skip to main content

3-piece shaker drawer fronts?

8 years ago

I am ordering my walnut shaker cabinets and have an optional free upgrade to 3 or 5 piece drawer fronts. I'm intrigued about the 3-piece but would really love to see a photo of what a kitchen would look like with them. (they have side stiles, but no top/bottom stiles.) Do you have a photo or have a suggestion about where too look? (google isn't producing anything worthwhile)

thanks much!

Featured Answer

nancyjwb

8 years ago

I'm familiar with those. It's an unusual look, but I think it could look good.

I tried a Google search, and didn't pull up anything beyond the sample pics with the door, which I'm sure you've seen. I tried houzz also-nada. If I find anything I'll come back and post it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

anitamo
8 years ago
Can they provide a sample? It seems out of the ordinary for sure. The only google picture I could find is this...
R Bond
Original Author
8 years ago
yes, I could order a sample, but I'm pressed for time and really want to see how they look in a whole kitchen, with doors etc. I think they would look pretty great. I'll post a photo if I find one.
Related Discussions
4 drawer banks with shaker style--flat or pieced?
Q
Comments (24)
When I was researching cabinet styles, I noticed a correlation between door and drawer details. The simpler the style, the more likely you'd see slab drawers, sometimes all slab and sometimes mixed with 5-piece drawer fronts. As cabinet styles became more detailed, there was a much slimmer chance of seeing them paired with slab drawer fronts. As buehl discovered, plain fronts don't look as finished with more detailed doors. Drawers that echo door details just look better. I think you could go either way and I'd be more inclined to aim for a balanced look of stile versus inset panel. 1" clearance between stiles doesn't seem to provide that, IMO. Your wider stiles sound more like the contemporized Shaker cabintes that Ikea offers. Perhaps you can find some inspiration by looking at photos of Ikea kitchens. There are several in the FKB. Here's an example of a 4-drawer bank next to a 3-drawer bank from mindstorm's kitchen (link below). You can see more photos if you click on the link to the photo album from mindstorm's FKB page. Here is a link that might be useful: FKB - Mindstorm's kitchen.
...See More
shaker style- 5 piece drawer door or solid?
Q
Comments (17)
I go with cloud_swift's idea. Although my eye is anal, so I'd have the line of 5-panel going straight across. There are drawers that are just too short to warrant the stiles and rails. Those, I'd go with slab. The larger drawers, where you could actually see the recessed panel, would be where I'd go 5-panel. It's the same with tall, skinny cabinets. 9" cabinets wouldn't show the detail! The rails and stiles would be right next to each other! The detail does show, even with darker cabinets. A pure slab is very much more modern -- unless they're inset. But you haven't mentioned which. As much as you talk about your handles and pulls, they're still going on a door or drawer. The detail behind them -- or lack thereof -- will change how the jewelery is showcased. I'd suggest just being consistent. Maybe all the top, skinny drawers slab, with the larger, lower drawers being detailed. You chose this because you liked it in the first place. Are you settling?
...See More
Drawer Front Dilemma-will large drawer fronts warp?
Q
Comments (7)
Would it make a difference if the boxes are nailed, not dove-tailed? Because they are not dove-tailed. My gut tells me it should be fine--I never would have thought "no, we shouldn't do that, it will warp". But what do I know, I'm not a cabinet expert. But, this guy is starting to freak me out. this morning, he said again "these are going to warp". He also told me a spliced drawer front would solve the problem. I really hate that he is making me question this, because after all, I am not the expert, and frankly, neither is the KD (or GC for that matter). I just can't figure out why the cabinet guy is saying this and everyone else (including me) thinks it will be fine. Thanks for letting me vent!
...See More
Where to place pulls on shaker drawer fronts
Q
Comments (16)
I went through this dilemma. My cabinetmaker told me that shaker 5-piece drawer fronts are made two ways: most commonly, the center panel is a thin piece of wood, sometimes just 1/4" thick and flat on both sides. In the other option, the center panel is actually a reversed raised-panel, with the flat side "out" and the raised side "in". In that case, it's a full 3/4"+ thick. She advised that it's better to have the pulls in thick material (especially for big heavy drawers) so in the first case they should go in the frame. We have the reverse-raised-panel type, so ours are in the centers.
...See More
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
From Houzz:
Cherry 5-Piece Cabinet Door and 3-Piece Drawer Front · More Info
R Bond thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
User
8 years ago
A slab top drawer is a much better look. And more authentic.
R Bond thanked User
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
Also found this on a UK website. It might as well have been a 3-piece drawer--looks as if it might be hard to clean.
R Bond thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
catbuilder
8 years ago
It looks like they forgot the rails. If they were all (doors and drawers) 3-piece, that would look better than the 2 different styles. Go with slab or 5-piece, depending on the height of the drawer front.
R Bond thanked catbuilder
practigal
8 years ago
It is nice that they are willing to upgrade. But a slab drawer is much easier to keep clean, the little edges are all just dust catchers. Can they give you a cabinet insert instead?
R Bond thanked practigal
romy718
8 years ago
Are you doing stacks of drawers or top drawers with cabinets below?
R Bond thanked romy718
User
8 years ago
With wood with a beautiful grain like walnut, I'd use slab drawers. I have cherry and have four-drawer stacks with slab fronts, but I did the bottom drawer in 5 piece. Now I wish I'd done all slab because the uninterrupted wood is so much prettier.
R Bond thanked User
R Bond
Original Author
8 years ago
great input, thanks. I have a lot of drawers, so with slab I was concerned that it might look kind of unfinished, or like a slab front kitchen. I have both stacks of drawers and drawers on top of cabinet doors. The cab people ensured that the stiles would line up on drawers over doors.

