The Shakers that gave these kitchens their name may have vanished, but the timeless style of Shaker kitchens has remained. A Shaker kitchen is all about simplicity, craftsmanship and beauty.

What Is Shaker Style?

Shaker kitchens were named after the Shaker religious movement. The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing have almost disappeared, but in the first half of the 19th century, they were a thriving religious sect with communities throughout New England and the American Midwest.

Nicknamed the Shakers due to the vigorous dancing that was part of their worship, this sect was made up of utopians who shunned the ‘corrupt’ ways of the Georgian world, people who set out to create self-sufficient communities based on equality and simple, honest living.

The Shakers grew their own food and insisted on hand-crafting everything they needed, from buildings to clothes, and tools to shaker kitchens. Throughout their time, they became exceptionally good at creating, gaining a widespread reputation for minimalist, high-quality design that is still valued today.

Even as far back as the 18th century, the Shakers were big on sustainability, valuing locally-sourced, durable woods like maple and cherry. This wood was either left in its natural state or painted in a limited choice of colours (often either red, yellow, blue or green).

The Shaker Kitchen Today

Shaker kitchens are almost ageless. The simplicity of the design is timeless and has never really gone out of style, even as other kitchen trends come and go. 

Furthermore, Shaker kitchens place importance on values we still cherish today, those of sustainability, durability and the careful consideration of materials with a tendency to avoid waste.

Best of all, Shaker kitchens are practical, even today as society and lifestyles have moved on. The original Shaker kitchens were designed to be hubs in busy, communal spaces. The styles were created to enable creative storage solutions, so families could make the most of all available space, be that through handy drawers to hidden storage racks inside cupboards.

Get in Touch

Want to find out more about the bespoke Shaker kitchens we design? Just get in touch with our team who will be able to talk you through our range of projects.