Most kitchens have one cabinet that's never quite earned its keep, a larder nobody fills properly, a base unit that catches loose carrier bags and not much else. The usual answer to that is a full kitchen refit, which is a lot of upheaval for one underused cupboard. A cabinet insert solves it differently, it slides into the unit you already have and changes what it's for, without touching the carcass, the worktop, or anything either side of it.
We've covered pantry storage that works harder for your layout before, and this is really the same instinct applied to a single cabinet rather than a whole run. This one covers the two inserts currently available, a coffee bar and a dog bed, what they cost, and how to work out if your cabinet is the right size.
What you're actually choosing between
Both inserts are finished units built to slide into a standard UK cabinet once the existing doors and shelves are removed, rather than anything that gets fixed, cut or drilled into place.
The Portofino Coffee Bar turns a larder unit into an open coffee station, machine and cups on display, LED lit, with soft-close drawers and shelving built around your setup rather than a generic shelf. The Kitchen Cabinet Dog Bed does the opposite job at floor level, converting a base unit into a proper den, with an optional drawer above for leads, towels and food.
What they actually cost
This is the detail that makes the category worth knowing about, since the alternative is genuinely expensive.
The Dog Bed insert starts from £209, scaling up by size, XS at 600mm through to XL at 1000mm, with or without the drawer above. The Portofino Coffee Bar is £849. Compare that against the realistic alternative, a bespoke coffee larder or built-in pet bed commissioned through a kitchen company, which typically starts around £2,000 once a survey, a designer and a fitting team are involved, and can run considerably higher depending on finish. Handmade one-off dog beds from independent joiners and Etsy sellers sit somewhere in between, often requiring several weeks' lead time and custom quoting for every order. An insert is a fixed, ready-to-order price for a cabinet you've already paid for.
Built for the cabinet you've got, not a new one
UK kitchens are built from a small set of standard sizes, which is exactly why this works without bespoke joinery.
Base units come in 600mm, 700mm, 800mm, 900mm and 1000mm widths at roughly 560 to 570mm deep, and larder units are typically 1920mm, 1945mm, 1970mm or 2150mm tall. If your kitchen came from Howdens, Wren, Wickes, B&Q, Magnet or most other UK suppliers, it's almost certainly built to one of these. Measure the internal width and depth of the cabinet before ordering, and if your measurements fall between standard sizes, both inserts are available made-to-measure on request.
Finish and colour matching
Getting the finish right matters more here than on a standalone piece of furniture, since the insert sits inside a cabinet your existing doors will close around.
The Portofino comes in Brown Warmia Walnut and Natural Halifax Oak as standard, chosen to sit comfortably against most existing kitchen colour schemes without needing to be matched exactly. If you want a closer match to your specific kitchen, sending a photo and the door range name lets the team confirm what's genuinely achievable before you order, since not every finish can be matched precisely.
Fitting takes an afternoon, not a fortnight
This is where the category earns the "reversible" claim, and it's worth being specific about what's actually involved.
Fitting is three steps: unscrew the existing doors, hinges and shelves, assemble the insert with a single screwdriver, then slide it into place. Aspin Collins puts the whole job at around half an hour once the insert arrives, with no joiner or kitchen fitter needed. Because nothing is cut or drilled, the process reverses just as easily, lift the insert out, refit the original doors, and the cabinet is back to standard in minutes. That reversibility is what makes this genuinely viable for rented homes in a way a fitted kitchen upgrade never is.
Which insert is right for your kitchen
- Larder cabinet going unused: Portofino Coffee Bar, from £849
- Base unit near the kitchen door or utility area: Dog Bed insert, from £209
- Want somewhere to store leads and towels too: Dog Bed with drawer, from around £250 depending on width
- Renting and want a fully reversible upgrade: either insert, since nothing is cut or drilled
- Cabinet falls between standard sizes: made-to-measure available on both
Inserts and wider kitchen planning
If you're already looking at how the rest of your cabinetry works, it's worth reading alongside our guide on kitchen finishing components, since plinths, end panels and inserts are the kind of detail work that makes a kitchen feel finished rather than just functional. An insert is also a sensible first step before committing to a full kitchen package if you're weighing up a smaller upgrade against a larger renovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does an insert take to arrive once ordered?
Each one is made to order rather than held as ready stock, so lead times typically run one to three weeks depending on size and finish. It's worth factoring that into your timing if you want it fitted for a specific date.
2. Will it fit a cabinet from any UK kitchen brand, not just Aspin Collins?
Yes, since both inserts are built to the standard UK cabinet dimensions used by most major suppliers, including Howdens, Wren, Wickes, B&Q and Magnet. Measure your cabinet's internal width and depth against the standard sizes before ordering to confirm the fit.
3. Does fitting an insert affect the cabinet's warranty from my original kitchen supplier?
This varies by supplier, and since nothing is permanently altered, cut or drilled, most warranty terms relating to structural changes shouldn't be triggered. If you're unsure, it's worth a quick check with your original kitchen provider before fitting, particularly if the kitchen is still under a fitted warranty.
4. Can I use the Dog Bed insert for a cat instead?
There's nothing dog-specific about the enclosure itself, it's an open den at floor level, so it works equally well for a cat that wants a similar tucked-away spot. Sizing is the main consideration rather than the pet.
5. Is the coffee station insert deep enough for a bean-to-cup machine?
Depth depends on which cabinet size you're fitting it into, so it's worth checking your machine's footprint against the specific product listing before ordering, particularly for larger bean-to-cup models rather than compact pod machines.
Not sure which size fits your cabinet? Call 0161 465 4007 to speak to the workshop directly, or browse the full insert range to compare sizes and finishes.