I love old corbels. They have the chippy paint or aged wood that I just love.
Plus, they are so lovely and so incredibly unique — I don’t think I’ve ever seen the same design twice. Their beauty can be appreciated in a wide variety of ways.
I hope these photos inspire you to use corbels to add vintage flair to your home.
Corbels provide visual transition from room to room
Source: Country Living
Bedside tables made using old corbels
Source: This Old House
Create a display shelf over a window
Source: Green Wellies
Create bookshelves using old corbels
Source: Royal Port Antiques
Corbels prettify a windowseat
Source: Design to Inspire
Corbels frame a window
Source: The Noble Home
Corbels frame a wide entryway
Source: Living Vintage
Corbels support a shelf
Source: Indulgy
Create open shelving in a kitchen
Source: Sarah Richardson Design
Corbels used as a shelf
Source: Flickr
Corbel used as a plant hanger
Source: Heather Bullard
Create a shelf across a window
Source: Flickr
Salvaged corbels and a closet rod create coat storage
Source: Eddie Ross
Create shelving above a window
Source: Georgiana Design
Corbels as wall decoration
Source: Meredith Corporation
Corbels repurposed as bookends
Source: Fishtail Cottage
Corbels as a window treatment
Source: Laurie Anna’s Vintage Home
Corbels as countertop support
Source: Better Homes & Gardens
Corbels + doors = headboard
Source: Truly Tattered
Corbels used as candle shelves
Source: Old Town Home
Create towel storage using corbels
Source: Garden and Gun
Corbels displayed just for their beauty
Source: Flickr
Support (or decorate) a range hood
Source: Nest of Posies
Corbels as sink bases
Source: John Kraemer & Sons, Inc.
See http://tinyurl.com/czzvpx5 for a larger image.
Have you used old corbels in a creative way? If so, I’d love to see your project!
Thanks so much, Kim,
I love them as well. We do have some in our old house, but unfortunately, they are not antique. I bought them from Hobby Lobby and primed over the dark stain and then painted them antique white to match our woodwork in the livingroom and diningroom…they are between the two rooms where we removed the frosted french doors and then removed the wall on the other side of those doors to open up the rooms. I also have some that I used in our other house as wall sconces of candles, they are made of plaster and I painted them antique gold…haven’t gotten them up in this house yet, but I definately intend to. I have also used them as shown in some of your pics as wall shelf brackets and as nick-nack holders and etc!…I’d love to find some more of the “skinny “ones to put in the “undoored” doorways, but haven’t found them. Must get Mike to make me some with his scroll saw one day. I have purchased some in “wrought iron” and have them between my kitchen and breakfast room. They don’t match, but are so far apart, no one ever notices.
Mike had carpal tunnel on his right hand yesterday, so he sort of laid-up for a few days…good thing he left handed!….however the left one will probably happen after the first of the year….he’s having to work around my calendar for a change…LOL,LOL
Love and Hugs to you and Mark!
You’ll definitely have to point them out next time we visit because I don’t recall seeing them, Drue. I’m not surprised — there’s so much fun stuff to look at in your house. I don’t have anything against new ones — I just like the old character and chippy paint of old ones … generally. I will definitely admit that we almost bought skinny IKEA corbels for our kitchen shelves!
Please give hugs and best wishes to Mike! I thought about him recently and wondered when he was having his surgery.
Hugs to you also, Drue!
Kim
I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout
on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one today.
Your beautiful corbel examples make my corbels look like stick figure people! I always seem to love what I can’t afford. Thank you for all the comments on my blog. We do seem to have a lot of the same interests! I’ll be popping in and out of your archives today as I take work breaks. I’m tape and floating the second floor of our house. BORING! But knowing the treats I’ll be getting as I look through your posts will make the day speed by.
I know what you mean. I recently splurged and bought two HUGE corbels from Pandora’s Box. I couldn’t justify them, but I’ve always wanted a pair of oversized corbels. Glad you’re enjoying my blog. I sure have enjoyed yours. Glad I found you!
I have two sets of old salvage corbels which I would like to put up in the corners of opened up doorways-between a new family room area and a new kitchen area. The doorway is now 10′ wide. The larger set of corbels weighs about 7-8 lbs. How do I attach them up into the corners with the weight associated to them? Even using 4″ screws attached at an angle wouldn’t be long enough to hold the weight.
I installed my 2 reclaimed corbels in a doorway at my home in Austin, and I distinctly recall that the carpenter I hired just nailed the bejeesus out of them and they also held to the wall really well. No problems at all. Hope this helps!
Where do you find old corbels for sale? https://www.livingvintageco.com/2012/11/using-corbels-in-home-design/corbels/ I love these and want something similar.
Michele, I find them online (on Etsy for example) and at antique shows. Good luck! They’re pretty hard to find, especially if you need more than one of the same design.