How do you have a fabulous space that says craftsmanship and bespoke finish when you have a limited budget? Well simple, something has to give. If you refuse to compromise on the aesthetic of your space you have to focus on the bits you can see. At Shaker doors we have created a way for our clients to do exactly that.Using IKEA METOD carcasses (previously Faktum) and laying out the space using their software, our clients are able to have the functionality and versatility that IKEA allows and the look and feel they dreamt of because they still have the cash for the bits that matter. Nothing is compromised. IKEA do what they do well. With a fitted kitchen flat pack doesn’t take the abuse that other flat pack furniture might when moved from one room to another or one house to another. We put our shaker doors on their units to our client’s specifications, and the project looks cohesive and bespoke because we also do plinths, panels, cornices and filler units.
Have a look at a gorgeous project we were involved in. A Family home had a complete overhaul by 50 Degrees North, Richmond based Architectural firm, and we came in and did custom cabinet doors to be put on IKEA cabinets.
The project was recently featured in Ideal Home Magazine. See the whole article here and on page 42 they talk about “Bespoke a Basic”!
http://www.50degrees.co.uk/2017/07/ideal-home-magazine-feature-west-wittering-beach-house/
See more pictures of the project here.
http://www.50degrees.co.uk/project/the-west-wittering-beach-house/
Julia Toms - Photography, Many thanks!
]]>Period Living magazine have mentioned us in a great article about ‘Getting a Stylish Kitchen on a Budget’, which you can read here. The article notes how we help customers take readymade cabinet units from brands like IKEA, and upgrade them with bespoke joinery including solid wood doors. We are very pleased to be recognised for our expertise in providing high quality doors and joinery for IKEA furniture, including their METOD fitted kitchens. It is also worth pointing out that we apply the same approach and expertise for upgrading IKEA fitted wardrobe doors, like those used in IKEA’s PAX system. In fact, we can upgrade virtually any brand of readymade furniture, including well known affordable brands like Howdens, B&Q and Homebase.
At Shaker Doors we are specialists at making bespoke doors, including those for cabinet use om in fitted kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. But, cabinet doors are not all we make - our skilled team of craftsmen can also make the cabinets themselves and every item of bespoke joinery that you can ever possibly imagine or need; be that a kitchen island, butchers block, wine rack or display unit – there really isn’t much we haven’t made when it comes to fitted kitchens and bedrooms. Please call one of our experts for help on 01865 849 800, or contact us here with an overview of your fitted furniture requirements.
]]>Sanding is one of the important manufacturing processes in making shaker doors. Having this excellent VIET wide belt sander has improved our efficiency and accuracy in production. We are committed to invest in machinery as it is essential for business growth as well as manufacturing high standard products.
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We recently manufactured an elegant glazed 4 panel front door for a Victorian house situated in North Oxford. The door retains the same period features as would have been present when the property was originally built.
The door was painted with Farrow & Ball Pigeon No 25.
All the external doors we manufacture at Shaker Doors come CE marked and provide a sufficient U value of 1.8W / m2K insulating your home against outside weather conditions.
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It seems everyone wants greys in the kitchen and we are often asked to finish the painted Shaker Doors with greys. The popular colour choices from Farrow and Ball are Purbeck Stone, Elephants Breath and Manor House Grey – they are lovely subtle greys. French Grey from Little Greene is often asked for too.
At Shaker Doors our specialist painting system allows us to colour-match to almost any paint colour, so that wide ranges of colours are available from the subtle to the flamboyant. If you already have a colour in mind, just let us know the RAL number or paint name from your preferred paint company.
]]>If you are considering ordering an IKEA Method Kitchen to use with our high quality shaker doors, then before making your purchase, please take a moment to share with us your intended choice of integrated appliance. While most integrated (built-in) appliances (ovens, washing machines, fridges/freezers, microwaves and dishwashers) are made to standard sizes and will fit within an IKEA method kitchen cabinet there are some which may require the kitchen design or supporting joinery to be altered.
We are experts at helping customers achieve their perfect kitchen by combining our bespoke doors with an IKEA METOD kitchen so have all the experience needed to advise on what will and will not work. We are always happy to help, so please feel free to give us a call and ask for our advice.
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Just over a year after the project was completed our client emailed us again to warmly inform us that “We love our kitchen doors more and more. They integrate perfectly with the rest of our living space and are still in immaculate condition after one year in daily use.” “The doors and the drawers fit perfectly and your service couldn't possibly have been better.”
