Makina SPACE

Antique pieces can serve as an elegant solution for furnishing and enhancing small spaces, so whether you need a sturdy folding table, clever multifunctional storage or a magical metamorphic chair, the makers of the past have you covered

- Jenny Oldaker

From solid Victorian dressers to the lavish hulk of a Regency bookcase, it's no stretch to associate antique furniture with large proportions and grand rooms.

As it happens, the demand for clever furniture is nothing new, and antiques make for an effective approach to furnishing small or awkward spaces. Furniture from the past can also provide an opportunity to experiment with usage and function, as Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques suggests: 'Don't be constrained by the previous uses of a piece, but consider instead how it might function in a new environment.

Bringing new life to old favourites is part of the evolution of taste, and it can be done without compromising the item's integrity or originality in any way.'

Space-saving TABLES