The process of designing a kitchen, selecting cabinets and optional features, and coordinating the installation can be a very stressful process.  Quite a bit of work goes into the planning stage to ensure a smooth installation, and this work will usually pay off in a beautiful kitchen that with a host of new features.  Of course once the installation is complete, perhaps the most important homeowner task remains…

Inspecting your new kitchen

The inspection of your new kitchen can often begin during the actual installation.  As with any construction project, a reasonable expectation is that the installation begins on time.  As the installation crew begins their work, look at the way they handle the cabinets and the way in which they treat the other areas of your home, including your walls, floors, and ceiling.  If all of the material required for the job was delivered, you should see a smooth, predictable and uneventful process. If the installation crew looks frustrated, chances are there is design or product issues that they will be expected to resolve on site.

Once the installation is complete, you should be asked to complete a walk-through of your completed kitchen with either a member of the installation crew, possibly your designer / salesperson, or another employee of the cabinet dealership.  Be sure to take notes during the official walk-through (the dealer may have a form for you to use), and make sure the installer or dealer representative signs the completed inspection form noting any deficiencies (“punch list” item).   Take the time to be thorough during this walkthrough, paying particular attention to the items below.

Cleanliness
The entire work area should be clean and free of all debris.  Look for stray fasteners (nails, staples, etc.) inside of the cabinets and drawers.   Although this is a relative minor item, cleanliness issues are frequently an indicator or poor workmanship.

Alignment
Check all of the doors and drawers for proper alignment to a tolerance of less than 1/8”.  Today’s modern hinge and drawer glide systems mean that homeowners should expect near perfect alignment.  Also check to ensure that adjacent groups of cabniets, “cabinet runs” in indutry terms, are in a continuous plane.  This is particularly important if you have granite countertops being installed separately, because they cannot be installed on uneven cabinet surfaces.

Moving Elements
Cabinet doors should swing smoothly and with minimal resistance, and bumpers should be installed in the corners to minimize noise and vibration when closed.  All drawers and specialty items (Lazy Susan’s, tambour doors, swing-out spice shelves, etc.) should glide smoothing and without noise.  “Lumpy” motions are not acceptable with today’s use of ball-bearing roller systems and likely indicate a problem.

Surface Fit
There should be no vertical gaps between cabinets, against wall surfaces, or between appliances. Scribe molding can be used to conceal vertical gaps between a cabinet and wall, but verify that the cabinet is plumb and that the issue is with your walls, which is fairly common.  Also look for gaps between the toe kick (Thin, flat, 3 1/2” wide molding used at the bottom of the base cabinet) and the floor.   Shoe molding should be used here much the same as a scribe molding is used vertically and should be sealed with caulk to prevent moisture damage.

Finish
Look for consistency in the stain or paint without noticeable “puddling” or runs in the finish.  Run your hand over the entire surface of the cabinets to ensure smoothness and to look for any poorly hidden nails or tacks.  Keep in mind that with real wood cabinetry, there will be slight color variations between two cabinets and possibly even on a single cabinet.  On the other hand, two distinctly different colors should not be accepted.

Countertops
As with your cabinet surfaces, countertops should smooth and free of any visual defects, bumps, or other imperfections.  Seems should be caulked with either a clear or color-matched product designed to produce a smooth, inconspicuous look.  The caulk should be neat and smooth without and lumpy bumps, globs, smears, and gaps.  Be sure to check the seals around the sink installation, the countertop against the wall and backsplash, and adjoining cabinets.

WHY IS IT CALLED A SHAKER CABINET?
Shaker-style cabinet doors are named after the Shakers, a Protestant religious community that came to America from England around the Revolutionary War.

WHAT DOES A SHAKER KITCHEN CABINET LOOK LIKE?
According to an essay on Shaker furniture by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Shaker tenets held that manufactured goods should be honest in construction and appearance.” Putting those beliefs in practice, Shaker furniture makers created intentionally simple designs focused on craftsmanship instead of ornamentation.

In the kitchen, craftsmanship meant building cabinetry that was strong, stable and resistant to warping. For this reason, Shakers favored 5-piece cabinet door construction – a technique with two stiles (vertical sides) and two rails (horizontal sides) joined to form a frame that surrounds a center panel. This straightforward design would come to define the iconic types of Shaker-style cabinet doors that we see in many home kitchens today.

Shaker-style cabinet doors achieve their signature no-frills look with:

Square-edged door frame components – no carved profiles
Flat center panels (not raised or beaded) that are inset, or recessed, in the face of the door frame
Straightforward turned wood knobs instead of intricate pulls

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHAKER DOOR AND A SHAKER-STYLE DOOR?
While all Shaker door styles will share the design principles outlined above, you’ll find variations in today’s Shaker-style kitchen cabinet doors that offer opportunities to add extra personality.

In addition to the conventional Shaker door, KraftMaid® offers door style options with wider rails and stiles that put a more contemporary spin on the original Shaker design. And some of our Shaker-style cabinet doors include ornamentation, such as a simple stepped profile on the inside frame above and below the center panel or an unassuming cove around the inner door frame. These modest details add interest without detracting from the simplistic appearance.

