I love both, and they each have their good points and are suited to different settings. As a designer, though, I often prefer the Shaker designs - I don't know why, but they often seem to provide a bit more scope for creativity! Caldicot Kitchens

When it comes to slab doors I would definitely vote handleless but recommend using two or even three colours/textures just to add to the design and inject movement. When it comes to the traditional/shaker door then handles are an essential element of the look but more importantly opening the doors/drawers, together however they give a timeless elegance which can't be matched.

Hi, I guess it depends on whether you're looking for modern or contemporary. We have recently chosen a 'traditional shaker kitchen' but have teamed dark only blue units with a white / grey Quartz top and contemporary brass handles, which when matched together looks lovely. Armac Martin as already mentioned do lovely handles. We chose the Bella brass mushroom knobs and cup handles but they also do they in a polished chrome or satin nickel which look very contemporary. http://m.martin.co.uk/kitchen-bin-pull-drawer-handles http://m.martin.co.uk/mushroom-kitchen-furniture-knob?search=Mushroom knob Take a look at deVOL kitchen like the attached images if you need some inspiration- they have some lovely modern looking shaker kitchens https://www.devolkitchens.co.uk Good luck whatever you chose

That photo does look good, the two don't clash at all. I can't afford real wood flooring. I will either be having new laminate or engineered wood flooring, neither of which are something I would want in a kitchen. I also don't feel comfortable having something I feel would be more difficult to clean than tiles. It's a kitchen diner which opens onto our unusually wet and muddy garden. I have two children who create lots of mess. Just yesterday my eldest spilled some sort of hideous red goo all over the cream carpet upstairs! My other option is some sort of blue geometric patterned tiled floor. I haven't been able to find many affordable options so would probably only be able to do half of the room, depending on the way it is designed. Do any more affordable options exist? I found the optiks tiles at topps tiles which are just under £70 a square metre, so still too expensive for me. They are also quite a light blue and I'd prefer something darker. Are there any other options around?