A Shaker door is hands-down one of the most popular and timeless kitchen designs available and many different places have their own versions. So what does a Shaker kitchen design need to have to be a quality built and designed classic that will remain that way for many years?
1 Simplicity
A lot of the beauty of Shaker design is its pureness of line and simplicity of shape. “The Shaker is timelessly classic,” agrees Harvey Jones Chester showroom designer Hayley Fisher. “It doesn’t need to be extravagant or flamboyant, its simplicity speaks for itself.”
2 Quality of construction
A quality bespoke Shaker kitchen design will definitely have an in-frame hard-wood build, which is where the door sits inside a frame, rather than sitting directly on top of the carcass. It provides a much more rigid form to prevent the doors from dropping. It will also have biscuit joints, and quality butt-hinges and smooth drawer runners, ensuring it will look good for years to come. Harvey Jones kitchens are all made-to-order and crafted on-site at workshops in Cambridgeshire and Worcestershire by a skilled team of cabinet-makers and go through a rigorous construction process that feature all those elements.
3 Hand-painted design
The beauty of choosing a design that can be hand-painted in your own home is that you can select from a huge variety of colours and even opt for one or more shades for different areas or pieces of furniture in the kitchen. “Muted and tonal shades with a statement splash of colour is a really effective choice; either a contrasting island or standalone piece such as a pantry larder,” agrees Hayley. Primed with two coats of tough white undercoat Harvey Jones bespoke kitchens are expertly fitted first and then are ready to be hand painted by our specialist painters in the colour – or colours – of your choice.
4 Adaptability
The beauty of a bespoke Shaker kitchen is that it can look just as good in a modern setting as it can in a more traditional one. To make it modern, try bolder tones, steel bar handles and cool white composite worktops. If you prefer a more classic Shaker look, then opt for a natural shade, top with wooden worktops, add in a patterned tile splash back and fit with traditional wooden knob or cup handles.
5 Creating a Focal Point
The simplicity of the Shaker design means it’s perfect for building around a focal point in the kitchen, as it will compliment it beautifully without overshadowing. “Shaker kitchens look particularly effective with a focal feature such as a chimney mantel surrounding a range oven, which can be custom built to incorporate a feature into the space which did not exist previously,” suggests Hayley.
Whatever the shape or size of your room, choosing a bespoke, hand painted Shaker design will allow you to customize it to suit your style and your needs, creating a design that not only looks fabulous but one that will continue to look stunning for years.
Look around for inspiration and indulge your imagination. Our gallery or instagram page is a good places to start.
