Nothing says custom furniture like an inset door sitting flush in its frame with a 2 mm shadow line. Nothing punishes sloppy site conditions faster, either.
The tolerance game
Inset demands square boxes and millimetre door accuracy — every gap is on display. Overlay (full or partial) covers the frame and forgives site reality, which is why 90% of production kitchens are overlay.
Hardware and function
Inset gives up interior width to the frame and needs stops or soft-close solutions planned early; overlay maximises opening and takes standard 110° clip hinges. Both take our doors — the drilling pattern differs.
Where each belongs
Inset: heritage renovations, furniture-grade libraries, clients who notice shadow lines. Overlay: everything with a deadline and a budget. Our framed designs are produced for either convention — specify with your schedule.