(what looks like) quarter-round in the inside?

It's usually called "bead" or" beading". Imo,the smaller,the more attractive. There are multiple ways of creating the bead but as best i can tell the origional was always a thin strip with a round over on one edge fastened to the main part such as door. One of my favorite styles. Most of what I desighn for my own pleasure is along the line of shaker but proportion always turns out different unless i intentionally adheare to predetermined measurments. I was having a similar discussion with a desighner several years ago and asked what she thought of my not adhearing to shaker proportion since i liked it so well. She laughed and told me she would continue and call it "simple but elegant".

Thanks, klem, for that explanation. I actually found a thread about this after I posted this question, and I think they called it a decorative edge.

I agree the smaller the better. Does the size of the bead depend on the depth of the rails and stiles? If your rails and stiles are deeper, the bead will have to be bigger to meet the edge?

Shakers did not typically believe in the bead.They did not believe in any type of decoration.

This is completely up to you to use it or not.The beaded doors are not typically an applied molding but a profile on the edge of the stiles and rails and mitered at the corners..

Aha! Interesting, Precision Carpentry. Thank you. My carpenter is adding quarter round inside all my doors and drawers. Not what I had in mind. I'm thinking I could live with it, though.

I know when it's painted, everything will be nice and soft...not as severe as the 90 degree angles I wanted. I'll see how the bathroom vanity looks, then decide whether I want quarter round in the kitchen or not.

He also is doing a bunch of decorative stuff in the side panel of the vanity. I don't like it at all, and it will have to go. One beaded edge is my limit.

Does anyone else have any input for me? Is one preferable to the other for any reason other than personal taste?

Well, I am worried. I'm paying top dollar for this remodel.

If your paying top dollar the doors should not be built that way imo. Even if he does not have the equipment or knowledge to do them properly there are aal kinds of reputable places you can order drawers and door fronts from.

"and I think they called it a decorative edge."

That's typical of these forums jane. Some people will comment wherther they have any thing of value or not. Their comments usually counter something previously stated. i assure you,ask for a "decorative edge" bit at the tool counter and the guy will reply "what kind" of decorative edge? Ask for a beading bit and he will reply "what size"? That is unless he's shaker. In that event his reply might be sorry,"we don't believe in beads."

At any rate,in the interest of casual conversation,I believe round over edge and beaded had pratical purpouse. I incorparate them my work to ( A.) resist wearing through preservative finish much longer than sharp edge (B) make it simple to wipe away oil and dirt deposited by hands during use (C) soften impact should one bump the edge (think thin skined elderly and toddlers). I'm only a guy who happens to injoy design and building in various medium,in this case wood. I would love input by a museum curator but don't believe it nessary to injoy the style. I mentioned "pleasure" with my creations. Nothing gives me more pleasure than having someone pause to feel and look at my work from different angles then ask "is this brand new" or better still "how did you get it so smooth"? I doubt shakers indulged themselves as I do but I believe they took satisfaction in their work. Trivia question,now don't peek before offering a possible answer. People usually refer to shakers in past tense. WHY?

Not sure where you got the idea that Shakers didn't believe in adding beads, at least in NH if you go the Hancock village you will find that much of the built-in cabinetry (there's a lot) incorporates beads around drawers or doors, the odd quarter round molding and occasionally a cove (on the inside of the door panel). They are very subtle and very tasteful, but definitely there. Perhaps a little New Hampshire independence sneaking through?

" Furniture was made thoughtfully, with functional form and proportion. Rather than using ornamentation — such as inlays, carvings, metal pulls, or veneers — which was seen as prideful or deceitful, they developed "creative solutions such as asymmetrical drawer arrangements and multipurpose forms to add visual interest."

This is a quote form Wilkapedia.I have done much studying of the shakers and their furniture.I did not say they did not use beads in their furniture I stated that it was not typical.They"typically" do not believe in decoration or ornamentation.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shak/hd_shak.htm

"Does anyone else have any input for me?"

I do have input for you. First and foremost,learn to speak what's on your mind then tell the cabinet maker to stop while you explain "what you had in mind." Since when did contractors start building what they please rather than what customers tell them? You started this thread basicly asking if anyone likes shaker. Seems to me your questions should be about consumer/contractor communication. Or did someone else hire the guy? Who's paying? I'm confused about your objective(s) in posting.

Klem, my objective in posting was to try to determine if there were elements of cabinetry I'm missing due to ignorance. If, maybe, the less severe and more rounded look of a Shaker-style door or drawer front is preferable because of ease-of-cleaning, or something else I might be overlooking.

I think I was actually angry with this carpenter, and was trying to talk myself into liking what he's built. But you are right...I definitely need to tell him (and show him) exactly what I want and make sure I get it. Just being wishy-washy, I guess.

Thanks for your input.

Now you're talking,you go girl and take no excuses. Seriously,from what i have said here,it's obivous I stray from the rules in order to get exactly what I like. On the other hand I make the paying customer's piece look like the customer says it should look. I don't think my clients would approve if they ordered a Queen Ann Chair then found me distressing it with a bike chain.

Had a chat with the contractor today and showed him what I didn't like, and pictures of exactly what I want. He really wants me to be happy, so I feel better now. Thanks, guys.