It’s really nice to hear back from another client using our replacement/alternative shaker doors with an IKEA METOD kitchen. Every year we help a large number of customers attain a high quality kitchen at a fraction of the cost by combining our doors with an IKEA METOD kitchen. Combining IKEA’s products with our bespoke joinery is a great way to make something really special, unique and to the highest quality. We would love talk to you about how we can help you do this, or share your story if we have already helped you as a customer.
]]>This particular timber came from a sawmill in Italy, and when we were planing it up something got stuck in our machinery. We took a closer look, and found this.
Yes, it was a bullet, that had got cut in half. We'd love to know how it ended up in the timber. Suggestions in the comments below, please!
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We are very fortunate that our Shaker Doors workshop is situated in a small village in rural Oxfordshire. This week, the bluebells are in full bloom, and the local woodland walks are breathtakingly beautiful. Scenes like these inspire us to perfect our workmanship, to make products of the highest possible quality.
]]>Since we last wrote about using our solid wood replacement doors in IKEA kitchens the number of orders and enquires has kept increasing. We’ve been asked all sorts of questions from customers wanting to use our shaker doors to replace their old IKEA doors while still using their old IKEA cupboards / cabinets. Equally many customers come to us when planning their new kitchen after deciding to use our high quality solid wood doors with their new IKEA kitchen.
It isn't just questions about using our doors with IKEA kitchen cupboards, many people are also using our doors with their bathroom and bedroom IKEA cabinets and wardrobes. Although we already have a Q&A section on our website about this subject, we also thought it worthwhile to answer below some of the most common questions that our customers ask when combining their IKEA cabinets with our shaker doors.
Our bespoke door solutions can help you when replacing your existing IKEA doors or alternately they can also be used from the outset with a brand new IKEA METOD kitchen system or bedroom. Choosing to buy our bespoke shaker doors means that virtually anything is possible, so please feel free to ask as we are always happy to help you with your project.
Do you make doors to work with an IKEA METOD kitchen system?
We do!
What are our Shaker Doors made of?
We offer 2 different types of solid wood timber as standard; Oak and Tulipwood. MDF is also available for a painted finish. Our Oak and Tulipwood Shaker Doors both have solid timber frames (solid wood rails and stiles) with MDF veneered centre panels (solid wood centre panels are also available.) All our doors are 22mm thick.
Although we offer 2 different types of solid wood timber as standard, being a bespoke joinery means you can specify any type of wood you want. So as always please feel free to ask for a quote.
Do all your doors come in the IKEA sizes?
Of course. We offer every size of door front that IEKA offers in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. We are a bespoke joinery so you are not limited to standard IKEA sizes and can choose virtually any size of door that you need.
Can you match existing IKEA door styles exactly?
Unfortunately no. The process of manufacturing at IKEA is mass produced, whereas each door we make is hand-crafted by our joiners. Therefore, we cannot match IKEA existing doors 'exactly'. We are however able to suggest many decorative designs for example applying Cockbead, V groove, Chamfered edge, Raised Field and Ovolo designs. Please remember that at Shaker Doors we make bespoke doors, which can be made to your exact specifications, so you can have virtually any size, finish, colour or even type of wood. So why not make your IKEA Kitchen, bedroom or bathroom something really special and reflect your own unique style with some unique bespoke doors.
What types of finishes do you offer?
Can you match the particular colour?
Yes, we can. Morrells have a colour matching service that enables colour matching from any mainstream suppliers paints (e.g. Farrow and Ball, Dulux, Little Greene etc). Please remember that although the colour formula remains the same, due to the paint difference, the colour may vary slightly. With our doors you do not need to be restricted by just the colours that IKEA offer.
Can you pre-drill hinge holes?
Yes, we can.
If we've picked out door handles/drawer pulls we like, will you pre-drill the holes for them?
Unfortunately, no. Things like that are best done on-site.
Do you offer base, wall and tall end panels?
We do. We can provide all the necessary scribe, end panels and fillets to complement your kitchen. Where to have the end panels and scribes is one of the tricky parts of the IKEA kitchen planner. But our design team is happy to assist along the way.
There is a gap at the end of the cabinets. Can you make me a custom shelf?
Absolutely. We are a custom joinery so are experienced at making all types of shelves, floating, open base, wall bookcases and even wine racks. Plus we can finish them in exactly the same way as the doors. Just send us the dimensions and a quick sketch for what you would like.
I hope there is enough information to inspire you. Once your layout is complete on IKEA kitchen planner, email us your plans. Please send the entire design, with all the kitchen views, not only the itemised list of IKEA cabinetry.
