Oak Shoe Benches for Period Homes: Blending Storage with Character
Oak has been part of British interiors for many hundreds of years, which is why an oak shoe bench rarely looks out of place in a period home. The skill lies in choosing a bench that respects the architecture of the hall, with legs that let original tiles and tall skirting show beneath, a tone that sits comfortably with existing woodwork and a depth that keeps a long, narrow corridor clear. In this guide we look at what makes Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian and 1930s hallways different, how to choose between pale, golden and darker oak, and how to handle deep moulded skirting and floors that have settled over the decades. We also cover storage styles that suit older homes, coat stands and umbrella stands, mixing period and contemporary pieces, using the space under the stairs, sizing a bench for your hall and caring for oak in an older, often draughty house....
