Style & Character
Think about how your kitchen connects to the rest of your home. Do you love clean modern lines, or something more classic and timeless? A Shaker-style kitchen never dates, while slab-front designs feel sleek and contemporary.
Lately, one of the most exciting evolutions is the slim Shaker style: it keeps the classic recessed-panel look of Shaker cabinetry but uses a much thinner frame and sleeker proportions, giving you that heritage feel but with a lighter, airier, more modern twist.
This means you get the best of both worlds — the timeless appeal of Shaker with a contemporary edge. Another alternative to slim shaker which is becoming popular is the frameless cabinet or a combination of frameless and slim shaker style.
Current Trends
- Dark-coloured cabinets are definitely having a moment: deep navy, charcoal, forest green or even black are being used to bring drama, richness and depth to kitchen schemes.
- Pairing dark lower cabinets with lighter uppers — or using dark cabinetry on the island and a lighter palette around the perimeter — helps to ground the space while keeping things open and inviting.
- With slim Shaker, you can treat the cabinetry more like furniture — think richer colours, strong hardware, luxurious materials. The thin frame allows bold colours to be used without overwhelming the room.
- Combine your cabinet colour with textured materials: stone worktops, tactile wood, matte finishes — these help elevate the dark tones so the kitchen feels warm and welcoming, not heavy or closed-in.
Common Pitfalls
- Prioritising looks over layout – function should always come first. A striking colour or door style won’t help if the working triangle is inefficient or storage is limited.
- Going dark, but forgetting the lighting. Dark-coloured cabinets absorb light, so plan ambient, task and accent lighting carefully. Under-cabinet lighting becomes even more crucial.
- Choosing trend colour or finish without thinking about longevity. While dark cabinets are very much on-trend, you’ll want to ensure the finish and hardware you pick will stand the test of time.
- Selecting slim Shaker cabinetry and then pairing it with overly ornate or heavy detailing — this undermines the sleekness of the slim frame. Keep the rest of the design language clean if you want that modern-classic feel.
- Choosing uncomfortable bar stools. We recommend if you are going to be using bar stools a lot, to have ones which support the back and are fully upholstered to give that extra comfort.
💡 My tip:
If you’re drawn to dark cabinetry and the slim Shaker style — start with one bold element (e.g., the island cabinetry in deep green) and keep the rest of the scheme lighter or neutral to balance. Treat the dark units as a piece of furniture rather than simply “kitchen cupboards”. Use rich hardware and warm materials to give the space character and depth.
Also: make sure your workflow (prep zones, storage, lighting) is nailed before you fall for the aesthetics.
If you’re planning a kitchen redesign and don’t know where to start, I’d love to help you bring your ideas to life — from layout and finishes to the finer design details.