Creating Shakes In Canada
Starting as an apprentice carpenter in Calgary, Canada, William discovered his passion for the Shaker style and creating luxury, bespoke cabinetry. Training for 4 years under a well respected Canadian firm, Sliver Custom Design & Finishing Design, Will was inspired by their careful attention to every detail, and stunning designs.
Since returning from Canada and starting WH Designs, his own bespoke cabinetry and design business, William has applied the same design ethic to his own building practices. The precision with which his work is handcrafted, and the level of care spent ensuring 100% perfection is what makes WH Designs so desirable.
A Solid Background
Kitchen Shaker doors are typically 4-panel doors, made up of two stiles, two rails and a flat panel. The stile is the piece of wood that is vertically positioned within the frame and the rails are the horizontal elements. Usually the frame is made from a sturdy wood like oak, or soft maple and gives a robust and substantial frame to work with.
Whilst only high quality wood is used, the cabinets when they are made need to go through a ‘stabilisation’ process to avoid expansion or contraction, and to allow for any minor cracks or imperfections. This part of the process is usually carried out in the workshop to ensure quality and perfection in the installed product.
The Shaker Style
Characterised by its clean lines, tapered legs and minimalist design, Shaker style is classically functional and practical, with a sophisticated elegance some may even describe as a utilitarian design style. In design practice, we call this style of cabinetry ‘stile and rail’ as it refers to the technique of woodworking.
With limited detail and profiling, a flat panel centre and square edges, free from complex carvings or mouldings, Shaker style cabinetry is one of our most popular choices in bespoke kitchen design.
Increasingly popular in both traditional and modern homes and not just limited to the kitchen. The simple design aesthetic of Shaker style cabinetry creates a versatile, classically timeless interior, that never goes out of fashion.
“Simplicity carried to an extreme becomes elegance.”
Bespoke Cabinetry & Handcrafted Build
Historically, the Shaker style of cabinet was made from wood harvested from the land, and included pine, maple, ash, birch, cherry, hickory, butternut, beech, walnut, oak, and poplar.
As Shaker style cabinets are so versatile, we can have real fun with this design to customise it for each and every home. Using two contrasting wood colours like cherry and walnut or maple and walnut, sets the woods off beautifully. Or you could have oak Shaker doors with clear, frosted or obscure glass with various colour combinations, sliding Shaker doors, and of course, you can even hide your appliances behind handcrafted joinery.
What we love about the Shaker style of cabinetry is that it works just as well in larger kitchens as it does in smaller ones, whilst giving your kitchen that show-home feel.
Versatile & Fits Into Any Interior
Are you interested in introducing the Shaker style into your home?
As you can see from our examples , the style works just as well in the kitchen, as it does in a bedroom, or utility/pantry. Built to last, around your unique requirements, contact us to discuss how you’d like to incorporate the Shaker style into your home.