Trying to take my niche up a notch

We have this niche in our entrance hall that was needing some attention. The staircase runs up behind it so it has a bit of an odd shape at the top. I had tried various pieces of furniture there but was never really happy with the result.

What I really wanted was a French console table like one of these below.

Aside from the fact that the budget wasn't going to accommodate one of these, I had the added problem of the kids using the area as a dumping ground for all their school stuff. I tried to change their habits, but failed miserably, so relented and bought these large baskets for the purpose. These would then have to fit under the console table. This was going to be tricky. 

I decided the only solution was to fake it by making my own French console table. A bit ambitious, I know!

We bought a big piece of pine and a strip of decorative moulding at Builders Warehouse. The moulding is made out of polystyrene or something similar!

We found these decorative brackets at the Garden Shop. In South Africa, they are called "Broekie Lace" and are used on the verandahs of Victorian style houses.

I painted the wooden shelf starting with a dark brown layer, then mid brown and then grey and rubbed it, trying to give an aged effect.

I painted the moulding and the brackets starting with black, then brown, then grey and ending with a touch of bronze.

Here is the fake console waiting to be installed by my ever willing husband.

I also repurposed some old picture frames into mirrors and added some gilt to the wooden frames.

I decided to layer the frames to add some interest. There are actually two frames at the back, although it looks like one large one.

You can see the view into the sitting room reflected in the mirror.

This picture shows where the niche is in relation to my front door.

Now to decorate the console table (I mean... shelf)

I put some lovely grey penny gum leaves in a willow basket and flanked it with two succulents in urns.

I added some gilt and embellishment to this old mirror that given to me by a friend to "do something with". 

These urns were terracotta in colour so they got a paint effect as well.

Here is a close up of the bracket.

A close up of the paint effect I did on the pine shelf.

Leading through to the dining room with the water feature in the background. I need some advice from you with regard to my water feature but that will be the subject of a seperate post.

And finally a last view.

So what you think about my fake French console?


I'm linking up to Wow us Wednesdays. Go and take a look at all the clever creations.

Till next time



Sharon x