Classic Kitchens

An in-frame shaker brings together two things: in-frame construction for substance and craftsmanship, and a shaker door for a softer, more familiar finish inside the frame. It’s a style that suits period properties particularly well, and one we fit regularly through our Kitchen Makers by Burbidge range.

A shaker door has a framed front with a flat, recessed centre panel; it's fitted to the front of the carcass in the usual way. An in-frame kitchen goes a step further: the doors sit within a solid constructed face frame that's built as part of the cabinet itself. You can see the frame around every door, which gives the kitchen a more substantial, crafted quality. In-frame is generally the more premium option, and it's the approach associated with traditionally made British cabinetry. We offer both, and will help you understand which is right for your home and budget.

Yes. A lay-on in-frame kitchen (sometimes called faux in-frame) gives you the visual character of an in-frame design at a more accessible price point. Rather than building a solid face frame as part of the cabinet construction, an applied frame is fitted around each door front to create the same framed appearance. It is a step down from true in-frame in terms of construction, but for many clients it is the right call - particularly where the budget is better spent elsewhere in the project, on work surfaces, door furniture or appliances, for example.

If you are drawn to the in-frame look but are unsure which route makes sense for your budget, that is exactly the kind of conversation we have at the design consultation. We can show you examples of both in the showroom and help you decide where the difference matters and where it doesn't.

Not all kitchen cabinets are made the same way, and the differences matter more in a classic kitchen than almost anywhere else – because the style draws attention to the cabinetry itself.  

For our Burbidge kitchens, every cabinet is built from 18mm solid moisture-resistant board, factory-assembled using dowel and glue construction rather than staples and flat pack style screw cams. Each door is hung on top tier Blum soft close, clip-on hinges, Blum Antaro full extension soft closer drawers. All internal fittings such as: Pull-out larders, corner solutions and waste management systems are sourced from Kesseböhmer, Hettich and Häfele, all established European manufacturers. 

We are a Burbidge Premium Partner, which reflects the standard of installation we maintain as well as the depth of our relationship with them. If you want to understand the difference between a well-built kitchen and a less well-made one, we're happy to walk you through it at the design consultation – there is usually a sample to hand.

A well-designed classic kitchen is one of the most durable choices you can make. Shaker and in-frame designs have been around for well over a century. What usually dates a kitchen is the colour and finishing details, not the underlying style, which is why those decisions matter. We'll help you find something that suits your home now and will continue to feel right for years to come.

Yes. A classic kitchen can be a very good way to bring softness and continuity into a new part of the house, especially if you want the extension to feel connected to the rest of the property rather than like a completely separate space. In newer homes, it can also work well where the wider aesthetic is more modern-country or relaxed and understated. The key is getting the proportions, detailing and finishing choices right so the kitchen feels appropriate to both the room and the house as a whole.

Yes. A shaker door is one of the more versatile styles in the classic range because its character changes considerably depending on the choices made around it. In a deep painted finish with cup-pull door furniture it reads warm and traditional. In a softer, more neutral palette with simpler hardware it can feel much cleaner and more restrained, sitting comfortably alongside more contemporary interiors. The underlying style stays the same; the finishing decisions determine where it lands. 

That's one of the reasons we take colour and door furniture seriously at the design consultation. 

All our suppliers offer a wide range of stock colours with a much broader palette of paint to order colours for a small surcharge. Full colour charts from all our suppliers are available on request.

For traditional and shaker kitchens we work primarily with Burbidge, one of the UK's most respected door manufacturers, whose doors are constructed into complete kitchens by our team. For in-frame cabinetry we offer Kitchen Makers by Burbidge, which represents the more crafted, more substantial end of the classic market. We also carry selected classic designs from Nobilia's German-engineered range for clients who want the precision of German manufacture alongside a traditional aesthetic, and a curated selection of styles from Second Nature and Kitchen Stori, which extends the breadth of finishes and door styles available. 

Between them these ranges cover most briefs. All three showrooms (Rugby, Warwick and Market Harborough) have classic kitchen displays you can see and handle in person, and when the time is right we're happy to come to you for an initial home survey.

Yes. We are used to working from architect's drawings, coordinating with builders and sequencing the kitchen within a wider build programme. The kitchen is project managed through our team so the sequencing, deliveries and installation fit around the wider build rather than cutting across it. If you are planning an extension, it is worth speaking to us early.

It depends on the scope of the project. A replacement kitchen in an existing space can move from design to installation within a couple of months. Projects tied to extensions or structural work tend to take longer because the wider build sets the timeline. We'll give you a realistic picture at the design consultation once we understand what's involved.

We stay involved. The relationship with RFK doesn't end on the day the installation is signed off, and that's not just something we say. Many of the classic kitchens we fitted a decade or more ago are still in daily use, and we're still the number that gets called when something needs attention. 

In practice that means the same people who designed and installed your kitchen remain reachable, whether it's an adjustment after the first few weeks of use, a question about a fitting years later, or something more significant. There's no handoff to an anonymous service desk. You know who to call because you've dealt with them throughout.

It depends on the size of the room, the style and specification you are drawn to, and the supplier range involved. Our kitchens span well-specified mid-range projects through to more architecturally considered schemes using higher-investment German and British ranges. 

There’s some guide pricing on our pricing page, but the best way to understand what’s achievable for your budget is a design consultation. There we can talk through the options honestly and without pressure.

See our pricing page | Book a consultation