Feb 14/13
Is there anything more cozy in the kitchen than shelves with beautiful dishes, clay pots, dishes and plates on display? All these details “domesticate” the interior, bringing into it their own bit of warmth and comfort. But if you buy a buffet for the kitchen
, then ordinary shelves cannot be compared with this massive giant made of natural wood or veneer.
A kitchen buffet in the classical sense is a massive closed cabinet for kitchen utensils, which stands on the floor, and a cabinet with glass-closed doors is built on top. Here it is necessary to clarify that the doors can be completely transparent, allowing all the kitchen utensils, which are neatly arranged on the shelves, to be displayed for everyone to see, or they can have a small transparent window through which only part of the contents of the shelves is visible. Between the lower part and the upper part there may also be an open tabletop, on which frequently used kitchen items, vases with flowers or fruits, and various figurines are displayed.
Buffet for the kitchen photo
Kitchen buffet photo
Buffets can be closed or open; the latter are also called showcases. They are a cabinet with shelves that are closed with glass doors. Showcases can be in the form of a tall and narrow pencil case, which is placed on the floor. Or another option - when the display case has a square or rectangular shape and is installed on a kitchen cabinet - such display cases are called “buffet extensions”.
Kitchen cupboard with open shelves
Modern buffet and shelves
Buffets can also be divided into several types based on size and shape. The best option is a two- or three-door cabinet with a glass display case. Such a spacious sideboard for dishes with many drawers and shelves is the most functional. In the lower closed cabinet you can put large kitchen utensils (large pots, pans, wide dishes, jugs) and even small household appliances (blender, food processor, steamer). And the upper showcase can be dedicated entirely to decorative purposes, for example, to place an expensive tea set or an antique vase.
Such a buffet for the kitchen
will take up enough space; you need to allocate a place for it near some wall. The standard dimensions of a buffet with a display case are approximately the following: width from 120 to 200 cm, depth about 45 cm and height about 200 cm.
White buffet photo
Large wooden buffet
But there are options that are more modest in size: narrower, lower and not so deep. Also in the kitchen, a corner buffet-sideboard is compactly placed and does not take up much space. It fits perfectly in a corner and, as a rule, has a semicircular shape, so its presence does not interfere with the free movement of household members around the kitchen.
What is a buffet?
Essentially, this is a cabinet where dishes, various cutlery, textiles and some products are stored. A buffet can be not only an element of the kitchen, but also a living room, especially in modern homes. In post-Soviet times, a buffet with transparent glass was called a sideboard. In the traditional sense, this piece of furniture has the following design:
- in the lower part there is a storage system in the form of a cabinet with drawers or doors with different patterns and colors;
- at the top there are traditional open shelves; it is possible to place cabinets, the doors of which are often decorated with glass inserts;
- Between these two elements, as a rule, there is free space, and the surface of the cabinets at the top of the buffet can also serve as a tabletop or an additional surface for placing beautiful decorative objects.
The modern design of buffets rarely displays pretentious decorativeness, but fits perfectly into many styles - minimalism, country, eco, modern, hi-tech.
Today there are models on sale without a clear division into parts; for example, in many of them the top fits tightly to the bottom, and there is no empty space in the middle at all.
There are budget options with glass inserts that resemble a regular showcase.
As for the size of the buffet, there are no standards or restrictions. It all depends on the height of the ceilings, the volume of the kitchen and personal preferences. Manufacturers offer a lot of options - from narrow single-leaf products to wide ones with a large number of doors. The content can also be very diverse: all kinds of dividers and other elements not only perform a functional role, but also save free space.
Non-standard ways to use sideboards
In addition to storing utensils, the sideboard can be used:
- for zoning space;
- to visually increase the height of the walls (a long narrow sideboard in the corner from floor to ceiling);
- as a space for art installations;
- for placing accents in the interior;
- to fill an empty niche;
- or just to cover a hole in the wallpaper.
Methods of using a sideboard, including non-standard ones, depend only on the imagination of the residents and their needs. Create and success will not keep you waiting.
Benefits of a kitchen buffet
- most often there are traditional sideboards made from noble, environmentally friendly wood;
- large capacity allows you to store in them, in addition to kitchen utensils, decorative dishes and home textiles;
- Possibility of application in various styles to give the room special sophistication, individuality and nobility.
Despite all the above advantages, it is important to pay attention to some nuances of using this attribute in the interior:
- The buffet will look more harmonious as an independent item in the kitchen, so additional space should be allocated for its optimal placement. A luxurious sideboard will look intrusive in a small kitchen or living room, although there are more laconic compact designs on sale;
- the price of a high-quality product made from natural material will be quite high. On the other hand, a corner design for a kitchen is a more economical, compact and quite attractive option that will fit into a standard interior.
How to remake an old Soviet sideboard into stylish modern furniture. personal experience…
I present to your attention this modification - a sideboard. I love alterations and handmade (I jokingly call it the USSR - Made It Myself With My Own Hands)) and almost every room has them.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to photograph everything, and I didn’t know about Vdolevka yet, but when I list the apartment, I’ll definitely show and tell you everything, and there are a few more alterations in the pipeline.
So, sideboard.
From the old 5-section wall from 1989.
It was a pity to throw it away, especially since the living room needed just such a thing for all the crystal/glasses/wine glasses. Yes, the living room is also made in the style of a scoop.
I disassemble, remove all the doors and replace the base.
The old base is simply made of pieces of chipboard and, moreover, on iron linings. I twist everything and throw it away, the new legs will be cone-shaped, wooden. I really like these, they are quite old-fashioned, but cool. I make a base from the bars and screw it to the sideboard. Using a wood drill, I drill holes in it for the legs, lubricate it all with PVA glue and assemble it.
