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Exploring Narrow Shaker Doors

3 min read
15th October 2024
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Uform | Narrow Shakers | Sara Cotter

A modern interpretation of a classic shaker, narrow shaker doors have grown in popularity due to their sleek and timeless appearance.

Delve into the popularity and style options of narrow shakers with Uform’s Category Manager Sara Cotter, considering both the evolution and the longevity of one of the most popular designs available today. For the past 19 years, Sara has worked in marketing, product management and category management, bringing with her a wealth of industry-specific knowledge and expertise.

How has the market for kitchen furniture sales developed over the past couple of years and what proportion of these are Shaker styles?

Over the past couple of years, there has been a demand for quality and sustainability with an emphasis on open-plan living in areas beyond the kitchen. Shaker style kitchens have continued to remain a popular choice for both trade customers and end consumers, thanks to their timeless appeal and versatility in terms of design options.

Narrow Shaker Arrington Shell Slate Blue

Arrington – Shell & Slate Blue

Why is Shaker still a popular furniture range and why has there been a move towards Narrow Shakers?

Shaker style furniture design has been around since the 1800s and is synonymous with longevity, value, quality and sustainability. The clean lines, simple aesthetic, and emphasis on craftsmanship continue to appeal to many consumers due to its timeless and versatile design, while its slimmer frame aligns with more modern aesthetics in interior design and consumer tastes.

Does the Narrow Shaker offer any design advantages or just offer an updated Shaker look?

In terms of design, the slimmer profile of the furniture can be advantageous for smaller spaces, as it helps create a sense of openness and airiness. Additionally, the updated look of the Narrow Shaker style appeals to consumers who appreciate modern, minimalist aesthetics such as handleless layouts, but it can also be styled to suit country cottage designs or even luxury apartments. 

What is the most popular Narrow Shaker?

For the past few years, frame widths ranging from 65-75mm stiles and rails, with a simple flat centre panel have dominated the furniture market.

Narrow Shaker Clifden Heritage Green

Clifden – Heritage Green

How has this move towards the Narrow Shaker influenced your product portfolio?

At Uform, we have adapted to the growing interest in Narrow Shaker styles by introducing a choice of finishes and price points including Aldana, timber painted; Clifden, smooth painted and 5-piece foil designs in timber effect Pembridge and smooth finishes Dawson. This has allowed us to provide our customers with a diverse range of choices that align with current design trends and meet the evolving needs of modern living spaces.

What proportion of Shaker styles are slim-framed versions?

Our product portfolio currently has 7 ranges of Narrow Shaker door styles (Aldana, Arrington, Clifden, Dawson, Lawrenson, Pembridge and Harborne), which enables us to offer our customer base a wide range of versatility for their kitchen, bedroom and living spaces, as well as the extended choice in suiting any style and budget.

Is it suited to any particular furniture décor – wood-effect, painted for example?

The narrow-framed Shaker style can seamlessly integrate with a wide range of furniture décors; the beauty of a woodgrain finish exudes a timeless and natural look, where a smooth matte finish offers a clean and contemporary appearance, making it a flexible choice for interior design preferences.

Narrow Shaker Alana Taupe Grey Reed Green

Aldana – Taupe Grey & Reed Green

In your expert opinion what is the longevity of the look?

In my opinion, the Narrow Shaker look has the potential to last for many years to come thanks to its ability to blend timeless design elements with modern trends. Additionally, its adaptability to various furniture décors and its ability to complement different interior styles contribute to its potential for long-term relevance in the furniture market.

Will it ultimately see a move towards broader frames?

While future design trends are always evolving, industry experts can never be truly certain which way they could progress. With the current popularity of Narrow Shaker doors, there could be future leanings towards the adaptation and variation of Shakers. An example of this being the features and aesthetics such as a bead or step detail to the internal profile of the frame.

Ultimately, the direction of design trends will depend on a variety of factors, including consumer preferences, market influences, and the ongoing interplay between traditional and contemporary design aesthetics.

Explore our collection of 25 door styles including narrow shakers here.

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Dawson - Indigo | Modern Kitchen | Uform

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