You're absolutely right about letting the grain of the walnut shine through uninterrupted. This 3-piece looks either kind of dated or kind of craftsman, which my house is not. It's 1904 and while we're not bending over backwards to preserve, I do like things to look not TOO out of time/place.

I'm having the same style but painted in the adjacent dining area, and that might be a different consideration as there won't be the wood grain to show off.

On a side note: man, these walnut cab doors are ge-orgeous.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN 8 Top Hardware Styles for Shaker Kitchen Cabinets

By KitchenLab Interiors

Simple Shaker style opens itself to a wide range of knobs and pulls. See which is right for your own kitchen

KITCHEN DESIGN Shaker Style Still a Cabinetry Classic

By Elements of Style

The Shaker profile stays true to its generations-old square simplicity but can adapt to any modern taste

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: A Fresh Take on Classic Shaker Style

Quality craftsmanship and contemporary touches in a London kitchen bring the traditional look into the 21st century

FARMHOUSES Houzz Tour: Shaker Simplicity Inspires a Modern Farmhouse

By Mary Jo Bowling

Mixing classic farmhouse style with sustainable features, this Connecticut home is as charming as it is sensible

TRADITIONAL STYLE 5 Classic Shaker Designs for the Contemporary Home

By Laura Gaskill

Clean lines and practicality are intrinsic to this popular style and its modern interpretations

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Dark Gray Sophistication in a Shaker-Style Kitchen

Rich paint used throughout this compact London space helps create a kitchen that’s contemporary and inviting

KITCHEN DESIGN 12 Farmhouse Touches That Bring Homeyness to a Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Shaker cabinetry, country-store-inspired hardware, barn elements or a key piece of art will add homestead appeal to your kitchen

FEEL-GOOD HOME 10 Friendly Furniture Pieces for a Comforting Home

Comfortable? Check. Sociable? Check. These enduring favorites never go out of style

DECORATING GUIDES 15 Key Pieces for Modern Farmhouse Style

By Laura Gaskill

Get that homey feel while staying of the moment with these modern takes on country classics

BUDGET DECORATING Dumpster Decorating: Furnishing Your Home With Repurposed Pieces

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Whether you call them reclaimed or recycled, these furnishings honor our pocketbooks and our planet

Sponsored

KP Designs Group

50 Reviews

Franklin County's Unique and Creative Residential Interior Design Firm

More Discussions

Before and after

9

Thoughts on making galley kitchen more open?

31

Kitchen sink location

4

cabinet overlay question

0

Need help with kitchen remodel

1