When you’re looking for a completely new kitchen, or just looking to refresh your existing one, one conundrum that always exists is what style it should be. Sometimes, due to your house, this decision could be made for you (like if you live in a very rustic country house, or a modern hi-tech flat), but if you have a blank canvas to work with, there are a range of options you can go for. There are classic kitchens, contemporary kitchens, Scandinavian kitchens and – most importantly – shaker kitchens. The shaker style has become increasingly popular in the past few years for a variety of different reasons, so what are the benefits of following the shaker style?
It Won’t Go Out Of Style
You can date shaker kitchens back to the 18th century to a group called the Shakers. They were a religious sect that arrived in the new world in the 1780s from England, and were known for their simple and efficient lifestyle. This affected every aspect of their lives, including the clothes they wore and the houses they lived in. This was seen in their style of kitchen too, which was simply designed but ultimately functional.
This simple design has stood the test of time and has meant the style’s suited a lot of different types of kitchen over the years. So when you’re looking for a long-term kitchen investment that you don’t want to go out of fashion, a shaker kitchen is a strong bet.
They’re Built To Last
Another one of the Shakers’ beliefs was building strong and sturdy items that were made to last. Once something was built, it stayed built. This is especially true when it came to shaker furniture, it wasn’t decorative so it was built for function, and it was built to last so that it wouldn’t break or tarnish easily over time. And this ethos has been followed through with when it comes to modern shaker kitchens. They’re not flimsy or shoddily-built, meaning they’re in your kitchen for the long term. Just as well they never go out of fashion.
It’s All About the Doors
The defining feature of a shaker kitchen, and what separates it from other kitchen styles, is the traditional shaker doors. They’re made up of a four-panel design with a recessed centre panel which gives the doors depth, but doesn’t over-complicate the design either. And because shaker doors are such an essential part of the shaker design, if you were looking for a bit of a kitchen refresh but not wanting to redesign the whole of your kitchen, a great way to do that is by adding some new shaker kitchen doors to your cabinets, and new fronts for your drawers too.
They’re Not As Expensive As You Might Think
For something so well-built and in keeping with modern styles, you’d be forgiven for believing that shaker kitchens are an expensive option. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Whilst you do get what you pay for when it comes to quality craftsmanship and installation, the shaker style kitchen is incredibly cost-effective. This is in part down to the simple yet effective nature of the shaker style; there’s no intricate details or fancy finishing touches that need to be applied, so all the cost is going into the craftsmanship of the doors themselves.
So in conclusion, there are many reasons why you might want to consider getting a shaker style kitchen, or at least following some of the shaker design practices when refreshing your kitchen. This is especially true if you want your kitchen to be stylish, timeless, well-built and cost-effective.
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