In my experience, clean and simple design -- like Shaker-style cabinets -- is key to avoiding a dated look.

My last house had white (inset) Shaker style cabinets that were installed in 1997. Raised panel cabinets came and went between now and then, but white Shaker cabinets are still popular. I think they're an enduring style. When I get around to remodeling my current kitchen in a couple years I expect to install white Shaker. Not everyone likes white - wood finishes are coming back around, but white is classic. The only thing I can guarantee you is that something in your kitchen will look dated in ten years. With any luck it will be the backsplash which is the easiest thing to change. But if you personally hate the Shaker look, do something else.

Manufacturers make their money by convincing people things are "dated" and need to be replaced, and I'm also convinced designers just get bored doing the same thing over and over so they change things up. Focus on creating a practical floorplan when remodeling. You can always reface or paint cabinets. On this forum people are frequently told not to paint their raised panel wood cabinets because they were well done when new, so even though they may not be the height of fashion anymore they are still beautiful and functional. Anything done well will have enduring value.

I would be more concerned in your new build about choosing whether the kitchen cabinet construction is partial overlay, full overlay, inset or frameless. Partial overlay is dated, but people still get it because it is lower-priced. Or, the builder just puts it in, because the homeowner does not think to ask about the kitchen’s cabinet construction in advance.

The new Shaker door has a thinner frame profile.

There is also a Shaker door that has a wood bead that divides the frame from the panel insert that is quite handsome.

I’ve done three kitchens in shaker door style. First was maple in an historic house, second was cherry and my current house is creamy white. It’s my favorite cabinet door style and its simplicity makes it timeless.

You can see there are variations in “Shaker” that can appeal to more people. If you love it, use it.

I did the bead on mine, because I wanted a bit of detail. I was just going to do it in the kitchen and plain shaker in the rest of the house, but the cost difference wasn't significant so I did all the cabinets like this.

I also like finished end panels that cover the ends of the full overlay doors/drawers.

In my previous house I did a more detailed door design with a recessed panel, because it suited the Spanish style of the house. A too simple door would have looked underwhelming in that house.

To avoid being dated overnight, match your interior finishes to the style of the house and keep a consistent design theme throughout the house. Also try to keep away from major trends.

I did my first ‘shaker’ kitchen in 2001 and can’t count how many since then. Ten years ago it felt like the only style, now it’s one of the styles available. A white shaker kitchen in an appropriate house is timeless (meaning please no in a mcm ranch)

Many thanks for your input! You confirmed our choice to go with standard Shaker cabinetry throughout the house. Thanks afain!

What is the style of your house? Match the kitchen style with the style of the house.

I did my first shaker door kitchen in 1996. I don't think the door style is going anywhere or indicates that a kitchen is from the last decade or so when it's been nearly ubiquitous. It is a combination of things that will date something to a particular era.

The other thing that comes into play is that "not on trend " or "dated" gets equated with "ugly". Some trendy things are ugly, some dated things are not ugly.

As others have posted Shaker cabinets are classic in design and will likely never go out of style.

i did my 1st kitchen in 93 white shaker/black countertop/gold hardware lol. I literally just saw a post of new kitchen on this site that looked like my 90s. Its timeless.

IMO you choose cabinet style for your actual style you are going for. I would never have shaker cabonets my style is contemporary and shaker not so much. I do a lot of shaker cabinets for clients and have done for a long time nothing dated about them if they work with your style.

I am currently remodeling a 1983 kitchen. I am doing shaker which is the same style as cabs in all the bathrooms. I also used shaker in my 2009 remodel. Pretty timeless I would say.

I have slab style doors and drawer faces in my kitchen with a semi-matte powder coat finish, but I prefer minimalist design, as it is easier to clean, and I like the look. This style is also more popular in Italy, and so it depends on whether you want a European style look in your kitchen.

