Finally, CP Build offers glass accent cabinets in both our framed & frameless collections. Elevate the look of your multifamily properties with glass accent cabinets.
Whether choosing frameless or framed cabinets for your next multifamily project, consider how the cabinet construction impacts both aesthetics and functionality. Frameless designs continue to dominate contemporary spaces, while framed options remain popular in traditional settings.
CP Build offers fully installed framed & frameless cabinets, countertops & flooring providing multifamily developers & designers with a single source turnkey solution for on-trend, on time kitchens and baths. Our materials are sourced globally but our showrooms, warehouses and corporate headquarters are all located in the US.