Decorating: part one. Shaker Style

For more and more people today who are looking for a lighter more uncluttered style of decorating; the simplicity and clean lines pioneered by the Shakers are an alternative and preferred option to hi-tec or minimalist styles; while these modern interpretations may look great in a magazine, actually living with them may prove too austere for many of us. Although some may say Shaker interiors are also minimalist in approach, I would answer that one can feel a real warmth emanating from them. This is because the Shakers designed all their surroundings empirically and with feelings of devotion. Rather than an architectural or intellectual dogma and it’s this resulting sensibility and warmth that can make a home.
How do we start designing and copying rooms with this true Shaker inspiration? Well, unless you are a purist it’s not always necessary to spend a huge amount on authentic Shaker furniture, in fact this may prove impossible for some settings such as kitchen, bedroom and living rooms. Especially if you wish to also preserve all the modern day comforts we now take for granted. The Shakers themselves did not make furniture for these rooms, as it is sometimes portrayed today. Therefore some compromise must be made. It is far better to seek out plain simple but comfortable furniture with the right Shaker look. (See the ‘Shaker Legacy’ by Christian Becksvoort, this book has lots of pictures of real Shaker furniture, with explanations and should give you a feel for the subject.) Then create authenticity with iconic Shaker items like peg rails, Shaker oval boxes, or perhaps a rocking chair. Dinning rooms are without doubt the easiest room to decorate in authentic Shaker style. Other than their built-ins, most Shaker furniture was in the form of tables, chairs or counters. So plenty of examples to choose from here and probably the room to concentrate on if you wish to commission a replica piece, or even buy an original……if your bank balance allows.
While not suggesting you use all of these ideas, you can of course, just take from them what you will, like a “pick and mix” with your own added flair. Colour, of course is an extremely important factor in all decorating schemes. With much being achieved by getting the right colour combinations for walls ceilings and floors. Luckily for us the Shakers had a set of rules called the Millennial Laws, which governed every aspect of their daily lives, including the specific use of colour. For example, one extract tells us, “The interior walls of a meeting house should be of a bluish shade while the floors of dwelling houses if stained should be a reddish yellow”. They also state that the interior of houses should be as near uniform as possible with red, yellow, blue and green being favoured colours. Tints should be used for plasterwork and darker shades for woodwork. Floors were exclusively timber, stained or painted and if covered at all, with occasional rugs. Again one would probably not wish to recreate a replica Shaker interior by using these colours as specified by the Elders of Shaker communities. However it would be desirable to use one of the colours specified for house interiors and use tints and shades to create interest. This is subjective much depending on the available light in any given room. The rule of thumb being to keep everything light and airy.

If you were to decorate a room following the above guidelines and you then fitted a shaker peg rail around all the walls the room would instantly be recognisable, to anyone entering, as unmistakably Shaker. Now, if this room was your bedroom you could then add a sewing counter or sewing desk to serve as a dressing table with small side tables either side of the bed. You may have to choose between a replica built-in and a freestanding Shaker style wardrobe. Depending on the type and size of room and your needs. While it has to be said, Shaker beds were not the most beautiful or comfortable ever made and only existed as singles, so my choice here and compromise would be to go for a colonial pencil post bed. Both complimentary in style and period with models existing that will take a modern mattress of your desired size and style. Similar compromises can be made in the living room. For example, one of the older style “Ercol” settees could be enhanced by the presence of a Shaker Rocking Chair, candle stand tables and perhaps a Shaker style bookcase. Create the mood of candle light with table lamps rather than one central light. Once you have completed the setting, you can then add personal touches using items like, hanging shelves, Shaker oval boxes, candle sconces or other Shaker wooden-ware.
Don’t forget the Shakers hung many of these small items of furniture from their peg rails and you can achieve a real Shaker ambiance by doing the same.
It’s difficult to achieve this same authenticity in the kitchen. Shakers lived communal lives and their kitchens were large enough to cater for up to 50 or 150 members, not at all like the Shaker kitchens we see advertised. Therefore you may find yourself trying to decide between the convenience of a modern kitchen and the more atmospheric setting of an unfitted kitchen, using pieces in traditional Shaker style. Speaking as a cook myself, I would have no hesitation in choosing the latter. However, some inventiveness and work may be needed to hide modern appliances. Although some cookers and ovens are available with an older traditional style, most will look out of place in a period setting. Cabinets can be made to hide those of course or even something as simple as gingham curtains will disguise any number of things, while giving a real Shaker look at very little expense.
I realize of course, the above is at best a summery. However, it should at least give you food for thought and set you in the right direction. Further detailed research will help you enormously, but if you still have any specific question please write in