How do I fix a sticking drawer?

Rub a candle along the bottom edges of the drawer sides. The wax acts as a dry lubricant on the wooden runners. If that fails, the runners themselves might be heavily worn. A restorer can glue a thin strip of matching timber to build them back up to the correct height.

We have quite a narrow dining room and I want to know if the curved front will make it difficult to walk past the table?

The curved shape actually helps in tight spaces. Because the corners sweep back towards the wall, there are no sharp edges jutting out into the room. You gain depth in the centre where you need it for serving, while keeping the ends slim. It offers a softer profile than a standard rectangular piece.

Can it hold heavy dinner plates?

Yes, they were built for heavy loads. The hidden carcase is usually constructed from thick solid pine or oak. As long as the leg joints are tight and the drawer bottoms are sound, it will hold a full dinner service.

My husband wants to use one of these as a bathroom vanity unit with a sink, would the wood survive the moisture in there?

Constant moisture will cause problems for the veneers. The hide glue used in the Georgian period is water-soluble, so high humidity can lift the decorative surface away from the carcase. Splashes from a sink will also turn traditional French polish white. You would need to strip the original finish and apply a modern waterproof varnish.

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Antique Bow Front Sideboards

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These are wide, sweeping dining room cabinets with a convex curved front, designed in the late Georgian period to store tableware, wine bottles, and cutlery while serving as a surface for presenting food.