Serviceable sideboard

Store stemware in style with this sleek, easy-to-make skirted table.

Go ahead and sneak a peek beneath the skirt of this dining room sideboard. Crisp panels of gold-- toned linen trimmed with velvet conceal surprisingly practical, no-frills shelving constructed of humble plywood. "This sideboard was absolutely the product of necessity," says owner Carrie Griffin. "You know that saying, `Necessity is the mother of invention'? That was truly the case here."

When Carrie and Ahmet Icen purchased their 1920s bungalow in Asheville, North Carolina, they inherited major storage challenges along with the home's abundant historic charm. "The original kitchen had only two cabinets," Carrie explains, "so we needed to be resourceful and create space to store things such as our crystal." Economy was also a priority for this young couple. Rather than purchasing an expensive antique or contemporary sideboard, they designed a practical plywood shelf and dressed it up with fabric that is as elegant as premium wood furniture but costs considerably less. After drawing a few quick sketches, taking a trip to a local cabinetmaker for the frame, and visiting the upholsterer to have the skirt made, the result was a $400 side table with $4,000 appeal.

One level of 25-inch-deep shelving, along with storage on the floor, permits Carrie and Ahmet to efficiently keep all their stemware, china, and crystal on hand, while the fabric skirting serves to conceal the clutter. Carrie chose the gold and khaki fabrics to match the neutral colors of the dining room rug and the opulent wall treatment 12-inch-wide painted stripes. The nubby linen and plush velvet fabrics contribute texture to this small (16 x 16 feet), sophisticated dining room. Decorative yet practical nailheads in an antique brass finish fasten the fabric to the plywood frame. The nailheads create an interesting and inexpensive trim detail.

Carrie and her mother also handcrafted the two gold-leaf mirrors that are propped, instead of hung, above the sideboard. The use of this decorative detail creates the illusion of an expanded space. Silver candlestick lamps, a smaller three-part mirror embellished with an elegant French script, and a silver tray set with the owners' collection of decanters combine to create a handsome vignette. The makeshift bar display adds further functionality to this style-savvy yet utilitarian sideboard.

NANCY STAAB

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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