What Is a Shaker Kitchen? Ideas and Cost

If you’re planning a home renovation but watching the pennies, you should prioritise important rooms like the kitchen. This is often the centre of family life nowadays so it should be done to a high standard and durable enough to last years. And it’s not just the materials you choose that affect its ability to stand the test of time, the style is important too.

Home renovation trends come and go but classic looks like Shaker endure, so it’s always a solid choice. But exactly what is a shaker kitchen? 

What Is a Shaker Kitchen?

If you know who the Shakers were, you’ll probably have a good idea of what a shaker kitchen is. The name comes from the Shaker religious communities that settled in the US in the 18th century.

Shakers were expert craftspeople and acquired a reputation for making high-quality furniture but shunned decoration and elaborate designs due to their faith. Shaker cabinets typically have a stripped down, minimalist design featuring a flat recessed front panel in a four-piece wood frame. While the style works in a range of rooms and settings, Shaker cabinets are most common in kitchens due to their practical, unfussy aesthetic. 

Shaker cabinetmakers tended to use the best quality but least expensive wood like fruit trees or pine. The classic look is light coloured natural wood, but cabinets can also be painted or stained, so it’s easy to revitalise them with a fresh coat further down the line. The overall colour scheme is another important part of what a shaker kitchen is. While there’s nothing to stop you going wild, classic Shaker shades are usually muted and tasteful.

The elegant, uncluttered Shaker style makes it highly versatile. Shaker kitchens can be found everywhere from classic and high-end homes to modern design or low-budget bungalows.  

Shaker Kitchen Cost

Like any home renovation, the cost of installing a Shaker kitchen can vary greatly depending on the size and the quality of fixtures and fittings. If you’re just replacing the existing kitchen cabinets with Shaker versions, it’s a relatively straightforward job. However, costs will rise significantly if you’re doing a full kitchen remodel or adding modern features like an island or glass fronted doors.   

Budget for anywhere from £6,000 to £12,000  for a 6 to 8 week build for this home renovation. 

Shaker Kitchen Ideas

While the style remains simple, these days the definition of what a shaker kitchen is has expanded a lot. Modern Shaker kitchens can be subdued and traditional or bold and contemporary. It’s entirely up to you. 

Here are a few suggestions for your Shaker kitchen renovation: 

• Bare all with a natural wood finish. Oak is a popular choice for Shaker kitchens but you could also go with maple, pine, cherry or walnut, to name just a few. Natural wood Shaker cabinets also go well with wooded countertops in cottage or Scandinavian style kitchens. 
  
  
• Splash out with a pop of colour. Just because Shaker cabinets are simple that doesn’t mean they need to be boring. In fact, the stripped-back design gives you some freedom to be bold with colour. Shakers work well in light or pastel shades but you can also go for bright blues, navy, plum or vivid green. Or you could mix and match for a two-tone effect: coloured doors below and white ones above.
   
• Be transparent with glass fronted cabinets. You will need to keep the shelves tidy though. One option is to have solid fronted cabinets below to store pots and pans and glass fronts above with your best dishes on display. 
  
  
• Change up the handles. Traditional Shaker handles were simple wood shapes but now you can get everything from brushed stainless steel to gold and silver accents to ceramic knobs and more.  
  
  
• Contrast with countertops. Wooden cabinets go great with sleek solid marble or granite worktops for a classic look but you can also combine them with stainless steel for an industrial style kitchen. 
  
  
• Add desirable modern features like a breakfast bar or island. 

To find out more about what a shaker kitchen is and whether it’s right for your home, get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise.