What is a Modern Shaker kitchen?
Shaker kitchen doors feature a flat centre panel and square raised outer stiles with minimal detailing. Shaker cabinetry design is typically symmetrical and doesn’t tend to feature intricate carvings or ornamentation.
What is a Modern Shaker kitchen?
A modern shaker kitchen is very similar to a classic shaker kitchen, they retain the core traditions of simplicity and utility but with an even more minimal and contemporary aesthetic due to a slimmer frame.
When you think of clean, minimal design, what usually comes to mind is a Scandi aesthetic. But did you know that back in the 1800s, the Shakers of colonial America were already exhibiting the sophistication of simplicity in their furniture and architecture?
This religious community journeyed to America and was made up of craftsmen who believed in simple, utilitarian, and well-crafted design. Long before Bauhaus — with its focus on functionality and efficiency — the Shakers were democratising a different kind of solid, clean furniture style. They were a small community of Christians who prized thorough work, aiming for perfection, and even believed pouring themselves into crafting was “an act of prayer”. To this day, the legacy of their craftsmanship lives on – especially in our kitchens.
It might seem like a style inspired by furniture from so long ago is bound to be traditional. But actually, Modern Shaker kitchens offer interiors that are simple yet contemporary, fusing the modern world with the elegance and practicality of the original designs.
A modern spin on heritage looks
There’s a timeless elegance in the Shaker aesthetic, which is why so many people have found joy in rediscovering it in today’s Modern Shaker style. Rather than completely frameless modern cabinets, or the more ornate bevelling on traditional cabinetry, Modern Shaker doors have a slim raised frame.
This style effortlessly bridges the gap between traditional and ultra-modern looks, creating an elegant in-between that suits a converted barn as well as it does a city penthouse. The style’s preference for clean lines, thin frames, and simple detailing means that Modern Shaker kitchens are just as easy to clean and maintain as Classic Shaker kitchens.
Personalisation
Another unparalleled benefit of opting for the Modern Shaker-style kitchen is the seemingly limitless allowance for personalisation. Whatever you envision for your space, you can easily pair your ideas with Modern Shaker cabinets, and make them your own. The minimalist doors suit everything from range cookers and a country cottage aesthetic, to gleaming American-style fridges and polished hardware. The sleek, toned-down aesthetic of the Modern Shaker style allows for a wide array of handle styles, cabinet colours, and even patterns (if you so desire.)
One thing to consider here, however, is the cabinet’s border width. Since there is a little less room on the border when compared to Classic Shaker kitchens, it’s important to consider which drawer pulls and door handles will fit. Hidden or slimline pulls can often be an ideal fit for Modern Shaker cabinetry if you are aiming for a sleek, minimal aesthetic.
Handleless Modern Shaker Kitchen: St John’s Wood collection
If you want to take the minimalist look a step further, a handleless Modern Shaker option could be the right fit for you. Offering clean lines and a sleek finish, handleless cabinetry can be great for those who don’t want to draw attention to kitchen hardware or make hardware a feature of their space.
The versatility of the Modern Shaker style lets your tastes run free when it comes to the worktops, too. A chunky wooden worktop could be a perfect fit if you fancy a more classic feel. This look goes well with more classic kitchen appliances like an AGA. But you could also go for a Quartz worktop paired with glass-fronted cupboards and steel appliances if you are looking for a more modern look that combines sophistication with resiliency and durability.
How to integrate shaker style into a modern kitchen
Modern Shaker cabinetry really is the perfect way to combine traditional and modern style preferences, thanks to the charm of their timelessness carried through from the original classic look. The Shakers loved neat, orderly, and multifunctional spaces, which is partly why the designs are so pared back. It’s also why they’re so easy to personalise in the first place — and refresh over the years as you desire. Whether you want to keep the colour of your cabinets the same and simply update your hardware, or you prefer to give them a lick of paint every few years, you can do so easily. Try white or grey finishes to recall light and airy Shaker appeal, or dark olive or navy for a feeling of contemporary elegance.
The Shakers were also all about communal living and multipurpose spaces, with a central island creating a space for people to gather and do tasks in one spot — so adding a kitchen island can act as a subtle nod to tradition even if you want to keep everything else about your cabinetry on the minimalist side.
The versatility of Modern Shaker-style kitchens is what makes them so appealing to such a wide array of people. So whether you’re designing a modern kitchen in a city apartment, or renovating a classic country home, a Modern Shaker kitchen could be the answer.
If you’d like to know more about which Modern Shaker kitchen could work for you, get in touch with one of our kitchen designers and we’ll help you get started.