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Elements of the Dining Room: Buffets
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Where did the buffet come from? Originally, it was a table used for laying out "snaps" (shots of alcohol) in Sweden. They went on to use it to spread out food, and thus, the Swedish "smorgasboard" was born. The French borrowed the concept and developed the buffet table to show off their finest silver and gold wares (think Marie Antoinette). Eventually, the meals that were laid out upon it for standing guests became known as "buffet meals," a definition that has grown exponentially when you think of what "buffet" means in Las Vegas these days! Likewise, the actually piece of furniture that can carry the moniker "buffet" is more about its function that its form. Here's how people are interpreting the piece today.
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| A large buffet like this can handle your entire Thanksgiving spread. Just make sure the size of your buffet does not overwhelm the room or the dining table. |
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This credenza has been repurposed to serve as a bar, and the original spirit of the smorgasboard lives on!
by Amy Lau Design
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This dining room has a Mission-meets-Japan style, and the beautiful custom buffet floats above the floor at serving height.
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| An antique buffet fits into this eclectic mix of mid-century modern and contemporary pieces. Well-designed pieces made of beautiful woods almost always have the power to fit right in anywhere. |
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| A simple contemporary chest is the perfect piece for a modern dining room. |
by CWB Architects
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Without the mirrored doors, this piece might appear to clunky in this dining room. However, it works perfectly with the mirrored wall behind it.
by decordemon
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A coat of glossy paint or lacquer paired with the right hardware can update the most tired of pieces. This buffet when from garage sale reject to total showstopper with a few simple moves.
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| This buffet is styled in the way Louis XVI would have loved. It displays treasured china and gets a dose of symmetry and importance from the tall table lamps on either end. |
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A mirror over a dining buffet is a good way to expand the room visually.
by Amy Lau Design
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This console piece adds mid-century modern style to the dining room.
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| This tall buffet has lots of room for storing linens, serving pieces and china, and room on top to display a sailboat model. |
| This built-in buffet is perfect for minimalists. It adds a strong horizontal line to the room and provides storage for stashing the stuff. |
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| Imagine how odd this window height would look without the buffet table. It is the perfect scale for the room. |
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If space is at a premium in your dining room, consider a round table. This beautiful pedestal table leaves plenty of room at the other end for a buffet.
by CWB Architects
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This long console adds a touch of Asian style to the eclectic mix.
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| This butler's pantry style wall of built-ins is a good alternative to a free-standing buffet. |
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This lovely built-in piece cleverly includes a serving window directly into the kitchen.
by Amoroso Design
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Just getting started on your dining room and not yet ready for the buffet? Get some guidance from
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Ideabook updated on Nov. 20, 2010.
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Thank you for the Amazing...As Always!
Julia Hull
Kadia Goba
trying to pick between pic 6 and pic 8. I love them both!