What is a Shaker style kitchen? 

A traditional Shaker kitchen is simple and practical, with a minimalist design and a high level of craftsmanship. They feature symmetrical cabinets with distinctive framed panel doors.

The history of Shaker cabinets begins with the history of the Shakers themselves. In 1774, a group of English Quakers emigrated to America seeking religious freedom and a simple, communal lifestyle. Shaker Cabinet Door styles were built with woods easily accessed by the Shaker community. Birch, cherry, pine, maple, and oak were all common materials used to create Shaker furniture.

A Shaker Cabinet Door has a timeless appeal, and because of its simple beauty, it works in nearly any style of room. From modern to traditional houses shaker cabinets will fit and compliment the space.

Shaker doors have a simplistic design, with a characteristic square-frame door that has a recessed flat centre panel. This creates a basic and straightforward look with just enough detail to catch the eye. This simplicity is the main part of their appeal. It’s not something that goes in and out of style, which makes Shaker kitchens a versatile and elegant choice for traditional looks and modern aesthetics. It’s a timeless kitchen design that won’t look dated in 10 years. 

The more detail on kitchen cabinet doors, the more dust and grease gets trapped in ridges and grooves. Which inevitably means more cleaning is needed. shaker doors, on the other hand, are very simple in design. This keeps cleaning to a minimum. 

At Monkeywood we can offer a truly bespoke approach to shaker kitchens. We have several ranges to suit all kitchen projects. Don’t forget that all kitchens are handmade within our Oxfordshire workshop. This means that we can adapt any of our ranges to suit our customer’s needs. 

Ashton – The Ashton collection is our version of the classic Shaker Kitchens. A timeless design which can suit any age property. This collection is still our most popular range and can be produced in many timbers as well as our most popular hand painted finish. This is a style that is practical, comfortable and beautiful, a kitchen that you will never want to change.

Somerton – The Somerton collection is our most contemporary of ranges. Using traditional methods of cabinet making, paired with clean lines and linear designs, the Somerton collection shows that you can have the perfect mix of hand crafted and contemporary within your bespoke kitchen design. The Somerton collection is made from flat fronted doors with handles of your choice for a clean and details free design.

Foxton – A truly Bespoke Handmade Kitchen. The Foxton puts a slight classical spin on the Ashton range of units. Adding a small detail around the panelled door comprising of a single round bead. This adds a touch of elegance and finesse.