What is a Shaker Kitchen?

Shaker style kitchens are made following the same principles which were embodied in the work of the religious community who crafted simple but exquisite furniture in the 1800s. The Shaker kitchen is all about clean lines, integrity of materials and honesty in the design. They are characterised by their materials, usually wood, their functionality, and their simplicity. 

 

Shaker kitchens are easily identifiable for elements such as their free-standing design and exquisite craftsmanship. Original Shaker kitchen cabinets had distinguished by recessed panels on the front and dovetail joints to give them tensile strength and that’s how Shaker kitchens are constructed today. Their durability and beautiful timeless design are the pure embodiment of Shaker principles. 

Shaker kitchens take their name from a religious movement which grew out of English Quakerism in the mid-1800s. They believed their leader Mother Ann Lee was the incarnation of the second coming of Christ and they derived their name from the shaking and trembling which characterised their religious services. However, it is for their simple, beautifully crafted furniture that they are most remembered. Creating items with a purpose was at the core of Shaker philosophy. They believed that to do so was to perform a kind of meditative prayer and so the crafting of furniture was a profoundly spiritual thing for them to do. An original piece of shaker furniture would be highly prized and command a very high value today, but their inspiration lives on in the shaker kitchen of today. 

 

 

Shaker kitchens were traditionally made from the best, but least expensive timbers Shakers could get their hands on. Fruit trees or pine were the nearest high-quality wood available to them, so their kitchens often featured lots of light wood. It can be stained, painted or oiled to maintain a rustic, natural look. 

 

The cabinet doors often set a Shaker kitchen apart thanks to their simplicity and understated design. 

 

Shaker kitchen cabinets are still the most popular and commonly-used style used today. They are characterised by four, wide-frame wooden pieces with a receded centre panel. Some are clean and simple, while others have a slight decorative edge. 

 

The frame is constructed with traditional dovetail joints that give a familiar nod to its humble beginnings. 

 

While the Shakers’ original doors would have been oiled because they didn’t waste time painting, modern versions are typically stained or painted. 

The price of a new kitchen depends on the budget you’ve set, how big it is and how you’ve decided to style it. If you go for a minimalist style with natural, unpainted wooden cabinets and an understated theme with little to no added extras, your new kitchen will cost a lot less. 

 

There is a lot to think about, from suppliers to the price of fittings and buying the material required. Make sure you establish a clear budget and stick to it because it is easy to go overboard and run up a sizable bill. 

The simple yet beautiful design that Shaker-style cabinets feature and the utility they offer has the kind of timeless appeal most people want for their kitchen. Shaker kitchens are truly made to last, which is a massive plus point for those who do not want to have to keep changing the look of their kitchen after a few years. 

 

Not only will a Shaker kitchen not look outmoded it will fit in with almost any design scheme, whether it’s traditional or a more contemporary look. 

 

We have an expert design team at Kitchen & Bathroom Creations. Whether you decide to opt for a shaker kitchen, or something modern, we’ve got you covered. Our kitchens are bespoke and will be tailored precisely to your home and specifications. We collaborate with you from the beginning, at the design stage, all the way through to installation. 

 

For further inspiration take a look at our kitchen design pages.