European Cabinets versus American: Which style is right for you?
The first kitchen project that DodiHome completed, featuring European-style frameless cabinets with this simple white design, which reflects light beautifully to create a welcoming, open feel.
Cabinets form the cornerstone of any kitchen design. Maximizing and optimizing storage space is crucial to the flow and function of the kitchen. However, your kitchen cabinets are more than storage; they fill the visible space of the kitchen, defining the look and feel at the heart of your home. One of the main decisions you’ll make when outlining your kitchen remodel is between American-style and European-style cabinets. With so many factors to consider, picking a kitchen cabinet style can seem a daunting task, but we’re here to help break down the pros and cons!
So, what’s the difference?
The primary difference between these styles is that traditional American cabinets are face framed, whereas European cabinets are frameless. You can often see this difference with just a glance, as American cabinets will tend to have noticeable gaps between adjacent sets of doors. These often feature shaker or raised panel doors, giving the face of your cabinets some depth and detail. Meanwhile, European-style flat panel doors and drawers often form a single flush surface, with only simple seams visible between them—normally less than 1/4 inch.
This contrast in design has its roots in the differing cultural attitudes towards the function of the kitchen within the home. European kitchens have long been designed within smaller, more intimate spaces, while American kitchens tend to have more open designs, to function more as a social space. However, this does not need to define your pick—a wide open kitchen can still sport European cabinets with style! European cabinets provide any kitchen with a sleek, modern flair, while American cabinets tend to present a more traditional, cozy atmosphere.
The colored sections of these cabinets indicate where the doors attach. On an American cabinet, they attach to a face frame that’s applied to the front of the entire box, but on a European cabinet, they’re attached directly to the box itself.
The benefits of European cabinets
European-style frameless cabinets have become increasingly common in American kitchens, as they can be preferable to face framed cabinets for a number of reasons. As we mentioned before, frameless cabinets only need about a quarter-inch gap between adjacent doors, further expanding the amount of storage space you can pack into a small kitchen. Furthermore, the lack of a face frame means there are no front borders for the doors, allowing for expanded accessibility to your kitchen storage. You might be familiar with this struggle if you’ve ever tried to access the plumbing below your sink, but the center stile of your face frame keeps getting in the way! Frameless cabinets are also easier to clean—as they lack the stubborn nooks and crannies that come with a face frame—and the simpler design of their boxes makes them more adaptable to a wider range of kitchens.
74% of the kitchen cabinets DodiHome sells are European-style, while 26% are American. Why? Our designers and homeowners like the European modern and clean feel, and all the different ways you can finish them.
European-style cabinets with American-style doors!?
Confused much? We generally try not to confuse potential customers, but this one’s a doozy. Above we just covered all the benefits of frameless cabinets, i.e., the European-style. However, it is possible to have high-quality frameless cabinets with American-style doors. What!? Most of us think flat panel doors equal European-style cabinets, and at the same time, Shaker-style doors equal American-style cabinets. But that’s just not true. It’s perfectly possible to have Shaker-style doors on frameless cabinets. In fact, as we talked about above, frameless cabinets have plenty of advantages, like better quality cabinets (because doors are attached to the cabinet bodies, not the frames) and more storage space.
How to finish your European-style cabinets
Since we're seeing so much demand for European cabinets (and it's probably why you've come to this article), let's pull on our Lederhosen and see what European style is all about! Fortunately, there are a surprising amount of options when it comes to finishes for your flat panel or slab doors. Finishes include gloss or matte, color, and wood veneer. High gloss reinforces an ultra modern look, while a super matte finish gives a softer and warmer feel. Flat panel colors run the gamut from neutral to bold; from a clean white to a vivid red. Neutral tones can help bring the rest of your kitchen to the forefront, such as your countertops, floors, or hardware. On the other hand, choosing a bold color—which is becoming increasingly popular—can draw the eye to the cabinets themselves.
One of DodiHome’s most recent projects: a sleek, all-black kitchen with modern European-style cabinets.
As another option, you might prefer a wood finish to evoke a certain mood! Wood can inspire feelings of sandy beaches, mountain walks, a forest in autumn, or nightfall. Premium wood veneers help you create a stylish and distinctive look for your cabinets and kitchen remodel.
Laminated color or wood veneer can have other advantages over paint, including smoothness, scratch resistance, resistance to bacterial growth, and sustainability. Modern and premium slab panels promote sustainability with no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are BPA free. So, when choosing flat panels for your cabinet doors, you won’t be limited by choice!
How DodiHome can help
Since all our cabinet bodies are European style, we can support frameless doors for both European and American styles. Here’s another fun twist: in several years, when you want a new look, you can swap your doors. So, you can change the look of your cabinets, and even switch from European to American styles and vice-versa!
Dodi custom kitchen cabinets are special for two major reasons:
Our web design app, and
Local manufacturing in the Bay Area.
Work with us to determine the right kitchen cabinet style for you. Then, we’ll help you design your kitchen, including the layout, door styles, and finishes to make your kitchen remodel stand out. And, best of all, the Dodi app gives you real-time pricing as changes are made!
