What is a Shaker Kitchen Style?

A Guide to Everything You Need to Know about Shaker Kitchens

If you're thinking of renovating your kitchen, you may be considering the shaker style. This timeless look has been popular for many years and is still going strong.

What is a shaker kitchen? And what makes it different from other styles?

In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions and give you a guide to creating a beautiful shaker kitchen in your home.

Finding their origin in the carpentry style of the United American Believers, Shaker style kitchens features clean lines and simple construction.

What are shaker kitchens made from?

The shaker style cabinets are usually made from wood, and they often feature exposed hardware and raised-panel doors. 

A shaker style kitchen often has a rustic feel and can be easily customized to suit a variety of tastes. One of the benefits of a shaker style kitchen is that it can be easily adapted to different spaces.

Whether you have a small kitchen or a large one, a shaker style kitchen can be designed to fit your needs. In addition, shaker kitchens are known for their durability and easy maintenance.

With proper care, a shaker kitchen can last for many years.

Here's a little about its history:

Shaker Kitchens: Origins Of the Name

Shaker kitchens and the culture originated in the late 18th century with the Shaker religious sect, based in New England.

The group was originally known as the "Shaking Quakers" because of their practice of shaking during religious services.

Who were the Shakers?

The Shakers, or United Society of Believers, believed in simple living, hard work, and celibacy and held the belief that God was both male and female. 

In 1774, a group of Shakers immigrated to America and settled in New York state. The Shakers quickly gained a reputation for their craftsmanship and hard work.

What was Shaker furniture?

Shaker furniture was designed to be functional and durable, and Shaker kitchens were no exception. 

Shakers believed that the kitchen should be a place of work, not leisure, and they designed their kitchens accordingly.

Shaker cabinets were typically made of wood, with simple hardware and ample storage. A shaker kitchen also featured a large central worktable where food could be prepared.

The Shaker style kitchen today

Today, the shaker kitchen style is favoured by those who appreciate its simplicity, functionality and timeless design.

While Shakers are no longer with us, their legacy lives on in shaker-style kitchen units and carpentry. The Shaker style kitchen has definitely stood the test of time.

Values of the Shaker Style kitchen

The Shakers were known for their dedication to hard work and utility and their furniture reflects these values.

Every element of a Shaker piece serves a purpose, and there is no excess decoration or embellishment in any aspect of a classic shaker kitchen.

In addition to its utilitarianism, Shaker furniture is also distinguished by its rigorous craftsmanship. Every joint and curve is carefully designed and executed, resulting in pieces that are both sturdy and elegant.

What's the Shaker style loved for?

Today, the Shaker style is widely admired for its timeless beauty and functionality.  Unlike many contemporary kitchens that feature a lot of ornamentation and decorative elements, Shaker kitchens focus on functionality and practicality. 

As such, they tend to include a lot of storage options, as well as plenty of counter space for food preparation, including an often-featured kitchen island.

In addition, Shaker design typically features natural materials, such as wood cabinetry and stone countertops.

This gives traditional shaker kitchen design a warm and inviting feel, while also helping to create a calm and tranquil atmosphere.

Shaker Cabinets at a Glance

The cabinets in Shaker style kitchens are characterized by their simple, clean lines - that's the simplicity of the Shaker style.

What are Shaker cabinet doors made of?

Cabinet doors are typically made of oak wood, maple and cherry wood, when it comes to materials. They may be left unfinished to show off the natural wood or painted in a neutral colour.

The hardware is also kept to a minimum, with simple knobs or handles that don't detract from the cabinets' clean look.

What's the big advantage of choosing the Shaker style kitchen?

One of the advantages of shaker cabinets or shaker kitchen doors is that they can be easily adapted to different styles of décor.

For instance, they can be paired with more modern appliances and fixtures for a contemporary look, or they can be combined with traditional elements for a more classic feel.

Regardless of the overall design scheme of the shaker style kitchens, these cabinets are an excellent choice for any kitchen.

Shaker Handles and Hardware

Shaker kitchen cabinets are usually fitted with simple knob handles or recessed pulls. The hardware is as simple and functional as possible. In keeping with the understated aesthetic of the shaker style, the handles and hardware are typically quite small in size.

However, they can also be used to add a touch of contrast or decoration to the kitchen with different materials.

For example, choosing brass handles for white cabinets can create a beautiful contrast that will add visual interest to your kitchen and provide a modern twist.

Shaker kitchen ideas: Top 3 ideas for a modern kitchen

How can you go about adding a modern style to a Shaker kitchen? We've got some Shaker kitchen design ideas for many modern homes.

While the style of a shaker kitchen is relatively simple, there are many different ways to incorporate them into your kitchen design.

How to style a shaker cabinet for a modern look

1. Use light coloured paint

Light-colour painted kitchen cabinets can help to make your kitchen feel brighter and more open. White or cream-coloured shaker cabinets are always popular choices and exemplify country style, even if you have a more classic style.

2. Add glass doors

Glass doors on shaker kitchen cabinets can help to give the kitchen a more airy feel. You can also use glass to showcase items that you want to display, such as colourful dishes or pretty glassware.

3. Create contrast

Traditional shaker kitchens often have the same wood across all panelling as one of their key features. You can create contrast by pairing them with darker countertops or backsplashes.

Black granite or dark wood countertops can look particularly striking against shaker open shelving and furniture, lending style to practical design, giving a new kitchen take to a shaker kitchen.

Shaker Kitchens: FAQs

Are shaker kitchens old fashioned?

No, shaker kitchens aren't old-fashioned. The Shakers themselves existed years ago, but the shaker doors we fit aren't old fashioned. You can choose from our range of replacement kitchen door fronts to find the right style for you.

Are shaker kitchens expensive?

No, shaker kitchens don't have to be expensive at all. In fact, Kitchen Magic offers a kitchen makeover in a way that means it's cheaper than you think! We just replace your existing kitchen cupboards. So you can get the shaker style kitchen without the big price tag.

Build your dream Shaker kitchen with us

With balance and keeping some of these ideas in mind, you can get the perfect kitchen, with the simplicity of a shaker kitchen matching perfectly with modern kitchen ideas.

We don't just do shaker kitchen cabinet doors.

We replace your kitchen doors, drawers and drawer fronts so you get the feel of a bespoke kitchen. The beauty rests in the fact that it costs way less than you'd think!

We do kitchen refurbishments for real people in the UK. Take a look at our kitchen makeovers and request a quote. We'll do a free home visit and give you a full quote.