Classic Console: a small complement that turns into a table

Spaces multiply thanks to the classic console

A classic console is a piece of furniture that is always very appreciated. It is able to combine elegance and small dimensions. And it is perfect to furnish, for example, hallways and corridors, but also to give that extra touch to the living rooms. If then the console is able to turn into a table in all respects, you’re done.

The long craftsmanship that leads to the creation of these pieces of furniture makes it possible to propose in a single solution a piece of furniture that, on the one hand, reflects in all respects the characteristics of the classic style and on the other is able to meet the modern life needs. These are often very different from those in effect when these styles were created. In fact, the classical console presents carvings and inlays in line with the elegance and refinement of these ancient examples. But at the same time is equipped with ingenious mechanisms that allow you to turn it in a few steps into a real table. That can accommodate all the family or friends. This without having to live with a fixed encumbrance often difficult to manage.

Classic console: what it is

The term console indicates a versatile and shallow table, equipped with drawers. This piece of furniture is perfect for decorating any room in the house. Elegant and refined, this type of furniture lends itself from the very beginning to embellish the most luxurious homes, becoming synonymous with the elite.

The oldest consoles, as a rule, are in walnut, dark and strong. But they can also be in oak, pine, mahogany or rosewood. They can be found in different shapes and with different decorations. Lacquered, painted, carved, inlaid. They used to be found only in pairs.

The origins

The console was born in France in the 16th century and was a piece of furniture made for the aristocratic homes of the ancien régime, often used to highlight luxurious objects.

Originally, the console was a real mesola with two or four legs, embellished with very refined decorations and inlays. Some theories also consider it an evolution of the table that took place between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In fact, at the time the table was a mobile structure that was broken down and reassembled according to the needs of the moment.

Evolution

During the Renaissance, the console, always made with oak or walnut wood, began to be more and more cared for and decorated with precious materials. The main ones were gold, mother of pearl and ivory.

In the Baroque era it became a real luxury item. The consoles dating back to this era are characterized by the use of a severe style. They are dark and majestic. Embellished with gold details that try to soften a firm, austere, demanding taste. The style dating back to 1600 therefore offers majestic furnishing elements. Perfect for adding charm to the most sumptuous homes.

In the eighteenth century it stands out for its precious inlays in mother of pearl and ivory. They were made on light and shiny wood. Moreover, at the end of the century, it is adorned with leaves and mythological figures. And is often surmounted by a Carrara marble top.

In the nineteenth century it was then the turn of the furnishings in the Neoclassical style. Furniture with elegant lines and precious engravings, perfectly in line with the Empire style dictated by Napoleon. This favored dark woods, such as mahogany and rosewood, and brass decorations.

At the beginning of the twentieth century the shapes are lightened and take on an appearance close to Art Nouveau. With naturalistic motifs, sinuous lines and the addition of glass and metal details.

How to furnish with consoles

The classic console gives refinement to any space in the house. It is not bulky and is very useful for storing your personal items. It also does not require much maintenance. Except for a layer of wax a couple of times a year.

It is perfect for embellishing the entrance. The console is an excellent solution for furnishing narrow corners and spaces. And it is becoming a useful support to welcome guests. In this location it can therefore take on a purely decorative function or act as an elegant pocket emptier. This piece of furniture can then be placed in the corridor. Here it is perfect for hiding any wall flaws or breaking up the length of very important corridors.

The perfect furniture for living and sleeping areas

This element is also suitable for adding more charm to the living room. It thus becomes a refined separator capable of delimiting spaces and giving personality to the environment. It can also be used to highlight the works of art in the living room, thanks to the use of the right lighting. Another winning idea is to place a mirror with an important frame or a large photo. It is also ideal in the kitchen, especially for furnishing confined spaces.

You also don’t have to undestestimate the possibility of inserting a console in bedrooms. Here, in fact, it will become the essence of real moments of relaxation.

The classical console therefore lends itself to different locations and the choice of the ideal model must be balanced with the rest of the furniture.

This precious piece of furniture can be combined with furniture with a modern taste, creating a particular combination of styles. In this case it is essential to be able to recognize antique furniture and balance the styles present in the house, creating coherent combinations. One of the most popular combinations involves the choice of period mirrors and baroque candelabra, so as to create the regal atmosphere of the houses of yesteryear.

A classic console to bring the luxury of style furniture even in small spaces

The spaces of today often have nothing to do with those in which the great furnishings of the classical era have come to life. It was then a question of great villas, palaces, often very immense environments that today are difficult to find even in homes – and in particular in apartments – of larger dimensions, however luxurious. And here, dealing with spaces becomes a need. It is not always easy to find the way to make the room airy, welcoming, but at the same time able to accommodate the family or those visiting.

The classical console allows just this. It brings a touch of luxury even where you need to deal with the available space. Three levels of progressive elongation make it possible to turn the console, in a few steps, into a table having small dimensions, first, and then to make it also suitable for a larger number of people. And when it is no longer needed, it returns to cover its discreet but elegant console role without taking up precious space.

Handcrafted manufacturing for a console that leaves wood to be the protagonist

The choice of quality wooden essences and the rigorously crafted workmanship is fundamental to make this console a real piece of luxury. The classic console is, in fact, the result of the skillful work of Italian artisans. Each piece is handmade, carved, inlaid and finished to be perfect in all its parts. Precisely this particular processing, handed down from generation to generation, is at the base of luxury furniture made in Italy. And the attention to every small detail makes this console an example of luxury and elegance suitable for any home that wants to make refinement and quality their distinctive traits.