Shaker
Cabinets
Kitchen
Design : Episode KDE-1206 -- More
Projects »
Host Joan Kohn explores
with designer Michelle Shields the history and
design elements of the beautiful and versatile
Shaker style of cabinetry.
The clean, simple lines of
Shaker cabinetry work well with any decorating
style.
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In contemporary settings,
high-tech finishes and ornate hardware styles
blend well with the simple lines of Shaker
cabinetry.
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Original Shaker cabinets
might have been painted in this blue tone or
stained yellow ocher. Matching wood knob pulls
were used almost exclusively.
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Indigenous domestic woods
such as cherry, oak and maple are appropriate
choices for authentic Shaker
cabinets.
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- The unadorned cabinet style was first
produced by the Shakers around the 1790s. The
Shakers were a religious group that valued
simplicity and solid craftsmanship.
- One of the hallmarks of Shaker cabinetry is
dovetailed wood joints. No glue or nails are
used in corners, so that the wood swells and
contracts uniformly, resulting in an
extraordinarily sturdy joint.
- The Shakers valued neatness and orderliness.
Furniture is well-suited to its task, with
multiple drawers, shelves, etc., so that there
is a place for everything. Built-in furniture
was popular with Shakers because it fit the
space exactly and had a specific function.
- Ornamentation for Shaker furniture was
considered unnecessary. Once the piece had
reached a point of exact functioning, it was
finished. Plain fronts, limited trim and simple
hardware were all that was required.
- With its simple, clean lines, Shaker style
furniture is suited to any decor. It can be
modernized with high-tech finishes and ornate
hardware, or fit comfortably in a traditional
home using warm woods and old-fashioned
pulls.
GUESTS:
Michelle
Shields
Designer, The Great Room Company
407
The Hill
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone:
603-431-3800 Fax: 603-431-4550
E-mail: michelle@greatroom.com
Website:
http://www.greatroom.com/
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