Vintage beauty and modern function definitely work well together in the form of the apothecary cabinet. These handy compartmentalized units offer a multitude of storage for small to mid-size objects that you want to keep out of sight. Originally designed for a retail environment, they can vary in size from tabletop to full wall installations.
The word apothecary is derived from apotheca, meaning a place storing wine, spices, and herbs. Early apothecary shops were a mixture of retail grocery stores offering medical advice and drugs. Apothecaries were the precursors to today’s pharmacist.
You can find both vintage apothecary cabinets and reproduction cabinets in wood or metal with anywhere from four to over one hundred drawers. Smaller drawers, as typically seen in the Chinese cabinets were made specifically for herbs. As seen below, these furniture pieces will function well in a wide variety of vintage decor styles and DIY Chic Homes.
Make your own apothecary cabinet
If you are handy with saws and hammers you could just make your own apothecary console, perfect for the modern flat screen t.v. and large enough to house your entire collection of dvds. The following image was made from patterns and directions at ana-white.com.
{ image sources: 1 Home Life, 2 Stabler Leadbeater, 3 Apartment Therapy, 4 Brabourne Farm 5 La Maison Boheme, 6 Hudson Goods, 7 House to Home, 8 Ana White }
