What Are Mullion Cabinet Doors?
Mullion cabinet doors are a decorative style of door, usually used in kitchen cabinets. Mullions are a piece of cabinet material that divides the center of a cabinet door into multiple lites. A lite is a single pane (or section) within the door that has been created by the mullion.
So, a door with a mullion design isn’t one open glass frame, it’s a frame with dividers running through it, creating sections that make an attractive pattern. There are many styles of mullion doors, with each orientation of mullions creating a different look.
Mullion construction can differ based on door style – inserted or integrated mullion. We’ll discuss that difference more later in this article.
Types of Mullion Cabinet Doors
Clients who want mullion cabinet doors often say they want “glass cabinets with the lines through it, like windows.” While there are many styles of mullion and even custom mullion options that can be made, here are the most common types designers specify.
The three mullion types that are often chosen by designers and clients are frame, prairie, and mission. Each one creates a different lite pattern on the door face. These are quite common and are classic staples for mullion design.
Frame mullion: A frame mullion door has mullions that are equally spaced and number of lites can vary. While this example has 6 lites, 9 are also common. This is a classic style of mullion cabinet door.
Prairie mullion: A prairie mullion cabinet door has mullions set in from the door’s edges to form a small square lite in each corner, leaving one large open lite in the center.
Mission mullion: A mission mullion cabinet door has a row of short lites at the top and larger tall lites at the bottom. This style of mullion cabinet door has three lites at the top and one larger lite at the bottom.
There are many styles of mullion doors, ranging from fully custom designs to different orientations of mullions, curved mullions (as pictured above), and variations in lite size. You can check out this article for more glass insert and mullion door ideas.
Inserted vs. Integrated Mullion Cabinet Construction
The difference between inserted and integrated doors is in how the mullion is attached to the stiles and rails.
Inserted Mullion
Integrated Mullion
The benefits of the integrated mullion over the inserted mullion is that it gives a nice decorative look and is less prone to warping. One might then ask why make inserted mullions at all? The answer is that with certain door style profiles, integrated mullion construction is not possible.
We have a mullion door style chart for our designers that list the door style and which mullion type is used to achieve the best look.
Which kitchen styles use mullion cabinet doors?
Mullion cabinet doors are traditional in style. They have an old world, classic charm to them. There are plenty of home aesthetics that suit mullion doors, usually those that integrate traditional elements such as transitional, coastal, and cottage designs.
The style of mullion also impacts the design. Simple frame mullions are a bit more versatile than mission or prairie mullions, which are more ornate. Other finishes like hardware can impact the look as well.
Frequently asked questions about mullion cabinet doors
What is a mullion on a cabinet door? A mullion is a decorative element that divides the centre of a cabinet door into multiple lites, or panes. It creates a pattern across the door face rather than leaving one open frame.
Does mullion construction depend on the door style? Yes. Whether a door uses inserted or integrated mullion construction is determined by the door style, not selected separately.
Are mullion cabinet doors only for traditional kitchens? No. Mullion design is traditional in origin, but transitional, coastal, and cottage kitchens all use mullion doors.
How should I specify mullion doors for clients? Always refer to your cabinet manufacturers design specifications to ensure the right glass, door style, and number of lites are chosen.
