Step By Step Console Styling
Welcome to “Step By Step Console Styling.” These tips can apply to a console, sideboard, or in my case an antique French chest in our foyer and an antique bookcase/buffet in our dining room.
Annie, Cindy, and I have friends joining us today to show their methods for console styling. What I love about this is seeing different personal styles and how creative everyone is!
Step By Step Console Styling
If you are new here, we live in a 100-year-old high rise apartment in San Francisco. Space is at a premium so this French chest (Louis Philippe commode) holds all of our table cloths, napkins, and placemats.
Styling An Antique Chest in the Foyer
- Start with an empty surface.
- Place art or a mirror above the console. This art shows our vacation photos that I sent digitally to Frame.com. So easy! I picked out a white frame and thicker white mat for the juxtaposition of a more modern feel with the antique chest.
- I like symmetry, do you? I placed the lamp on the right (which is needed for extra lighting) and a vase of branches on the left (this can be reversed, too).
- A tray can help quickly organize things.
- Then add things of interest like books, boxes, etc.
- Finally, add something fresh like a plant.
Finished product…I have an extra dining chair placed here where it can be pulled over to the dining table when we have a party (won’t that be nice eventually?).
Styling A Buffet In The Dining Room
Again, it’s all about storage for us and we use this antique French bookcase to hold dishes in the dining room.
I started with a clear surface, added the round mirror, then the lamp and branches, followed by the art, then the flowers and candle.
I am not crazy about how the back of the art is reflected in the mirror.
vintage Crocks • wicker holder and French tuberose scented candle • round mirror
You can also consider using a console for your bar setup which is usually what we do here.
A Console as a Bar Cart/Beverage Area
Just add a tray and pretty bottles and or decanters.
And those are my Step By Step Console Styling tips.
You may also like Let Me Give You A Home Tour!
I can’t wait to check out my friends’ looks!
Sherry – Design Indulgence
Melaine – My Sweet Savannah
Ana –Modern House Vibes
Cindy – Cindy Hattersley
Annie – Most Lovely Things
I’m enjoying catching up on your blog after a few weeks of busyness! I just got a new double front doors and that calls for a new console and all! Just in time I read this post!
Love the ideas. I didn’t notice the back of the art in the mirror until you pointed it out. I live in a university town where people have neck problems from all of the time they’ve spent reading other people’s bookcases (I jest, but only slightly). With the pandemic, bookcase viewing has become an art form. Personally, I’ve been sidenecking people’s bar carts to see what adult beverages are now providing comfort in our stormy world. I’ve always loved the views outside your windows…must be scary to watch right now.
Loved this post such great ideas , just beautiful. I am one of six sisters and we are going to have
are own console design Challenge after their revile’s I will share you post .
Is that wrong HaHaHa
Ha!! Send photos to [email protected] please, Alexis.
We have until this Sunday to reveal our updated console challenge, I will
Forward photos .
That chest …..it is so beautiful! You could pile dog poop on it and it would look good! I love all three vignettes especially the bar setup!
Mary Ann,
The console is beautiful and I love how you’ve styled it. I have always enjoyed the series where we get to see wonderful ideas for everyday living.
xo,
Karen
I just love your dining room buffet styled up like a bar cart. It is one of the best I have seen. Your other console is equally lovely and you are always so good at teaching people how to do things in a way they can understand. Great job!
Hi Mary Ann, I will have to show my husband your post. Our new buffet arrived Tuesday and my husband made the comment “it’s sort of modern with the traditional rug”. I told him that is allowed these days!
I didn’t even notice the back of the frame until you mentioned it. :o) Thanks for the styling tips!
Linda
You are right, Linda!!
As usual, your styling of these consoles is spot on. I have a cabinet that needs some help and I’m definitely going to use your ideas. Hope you’re surviving the horrible smoke in SF. I saw pics on the news and it was unbelievable. XO
Thanks so much, Gail!
Mary Ann! Everytime I see your beauitful home it makes me miss you! We’ve had some fun times with our blogging friends in these spaces. I love how you create still lifes using flowers and art. I don’t mind seeing the back of art in the mirror when its the back of real art. It would bother me maybe if it were say a frame from Michaels. Not that I’m opposed to using inexpensive frames, but seeing the back is differnt than the back of orginal art. As always, I love your step-by-step, breaking down how you achieve these beautiful looks in your entryway and your dining room!
YOU ARE ONE BUSY BEE IN THAT SAN FRANCISCO APARTMENT!
I LIKE ALL VIGNETTES!
WHAT DOES THE SKY LOOK LIKE TODAY OVER YONDER……..it seems a tiny bit better today over here in the BURBS!