Feb 24

Narrow console table designs in wood are best found in the mission style which lends itself to being tall and not very wide, ideal for decorating a hall or entry. Anthony California and Powel Furniture make oak mission console table designs that work well with classic décor.

Three Decorating Ideas For A Narrow Console Table

Using a Powel or a Picotee or even a Cooper Classic mission console table, all which are priced very affordably, you can accent your entry or hall very quickly and easily.

1. The first thing to remember for hallway, entryway or long narrow spaces is that you not only want a narrow console, but you want it to be tall. You also want it to be open, I mean, without doors or drawers if possible. Why? Because a tall open console table will give the illusion of more space in the hallway or entry. Classily, these tables have had a mirror above them, and this is a good idea because a mirror will not only be useful if it’s an entry, but will make the area appear larger. However, the classic round or oval is not recommended when matching to a mission console table because that particular style is not ornate and curled and carved like the old French ones, but straight and crisp and clean with square or rectangular shaped legs and top. The best mirrors will be long vertical or horizontal ones that are rectangular. If placing the mirror horizontally, don’t choose one that is longer than the tabletop.

2. For a clean modern look that you can personalize try getting an unfinished pine piece from International Concepts or even from Target who have really cheap ones, and get the style that is really tall and had only one set of small drawers at the top and the rest is open. Finish it yourself with colored lacquer or paint and give the wood a modern and personal touch with a stencil applied to the front of the drawers and maybe even the top. Instead of placing a traditional rectangular, square or oval mirror above this little narrow console table, get 4 to 6 mirror squares that attach flat to the wall. This will give you the same illusion of space without any extra bulk and will be sleek and modern. Don’t clutter the console table with ornaments. Keep this look clean and simple.

3. There’s a sleek narrow console table by Cooper Classic that’s called the Viejo mission console and this piece is a fun one to work with at an entry or at the end of a hallway passage. It has a Spanish or Mexican antique feel and has a drawer that’s small but otherwise is open. It’s finished in antique varnish so you don’t have to do anything. But in this suggestion, I recommend you don’t use a mirror above it, instead place one or two wrought iron lantern over it, add a small, very narrow shelf between the lamps and place books on the shelf, preferably old ones. You can also put a piece of artwork in an antique frame instead. The idea is to make the area into what looks like an old desk or study. You needn’t put a chair or actually write at it, just give it that feeling. Like most of the Cooper Classic designs this one has one shelf, so use it for books and give your hall or entry a studious old-world touch.

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Feb 22

Buffets and sideboards were developed for the kitchen and dining areas of the house because of the lack of cabinet space in the home. They were developed in the 1700s and though changing in styles they are still a popular item today. They are a useful piece of furniture that also has an attractive decorative feature.

These pieces of furniture can be crafted in many different styles. Some of them are finished on all sides and can be set in the center of the room. Others are made to set along the walls of a room and can have mirrors and fancy tops. These furniture items were and still are made of many species of lumber including walnut, oak, maple, ash and other woods. Some have fancy carvings and others have pressed wood designs applied to them. Some are very plain in detail and others are quite exotic. They are built to be very function with their door and drawer designs. The drawers can be lined and built with partitions and the sideboard cabinet area can have shelving in them. The doors can have raised panels or glass inserts to display fancy glassware and dishes. The drawers are generally dovetailed so they will last along time. Most buffets and sideboards are generally quality built pieces of furniture.
They can have fancy post styles or very plain square designed corner styles or post.

Buffets and sideboards are very functional for many different uses. The top can be used for displaying many different items including collectibles. It can also be used for serving food in a buffet style or as a counter to prepare some food items. The cabinet space is a great place to store that fine china or other collectible glassware. The drawer space is storage for serving utensils and the lined drawer can store your fine silverware. Today they are used mostly for display of antique and collectible items. You see them in different rooms in the home now not just the kitchen and dining area.

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Feb 05

As we have seen console tables can add so much to a home in functionality and style. So when it comes to buying one follow this simple ten step plan to ensure you end with the tables that will meet your demands.

 
Creative Commons License photo credit  highfithome

Step 1

First work out how many tables you are going to buy and where you will place them in your home. Figure out whether their purpose is decorative or utilitarian. Will it complement a study table or serve as a dining bench? Also consider how complementary the tables need to be.

Step 2

Work out a budget. Allow more for the decorative items like a Tuscan console table that will be a feature piece. Consider low cost tables for bathrooms and studies. Putting a boundary on your expenditure before starting your search will help you avoid any spur of the moment decisions that will prove costly in the long run.

Step 3

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