HGTV.comHGTV.com

Shaker Cabinets

Kitchen Design : Episode KDE-1206 -- More Projects »
Host Joan Kohn explores with designer Michelle Shields the history and design elements of the beautiful and versatile Shaker style of cabinetry.
Photo

The clean, simple lines of Shaker cabinetry work well with any decorating style.
Photo

In contemporary settings, high-tech finishes and ornate hardware styles blend well with the simple lines of Shaker cabinetry.
Photo

Original Shaker cabinets might have been painted in this blue tone or stained yellow ocher. Matching wood knob pulls were used almost exclusively.
Photo

Indigenous domestic woods such as cherry, oak and maple are appropriate choices for authentic Shaker cabinets.
  • The unadorned cabinet style was first produced by the Shakers around the 1790s. The Shakers were a religious group that valued simplicity and solid craftsmanship.
  • One of the hallmarks of Shaker cabinetry is dovetailed wood joints. No glue or nails are used in corners, so that the wood swells and contracts uniformly, resulting in an extraordinarily sturdy joint.
  • The Shakers valued neatness and orderliness. Furniture is well-suited to its task, with multiple drawers, shelves, etc., so that there is a place for everything. Built-in furniture was popular with Shakers because it fit the space exactly and had a specific function.
  • Ornamentation for Shaker furniture was considered unnecessary. Once the piece had reached a point of exact functioning, it was finished. Plain fronts, limited trim and simple hardware were all that was required.
  • With its simple, clean lines, Shaker style furniture is suited to any decor. It can be modernized with high-tech finishes and ornate hardware, or fit comfortably in a traditional home using warm woods and old-fashioned pulls.
Guests
Michelle Shields
Designer, The Great Room Company
407 The Hill
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-431-3800 Fax: 603-431-4550
E-mail: michelle@greatroom.com
Website: www.greatroom.com
Also in this Episode
Kitchen Design : Episode KDE-1206
•Beachfront Home
•Shaker Cabinets
•City Brownstone
HGTV.com
Services Popular Content About
Our Sister Sites

Comparison Shop for Home Decor & Garden Tools at Shopzilla & BizRate

UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.

© 2008 Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.