Hi, Maureen. My preference would very likely be (and has been) slab doors for a couple of fairly narrow stacks. Like you, I just like their simplicity better, but it's really also a good way to develop your vintage, old-fashioned look since our grandmothers' eras had bunches of them. Nicely less expensive and easier to keep clean, and the only reason I would do paneled, probably, would be if they were in a spot where I really needed to continue a line developed with the other doors and drawers.

They aren't painted, but we had Shaker doors with slab drawers in the kitchen we did in our last house. I think they're fine. Like you said the kitchen isn't huge, so visibility of details on the lower cabinets probably isn't great, and the door units aren't that large or plentiful. Your hardware will jazz them up.

I'm sorry these pics are quite small, but I did all slab drawers, some of them are antique pieces which is why I did the new ones the same to all fit in. HTH

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Don't have photos available at the moment, but I did paneled drawers on all the drawers. I would have been okay with slabs for the upper drawers, but I definitely wanted paneled on the lower, larger drawers, and the only way to get that was to go paneled on all of them. (There was actually only one drawer unit in question, but it's a tiny galley kitchen with the drawer unit centered on the wall, so it's prominent.)

Having slabs on the large drawers seemed too much like I'd be losing the character of the shaker doors.

Thanks everyone! I think the slab drawers will be fine, especially since they are small and not in a prominent area.

Now I have to think about knobs and pulls ...

That's funny Charlikin, because I have the opposite situation: I think our shaker doors undermine the sleek look of our slab drawers and give the kitchen a country look!

Mfrog - your kitchen is really lovely. The colors and lighting make it dreamy. (I can't think how else to put it)

maureeninmd, thanks so much, it was fun doing it. That *was* my dream kitchen. Someone else owns it now :(

I think the slab drawers will look good, particularly because we are talking only 18" and 24" widths - it's a reasonable compromise for your budget that I bet you won't regret. Probably does come down to taste but like Charlikin I prefer carrying the shaker style onto the drawers if budget allows (the product we are using doesn't offer slab fronts so it wasn't an area where we could have compromised to save money anyway).

I opted for a combination of slab & frames. Here's one more phote just for the sake of seeing both options.

I also debated about all slab drawer fronts in my kitchen. I have shaker style doors (maple honey finish) and slab drawers in almost all base cabinets. I simply did not want to have to clean, wipe or dust those crevises in the drawer fronts. Check out my pictures at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchen Blog

Thanks all!

I think it makes a BIG difference if the doors are large, like Debsans. They look great!

Mountainbasketmaker - I will have many of the same elements as you! I too am choosing a micro wall cabinet next to my fridge with drawers in the base cabinet. I also like your faucet! And paint color, I'm glad you have it listed. No pantry for me, alas.