One of the first choices in any bespoke kitchen is the door and drawer style. It sets the character of the whole room, influences the cost, and shapes how traditional or contemporary your kitchen feels. As independent kitchen makers in Cambridge, we get asked about in-frame and Edge Type styles more than almost anything else. Here is a plain-English guide to help you decide.
What is an in-frame kitchen?
In an in-frame kitchen, each door and drawer sits inside a solid timber frame fixed to the front of the cabinet, rather than overlaying it. It is the traditional way of building fine cabinetry and it has a distinctive, tailored look with crisp shadow lines around every door.
In-frame construction takes more skill and more time, which is why it usually costs more than a standard overlay kitchen. The reward is a kitchen with real depth and craftsmanship that reads as timeless rather than trend-led. Our in-frame designs often pair framed Shaker-style doors with dovetail drawers, oak interiors and details like butt hinges and iron handles.
You can see examples of our in-frame work on our [kitchens page](https://davidhallfurniture.co.uk/kitchens), including our Contemporary and Classic in-Frame design and our Shaker With Twist kitchen.
What is an Edge Type kitchen?
Edge Type is our own original door style. Veneered panels are wrapped with delicate timber frames, creating a look that sits midway between a plain flat door and a full Shaker. It is very contemporary and modern, but it keeps a handmade soul and uses traditional materials.
Edge Type suits homeowners who want something clean and current without losing warmth. The thin timber frame catches the light and gives the door front a considered, layered quality that flat slab doors simply cannot match. Our Panton Street and Oxford Road kitchens both showcase this style.
Which style suits your home?
Period and traditional homes
If you live in a period Cambridge townhouse, a converted farmhouse or a cottage, in-frame usually feels right. It sits comfortably alongside original features and traditional materials, and it links a modern kitchen extension back to the older parts of the house.
Contemporary and open-plan spaces
For newer builds, extensions with bi-fold doors and open-plan living, Edge Type or flat doors often work better. They keep sight lines calm and let a show-stopping island or a run of veneer take centre stage.
It is not either or
The beauty of a bespoke kitchen is that you are not forced to choose a single style off a shelf. Many of our projects mix finishes, combining painted in-frame elements with veneered feature units, or pairing Edge Type doors with real wood accent cabinets. Because we design and make everything ourselves, we can tailor the balance precisely to your room and taste.
If you want to understand how we translate a style preference into a finished kitchen, our [how we work](https://davidhallfurniture.co.uk/how-we-work) page explains our design process step by step, from the briefing meeting through to design development where we finalise materials and finishes.
Cost considerations
As a rule, in-frame kitchens cost more than overlay or Edge Type kitchens because the framing and fitting are more labour intensive. Drawers cost more than cupboards too, though we love including them for the accessible storage they give. For a realistic starting point on what a bespoke kitchen involves, see our [price guide](https://davidhallfurniture.co.uk/price-guide).
Talk to a Cambridge kitchen maker
Still unsure which door style is right for you? That is exactly what our free design consultation is for. Get in touch or visit our Melbourn showroom, and we will show you samples of both in-frame and Edge Type work so you can feel the difference for yourself.