From the Atelier

The Sideboard — Seeing What a Piece Could Become

European-Style Home · Formal Dining Room · Ocala, Florida

The sideboard began as a tired, overlooked piece, but its proportions caught my attention immediately.

The bombe-style curves, scrolled details, brass hardware and unusual leather center panel gave it character that would be difficult to reproduce in something new.

The leather was particularly important to me. Time had given it the appearance of an old book cover, and I didn't want to erase that history by painting or staining it.

Worn bombe sideboard before restoration — **Before** The original worn finish, aged leather center and brass hardware.

Sideboard stripped during the refinishing process — **Middle** The curved case stripped carefully while the leather center was preserved.

Sideboard restored with a deep black finish and cleaned brass hardware — **After** The restored finish brings the bombe curves and original hardware forward.

I stripped the worn finish from the wood, refinished and protected it, and carefully cleaned the original brass hardware while preserving the aged leather center.

Close view of the sideboard's restored drawers and brass handles — **The finish** The new depth of color allows the original form to read clearly.

Original sideboard brass handles and knobs during careful cleaning — **The hardware** Original brass was cleaned without erasing its age.

When it was finished, the piece found its place in the dining room's side niche. The scale was so exact that it looked almost as though it had been custom built for the space. It became the room's side bar—surrounded by crystal, collected objects and other pieces with histories of their own.

“I am a magnet for finding expensive things. I look for pieces with quality, craftsmanship and character—the things that make the biggest impact in a room.”

For me, sourcing isn't about finding something inexpensive. It is about recognizing value before it is obvious and knowing when a piece deserves another chapter.