HGTV's Egypt Sherrod Says This Cabinet Design May Be Making Your Kitchen Look Dated

Kitchen design trends come and go, so homeowners naturally want to maximize the longevity of some elements. The right choice can mean that your kitchen remains fresh and enduring for years to come, as well as adaptable to smaller changes like paint colors and decorative accents. Cabinets are a large and expensive part of a kitchen's overall impact — but they can also be one of the things that date a kitchen. While basic wood cabinetry can have many years of life, the type of doors may be making your kitchen feel out of date and tired. HGTV's Egypt Sherrod recently helped a homeowner on "Married to Real Estate" move away from choosing dated raised panel cabinets in favor of classic and simple Shaker-style ones. 

While raised panel doors were a common sight during the late 20th and early aughts, the more modern look of Shaker cabinets is much older, hearkening back to the 19th century, when they were popularized by the New England religious community: The Shakers, an offshoot of the Quakers. The Shakers were known for simple and functional designs that countered the overwrought and over-decorated Victorian sensibilities.

According to many experts, raised panel cabinet doors often create a more traditional look that limits potential design choices. While Shaker cabinets are simple in design, they can fit both vintage-inspired aesthetics like cottagecore and farmhouse, as well as more modern-inspired designs due to their sleeker geometry. In the episode of "Married to Real Estate," Egypt Sherrod says "But again, raised panels can date a kitchen. It just so happens a shaker style can almost go with any aesthetic." Shaker cabinets are a suggestion that Sherrod makes often in remodels, particularly those incorporating farmhouse style. 

This adaptability is important, particularly if you plan to sell your home. The simple lines of Shaker cabinets can either look modern or traditional depending on what's around them, including counters, flooring, and appliances. In addition, many homeowners prefer to have their cabinets be a backdrop to other more dramatic elements like statement marble backsplashes or expansive islands that can often feel overwhelming combined with overly ornate or visually cluttered cabinetry. 

In addition, Shaker cabinets are often a better decision in terms of practicality. Their simpler profile does not have as many ridges and crevices, which can make keeping raised panel cabinets clean from debris, grease, and other dirt more difficult. Shaker cabinets also present more options for choosing the perfect hardware that can make a room feel more modern, rustic, or traditional without competing with the cupboards.

Egypt Sherrod steers the homeowner, who desires a classic white kitchen, away from an off-white shade, instead suggesting a soft gray. It's a color that complements the white quartz stone countertop that features a similar shade of gray in its veining. Choosing soft gray in lieu of white on the Shaker cabinets prevents the space from feeling too sterile, offering a bit of color and depth to the kitchen's perimeter while still remaining bright. Sherrod is often in favor of soft bits of color used on cabinetry, including pale shades of gray, mint green, and a stylish gray-cream white, Benjamin Moore's Collingswood, which she's suggested is the perfect white alternative.