Dating from 1959, this stunning sideboard forms part of Beautility’s Contemporary Range, a period when British furniture design was embracing lighter forms and a more modern European influence. Known as the Brussels Sideboard, it reflects a shift away from heavier post-war styling towards cleaner, more architectural proportions, while still retaining warmth through tone, veneer and detail.
Beautility’s work from this era sits in an understated but important design space. This example retains its original Beautility Dining Room Furniture label and aligns with original catalogue references from 1959. Original brochures, sourced with the help of Early History of Beautility, provide a valuable snapshot of the piece in its original context.
Because of the history of this piece, the restoration was guided by a preservation-first approach rather than an attempt to make it appear new. The most significant issue was the top surface, which had been over-sanded by a previous owner, cutting through the original veneer. As the original surface could not be saved, the top was re-veneered and then carefully blended to sit naturally alongside the original body of the piece.
Beyond that necessary intervention, the rest of the sideboard was left intentionally restrained. Gentle wear, softened edges and subtle tonal variation were preserved rather than erased. The aim was to maintain the piece’s age, character and authenticity, allowing it to read as a well-cared-for original rather than a heavily reworked reproduction. The result is a sideboard that remains true to its period, its maker and its story, carrying both its original design intent and the quiet evidence of time.
At Casta Blue, restoration is not intended to produce ‘as new’ pieces, but to act as a careful continuation, preserving what deserves to remain and ensuring that good design endures with integrity.