A shaker kitchen is one of the easiest places to mix old and new. Its simple framed doors suit almost any setting, so it can lean traditional, with warm timber, glossy tiles and brass hardware, or modern, with industrial touches and a pared-back layout. Most of the kitchens we build sit somewhere in between.
Modern Traditional Kitchens at a Glance
A modern traditional kitchen combines classic cabinetry, such as shaker doors, mouldings and in-frame construction, with contemporary elements such as handleless doors, integrated or professional-style appliances, quartz or quartzite worktops and modern lighting or furniture. The balance usually works best with one clear base, traditional cabinetry with modern details or the reverse, rather than an even split. Antique pieces, such as a chandelier or a dresser, and hardware in aged brass help link the two. Handmade Kitchen Company design and hand-build kitchens that mix old and new from our workshop in Essex.
Mapesbury: traditional mouldings, handleless doors
Our Mapesbury kitchen is a clear example of mixing old and new. Our client asked for a one-off design combining traditional mouldings with contemporary handleless doors. The house has high ceilings and a large open-plan space, with a modern see-through dining table at one end and a very large central island. The worktops are quartzite, with the island cut from the largest single slab possible, and an antique chandelier hangs at the centre of the room.
Cuffley: classic shaker with professional appliances
The Cuffley kitchen pairs our classic shaker, with its beaded in-frame construction, hand-painted in Pointing by Farrow & Ball, with stainless steel Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Creamy tiles and a quartz worktop keep it classic, while industrial-style bar stools add a modern edge. It is a compact kitchen, which shows that professional-style appliances can work in a smaller space.
Billericay: traditional panels, a modern island shape
The Billericay kitchen was built in a new-build house with high-end finishes throughout. Our traditional shaker was chosen for its raised and fielded door panels set within a frame. The island brings in the modern side. Completely bespoke and a first for us, it is angled to the back and sides, with a quartz worktop cut to follow the shape.
Bishop’s Stortford: modern shaker with vintage touches
In this Bishop’s Stortford kitchen, our modern shaker, with its deep multi-panel doors and external skirting plinth, is warmed with timber, aged brass hardware and antique-style lights. A floor-to-ceiling run of cabinets makes the most of a compact room, with a Smeg fridge freezer built in, and part of the kitchen is hand-painted in Black Blue by Farrow & Ball.
For how our classic, traditional and modern shaker styles differ in construction, see our guide to shaker kitchen styles.
Modern Traditional Kitchen FAQs
What is a modern traditional kitchen?
A kitchen that combines traditional cabinetry, such as shaker doors, mouldings or in-frame construction, with contemporary elements such as handleless doors, modern appliances, stone worktops and modern lighting.
How do you mix old and new in a kitchen?
Choose one clear base style and add the other through details: modern appliances and lighting in a traditional kitchen, or antique furniture, aged brass and timber in a modern one.
Can a shaker kitchen look modern?
Yes. Handleless doors, a dark or bold paint colour, slim worktops and integrated appliances all give a shaker kitchen a more contemporary look.
Do Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances suit a traditional kitchen?
They do. Built into painted shaker cabinetry, stainless steel professional appliances make a deliberate contrast, as in our Cuffley kitchen.
Where does Handmade Kitchen Company design kitchens?
We design and hand-build bespoke shaker kitchens, traditional, modern and everything in between, at our workshop in Essex and hand-paint them on site, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London.
If you would like to talk about mixing old and new in your kitchen, contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
