Your contractor is an idiot. Shaker cabinets are on every street corner, from every discount import hawker. They are like the Temu cabinets of the renovation world. Anything you want, as long as it's white shaker in stock sizes.

Much more expensive than what?

You can get shaker IKEA cabinets. What world does your contractor live in?

Even the most basic brands offer Shaker cabinets. I’d find another GC.

You need a new contractor. I also hope this contractor is not the one doing your kitchen layout.

You can purchase Shaker cabinets off the shelves at the local Home Depot, what is your contractor talking about???

Are you on the water somewhere, or you just like a beachy vibe? Are heat and high humidity issues? Is this your forever home?

You may not want to do Tuscan or mountain cabin, but many styles could suit a coastal look. Cabinets could be white or wood, something simple. The white-washed grey look isn't really timeless.

As noted, Shaker is available everywhere. Look for a good, independent kitchen store, hopefully one with a Certified Kitchen Designer.

Don’t get design advice from a contractor. He’s incorrect about Shaker doors. They’ve been around forever and will continue to be. What will make your kitchen fit your beach location/vibe is the color, the countertop, the backsplash and the accessories.

He better be the best damn contractor in your area. And don’t share design thoughts with him - and tell him not to “share his ideas”. Get design advice here or from a true designer. He’s hired to make your ideas happen, not comment on them.

Please post photos of your space and what you’re thinking of doing. And an inspiration photo or two.

I agree that Shaker cabinets are everywhere and inexpensive but I'd approach the contractor by asking for some pricing and comparison styles, including the shaker styles. I love a good snarky Houzz comment but I also value understanding why a professional contractor (assuming they are experienced and do quality work) is saying one option is more expensive over another. There could be a very valid reason the contractor said that. I'd want to know more. Context is everything especially when someone says something that is seemingly obviously wrong. I'd love to hear his/her reasoning on this.

No contractor, despite even an amazing skill set should ever be your designer. He is your technician. It's like asking him to select your shoes!

Show what you have, and the plan for what you are doing, in feet and inches.

Show the kitchen you are redoing, and also the adjacent areas.

I do not know about the contractor but shaker is the preferred and affordable choice often. I agree let us see your space and floor plan . At least then you get some good free advice from pros . Contractors are never designers and for sure not kitchen ones

True that, or the cabinet source he uses is some derelict / clueless source - that doesn't HAVE a shaker, and he has to go to another not in his little food chain of profit and WOULD possibly be providing something other than junk.

Can you post photos of your kitchen?

Just want to point out, the OP never said the contractor gave design advice. Sounds like it was cost advice. I'm open on the question of whether or not that was good advice, but like Ted Lasso, I'm curious to know more. What are his/her thoughts on this?

I don’t think that a shaker style affects the cost of a cabinet as much as the quality of the materials.

I’ve done 4 kitchens and three were done with shaker doors. The cost factor was more about which cabinet company I chose and which wood I wanted since they all offered shaker doors.

Back to the original question: Here's a nice example of flat panel cabinets with an air breezy feel to them that could go with coastal

Contemporary Lakeside Renovation · More Info

clarify the situation a bit more..Ive been to Key West and remember a lot of detail..a la "Gingerbread " or close to it and with makeovers / creative transformations trends it all to be very eclectic in my opinion. [ in the neighborhoods I recall.] Coastal as in ocean/ serene cool tones is much different. Do you want painted? I think you could do any five panel construction raised or recessed and be good with expansion /contraction. I think the details

like hardware/backsplash/glass doors / what floor ...all those things will take your good creativity ......the actual door could be Ikea raised panel for that matter. .

either of these could be a space in a key West home but white shaker doesnt define what the results are with the different elements put together

kitchen and breakfast room · More Info

Hoegger Lake House Kitchen · More Info

i would venture a guess the contractor thought op meant she wanted something handmade as in done by amish carpenters.. some older people mix up quaker, amish and shaker