What is Cabinet Overlay?

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Overlay (sometimes called “reveal”) refers to the amount of cabinet face frame that is covered by the doors and drawer headers. In the end, the overlay decision is one of personal tastes and budgets.

Most Showplace door styles are offered in two overlays: partial or full overlay. A few door styles are offered in full overlay only. In addition, several styles are offered in elegant inset versions. Full, partial, and inset doors and drawer headers are available on a framed cabinet box.

ShowplaceEVO doors and drawer headers are available ONLY on a frameless (full-access) cabinet box.

This kitchen illustrates our popular full overlay look.

What’s the difference?

Partial Overlay

Partial overlay doors and headers are smaller, revealing more of the frame. Since they’re smaller and use less material, Traditional styles also cost less.

Full Overlay

Full overlay doors and headers are larger, covering more of the frame. The result is a sleeker, tighter look.

Frameless

Frameless, or “full-access” ShowplaceEVO cabinetry is also sometimes called “European-style” cabinetry. The doors overlay the front edges of the cabinet box, and there is a minimal reveal on each outside door edge for very little visibility of the cabinet box.

Inset

Doors and headers are set inside the cabinet frame opening with minimal clearance and full visibility of the cabinet frame.

Here are examples of how the doors and headers are sized on each of our cabinet lines. The images below show a base cabinet with doors and a drawer header.

Partial Overlay

Doors and headers lay over the cabinet to reveal a more of the front frame.

Full Overlay – Framed

Doors and headers lay over the cabinet to reveal a small portion of the front frame.

Full Overlay – Frameless

Doors and headers lay over the cabinet to reveal very little of the front edges of the cabinet box.

Inset

Doors and headers are set inside the cabinet frame opening with 3/32″ clearance. The full 1-1/2″ wide frame components are visible.

Learn more about inset here.

Specifications & Product Information Notice:
The specification, materials, and care information provided on this website are intended as a general reference only. Because Showplace cabinetry is custom-manufactured, final product characteristics will reflect the specific selections, modifications, accessories, and enhancements chosen by the homeowner in collaboration with their designer. As a result, the website content should not be interpreted as comprehensive or absolute for all projects.

Some Showplace-purchased products, including doors purchased from other manufacturers, vent hoods and blowers, internal hardware kits, etc., are manufactured by third-party suppliers. These components are subject to the supplier’s own specifications, limitations, and warranty terms. Care information can be requested through a Showplace dealer or cited on the original manufacturer’s website.

Showplace reserves the right to change or discontinue products, materials, or design specifications at any time without prior notice and without obligation to update or modify cabinetry produced previously.

Homeowners should not rely solely on website information when making purchase decisions. For precise, project-specific details including materials, construction methods, limitations, and care requirements, consult your authorized Showplace designer or dealer.