WHY IS SHAKER KITCHEN CABINETRY SO POPULAR?
If it feels like you’re seeing Shaker kitchens everywhere you turn these days, you’re right. Shaker-style door options have consistently ranked among our bestsellers for decades, and they’re not going out of style anytime soon. There’s good reason for that.

Designers love the versatility of the Shaker style. The uncluttered, understated look complements almost any design style – from streamlined contemporary kitchens to farmhouse kitchens that celebrate vintage elements.
Timeless appeal is another reason so many people gravitate to Shaker kitchen cabinets. You’ll find Shaker cabinetry in turn-of-the-century kitchens, kitchens built today and every decade between. It’s a charming look that will never go out of style.
It’s easy to live with Shaker kitchen cabinets too. Without the intricate details, there are fewer places for dirt and grease to collect, and the doors are easier to wipe down.

Shaker-Style Cabinets: Origins & Styling Tips

Shaker-style cabinets have been a steadfast and dominating kitchen trend. Popularized by the all-white kitchen farmhouse look, painted Shaker cabinets in colors like blue, green, and gray are now commanding attention in kitchen remodels. But, the original Shaker cabinet was natural wood. Sweeten finds out why they’re a perennial favorite.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

The origin of Shaker-style cabinets
Speaking of the original Shaker cabinet, where did this design come from? And why, are they so popular?

Shaker cabinets were developed by the Shakers, a group derived from the English Quakers and Methodists. They emigrated to New York state from England in 1774. Their communities grew throughout New England and westward in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.

Part of their beliefs included simplicity and order. Working with their hands led them to become entrepreneurs and craftspeople. They earned a reputation for high-quality furniture building, among other skills. From this, the Shaker-style cabinet was born.

light green galley kitchen

(Above) Renovation with mint Shaker-style cabinets by Sweeten homeowners Laura + Tim

What are Shaker-style cabinets?
A Shaker-style cabinet door is a simple, five-panel door. It is made of a flat frame with squared edges using cope-and-stick, or stile-and-rail, construction. It has a flat, non-ornate, recessed inner panel.

The design of Shaker cabinets is reflective of their makers. Quality craftsmanship followed Shaker’s beliefs in simplicity and order, and so did the design of the cabinet door itself. Form followed function since the utility was important. As such, Shaker-style furniture, including cabinets, served a purpose and avoided embellishment.

Why are Shaker-style cabinets so popular?
Cabinets are a big-ticket item in a kitchen. As styles change, it is much less expensive to swap out accessories, or even countertops, for an easy update. The Shaker cabinet’s simple style makes it pair well with various backsplash designs, flooring types, and countertop materials.

Shaker cabinet doors are easy to produce, strong, and durable. Without ornate decoration, they are also easy to clean. Because of their simplicity and minimalistic style, Shaker cabinets have proven to be versatile and enduring.

Shaker communities were most populous in the mid-1800s when their membership peaked at about 6,000. In 2017, only two living Shaker members remained. But their furniture style continues to influence American design today.

White and blue modern kitchen with little girl sitting on the quartz countertop after renovation

(Above) Renovation with navy and white Shaker cabinets by Sweeten homeowners Brandi + Chris

What home styles do Shaker-style cabinets complement?
Because Shaker cabinets have such a precise historical origin, you might think that they belong in a specific home style. But, the beauty of the Shaker cabinet (beyond its straight lines and minimalist appeal) is its versatility. With so many options in cabinet pulls, countertops, backsplashes, sink styles, flooring, and lighting, these cabinets can adapt to nearly any style.

Light gray open kitchen with white quartz countertop and closed cabinets after renovation

(Above) Kitchen renovation with Shaker cabinets by Sweeten homeowner Sally

Shaker cabinets are right at home in these home styles:
Modern farmhouse – Go with sleek bar cabinet pulls and straight lines in your backsplash
Rustic farmhouse – The cup cabinet pull is perfect here, and don’t forget that apron sink!
Minimalist – Traditional Shaker dwellings were simple and without clutter
All-white – Nothing says classic like all-white Shaker cabinets
Two-tone – Uppers and lowers differ but complement each other
Cottage – Paired with beadboard ceilings or beadboard wall paneling
Beachy – Think all-white or light wood
Classic – Granite countertops, traditional cabinet pulls, medium to dark wood flooring
Contemporary – Try dark wood cabinets and flat satin nickel bar pulls
Trendy – Try some color on the cabinets, like blue or green, with crisp white appliances
Industrial – Shaker lowers against a brick wall treatment with some open wrought iron and wood shelving
You can adapt a Shaker-style cabinet to suit your personal design style, and it will last the test of time. After all, these cabinets have been used in kitchens since they were first created in the mid-1800s. By design, Shaker cabinets are simple and meant to last.

Finding the right general contractor to install your kitchen cabinets
Achieving that perfect end result in a kitchen remodel requires the expertise of the right general contractor. Are you looking for experienced kitchen contractors in your area? Sweeten matches homeowners with vetted general contractors, offering guidance and financial protection—at no cost to the homeowner. Start by posting your project on Sweeten today.

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

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