How to Modernise a Shaker Kitchen
The characteristics of a Shaker style kitchen are its elegant, simplistic design. Shaker kitchens take the form of a classic square frame with a recessed flat centre panel. The versatility of that design means it works well with any wood grain and colour, in both matt and gloss finishes, and it can sit just as comfortably in a modern kitchen as a traditional one. A Shaker kitchen is a classic and stylish choice, with the option to modernise it or keep it traditional. The designs feature sophisticated cabinets and panels that deliver warmth and style, and the traditional edge of these fittings combines neatly with modern appliances and linear patterns to form a practical space that radiates elegance. A Shaker kitchen often attracts the attention of guests and gives them a little clue into your personality, making it perfect for anyone looking to combine style, elegance, simplicity and durability.
Modernising a Shaker Kitchen at a Glance
You do not need to change the doors to bring a Shaker kitchen up to date. The same square framed door reads as contemporary once you change what surrounds it: bolder or darker paint colours in place of neutrals, sleek bar, steel, brass or copper hardware, quartz or granite worktops, concealed and integrated appliances, curved cabinetry or a curved island, and LED lighting with updated flooring to tie it together. At Handmade Kitchen Company we can build a modern Shaker from scratch or update an existing one.
Six ways to give a Shaker kitchen a contemporary look
A modern Shaker kitchen can still keep the traditional features, but certain adjustments will give it a contemporary feel.
Colours
Shaker is the perfect canvas for a wide range of colour options. Traditional Shaker kitchens generally use neutral colours in a single shade. To make yours more contemporary, use bright or bold colours, or a number of different shades, glosses and finishes.
Handles
The handles on your cabinets are one of the quickest ways to modernise a Shaker kitchen. Sleek bar, stainless steel or glass handles instantly give a clean, modern look. Polished brass and copper handles are increasingly popular, especially with darker coloured cabinets, as they make the doors stand out and add a contemporary twist.
Worktops
Updating your worktops is a great way to modernise a Shaker kitchen. Materials such as quartz and granite add a contemporary feel and can be matched to your flooring or cabinet colour scheme.
Appliances and accessories
Adding up-to-date kitchen furniture and appliances quickly modernises a Shaker kitchen. Coordinating colour schemes and materials, and adding units and doors to conceal appliances, instantly gives the room a more minimal look.
Cabinet shape
You can give a Shaker kitchen a contemporary look by adding or replacing existing cabinets with curved cabinetry, or by making a curved kitchen island the main feature.
Flooring and lighting
Adding modern lighting is a great way to give a Shaker kitchen a contemporary twist. LEDs are a popular choice as they are efficient and look sleek. A change of flooring can then bring the whole room together, coordinating with the new colour and lighting scheme.
Modern Shaker Kitchen FAQs
Can a Shaker kitchen look modern?
Yes. The square framed door with a recessed centre panel is neutral enough to read either way. Change the paint colour, the hardware, the worktops and the lighting and the same cabinetry looks contemporary rather than traditional.
How do you modernise an existing Shaker kitchen?
The quickest changes are hardware and paint. Swapping to sleek bar handles or brass and copper knobs, and repainting in a bolder or darker shade, transforms the look without touching the carcasses. Worktops, lighting and flooring take it further.
What colours make a Shaker kitchen look contemporary?
Deeper, bolder shades tend to read as more modern than the pale neutrals associated with traditional Shaker, and using more than one shade across the run and the island adds contrast. A darker colour also shows off brass or copper hardware particularly well.
What is a handleless Shaker kitchen?
It keeps the Shaker door profile but removes visible handles, using a finger pull or rail detail instead. It is one of the most effective ways to make the style feel contemporary, and it is the basis of our Mapesbury design.
Where does Handmade Kitchen Company build modern Shaker kitchens?
We design, hand-build and hand-paint bespoke Shaker kitchens from our workshop in Essex, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London. For the history of the style and the three Shaker door designs we make, see
. For the traditional treatment, read
what is a traditional Shaker kitchen?
, and to see the two combined in a single project, read
designing a Shaker kitchen with old and new elements
. Here at Handmade Kitchen Company, we design and build modern Shaker kitchens with quality and care, applying the core principles of the Shaker style through bespoke design and craftsmanship. If you would like to know more about modern or traditional Shaker kitchens, please contact us. You can also visit our showroom to view our latest builds.
