KITCHENS
Kitchen Specialists offer some ideas for considering a Shaker kitchen aesthetic
A Shaker door is typically defined by a flat central area and vertical stiles and horizontal rails. It can be made in veneer, solid wood, a combination of the two, or MDF( medium fibre density board) that is either painted or in its more modern application, wrapped.
Currently most shaker doors are made from MDF, due to increased cost of solid and veneered timber. The MDF base panel is typically 16 mm thick, with frames in 3 mm or 6 mm, depending on the design. A specialised contact adhesive is used to bond the frame and the panel together. labour-intensive and costly method of construction due to the CNC process and the additional sanding required to ensure the MDF is smooth enough to take the paint or wrap foil without showing bumps under the surface. Pros include no joints on the door and no cracks. Cons are boards can weaken and warp particularly when exposed to high humidity and other environments.
• Two-piece door or built-up door – a 3mm or 6mm MDF frame fixed to a 16mm MDF base, which creates the Shaker profile with less sanding, and wrapping helps in holding the door construction together.
Features of a Shaker kitchen
Shaker kitchens are simple but extremely well made. They’ re not ostentatious, but instead celebrate craftsmanship, form and function. Traditional Shaker cabinetry included simple handcrafted features such as round wooden knobs and handles, carved wooden peg rails and dovetailing inside the drawers.
It’ s easy to recognise the Shaker kitchen style by the traditional cabinets with their‘ Shaker doors’. These consist of a large flat recessed wooden central panel, surrounded by a raised frame with square edges. This frame is made from two horizontal pieces of wood( rails) and two vertical pieces of wood( stiles).
The Shaker in SA
We asked Stephanie Forbes of the Kitchen Specialists Association( KSA) to share some insights on the types of doors and design styles on which the concept is based.
“ You’ re asking about a kitchen’ s‘ timeless partner’ option,” she says.“ The style is ubiquitous. Whether it is traditional country, contemporary country or French Provençale the shaker doors are the key to all these designs. It has proven itself to be a timeless part of kitchen design, adaptable to various aesthetics, both traditional and modern.”
There are various ways to construct a Shaker door:
• Five-piece door – traditional build usually featuring solid timber, veneer or a combination of the two. Pine, cherry, or maple were used but now it is more robust timbers like oak and birchwood. A popular pick but costly choice in materials.
• One-piece door – routed from a solid piece of MDF that mimics a panel and frame. This is more
Other than the traditional framed shaker there are variations to the theme:
• Farm-style Shaker – where lines are added to the middle of the door for a rustic look.
• Tudor / Colonial Shaker – normally available in both plain and farm-style.
• Denni / Duo Denni Shaker – this has a double-frame and is only available from some manufacturers.
• X Frame – this is a traditional Shaker outer frame with an " X " design inside.
Appearance and coatings
Most commonly we see the Shaker door in a painted finish with a wide range of colour options available. MDF is primed and then usually spray painted with multiple layers of paint for durability. Hand-painting delivers a rustic look but is less consistent in quality. Machine finishes tend to be smoother and longer-lasting, provided that the doors are given adequate time to cure.
It is important to note that as the door breathes and moves with the atmosphere in the kitchen, the paint can start to crack along the joint-lines. This only happens in the five- or two-piece construction method.
Finally, the quality of the final finish is also dependent on the quality of the MDF used. Low grade board can result in poor paint adhesion and lead to chipping and bubbling of the paint.
An affordable alternative is vinyl wrap finishing, where routed MDF is bonded to a foil under heat and pressure. This prevents foil shrinking or delamination. It is important to use a good adhesive. Wrap foils are available in contemporary finishes like matt and fingerprint-resistant, allowing the wrapped Shaker door to present a newer, modern look and feel.
Homage continues to be paid to the past, yet adapted to the present. This also means that the size of the frame has been reduced from 70mm to 25mm, meaning the door looks more streamlined and modern.
Providing that you select your colour well, the design will remain timeless and add an aesthetic with mass appeal to your home. www. tobuild. co. za | autumn 2026 37