Cheap crappy $1 import white or gray shaker is already out. Brick painting flippers killed every bit of that appeal. Now all anyone can see is how awfull it looks in badly and cheaply done homes. But then, cheap fads have never aged well. By the time everyone is knocking it off, and you can find it for $1 at Home Depot, you know it has reached beyond saturation point. Sharpie drawn shiplap and stupid mass produced chicken signs buried ”farmhouse” a long time ago.

Classic inset white shaker may never be at the top of the pop chart again, but it will never be out of style in a beautiful, well designed, traditional center hall Colonial.

Gloss slab white cabinets mixed with copious smounts of darker wood slabs will never look wrong in a MCM home.

High quality materials and quality craftsmanship, that fits the style of the home, will never look wrong.

Inauthenticity is what will always be quickly dated.

What is authentic about your home style? That is where you start. Edit out the cringe fakery that dominates current builds. Hone in on simplicity and elegance created from design, instead of decorating with temporary flash baubles of brick and stone and shake and batten and lap and….. .

https://mcmansionhell.com/post/151896249151/the-10-circles-of-mcmansionhell-the-mcmansion/amp

I think Shaker styled cabinetry is classic and will never go out of style. I love the simplicity of Shaker. I had my kitchen renovated a few years ago with a modified Shaker style, fabricated by “Plain & Fancy” custom cabinetry (made in the USA / God bless America!).

"Brick painting flippers" @lomo 🤣

Shaker in a wide variety of woods and colors tends to remain popular, because people are moving to less ornamented, streamlined, minimalist looks. Slab doors are the horse that is fast moving up in this race. They hit all the streamlined and modern points. Most are wood veneer slab, foils, or are in a gloss, or super matte, from Egger or other outside suppliers.

To see what style cabinets suits your house, we need to have a better idea of the style of your house.

When I remodeled years ago, I had the top drawers made slab and the rest of the drawers and the upper cabinets shaker. Glad I did, I prefer the look, but can also catch drips before they settle in.

Thanks again to everyone for their input. Sorry it took so long to reply—my Houzz app got corrupted and wouldn’t let ne post a comment.

I was the “architect” for our house and couldn’t define the style of the house. The style is basically functional with nice finishes.😄 The style on Houzz that comes closest is “Cottage/Country” with bling. We’re still under construction but here are a couple of photos.

Photos

@HALLETT & Co. Gosh, I couldn't agree more on not putting shaker in MCM. We are renovating a 1973 ranch which isn't technically MCM, but I'm leaning into that style with the rest of the house and I'm struggling on cabinet doors for the kitchen. What would you recommend? When the house was built they used partial overlay, slab with a V-groove detail.

Michelle, hope Halle & Co sees your question.

I looked at qui a few pics of MCM kitchens here on Houzz and the only cabinet style they seemed to have was that flat panel style. I saw both inset and some sort of overlay.

We’re in a MCM rent house while we’re building. It was built in the late 50’s to early 60’s. The kitchen cabinet are flat panel overlays. They added copper knobs in the 80’s.

@periksencat Yes, most of the inspiration I find for MCM kitchens is slab. And I'm not opposed to it, but we have white oak medium brown stained floors throughout the entire house, so I was thinking painted cabinets might be a good choice. And would painted slabs go too modern on me? I dunno. Always a dilema LOL

https://www.durasupreme.com/blog/how-to-design-a-mid-century-modern-style-kitchen-get-the-look/#:~:text=When%20deciding%20the%20styles%20and%20details%20for%20your,is%20also%20a%20sought-after%20look%20for%20MidMod%20cabinetry.

This is from Dura Supreme, which is a cabinet company, but they show ideas for Mid Century Modern kitchens. They DO show Shaker style, but in an interesting deep gray. I'm not sure I agree with that, and 90% of the other phots are ALL plain slab fronts.

Michelle, why don’t you post your dilemma in a new thread and add some pictures?

No, shaker style is a timeless design that will stand the test of time.

Shaker cabinets will never be "out". They are as classic as could be. Traditional/transitional kitches are the best use of them. If you want something more contemporary/modern, go with slab-style doors & drawers.