Shaker kitchens: a complete buyer's guide

A Shaker kitchen uses a five-piece door: a flat, recessed centre panel inside a plain square frame. The style comes from the Shakers, an 18th- and 19th-century American community known for simple, well-made furniture. Shaker suits almost any home, from Victorian terraces to new builds, which is why it's still one of the most popular kitchen styles in Australia and the UK.

What makes a door "Shaker"?

A Shaker door has five parts: two vertical stiles, two horizontal rails, and a flat centre panel set slightly back. There's no decoration on the frame, no raised panel and no moulding. The look comes from the proportion and the shadow line around the panel.

That simplicity is why Shaker sits between traditional and modern. With brass knobs and marble it reads as classic. With slim black handles and concrete it reads as contemporary.

Classic Shaker vs Slim Shaker

The main variation is the width of the frame.

Both come in the same four colours. → /products/kitchen-cabinets/rta-shaker · /products/kitchen-cabinets/rta-slim-shaker

In the UK you'll also see in-frame Shaker kitchens, where the door sits inside a separate cabinet frame rather than over the front of it. That's a different construction. Ask any supplier which one they're quoting.

Shaker vs profiled

If you like the idea of Shaker but want more detail, look at profiled doors. Their centre panel is raised and shaped, and the frame has a moulded edge. They're more traditional and suit Hamptons, Provincial and heritage kitchens. → /products/kitchen-cabinets/classic-profiled-doors

Which colours work for Shaker?

Shaker works in almost any colour, which is part of its appeal. Our standard colours:

• Shop White. Crisp and bright, for small or darker kitchens.
• Alabaster. A softer white that suits natural stone and period homes.
• Black Walnut. A deep woodgrain, great on an island or a tall bank.
• Ivory Oak. A pale oak woodgrain that adds warmth without darkening the room.

Want a colour that isn't on the list, such as a deep green island or a heritage shade? That's what Custom Shaker is for: made to order in the colour you choose. → /finishes/colour-chips · /products/kitchen-cabinets/custom-shaker

Two-tone Shaker is an easy way to add character. Try a white perimeter with a walnut or painted island, or pale wall cabinets over darker base cabinets.

Handles, benchtops and details

A good rule of thumb: the wider the Shaker frame, the more traditional the handle can be.

Is Shaker a good choice? Pros and cons

Pros

• Timeless. It has lasted for more than a century and dates slowly.
• Suits nearly every home and budget.
• Works with almost any colour, handle or benchtop.

Cons

• The recess around the panel collects a little dust. A soft cloth sorts it.
• Painted Shaker can chip on heavy-use doors. Laminate surfaces are tougher.

What to check before you buy a Shaker kitchen

1. The carcass. The door is only the front. Ask what the box is made of. Ours are maple plywood. → /blog/plywood-vs-particleboard-vs-mdf-cabinets
2. The hardware. Soft-close hinges and full-extension drawers make the everyday difference. Ours use Blum. → /products/hardware-drawer-systems
3. The sizes. Made-to-measure cabinets avoid filler panels, which matters more on Shaker, where the frame lines make gaps obvious.
4. The finish. Painted, laminate or woodgrain? Ask to see samples in your own light.
5. The quote. Make sure doors, carcasses, hardware and installation are all itemised.