]]>Yes, I know it sounds like I made this up, but "never bolt your door with a boiled carrot" is a real saying. It's a proverb, or a popular phrase that expresses a commonplace truth or useful advice. In this case, it is an Irish proverb. Of course, it is highly unlikely that anyone would actually try to bolt their door with a boiled carrot, rather, the implied meaning behind this proverb is that you should act carefully, and plan ahead for any potential future problems. If you were to bolt your door with a boiled carrot, anyone, friend or foe, would be able to enter your home with ease, whereas if you had a proper lock and bolt on your door, you would be quite safe.
Here at Shaker Doors, we do sell a wide range of door locks and latches, so there's no need for you to attempt to bolt your door with a boiled carrot! Below are a few more door-related proverbs from around the world. What do you think they mean? As always, comments are welcome.
The best kind of closed door is the one you can leave unlocked. (China)
Never open a door that you can't lock again. (Iran)
Beware of the door with too many keys. (Portugual)
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One of our recent clients had a problem. She needed replacement internal doors for her 1930's era house, but because of the non-standard dimensions, she was unable to find ready made doors that would fit. That's where we came in. We were able to make 1930's style doors to fit the unusual sizes, while maintaining the same proportion of stiles and rails in the design. Our client was delighted with the results. As you can see in these pictures, the doors really do look like they were made in the 1930's!
Many thanks to our client in Hastings, East Sussex, for sending these pictures to us.
Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in having bespoke doors made for your home.
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The answer is Janus, the Roman god of doors and gateways! He is depicted in ancient Roman culture as having two faces, one looking back, and one looking forward. In this way, it makes sense that the Romans named January after him, looking back at the old year whilst simultaneously looking forward to the new one.
In his role of Guardian of Exits and Entrances, his image could be seen on many ancient Roman city gates and doors, and in Rome itself there were many temples dedicated to Janus. He also appears on Roman coins, as seen in the picture above, which demonstrates just how important he was in ancient Roman culture.
Although today we don't have a god of doors in our culture, perhaps January might be the best time to get a new door, to create a new entrance and exit, symbolizing the new year ahead and the old year that has passed.
Everyone at Shaker Doors wishes you a very Happy New Year.
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The TARDIS is an instantly recognisable cultural icon, and we all know how it can travel through time and space. But, do you know the different ways the Doctor can lock and unlock his door? It’s not as straightforward as you might think…
*He has a key, which he carries with him, and sometimes gives copies of to his companions. The key fits a traditional-looking lock, which he uses to lock and unlock the TARDIS door, from both the inside and outside. Incidentally, did you know, that real police box doors opened outwards, but the TARDIS doors open inwards?
*The TARDIS keys have varied in design throughout the different series of Doctor Who. Usually, they are simple Yale keys, but occasionally, the keys have been embossed with alien patterns.
*In the 2005 series, the keys would heat up and start to glow when the TARDIS was arriving.
*In 2008, River Song showed the Doctor that he could open and close the TARDIS doors simply by snapping his fingers, which he has done in sporadic episodes ever since.
*The Doctor has also been known to use a key fob, to remotely lock and unlock the TARDIS, in the same way that we lock our cars.
*Despite having various keys and locking devices, some people have been able to just freely wander into the TARDIS, including people who later became companions.
*The first Doctor even unlocked the door using his ring!
Although we don’t make TARDIS doors, do check out our website for our range of door locks!
The locks we use on our front doors are usually small and functional, simply there to keep out intruders and unwanted guests from our homes. However, the Bamana people of Mali, West Africa, used their door locks for other reasons, too.
*Text adapted from an exhibit curated by Matthew Ruddle at the Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. Thank you to the museum for granting permission to use an image of one of the door locks in their collection. For more information, please visit: https://www.beloit.edu/logan/
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Did you know that the door cannot be opened from the outside? There’s no outside handle, so you have to be let in from the inside.
Did you know that there are, in fact, three Number 10 doors? The original door, made of black oak and dating back to 1775, is on display at the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms in London. After a terrorist attack on Downing Street in 1991, the original door was replaced by a replica, made of blast-proof steel. It looks identical to the original. There is also a third door, another replica made of blast-proof steel; the two doors are rotated whenever one of them needs to be repainted.
Did you know that the letter box doesn’t work? The original door had, of course, a working letter box, but due to security reasons, the replica doors just have decorative letter boxes on them.
Did you know that the door hasn’t always been black? It was painted dark green, from 1908 until 1916, when Herbert Asquith was Prime Minister.
Do you have a distinctive front door? Tell us about it in the comments!
