shaker style tips & tricks: the perfect finishing touches

What is a shaker kitchen?

The history of a shaker kitchen is a style of kitchen cabinetry that features flat centre panels and square edges, featuring minimal detailing and profiling. The shaker style has been around for centuries and is the most popular kitchen design aesthetic used to date. The shaker style can be used in combination with many modern designs to create a beautiful masterpiece.

The history of the shaker kitchen design

The shaker style originates from the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, more commonly known as Shakers. This religious group was founded in the 18th century after moving away from the Quakers.

The shaker community emigrated to America from Manchester, particularly around New England. They created bespoke and hand-designed furniture that was renowned for its high standards and quality craftsmanship. The shaker style is known for being simple, durable and understated. The intricate detailing was seen to be dishonest, so embellishments and finery were avoided when it came to designing kitchen cabinetry.

What materials are used in a shaker kitchen?

The cabinetry is typically made from materials such as maple, pine and cherry wood rather than mahogany. Today, more sustainable materials are used like birchwood, pine and oak to give them a new lease of life.

For cabinet handles in the shaker style, antique brass and dark pewter handles are popular choices to contrast the traditional white or dark blue shaker cabinetry. In keeping with tradition, the Windsor collection or the Monmouth collection would add the subtle detailing to perfectly suit this kitchen cabinetry design.

Colour Palette for your Shaker Kitchen

When it comes to shaker style furniture, the shaker community limited themselves to using primary colours to add depth to their open-plan houses. A combination of earthy tones, plants, and natural wood creates the perfect contrast to simple, neutral, white walls.

To follow the traditional shaker style, try to incorporate a combination of cabinet knobs and pulls that all have the same finish. Doing this will allow for continuity even if the type of hardware you choose may be different.

The finishing touches for your shaker kitchen

So you’ve purchased your shaker cabinetry and are looking for those finishing touches to really accentuate your style. Due to the simplicity of the shaker design, the Monmouth cup handle or the Calgary knob would create a beautiful feature and an effortlessly elegant design, displaying both class and sophistication. The neutral hues or darker cabinetry combined with the classic handle features create a look any budding interior designer would be envious of.

To find out how French Furniture Fittings can take your shaker kitchen from drab to fab – contact us today!