That's how it happened. Next is painting.
I took the simplest paint - alkyd PF115 white matte. I had to paint it 3 times to completely cover all this brown-red beauty. I'll explain why it's white. We needed an item that would stand out, the rest of the furniture was white and wenge, which was already enough. So white.
Having nothing else to do, I decided to make a backlight using 2 light bulbs. I cut holes for them.
The light bulbs are a little high and to hide them I add spandex to the molding. I didn’t look particularly hard, I took the first one I came across, especially since it was the right width.
Next I put all this electrics together, inside at the top is a small on/off button.
Wooden bars will support the removable lid of the sideboard.
Here it is. Holes for ventilation and for easy removal.
Closer look at the molding.
The handles in the room are the same everywhere, like this:
Well, what happened in the end.
Please do not pay special attention to the filling, then everything will change, before New Year’s Eve it was just thrown in so that it would be)
Well, with backlight. I’ll say right away that I won’t use it, I did it just to try it, it seemed to work. So, show your friends and acquaintances)
The sideboard turned out cool, quite eclectic and kitschy, just like I wanted. It will be interesting to read your opinion, I take criticism absolutely calmly, so don’t be shy. Successful alterations, excellent repairs, and happy upcoming! Yes, in the next blog I will show the fate of this sideboard’s brother, the bookcase. It was exactly the same, only without mirrors and glass shelves, but now it’s unrecognizable)
But we don’t say goodbye to you here, come back again!
Types of buffets
- closed type - assumes the presence of shelves covered with doors. Such a buffet may have a small window in which items on the shelves are partially visible;
- open type - such products do not have a door. An interesting design solution could be an open tabletop placed between the upper and lower tier;
- a classic type of buffet, providing for the presence of 3 levels with an open niche, shelves and doors.
Types of materials used to make buffets
1. Valuable species of natural wood. They are famous for their luxurious appearance and durability. As a rule, products made from solid wood have carved façade elements. However, the cost of such buffets is quite impressive. In addition, the possibility of changes in structure and shape under the influence of external factors cannot be excluded, due to which the material may lose its former color, swell or dry out. Despite this, wood is the leader in the production of such products, and there are a lot of options for its processing.
2. MDF and chipboard. This raw material is in high demand in the market, as it is in a price segment accessible to most buyers. At the same time, there are many ways to process it, allowing objects to look “antique” or imitate various wood species. In this sense, the interior will look very elegant and attractive.
These materials are most often used for the manufacture of buffets and sideboards, but you can also often find designs made of plastic or metal.
Origin history and design
A sideboard or buffet has been a faithful companion of the housewife since the beginning of the 17th century. This is a shallow cabinet in the lower part of which there are closed compartments, and in the elongated upper part there are open/glazed shelves for storing dishes and decorative items. Oddly enough, lately this piece of furniture has come back into fashion, that awkward moment when a classic turns into the mainstream.
Since their invention, the design of sideboards and their role in creating an interior have remained virtually unchanged: it is a place for storing household utensils, a showcase on which decorative elements can be displayed, a part of the interior that provides comfort and carries an aesthetic load. Many antique sideboards that have survived to this day are real works of art with ornate gilded patterns, carved elements, and intricately made legs.
In furniture production, there are three types of sideboards:
- open sideboards without doors, some of which are equipped with countertops between the first and second tiers;
- closed sideboards, where the shelves are covered with front doors;
- classic three-level sideboards with shelves, fronts and an open niche.
In this case, front doors can be:
- solid opaque;
- opaque with windows;
- glass transparent.
The type of sideboard in the interior largely depends on the technology and material of manufacture. In the old days, sideboards were made of wood, which made the sideboard an object indicating the status of the owner. Wealthy families could afford richly decorated furniture made from valuable wood, while the poor were content with simple sideboards made from affordable wood.
In modern interiors, sideboards made of fine wood fiber (MDF) and chipboard (chipboard) are increasingly found. As facades, in addition to MDF and chipboard, various types of glass and mirrors are used. Visible fittings (handles, locks, etc.) are made of steel, brass, copper, wood, and plastic.
Among the undoubted advantages of the sideboard:
- sophisticated appearance that contributes to the overall cozy atmosphere of the kitchen or living room;
- the ability to store many things and at the same time decide which of them will be in sight of guests and which will be hidden behind the doors;
- a showcase as an additional decorative element that allows you to convey the depth of the owners’ inner world and stand out favorably against the general background of monotonous interiors.
There are also disadvantages:
- a sideboard takes up a lot of space, so in a small apartment it will only get in the way;
- Unfortunately, the sideboard is not compatible with all modern interior design styles.
Buffet on background of different styles
An ideal option for the classics is a sideboard made of natural solid wood, equipped with carved fronts. This attribute will add a touch of elegant aristocracy and charm to your kitchen.
A white sideboard with carved trim is what you need to create a French Provence atmosphere. Beautiful fittings with graceful lines (for example, door handles) play an important role here.
Colorful country successfully reflects the individuality of the room. This type of construction is often varnished, and the external aesthetics of the decor is very simple: there are no carved parts, and the configuration of the sideboard involves a large number of cabinets and shelves.
In modern style, products made from chipboard and MDF are used. Such designs are equipped with matte elements and provide a varied palette of colors. There is no place for pretentiousness in modern style - the laconic buffet here is functional to the maximum.
As you can see, many variations in buffet design allow you to choose a model that is ideal for any style. Such a product in the kitchen improves the interior, making it more impressive, sophisticated, and original.
Is your kitchen decorated with such a colorful piece of furniture as a sideboard? Which versions did you like best?