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This week, we take a look at one of our most popular requests.
We frequently get asked if we can make doors to fit IKEA kitchen cabinets, and the answer is yes! We make bespoke doors to fit any new or existing kitchen cabinets, including the popular IKEA METOD kitchen range. Our bespoke doors are ideal for customising kitchen cabinets of any size or design, and they really add individual character and charm to your kitchen.
Our kitchen cabinet doors are a sturdy 22mm thick, compared to IKEA’s, which are just 18-20mm. Instead of being mass-produced, our doors are lovingly made to order, by craftsmen in our Oxfordshire workshop.
So if you are looking to update your kitchen, consider adding Shaker Doors to fit your IKEA or other existing cabinets or units, regardless of their size or dimensions.
]]>This is the first entry in our new blog series, looking at notable doors from around the world. This week, we take a look at a fictional door from Japan!
This is the Dokodemo Door (or “anywhere door”) and it belongs to Doraemon, a blue robot cat from the 22nd century. Doraemon has been a popular manga character in Japan, ever since he first appeared in comics in 1969. Since then, he has appeared in countless TV animation series and movies, as well as in comic books. Think of him as a cool, robotic cousin of Hello Kitty.
Doraemon carries around with him a vast array of futuristic gadgets, all safely tucked inside his pocket. The Dokodemo door is just one of these gadgets. It allows you to go anywhere in the universe, so it’s a pretty powerful and useful door.
Although at Shaker Doors we don’t make an “anywhere door”, it has got us thinking. If you had a Dokodemo Door, where would you go? Let us know in the comments below…
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We’re making 4 Vertical Panel Hardwood Doors.
Unlike a standard door depth (34mm), the timber is 44mm thick, as our client is keen to ensure that these doors feel heavy and sturdy.
In this photo, the tulipwood has been cut and planed. The next stage will be creating the mortice and tennon joint.
Be sure to check our blog for more work in progress reports!
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Looking for a wow-factor in your home or workplace? Consider adding pocket doors! These concealed sliding doors are a great room dividing solution for open plan spaces, especially dining rooms, en-suite bathrooms, kitchens and offices. Pocket doors are also a simple way to increase space in smaller rooms.
We recently supplied pocket doors to our client Mr Tebbutt in London. He wanted to use the Eclisse sliding door system for telescopic pocket doors, meaning that two doors have to have a rebate at a certain measurement. As a joinery company, we are familiar with Eclisse sliding door systems and we were able to offer our service without any hesitation. We supplied Glazed 4 Panel Oak Doors to Mr Tebbutt, and below is his feedback.
“I decided I’d like a pair of pocket doors. And I also decided that shaker-style with satin glass would work well because they were dividing a bedroom from a utility room and bathroom. The doors needed a rebate in the bottom to accommodate the guide pegs in the floor. Most doors were useless because they couldn’t be rebated enough. Then I found Shaker Doors in Oxford.
Because the stiles and rails are made of solid oak, they were perfect for the job. The company pointed out that, because part of the trailing stile would be hidden in the wall, perhaps it would be a good idea to widen that stile, so everything matched when the doors were fully extended. The end result was brilliant. So good, in fact, that we ordered an extra one for an internal door.
Now, when the pocket doors are fully extended and the internal door is open, they all line up beautifully. I couldn’t be more delighted.”
]]>This was our final outcome and one we are very proud of.
Despite appearing to be a simple design, the moulding is not in existence anymore so a cutter had to be created in order to get the detail just right.
Several man hours later we were left with a set of doors we were happy to send to our awaiting clients.
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CE marking has long been mandatory on products such as toys and electronics.
On the 1st July 2013, the application of the CE mark was extended to construction products. Glazed doors and windows used externally were immediately affected by this and making it compulsory for all external door sets and patio door sets and windows to be CE marked.
Conformity of declaration for external window and doors is to be made under the EU Construction Product Regulation, harmonised standard BS EN 14351-1+A1:2010, thereby enabling the affixing of the required CE Mark.
Local Authority Building Control and Trading Standards have made it clear they will be making sure all new doors and windows carry the CE Mark. In practical terms, any external door set supplied and installed after July 1st 2013 that is not CE marked will potentially be sold illegally.
The label means that Shaker Doors have had the performance of our external joinery products tested by an independent body so that we can declare their performance and CE mark them in accordance with the Construction Products Regulations requirements.
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Making a curved shaker door requires far more love and attention, especially if you want the job done well. When the effort is made the end product creates striking extra feature to you’re already beautiful shaker door kitchen.
