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Shabby chic dressers and sideboards are a fantastic addition to any kitchen style, contemporary or vintage. Shabby chic seems to have become very popular recently, as many home and design magazines feature this style on a regular basis, and interior designers on TV are using it for home remodeling!
If you like this style of furniture, it’s a great way to add some originality and individuality to your home, as most shabby chic dressers you can buy are repurposed or upcycled antique or second-hand dressers.
Sideboards were first popular in the 17th century in Europe and during this period furniture was handmade and generally well made. Antique or vintage furniture was usually built to last and be strong. In just the last few years we have become a nation of flat pack-loving consumers!
If you want to get away from flimsy flat-pack furniture but still find furniture that’s affordable, recycled or “pre-loved” pieces are definitely the way to go. If you’re looking for a particular chest of drawers or sideboard, your choice may also be pretty limited to older furniture, as while these items are definitely back in style, they’re pretty traditional pieces.
Many companies now make reproductions of French chests of drawers and shabby chic sideboards, but they somehow lack the character of the original vintage pieces. They are also mass-produced, so if you want something unique in your kitchen that none of your friends or neighbors will have, go for an antique or second-hand piece of furniture.
Second hand dressers and sideboards can also be painted in any color of your choice to match your kitchen or home interior and make them even more unique to you. Once they’ve been painted you can age them by sanding them down for a truly shabby chic look.
People often refer to the French country house style or the English country house style, but there are many different styles of antique dressing tables, from many periods and different areas of Europe.
French-style shabby chic dressing tables tend to be highly decorative and elaborate, while English country dressing tables are more understated and often heavy in appearance. Whichever style you prefer, the choice is endless as there are very few vintage chests of drawers quite the same. Each one differs slightly due to being handcrafted rather than mass produced as reproductions are.
French and English sideboards were also made from different types of wood, and this can make a difference in their appearance. Some later chests have glass panels, and some have only shelves, originally for displaying dishes and china. Today, sideboards are used for many different functions, rather than just being display cases.
Instead of having a fitted kitchen, a painted chest of drawers or shabby chic sideboard can be a wonderful addition to a custom-built French farmhouse-style kitchen with freestanding units.
Custom kitchens often represent the ultimate in luxury and style, but you too can have one without spending a fortune. Shabby chic is the perfect style to choose to create your own bespoke kitchen with affordable furnishings, including an antique or vintage chest of drawers or sideboard.
Whichever style you choose—French, English, farmhouse, or unique chic—a good-quality, upcycled, painted chest of drawers can be the perfect addition to your home, and there are now plenty of options available if you look carefully.