More traditional than slab styles, but more pared-back than beadboard or French country designs, shaker cabinets strike the perfect balance between old and new, making them suitable for homes of any era.

It’s no wonder designers consistently turn to this option in kitchen renovations. Paint colors, from vibrant jewel tones to refreshing neutrals, can dramatically impact how a cabinet style reads—cozy and intimate, or expansive and stately—and evolve with you as your style shifts through the years. The six shaker kitchens ahead, each with a totally different appeal, show there really is something for everyone.

The Crisp and Clean

Jessica Jones’s lakefront Northern California home is a minimalist’s dream. Though she stuck to a mostly white palette,  brass hardware accents elevate the space. On the island, shaker cabinets in Cove (a wood effect that’s the perfect balance between warm and cool) provide just the right amount of contrast. 

The Warm Neutral

In this cottage kitchen designed by Daniel Kanter, marble countertops and subway tile are modern classics. Valspar’s warm beige Country Charm paint on Semihandmade’s DIY Shaker cabinet fronts gives the room a more rustic feel that’s perfectly fitting for a home in upstate New York.

The Moody Blue

Beginning in the Middle’s sophisticated kitchen renovation is all about the drama—that’s what led designers Bryan and Catherine Williamson to pick Behr’s Black Sable for their DIY Shaker cabinets that line the space. Of course, the beauty is in the details: Latch knobs from Emtek lend a stately appeal. 

The Contemporary Combo

Sure, the rolling library ladder in this lofty kitchen by Oak Design Project might be the star of the show (followed by the ceiling-high glass cabinetry), but the lower wood shaker cabinets in Cove play an important role, too. The wood effect design has a modern rustic appeal that balances the contemporary shelving. 

The Cool and Collected

This Brooklyn townhouse kitchen designed by interior design studio Núne is a masterclass in pared-back (but not minimal) design. Farrow and Ball’s Pigeon is the ideal light gray to make the shaker cabinets feel cozy but bright.

The Fresh Green

A few coats of Sherwin-Williams’s Riverway blue-green paint make the cupboards pop in this space designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design. The subtle detailing of the shaker kitchen cabinets lends a more traditional touch to the overall modern space. Simple elements, like a white countertop and sleek brushed nickel cabinet pulls, let the cabinet color stand out, without adding any overpowering distractions.