If you’ve spent more than a minute on our website here at Kitchen Design Centre, you may well have seen us talking about Shaker kitchens. First invented hundreds of years ago by a religious group called the Shakers (fancy that), it’s still widely used today by kitchen designers across the world. So what makes the design so enduring, and why does everyone love it?
We’ll start off by telling you a bit about the people who founded the movement. As Kitchen Design Centre is based proudly in the North West, we’re delighted to tell you that the Shakers were in fact originally from our neck of the woods. Their official name was the United Society of Believers, and they broke away from the Quakers in the 1770s, moving from Manchester in England to New York. (In case you’re wondering about the name, by the way, it was literal – they loved to do a bit of moving and ‘shaking’ during their worships. People after our own hearts!)
In New York, they settled in self-sufficient communities, where they made furniture to sell on and support themselves. They quickly developed a reputation for their simple yet effective carpentry, and their humble but firm design philosophies eventually evolved into the Shaker kitchen style.
A Shaker kitchen is three things: simple, functional and high-quality. The Shakers believed in uncluttered, open-plan living spaces. There were no frills or unnecessary extras – everything in their kitchens was there for a reason, and they believed that every object in the home should have a function. Their carpentry followed the same principles, with humble, unornamented designs that were appealing in their simplicity. That doesn’t mean they just knocked them together, though – every piece of furniture was a handmade labour of love from real wood, with the final products famous for their functionality and quality craftsmanship. The Shakers also used simple wood-turned knobs for their cabinetry and wooden worktops (although nowadays there are naturally lots of other materials to choose from). As for colours, the Shakers were characteristically modest in their palettes too, generally choosing cream, muted green, pink or pale grey-blue.
Lots of reasons! Their versatility, for one. The modest style of Shaker kitchens leaves a lot open to interpretation. That means that Shaker kitchens can look equally fabulous whether modern or traditional, with a neutral colour palette or accented with an eye-catching shade that really pops! Shaker kitchens are beautifully understated, and their simple clean lines are almost universally attractive. So as well as taking advantage of their stunning styles, they also give you room to put your own stamp of individuality on them!
The Shakers coined some fantastic design principles too, which is just another reason why their kitchens are so popular. Their philosophies of a place for everything and a slightly austere style stops your kitchen from becoming too cluttered with odds and ends, ensuring that you only ever have what you need. Their emphasis on functionality, too, is something that will never fall out of fashion, no matter what trends come and go.
As you can probably tell, we can’t get enough of Shaker kitchens here at Kitchen Design Centre. If you’d like us to work some of our magic on yours, we’d love to! Just pop into our Manchester showroom to have a chat with any one of our designers – or, if you’re not quite that local, we’ve got a range of showrooms across the North West. Whichever one you choose, you can count on a friendly, professional service – with a healthy dose of enthusiasm to boot!
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Introducing Beth Ainsworth to our Blackburn showroom. Beth brings fresh ideas and plenty of enthusiasm to kitchen design. Off the clock, I’m most likely in the gym.
We’re passionate about tailoring our designs to fit your lifestyle, so whether you want a space to entertain or a family-centric kitchen to spend quality time together, our designers know exactly how to make your dream kitchen a reality.
When you book an appointment, you’ll be introduced to your personal kitchen designer, who will sit down with you in our dedicated meeting space to discuss what you want for your dream kitchen. Then, when you’re happy with the final design, they’ll become your dedicated project manager as they oversee every aspect of the installation, guaranteeing exceptional customer service as we deliver the kitchen of your dreams.
Our Summer Sale is officially ON! ✨
If you’ve been dreaming about a new kitchen, there’s never been a better time to make it happen. From timeless designs to modern family spaces, now is the perfect opportunity to save on the kitchen you’ve always wanted.
Visit our showroom or link in bio to get in touch to find out more.
AS SEEN ON GEORGE CLARKE’S BEAUTIFUL BUILDS: FROM DATED LAYOUT TO DREAM ENTERTAINING SPACE
When Katherine and Andrew purchased their property, they always knew a full renovation would follow.
With both the outdated kitchen and untouched garden requiring significant transformation, the project soon became part of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Beautiful Builds – it was an opportunity they felt perfectly aligned with their vision for the property.
While searching for a local kitchen specialist, Kitchen Design Centre immediately stood out thanks to its long-standing reputation, glowing customer reviews and welcoming showroom experience.
The brief focused on creating a sleek, contemporary kitchen that would feel open, social and highly functional, while complementing the wider architectural renovation of the home.
The finished design delivers a beautifully balanced space that combines clean lines with luxurious detailing.
One of the standout features is the striking worktop design. The waterfall edge peninsula creates a bold focal point within the room, while the continuation of the material across the side panels introduces a seamless, premium aesthetic.
Functionality was equally important throughout the design process, with carefully considered storage solutions and high-quality appliances helping to simplify everyday living. Among Katherine and Andrew’s favourite additions is the Neff oven, praised for both its versatility and pyrolytic self-cleaning function.
The completed result is a sophisticated contemporary space that completely transforms how the home looks, feels, and functions, perfectly reflecting Katherine and Andrew’s original vision from the moment they moved in.
More details in our bio
SUMMER JUST GOT EVEN BETTER FOR YOUR DREAM KITCHEN!
You don’t have to keep waiting for your dream kitchen. With flexible finance options on kitchens over £20,000, it’s ready when you are. Spread the cost of your kitchen plans and move forward in a way that works for you this summer.
With our exclusive Quooker offer, when you purchase any Quooker Tap and Tank system with a kitchen over £20,000, you’ll receive a FREE Quooker CUBE worth £1,250, plus free installation worth up to £384, and 4 free CO₂ cylinders worth £70. It’s everything you need to enjoy chilled, filtered, sparkling and boiling water straight from your tap.
And when you step into our showrooms, there are even more opportunities waiting for you, including exclusive savings on selected ex-display kitchens and up to 50% off selected stock appliances. Don’t miss this rare chance to secure something special, with design and value combined.
That said, like all great things, these summer offers are only available for a limited time — once they’re gone, they’re gone!
The kitchen isn’t just a place to cook — it’s the heart of the home.
At our Kitchen Design Centre, we believe your kitchen should be the centrepiece of your house, where style meets functionality and every moment matters. From morning coffees to family dinners and everything in between, your kitchen is where life happens.
That’s why we design spaces that bring people together — beautiful, practical, and tailored to you. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern look or a warm, classic feel, we’re here to help you create a kitchen that truly feels like home.
Visit us today and start designing the heart of your home.
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