Why skinny Shaker kitchens are now the top choice for style-savvy homeowners

With an elegant feel and contemporary edge, the skinny Shaker-style door offers designers plenty of scope when it comes to creating an individual look or their clients – Emma Hedges finds out more.

There are many reasons that Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry remains as universally loved as it is. It has its roots in a classic look, so for those who wish to invest in their forever kitchen or upgrade their property with a view to selling it in the future, its timelessness makes it a safe choice. In addition, it can be pulled in either a traditional or contemporary direction, and offers plenty of scope for personalisation via a bold colour choice. 

“The consumer's love affair with Shaker kitchens has held an enduring appeal due to its classic frame and its timeless elegant style," says Sophie Devonald, designer at Crown Imperial. "As a furniture manufacturer we offer retailers 2 slim Shaker choices, with the new Verona collection, elevated by a unique design element with a step in the frame to create the ultimate statement kitchen.” 

Retailers have access to Crown Imperial's 22 painted shades if they wish to create an individual Shaker style, and in addition they have the option to choose handleless for a contemporary twist.

"Designers can achieve a unique blend of sophistication and subtlety by incorporating slim Shaker doors into their projects," says Craig Lacey, trade marketing manager at PWS. "The slimmer frame allows for cleaner lines and a more refined, high-end appearance. This makes it ideal for creating seamless, design-led spaces that feel both contemporary and inviting. Ultimately, it empowers designers to elevate the aesthetic value of a kitchen while maintaining functionality and timeless appeal.”

However, the skinny Shaker door takes the slimmed-down version one step further and is a natural evolution of the style for those who wish to switch it up in a contemporary scheme. Offering clean lines and a pared-back simplicity, it achieves an understated elegance that is both modern and elevated. And such is the popularity of the aesthetic, manufacturers and retailers are responding to the demand with new additions to their portfolios.

“The skinny Shaker trend has taken hold because it delivers the best of both worlds – the timeless appeal of a Shaker-style frame, with the clean lines demanded by today’s more minimalist tastes. It’s a style that feels familiar yet fresh,” says David Knaggs, Callerton marketing manager.

“At Callerton, we offer custom paint colours and special-size doors across our skinny Shaker ranges, giving designers the freedom to create kitchens that feel truly personal. It’s a look that suits any palette – from bold and dramatic to soft and serene – and the pricing is accessible too, making great design more achievable for more people.”

The latest launch from Masterclass Kitchens is Oslo, a reimagined micro-Shaker cabinet that brings fresh simplicity to a classic kitchen design. With 25mm stiles and rails, Oslo’s skinny Shaker design captures the industry’s clear shift towards slimmer, more refined Shaker profiles. Its crisp proportions and clean lines offer a modern, elegant take on a timeless classic, meeting the growing market demand for slimmer, more minimalist profiles without losing the timeless appeal of a traditional look. 

Oslo is available in all 26 of Masterclass's painted colour options, from bold to earthy to soft neutrals, alongside a primed finish that can be hand-painted in any colour. When paired with co-ordinating drawer boxes and internal cabinetry in Portland Oak and Tuscan Walnut finishes, Oslo offers retailers and designers the tools to create kitchens with a premium look and feel.

"Oslo is a fantastic addition to our portfolio and a clear response to what customers are asking for; refined, timeless design with a bespoke edge," says Steve Tough, group sales director at Masterclass Kitchens. "The ability to pair this new micro-Shaker door with our extensive painted palette and co-ordinating wood-effect internals gives our retailers incredible freedom to create kitchens that feel truly individual. It’s a powerful combination of style and flexibility.”

Olive & Barr has also recently introduced a skinny Shaker version. Featuring a 40mm frame on the cabinet with a 20mm frame on the Shaker doors and concealed hinges, the design is said to 'bring a fresh sense of lightness and sophistication to any space'. Handcrafted from carefully sourced materials like oak and tulipwood, the addition aims to be both elegant and functional, making it a versatile choice for modern and classic interiors alike.

"I think that the move towards skinny Shaker is testament to the ingenuity inherent in our industry when it comes to bringing a new eye to established styles," says Matt Phillips, head of UK operations at Rotpunkt. "We are delighted to see how it has been reinvented for a new generation so that all the traditional characteristics of a classic Shaker door can be offered with a more modern aesthetic and easy clean and resilient soft-coat options for a busy kitchen living space.

"There’s no doubt that a skinny Shaker does offer a sophisticated style, especially when combined with a lacquer finish and designer hardware so there is scope to deliver a distinctive look very easily."

He adds: "We have extended our signature Smala door and drawer fronts introduced last year to include a brand-new Walnut veneer, which provides our customers with a real wood kitchen while protecting the environment! As the classic Shaker-style kitchen has morphed into a contemporary blend of traditional lines and modern functionality, Smala WN Walnut presents a handleless kitchen concept with integrated profile, which guarantees stylistic freedom."