New painted MDF fronts: M 05 with milled handle vs R 01 framed — how to choose
Two new painted MDF fronts in the Téchne configurator: M 05 with a handle milled into the front and R 01 with a 65 mm frame. Differences, rules, pairings.
The range of painted MDF fronts in the Téchne configurator grew in October 2026 with two new designs that could hardly be more different: M 05, a minimalist front with the handle milled directly into the board, and R 01, a framed front with a classic feel. Both are painted in the same colour range as our other painted MDF fronts and are shown in 3D with their real geometry — not just as a texture on a flat surface.
If you are not yet sure painted MDF is the right material, start with our complete guide to painted and fluted MDF doors and the chipboard vs MDF comparison. Here we focus on the two new designs.
In short
- M 05 — a front with an integrated handle: a milled band along one edge that you grip with your fingers. No applied handle and no push-to-open.
- R 01 — a front with a 65 mm frame and a slightly recessed central panel. Compatible with the configurator handles.
- Both: 18 mm MDF, rounded outer edges, painted in the colour you choose.
- Size limits are those of painted MDF doors: a single door between 15 and 58 cm wide.
M 05: the front is the handle
On M 05, a 25 mm wide band is milled along the gripping edge of the front, with a rounded channel behind it for your fingers. All the face edges are slightly rounded and the front stays clean, with no metal on the face.
The position of the milling is not a choice; it follows a fixed rule:
- on doors — on the side opposite the hinges, exactly where you would pull a normal handle;
- on drawers — at the top edge.
Because the handle is already part of the front, M 05 does not allow an applied handle or a push-to-open system. When you choose M 05, the configurator shows a message in the Handles tab and any handle selected earlier is no longer applied.
Where M 05 works: minimalist walk-in wardrobes and hallway wardrobes, living-room sideboards, wall-hung cabinets — anywhere you want a continuous front with no visible hardware. It looks great in solid matt colours, where the shadow of the milled band becomes the only graphic detail.
R 01: a frame that adds depth
R 01 has a 65 mm frame all around and a central panel slightly recessed from the frame, with a straight step. The outer edge is rounded. The frame has the same width on every front size, so tall doors, narrow doors and drawers in one project look proportionate next to each other.
In the configurator, R 01 is modelled with a real recess: as you rotate the cabinet in 3D, the shadow of the frame changes with the angle, just like on real furniture.
Where R 01 works: classic, neoclassical, country or “modern classic” interiors, bedrooms and hallways where you want a warmer look. It pairs well with long vertical pulls or knobs — see the data sheets in our article on the handle and leg data sheets.
M 05 vs R 01, point by point
- Style: M 05 is minimalist and contemporary; R 01 is classic, with relief.
- Handles: M 05 — only the milled grip; R 01 — any configurator handle or push-to-open where available.
- Cleaning: M 05 has a flat surface that is easy to wipe, with some care in the handle channel; R 01 has inner frame corners where dust collects more easily — a soft brush helps.
- Price: both involve extra machining, so they cost more per m² than the classic painted MDF fronts. You see the exact price instantly in the configurator, based on the dimensions.
Corner wardrobes
On a corner wardrobe, the opening doors can be M 05 or R 01, like on any wardrobe. The fixed panel next to the wall (the pilaster) stays in the plain painted MDF version, in the same colour — it does not open, so the design details would not make sense there.
For a fully uniform look
Together with the new designs we added the Painted exterior option: the side panels (and, on sideboards and wall-hung cabinets, the top and base) can be made of MDF painted in the same colour as the fronts. Combined with M 05, you get a monochrome block with no visible chipboard lines. Details are in our guide to the painted exterior in the colour of the fronts.
How to choose them in the configurator
- Open the configurator and choose the cabinet type.
- In Front design, select painted MDF and then the M 05 or R 01 design.
- Choose the colour and rotate the cabinet in 3D to see the milling or the frame up close.
- To see the colour on real material, order samples before placing your order.