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“In January 2012 Morrells were proud to receive a Royal Warrant for wood finishes from Her Majesty the Queen”
Morrells strive to have the best possible product on offer at all times and are constantly changing and updating their range.
* omnia waterborne joinery coatings with a flexible super-smooth finish and extreme weather resistance.
* induro waterborne floor lacquers with outstanding clarity, anti-bacterial protection and rock-like durability.
* medicote waterborne anti-bacterial furniture lacquers for woodwork in public buildings.
* xerofire waterborne fire-retardant coatings with British Standard certification.
Each product has been specifically designed to meet the demands of any given field. Here at Shaker Doors our “weapon of choice” is Omnia. This can be ordered in any colour (and I mean any colour) and even precisely matched to any colour made by all leading manufacturers of paint finishes.
The quality of finish this product delivers is outstanding (in the right hands of course) and we have no plans of finishing our shaker doors in anything else anytime soon.
]]>Shaker Doors is proud to announce its support for the Made in Britain campaign that encourages all UK based manufacturing businesses to display the official "Made in Britain" logo on all of their products.
The Made in Britain campaign is a non-profit organisation launched to promote and support manufacturing in the UK. It is run by a committee of Directors from UK-based manufacturers as well as leaders of other groups which support British trade and industry. The campaign came about in 2011 when independent research concluded that over half of the 1,000 people questioned thought British brands should bring manufacturing back to the UK and over a third of those questioned stated they would buy British if it was easier to identify authentic made in Britain products.
At Shaker Doors we take great pride in our UK manufacturing heritage and are very excited about the idea of the campaign. We support it 100% and are delighted to be able to display the marque. We believe there is nothing more important than keeping manufacturing in the UK, providing jobs and helping grow our economy!
]]>The Ovolo put simply is “the curved bit”. The word itself originates from Italian and is diminutive of ovo 'egg', from Latin ovum.
It is often referred to as part of a Georgian Bar or Egg-And-Dart moulding which are more commonly known in the architectural field.
Its intended purpose is to hide or soften any inside edge it may be used in.
For me, the Ovolo adds a whole new dimension to the door (literally.) A Shaker Doors crisp, clean lines are perfect in any kitchen/living room/wherever, IF that suits the décor of your home. It may be that simply adding an Ovolo moulding to your door could be more in keeping with the current style of your home. It may be that you just prefer a bit of detail on your Kitchen doors. It does however all boil down to a case of taste.
Whether it’s your kitchen doors, internal doors or external doors, ask yourself; “Do I prefer shaker door style or Ovolo Style?”
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It's constantly updated with new projects from both in the workshop, and out on site.
Simply click on the logo and see what we have on at the moment.
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All oak used for our doors must first reach our high specification to ensure the best quality from the start. Once the timber has been selected it is then checked for bows and knots. These natural defects of the timber are sawn out of the lengths which are used in the building of the doors. The defects are discarded as scrap but not wasted (they make great fire wood!)
We then plane the oak to size and machine in the mortise and tenon. Below is a picture of how the oak is looking at this stage;
After this it’s time to finally begin the assembling the doors. The joints are cleaned up and prepared. High quality, industrial glue is used to prolong the overall life of the doors.
The final stage of the manufacturing process is, as we like to call it, ‘prepping’. This involves levelling the doors so that they are perfectly flat, sanding the doors so that they are perfectly clean and tackling any minor imperfections so that the doors are, well, perfect.
Voilà!
]]>Spring is a very exciting time at Shaker Doors. When the clouds part and the sun finally shines, it gives the team a chance to work outside the entrance of the workshop. This not only creates a happier workforce; but also allows the team to make the most of the natural light. The industrial Halogen lamps along with the ample amount of ceiling windows that flood the workshop with both natural and artificial light during the darker months of the year are perfect for creating a well-lit workspace - however, it is impossible to compete with the efficiency of natural lights ability to pick out the natural flaws in hardwood timber for us to then eradicate.
If you are ever interested in what it is we do down here at Shaker Doors, please feel free to give us a call and we’ll arrange a time that’s convenient for you to see for yourself.
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We offer a range of carousel storage and pull-out shelving systems, which can help you using your kitchen space cleverly.
It’s not how big your kitchen is that matters, but how you use the space. Instead of cramming in as many units as your kitchen can take, you should use smart space saving solutions to open up the space as much as possible.
Pull out larder units and carousel storage are highly practical because they simply make it easier to reach stuff and organise a lot of things in the kitchen. You CAN reach into the back of a cupboard / corner cupboard!