To make the doors or end panels appear more substantial, make the rails 1 inch wider than the stiles. Rail width is a matter of personal preference. They should always be at least the same width as the stiles, but some cabinetmakers add 1/2 to 1 inch to the width for aesthetic reasons. Rails are the horizontal pieces of the shaker frame. Shaker stile length is determined by the length of the door or drawer front opening, and the outside dimensions of the cabinet end panel. It's acceptable to use almost any width over 1 1/2 inches for stiles, but thinner stiles defeat the purpose of shaker design and can make the door or end panel almost too light. This is the same width used on standard door and window casing, as well as ordinary baseboard. Typical width for shaker stiles on panels, doors and drawer fronts usually is 2 1/4 inches. There is no given rule for width or length on stiles, but there are industry standards that are relied on for balance and efficiency. Stiles are the vertical pieces of the frame on both sides of shaker end panels and doors. The shaker design is emulated by frames around the cabinet end panels and doors. Shaker design doesn't come into play on structural face frames, as a large percentage of the frame is covered by doors and drawer faces. The top horizontal rail is almost always 3 inches wide. Typical horizontal rails are 1/4-inch wide at the bottom of the face frame, with 2-inch-wide rails between drawers and door openings. Typical vertical stiles for face frames are all 3 inches wide. The basic structure of shaker cabinets is no different than any other cabinet using hardwood face frames, which is almost always 3/4-inch thick. The plywood and the hardwood typically are the same species. The stiles and rails that form the frame almost always are hardwood. Shaker cabinets are affordable because the panels typically are lightweight plywood instead of solid hardwood. Shaker design invokes a country feel to a kitchen, but can be found in high-end homes as well as modest ranch-style dwellings - or anywhere an affordable alternative to raised-panel cabinets are used. Shaker cabinets and doors also may have evenly spaced vertical lines routed or cut into the face of the panel. Shaker cabinets, sometimes referred to as an inset-panel design, consist of a wood framework around a flat panel. You can build this type of design in your own shop using time-tested measurements for stiles and rails. You can paint or stain shaker style and use ordinary hardware just like any other type of cabinet. It's been around for many years, and continues to remain attractive and functional. Shaker cabinet design is a throwback to a simpler time. Image Credit: Jupiterimages//Getty Images Shaker stiles and rails form a frame around a panel.
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