Leslie Mann's traditional beige kitchen cabinets are back and defining 2024 – perfect for embracing simple, honest design
Follow the ethos of a Shaker-style kitchen to bring simple refinement and elegance to a home


In Leslie Mann's and Judd Apatow's family kitchen, a traditional kitchen cabinet style reigns supreme, and its popularity is expected to rise in 2024. But why are traditional kitchens – similar to Shaker-style – making a comeback?
Instantly recognized by their timeless, uncomplicated designs featuring simple paneled doors and an abundance of natural materials, traditional and Shaker kitchens are ubiquitous in homes throughout the world.
Shaker kitchens are renowned for their unfussy cabinetry, featuring clean lines and a simple recessed panel, which provides the perfect backdrop to define your own style. However, the beauty of Shaker cabinetry was not just superficial. The Shakers – a religious group who arrived in America from England in 1774 – believed that God could see everything, even the back of a cabinet should look as good as the front. To reflect this craftsmanship, solid wood kitchen cabinets are constructed with strong dovetail joints for pieces that exude the Shaker ethos.
While Leslie Mann's kitchen cabinets are not true, authentic Shaker-style – designed with inset rectangular panels – they still embody the simple aesthetic they so loved to use in their homes.
There is no standard template for a traditional kitchen – however, your personality and unique style are both integral to its design. Be sure, though, that it will feature plenty of natural materials, similar to the one below, a social space to gather and accessories to make it feel lived in.
A post shared by 🍯Honey Bunny🍯 (@honey_apatow)
A photo posted by on
This family kitchen epitomizes the Shaker style. Nothing in the space is purely decorative, everything has a purpose. Pale cabinetry, with classic fielded doors, emphasizes the room’s original features, drawing the eye to the marble kitchen countertop and the worn wooden floor. It is through these natural and architectural elements that the character of the space is achieved, rather than through ostentatious cabinetry design.
A post shared by 🍯Honey Bunny🍯 (@honey_apatow)
A photo posted by on
With nature at its heart, a traditional kitchen, similar to Leslie Mann's and Judd Apatow's, should celebrate the same raw materials that were used to construct your home, so make a feature of any wooden ceiling beams and stonework. These elements can then be paired with other natural finishes, such as stone and wood surfaces, which are a beautiful complement to the kitchen, and are also highly practical.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Continue the ethos of Shaker-style kitchen design into other aspects of your space. ‘There is an increasing appreciation that hardware can make a huge difference to the overall look of the kitchen, so it’s important to get it right,’ says Jonathan Britton, brand manager at House of Rohl. Brass hardware for your cabinetry handles is the perfect companion to a classic kitchen.
Shop the kitchen edit
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for several years in both the US and UK, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing and occasionally dabbles in the social media, commercial, and the e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling houses designed by some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances, and even writing a few news stories or two.
-
5 key trends that are dividing designers in 2025
The latest round of design trends isn't suiting everyone's tastes, and designers are still figuring out how to approach them. These are the most controversial of the year that are dividing designers
By Pip Rich Published
-
I ditched smokey incense sticks and candles for non-toxic dry-fragrance reeds – now my house always smells like a luxurious hotel for just $18
They smell so good and last for longer than oil reed diffusers
By Punteha van Terheyden Published