When it comes to shaker kitchens, bar pull cupboard and drawer handles are a popular choice—and with good reason. Choosing the right bar pulls can elevate your shaker kitchen design, for perfect functionality with classic minimalist appeal.
When placing handles on shaker cabinets, a common option is to centre them on the inset panel, using a drill to affix the screws securely. Alternatively, for large or heavy base cabinet drawers, following the rule of thirds with two knobs or pulls can provide a balance in visual appeal and functionality.
Despite their advantages, shaker cabinets do have some drawbacks. These include a higher cost compared to flat panel cabinets due to the intricate craftsmanship. Additionally, the recessed center panels can accumulate dust and grime over time, requiring more effort in cleaning.
In 2024, stained shaker cabinets seem to be the most popular trend in cabinet door styles. It offers a classic and timeless look with clean lines and a simple, elegant design.
For interior Shaker-style doors, a simple and classic option for door knobs would be brushed nickel or satin nickel knobs with a clean, minimalist design. These complement the understated elegance of the Shaker style.
If you have white shaker cabinets, consider hardware finishes like gold for an elegant touch, black for a modern vibe, or polished nickel for a sleek look. Incorporating a stainless steel range into your design can further enhance the cabinet style you've opted for.
The 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware is a design guideline that helps achieve balanced proportions when selecting drawer pulls and cabinet handles. According to this rule, the length of the pull should be approximately one-third the width of the drawer or cabinet door.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, but they also work with a variety of home decor styles.
A matte or satin finish, for example, can modernize the cabinets while maintaining their classic appeal. Swapping out traditional Shaker wall cabinets for open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets is an excellent way to update your kitchen's look.
Inset Style Kitchen Cabinet Doors
It tends to be one of the most expensive door styles on the market because it requires precision craftsmanship to construct, and it also needs particular hinges, which are often not included in the cabinet price, so make sure you budget correctly.
Shaker cabinets provide the most value over other cabinetry options because their minimal design allows you to focus on the wood's quality and longevity. Installing shaker cabinets is simple and affordable. Consider the high resale value while setting your price range.
Solid Wood Cabinets
Solid natural wood cabinets are the gold standard when it comes to strength and longevity. Woods like maple, oak, birch, walnut, and cherry will last you decades.
While Shaker cabinets fell out of fashion in the early 20th century, they experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1950s, when Midcentury Modern designers began to embrace their minimalist style. Today, Shaker cabinets are once again trendy, and they are prized for their simple beauty and unfussy design.
Pulls are generally considered more modern than knobs, especially when they are sleek and linear. Options like chrome cabinet pulls, gold bar pulls, and modern brushed brass cabinet pulls create a streamlined, contemporary look that suits modern and transitional kitchen designs.
While there is no set rule, we generally recommend that the pull length is approximately 1/3 of the cabinet or drawer width.
If you have young children in your home, not having cabinet handles can be a safety hazard. Those little hands can easily open cabinets and drawers, and before you know it, they're pulling everything out and making a mess!
Looking ahead into 2024, shaker cabinets still remain the most popular, but that isn't the only option. Flat-panel and inset styles are also making headlines. You can also mix-and-match styles for a truly custom look.
Combine Shaker Cabinets With Other Styles
For example, you could pair shaker cabinets with glass doors to create a modern look. Or you could combine shaker cabinets with raised panel doors to create a traditional look. Slab drawer fronts paired with shaker cabinet doors is another popular option.
Though Shaker style likely isn't going anywhere anytime soon, these small kitchen updates are forcing the traditional look to adapt with the ages. We spoke with six interior designers to ask what they're noticing about contemporary kitchens, and how their design schemes are shifting.
Consider the Classics
First, classic ceramic and porcelain tiles are timeless beauties that stay in style. Affordable and easy to install, you can't go wrong with our selection of these backsplash tiles.
Warm and Comforting Neutrals
Consider the Nancy Meyers kitchen in “Something's Gotta Give”. The cabinets are a warm, creamy white with a sleek warm black countertop. The neutral color scheme allows these kitchens to be timeless, remaining stylish no matter what the interior trend cycle is calling popular.
1. A white or neutral colour scheme. White and neutral tones are popular choices in the kitchen for one reason: they don't date.
Centered on the Inset Panel: This is where you place the knob or pull handle on the center of the recessed drawer panel (the inset). This is the most common hardware placement on Shaker cabinets. Center of the Top Rail: You can place the knob or pull handle on the center of the top rail portion.
There are many ways to mix and match hardware! And although there's no one hard and fast rule on when to use knobs versus pulls, consistency is important. You want to make sure your hardware size is appropriate to the drawer width, but from there you can carve out a plan based on personal preference.
Knobs can be placed on both cabinetry doors + drawers. Mounted on the door stile, cabinet knobs are placed on the opposite side of the door hinge + typically 2-½” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door for upper cabinets. While on base cabinets knobs are usually placed 2-½” to 3” from the upper corner of the door.