Don't Let Your Credenza Go Naked: Dress it in Style!

The Credenza:  a sideboard, buffet, or a bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence...  A credence is a small table where the bread and wine rest before consecration. 

Who knew? 

Call it what you may, it is my favorite piece of furniture. It can be used just about anywhere - a foyer, a bedroom, a living room, and office, etc.  It can have a mirror over it or a great painting or an assemblage of your favorite photos, vases, collectibles.  I personally like a credenza with a great painting over it (lit with a picture light), a beautiful silver tray, selections of great Scotch (I hate the stuff but it is pretty) and some nice lowball glasses.  We have several sets of these (they are just fun) : 

So, I have two nice credenzas at my shop Everyday Ellie. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everyday-Ellie/219469831560755
Here they are.  

Marble inserts, lacquered a creamy white by Steins http://www.steinsfurnitureandrepairs.com/antique-restoration-services-raleigh-nc.html

Gray lacquer, also professionally lacquered by Steins, this one has a matching mirror. It's large and heavy...

I am not in the shop at The Warehouse at 1107 Capital Boulevard right now, so I can't actually play with them, but here are some ideas for styling a credenza lifted from other sources. Use your imagination! 

From Chris Loves Julia http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2012/09/our-styled-credenza-industrial-chic.html 

This little blog addresses the subject nicely. They refer to this as a "fauxdenza" because a) they made it and b) it has no legs- but it captures a nice modern approach.  I love the grouping of 8 photos above and the cool industrial lamps.  They actually drilled holes in the top of the fauxdenza to conceal the lamp cords. Brave, is all I can say.

The Decoist has a lot to say on the topic, with a decidedly contemporary take.  These range from sleek to rustic- take a look at the credenza in all it's versatility. 

All of these are interesting- for different places in different homes. My favorites are.. the ones I made larger.  I love the diamond pattern in the bottom image, and the really textural mix of materials that reflect the owner's interests.. the two interesting lamps, the airplane, the photos the zebra rug- it's all an appealing assembly.  Not for your traditionalist, but perfect for the loftIdreamofinhabitingbutprobablyneverwill. 

I also love the credenza with the great blue glass.  Its a great combination of rustic and refined, light and heavy. The four images above are from http://www.decoist.com/2012-12-11/20-modern-credenzas-with-contemporary-flair/

I can't leave without a word or two for the traditionalists.  So I give you some of the credenza or credenza-ish photos from my own house! 

An old pine chest in the sunroom.. 

In the foyer, a simple greeting space

... and in the living room a table made from glass and pillars in front of a huge mirror..

I actually have a couple more.... but I am sure you can do a better job of dressing your credenza.  Send me your photos and if there are no x-rated contents I will post them! 

Enjoy your home.. it's where you want to be at least part of .. everyday. 

everyday ellie on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everyday-Ellie/219469831560755

and in person: 

~The Warehouse at 1107 Capital Blvd~ 

Mid Century Modern- It's an Attitude

Classic Danish sofa- now at Everyday Ellie

Following World War II, Frank Lloyd Wright and others pioneered a shift in residential architecture to accommodate the thousands of families ready to create homes.  For the masses, this translated to tract homes built quickly and simply with lots of light, smooth transitions to the outdoors, and more geometric, linear shapes.  

Furniture designers followed suit: Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Isami Noguchi.  The catchword was "multi-purpose".  Tables and chairs were designed to be used for dining, relaxing, or to morph into use as work places. Mid century influences were multi-national-- Danish, Swedish, Japanese as were the designers:  Aalto, Jacobsen, Saarinen, Knoll, Baugham. 

Today what we have on the market, both new and vintage, is a mix of of items with a variety of monikers: atomic, deco, minimalist, modernist. 

Today's enthusiasts embrace the genre either in small doses or ... whole hog. A piece or two can add simplicity and freshness to your home. 

Several of us at the https://www.facebook.com/Capital1107 have pieces to offer that will bring a touch of this minimalist attitude to your home.  Here is a small sample: 

Marimekko was founded in 1951 in Finland and has since become a household word defined by vibrant colors and patterns. These bright and graphic textiles are especially striking set against the clean, white backdrops loved in Scandinavia. Because of the long, dark winters Scandinavians employed every possible opportunity to create cheer and brightness.  Jackie Kennedy loved Marimekko, though she WORE it rather than decorate with it. She had 8 Marimekko dresses designed for the Presidential campaign. 

This textile is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to mid-century furniture.  I love it.

These two clean, white pieces bring freshness and light to almost any decor, but look great with mid century furnishings.  The tall vase on the bottom is about 24" tall; the smaller pot has perforations to let your candle glow shine. 

Come in and see us soon at the Warehouse.

Your home is where you want to be everyday- make it special. 

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