Shaker Kitchen Design: A Timeless Choice That Offers the Perfect Mix of Simplicity and Elegance
If you’ve been looking for kitchen renovation ideas for the New Year, you’ve likely come across the shaker kitchen design. One of the biggest appeals of this design is its timeless charm, as compared to trend-driven kitchens that can feel outdated after a few years, Shaker kitchens remain stylish for ages. It’s all in the intricate details, such as precise joinery techniques, five-piece door formats, and the use of durable wood such as oak and cherry. They also blend seamlessly into traditional and modern interiors, and at the same time, they offer many customisation options to suit every homeowner’s needs and preferences. Let’s explore this design in more detail below so you can decide if it’s right for you!
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/modern-kitchen-with-island-and-bar-stools-BaKdrhCvn0E
What Are the Origins of The Shaker Kitchen Style?
The Shaker kitchen style has an interesting history to say the least. It’s deeply connected to the principles that the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing embraced, and to the religious community it settled in America in the 18th century. The Shakers stood out through their commitment to utility, simplicity, and precise craftsmanship. These values are rooted in the belief that one can find beauty through functionality. Today’s Shaker kitchens reflect a design philosophy born not of flamboyance but of necessity, with a minimalist approach that incorporates an intuitive layout and thoughtfully placed units that ensure elegance and practicality blend seamlessly.
The furniture that the Shakers crafted featured a lack of excessive ornamentation and clean lines, which you can also see in today’s Shaker kitchen. They deliberately chose local woods like pine and maple for their durability, without unnecessary embellishments. Thanks to this practicality, their furniture was timeless, meeting both the demands of daily use as well as the austere lifestyle of that particular community. The lasting legacy of the Shaker style, however, lies in its minimalist approach, as each piece of furniture and cabinet strips away superfluous details and serves its role without distraction. It harmoniously blends design elements with elegant paint hues and innovative storage options, ensuring both beauty and functionality.
What Makes the Shaker Kitchen a Great Choice?
One of the characteristics that makes the shaker kitchen so appealing is its incredible versatility. Its timeless design works perfectly in a cosy cottage and a modern open-plan space, allowing you to choose from a wide range of colours, finishes and handles to create a space that feels uniquely yours. For example, if you’re aiming for traditional charm, choose soft, muted tones. On the other hand, if you want to add a contemporary twist to the classic Shaker style, bolder colours like deep forest green will help you achieve that effect.
If you think shaker kitchens are about aesthetics only, you couldn’t be more wrong. They are designed for functionality, and thanks to their robust craftsmanship, they can withstand the everyday wear and tear of family life. And do you know what else makes this kitchen design stand out? It’s all about those clever storage solutions, like corner mechanisms, pull-out larders, and integrated appliances, which keep your space efficient and clutter-free. If you pair them with durable finishes and high-quality worktops, the result is a balance of function and form.
But wait, there’s more: shaker kitchens are also easy to maintain, and that’s because of their minimal ornamentation and clean lines. Only a few surfaces on the cabinets collect grease, dirt, and debris, and you can keep them looking pristine with minimal effort. So, if you embrace this style, you basically get quality craftsmanship, durability and longevity, easy cleaning, customisation options, and functionality. What else could you wish for when designing the kitchen of your dreams?
What Are the Best Ways to Spruce Up Shaker Cabinets?
At this point, it’s very much clear that the shaker kitchen is a mainstay in today’s homes, but how do you actually incorporate this design in your own space? A great idea is to style with brass cabinet handles, which will help ensure your kitchen lasts a lifetime (and it’s a very affordable upgrade). You can pair antique brass handles and taps with switches and light fixtures to create a coordinated look that exudes sophistication.
Here is another great idea you could try: go for paintable! While the shaker style is created to last a lifetime, you likely cannot say the same about your taste in kitchen colour schemes. This is why paintable Shaker ranges are a great idea, and many companies are actually selling bare doors which you can paint yourself at home, offering flexibility in colour choice. Besides, you can sand and repaint whenever the cabinets need a fresh hue rather than buying an entirely new kitchen to keep up with the current trends. So, don’t worry, incorporating shaker cabinets doesn’t mean breaking the bank. Also, you can rest assured that the changes we just mentioned don’t mean compromising on the aesthetics, either ( cheap kitchens can look good too, you know?).
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can always mix different colours on cabinetry. While it’s true that the shaker style is all about simplicity (we all love it for that), its pared-back style also gives you a perfect backdrop to combine your favourite shades. But you need to consider the placement of shades in relation to lighting, room size, and, obviously, the mood you wish to create. For example, let’s say you want to add a touch of elegance and depth to the kitchen. In this case, it’s a good idea to choose darker blocks of colour. Speaking of colour, there’s a tendency to go for neutral tones when embracing the shaker kitchen design, and while there isn’t anything wrong with that( they look gorgeous, after all), you can always shake things up with a bold hue, like red. Over the past few years, for example, demand for darker kitchens has increased because they offer understated luxury and versatility.
The Bottom Line
So, should you embrace a shaker kitchen? As highlighted above, this design offers an unbeatable mix of versatility, timeless elegance and practicality, honouring a rich heritage of craftmanship while also aligning with the demands of modern living. To put it simply, it’s a decision that you will not regret even after many years!
