Shaker-style cabinets work well everywhere (in fact, “The Shakers used cabinets for storage throughout the home,” according to Denning). DeVOL kitchen customers often ask for coordinating bathroom or storage cabinets elsewhere in their homes. “We like people to have an eclectic mix of things in their homes,” Parker said, but coordinating cabinetry is a nice unifying look.
How can I get Shaker-style cabinets on a budget?
Two of our experts specialize in giving their clients the Shaker cabinet look on a budget. “Everybody does the Shaker style,” said interior designer Galli, who’s a fan of Ikea’s (they offer several versions). “I love them, personally, and I use them all the time.” She especially likes to pair the door fronts with vintage hardware.
John McDonald’s SemiHandmade offers customized Shaker cabinet fronts to pair with Ikea cabinet boxes for a part custom, part off-the-shelf solution. “I was a maker of custom furniture for a long time,” said McDonald, “and it gives you everything you want, but it comes at a price.”
But why not just use the Ikea door fronts that Galli uses? He points to a “D-groove” joint that Ikea uses, which makes a tiny indentation on the door front. “They’ve tried to make it look like a design choice,” he says, “but there’s a practical reason that they do that”—to account for wood movement. He may be picky, he admits, but to him, Ikea’s doors just don’t look right.
What decisions will I need to make when choosing Shaker cabinets?
The width of the four-piece frame is the biggest variable. deVOL’s own frames range in width from about 3 to 5 inches, while Wood Mode’s vary from about 2.25 inches to just over 3 inches wide. “It needs to look quite substantial without looking clunky or heavy,” said Parker.
You’ll need to decide whether you want to mix the Shaker-style doors with slab-front drawers or cabinets. And you may have a say in edge profiles, but most of our makers recommended squared edges with just a little bit of easing, to avoid a knife-sharp edge. (That will also lessen the chance of denting, notes Denning.)
To get more ideas on how to evaluate and choose kitchen cabinetry and hardware, see our Remodeling 101 Guide: Kitchen Cabinets & Hardware. And for a complete guide to kitchen cabinet styles, see Remodeling 101: A Guide to the Only 6 Kitchen Cabinet Styles You Need to Know.
N.B.: This story originally ran on November 4, 2016 and has been updated with new information and imagery. Featured photograph by Thomas Leonczik, courtesy of SPACES by Hollie Velten, from Kitchen of the Week: ‘Cotswold Charm and Japanese Simplicity’ in New Jersey.
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