Shaker style or flat panel?

9 years ago

Do you prefer Shaker Style or Flat Panel cabinets (this is for the kitchen). Deciding which to use. The house is warm, but modern, and I think either would work. I can't decide which I like better and I wanted to hear others' opinions.

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PRO

Flo Mangan

9 years ago

Yes, RS for sure you can do white shaker style with modern hardware (gold is coming on big and looks fantastic) and is warmer than silvers. No black because that will take you "country". Gorgeous quartzite. Maybe you have seen some of my comments on the careful planning of cutting countertops with heavy veining like yours. You need to work closely with the fabricator (people cutting and polishing your stone) and make sure they know how all the seams will fall and work. Especially if you have a "L" shape, it is very difficult to do a good seam in a corner, but an experienced, good fabricator can make it looks great. Just takes time and effort. Might require another slab as well, so I would secure (at least put one additional slab on hold) if you can until the fabrication and installation is complete. Many people have regrets about not really watching this process carefully and the installation.

Hampton’s Style House · More Info

White Shaker cabinetry with gold modern long hardware and great pendants and gold detail on the hood. Stunning together! Notice the gray veining on their countertops! Darker flooring makes everything really pop! Hope this helps. Going to be gorgeous! Just "birddog" the whole process! "birddog" means watch every little detail of this process. Very important. You are spending a ton of money. They might get annoyed, bring them donuts, Big Macs, whatever, but don't let them mess it up!!

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Comments (17)

PRO
PPF.
9 years ago
What's the difference between shaker and flat panel?
R S
Original Author
9 years ago
Flat panel

Harbour Way · More Info

Shaker style

Lincolnwood living · More Info
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PRO
PPF.
9 years ago
I've known the "flat panel" as a slab door, as there is no panel.

The shaker style is a flat panel door.

Could you post pictures of the house, in and out?

They are very different looks.
flopsycat1
9 years ago
A slab door is a cleaner, more modern look. A little easier to clean since there is no trim around the edge. Which you choose is a matter of taste and the overall style you'd like to achieve. Agree, pics would be helpful.
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
If budget is a concern, the Shaker cabinet door is more forgiving to build and generally speaking less costly. But they do bring different styles so that is what you need to decide. Slab more modern/contemporary; shaker more "transitional" and quite popular right now. Been around a long time though so rather timeless. Unless your slab doors are really well made and finished very well, they can tend to look cheap. What style preference do you have?
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
Judging from your ideabooks, you lean toward modern, so next question. What is your budget? Have your priced the two options for your new kitchen? That might be a criteria that will shake out the decision.
R S
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all for weighing in. I will take pics this weekend when I visit the site and then post -- we are living in a rental while the house is under renovation. Flo, I do worry that the flat panel can look cheap if not done well. I already bought my countertops which will also go up the wall as backsplash, White Macaubus quartzite. One of the slabs pictured below.
R S
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Flo! Re: budget, it wouldn't be determinative of what style I pick since it's my forever kitchen, and we're putting our dollars in the kitchen. I do love modern, but not cold and sleek -- is there such a thing as warm modern? I was thinking a clean white shaker style could translate as modern if done with chrome handles and modern fixtures, but maybe not?
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
Just get hardware with a standard spread of the screw holes, so should you tire of whatever finish you select, you can easily change them out. That is the distance between the posts on the handles that accept the screws and require holes to be drilled in the face of the cabinets and drawers. So the same hardware on drawers and cabinets for a more modern look. Stunning look!
simstress
9 years ago
Slab doors lend themselves to some hardware styles that wouldn't work as well with Shaker, IMO. Such as handles on the top of the drawer and just peeking out... If you really like this style then choose the slabs. Good luck!
R S
Original Author
9 years ago
simstress, I actually don't like those handles for kitchens, for the bathrooms they are fine. I like a chrome squared off handle, something like this which I have seen on flat and shaker style cabinets.

Poggenpohl · More Info
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
With a shaker cabinet, the border raised edge is usually not more than 1/4" so a nice modern pull will work on doors and drawers. Should not be a problem at all.
lwfromny
9 years ago
If you do go with shaker, you will need to decide if your drawers will be flat front or not. I would definitely choose a flat front if you like a more modern style. Look carefully at pictures of the drawers in kitchens with shaker cabinets and you will see some that have flat front and some that have the same profile as the cabinet doors. Flat front drawers are a much cleaner look and allow your hardware to stand out.
naomiwoychick43
9 years ago
Is it ok to mix flat front and shaker on one bank of drawers? I'd like to do top narrow drawer flat and bottom 2 deeper drawers with shaker.
simstress
9 years ago
Shallow drawers will often be flat front because not enough room to do the rails and stiles. It's fine to have a shallow, flat front panel stacked on top of deeper, paneled drawers. I see it often in pics.
PRO
Thomas
6 years ago
A flat panel is not a slab,,really the first one is so WRONG it is not funny,,,way to many people here and on TV shows have no CLUE what they are talking about