Shaker Kitchen Styles; Options and Inspiration

Shaker kitchens make up about 50% of UK kitchen sales each year. These more traditional style kitchens may have been mostly forgotten by our European cousins, but still reign supreme in our hearts. Lets take a look at some of the different styles of shaker kitchen and the pros and cons. 

Door Types

A shaker door is defined by its outer frame and central panel; that much hasn’t changed. But like most things these days, there isn’t just one shaker style. In fact, there are dozens of variations, from the traditional 5-piece to modern handle-less versions.

Here are a few popular options:

5 Piece 

This is one of the most traditional styles of shaker - a door made of 5 pieces of wood (4 for the frame, and 1 for the panel in the middle), the joints are normally chamfered, so they are a more prominent feature on the door. Giving a very classic and traditional feel to any kitchen . 

1 Piece

This is where the outer frame of the door is made from one sheet of material, so there is no joints - making it look a bit more modern, these style shakers also work great in modern colours, such as burgundy or light pink - creating a perfect fusion of modern and classic

These doors are also available as ‘beaded shakers’ add an extra level of detail and giving them a more classical look 

Narrow Shaker 

These are the more stylish and modern versions of the traditional shaker - boasting a thinner size frame than their counterparts. Traditional shaker doors have a frame width of 70 -80mm, while these narrow shakers have a frame width of around 60mm

Micro shaker

These are even thinner than the previous. Sometimes referred to as ‘dinner tray style shakers’ these modern style shaker doors use some of the latest technology to create a really thin frame of only 10mm around the door. Creating modern minimal shaker designs which screams elegance

Handle-less shaker 

Handle-less or integrated handle shaker kitchens create that modern look of sleek ‘ handle-less’ designs that people are after while maintaining the classic style of a shaker. 

This style of shaker is not as common as the rest, and has some really funky ways to integrate and hide the handle, Take the Harborne kitchen below, the Handle is integrated into the top of the frame  creating a 1 piece door and handle, creating a subtle line that adds a bit of different depth to a 1 piece shaker door

Paint of Vinyl finish shaker doors? 

This is the age old question (actually it’s quite a recent question) - do I want my shaker doors painted or vinyl wrapped. As an avid home design enthusiast it is a question I have been asked a lot, and I think it is a question that deserves an answer from an expert - so I asked Mark at Raison Home,  you may have seen his face on a few of the Tiktok videos, this is what he had to say; 

“There is not right or wrong answer for this, it comes down to 3 main questions; 

What is your budget like? 

How and who is going to use the kitchen? 

Do you want an exclusive or rarer colour kitchen? 

And here is why; 

What is your budget like? 

Painted kitchens are generally more expensive than the Vinyl doors, but this is for good reason - a painted kitchen is just that! painted , meaning it takes time and people to be made, sprayed and perfected before it can be delivered to you. 

Vinyl layers can be put on in one go, so there is a much faster production cycle.  

How and who is going to use the kitchen? 

This might sound like a silly question, but it is genuinely very important - you tend to find painted kitchens will chip and mark easier. If you have young children and pets running around your kitchen - you might it is easier and more sustainable in the long term to have a vinyl kitchen, as marks can normally be wiped off very easily

Do you want an exclusive or rarer colour kitchen? 

One of the really nice features of painted kitchens (from the right supplier) is that they can do custom colours - matching RAL or NCS colour codes. So if you are after something a bit more YOU, a painted kitchen can be the way to go. “

With so many different shaker styles out there, we could all use a guide, a partner helping us to choose the right style and colour for our space. If you are thinking about starting your home renovation project soon, get in touch with your local Home Designer today. Your trusted home renovation partner