NEW USES FOR ANTIQUE FURNITURE
Modern life and new technology has meant that for some pieces of antique furniture, we have simply outgrown their original, intended use. Changes such as the rise of digital books may mean less physical books in houses, but does that mean we can't use beautiful antique bookcases? With floor space being at a premium for many of us, it's often a priority to ensure that our living spaces are multi-functional. Traditional, antique pieces of furniture were often designed for a single use - but that doesn't mean they can't be used creatively to suit the needs of modern life.
Antique Display Cabinets and Antique Bookcases
Antique display cabinets, or antique glazed bookcases are beautiful, useful pieces of furniture in their own right and still have a place within the home, but how about using them for handbag or shoe storage? Glazed doors keep your collections dust and damage free, and if you're particularly proud of your shoe collection, they're perfect items for displaying. Victorian walnut display cabinets or Globe Wernicke Bookcases are great examples of display perfection, and could be placed in bedrooms or even hallways. If you don't have much of a shoe or handbag collection, these timeless bookcases are beautiful storage pieces and have endless uses - one of our favourites is a drinks cabinet and glassware storage.
Mahogany Globe Wernicke Bookcase from Kernow Furniture
Antique Writing Bureaus
Antique writing bureaus, originally intended for keeping up with correspondence were a fairly important part of the home. A really interesting piece of antique furniture, bureaus can feature cupboards, pigeonholes and cubbyholes for storing all the writing paraphernalia a person would have needed to keep in touch with loved ones. Sometimes bureaus were designed as bookcase bureaus and featured a bookcase on top, later periods featured a chest of drawers. Without a doubt, the most important piece was the writing surface, which is hinged and drops down to provide a flat surface. Often you can find them with a leather or felt inlay. These writing surfaces make ideal laptop desks, with lots of variety in the storage inside, they can take on a new purpose which is actually rather close to their original use; keeping in touch.
Antique Bookcases and Secretaires
Antique Secretaires were originally used in the same way as antique bureaus; for catching up with correspondence using the writing area, and storing books in the bookcase. But why does the use have to stop there? If you have an impeccable folding technique, use the glazed bookcase to store your prettiest linens. Lower sections of later secretaires often have a chest of drawers, which is also perfect for storage. Et voila, you have a gorgeous antique linen press. Antique display cases would also have look great used for linen in a bathroom, where you can use the top for lotions and potions.
Antique Credenzas and Antique Console Tables
Antique sideboards or antique credenzas were originally used in dining rooms and commonly used to store tableware and glassware. Placed against a wall, they were extremely useful for serving food, and are some are known as buffets. Antique console tables were traditionally used for displaying decorative items, and could be used in most rooms around the house. Both sideboards and console tables can be repurposed to make washstands and vanity units in bathrooms. Sinks can be placed on top, or sunken in to the sideboard and there's plenty of storage underneath.
Shop Antique Sideboards from Kernow Furniture
The antique What-Not was a popular piece of furniture throughout the 19th century. Derived from the French étagère, it was originally intended for displaying curiosities, china, decorative objects such as ornaments, and storing newspapers and books. Convenient pieces of display furniture, they were made in various shapes and sizes. They are still useful for their original purpose, and look lovely with plants, books and magazine.
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