The traditional function of a sideboard was to hold all items needed for meals eaten at the dining table. These included such things as crockery, glassware, cutlery, tablemats, table linen, napkin rings, condiment sets and candlesticks. But nowadays, sideboards are used to store any number of items and are often seen as decorative and functional items of furniture in their own right.
Choosing a sideboard
Before choosing a sideboard, decide whether you want it to be purely for storage or whether you will also want to serve food from it. Consider carefully the kind of items you want to store and make a list of them, then look for a sideboard that fits the bill. For example, you need a sturdy baize-lined drawer – and some models even have a cloth to wrap around the silver to exclude air and prevent tarnishing. You could also buy a “silver keeper” to keep in the silver drawers – a small block that gives off an invisible tarnish-retarding vapour.
Bear in mind that it is sometimes possible to divide the space inside a sideboard even further to give better storage for your possessions. For example, there are special racks available that can hold extra plates, and others which accommodate cups and saucers.
Sideboards can be made from a number of materials, though older pieces are most likely to be made of solid wood. Some modern styles at the upper-end of the price spectrum will also comprise of solid wood, however most modern cabinetry of this type is made from chipboard and finished with real wood veneer, such as teak, mahogany or rosewood. Sideboards made from solid softwoods, such as pine, are also quite common and relatively reasonably priced. Plastic laminates imitating other materials such as leather or grasscloth for example, or in plain colours in a high-gloss finish are also very popular for the more contemporary or retro interiors.
Hinged doors that open outwards are undoubtedly the most convenient, as they enable you to view all the contents at one time. They also allow you to make the best use of the space inside the sideboard and to find things more easily. If space is a premium, then you can consider sliding doors – however, these have the disadvantage of only allowing you to see one side of the storage space at a time and the tracks tend to collect crumbs and dust.
Interior lighting is a point worth looking out for, although if it is not already fitted, you can consider installing your own. There are special switches available, which are controlled by the opening and closing of the doors and are fairly easy to fit. With inside lighting, you can always be sure of finding those odds and ends that are invariably hidden towards the back of the sideboard.
Serving from a sideboard
If you have a separate dining room and want to serve food from the sideboard, you need to choose a style that has its top at a convenient working height. Also, remember that you are bound to get splashes of fat when carving meat and dishing up food, so do make sure that the top surface is sufficiently robust to cope. A tiled, glass or plastic laminate top is the ideal solution. Many modern melamine or polyurethane wood lacquers can withstand a fair amount of grease and spillage from food and drink, but some polished surfaces may need protection with heat-resistant mats or trays.
The wall behind the sideboard will also need protection against splashing. Here again, you can always screw a protective plate of glass or a Perspex panel onto the wall – This can look particularly good if you have decorative wallpaper behind it. Otherwise you can use tiles that blend in with the rest of your décor.
Good lighting above the sideboard is another important consideration, particularly when carving and dishing up food. Have a light directly above the sideboard – perhaps a spotlight that has been angled so that it shines directly on to the serving surface, but not in the eyes of the diners. It is a good idea to fit a dimmer switch here so that you can have maximum light when carving and serving, and then tone this down during the meal. A power point close to the sideboard can be especially useful. For example, you can use it for an electric hot plate to keep dishes warm, or to plug in a coffee percolator for after dinner refreshments. - Antonella Dési
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