Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Resurgence of Bun Feet: Yes or No?

The last few months I think I've been noticing a resurgence of bun feet. Now, I used to associate bun feet with those oversized pine ones from the 80's but these bun feet are much more sophisticated. With turned detailing and better scale, they can be down right charming. I love this silver bowfront dresser from Wisteria with its elegant bun feet. Here's a mood board from Susie Isaac of Maddie G Designs incorporating the Wisteria piece into a luxe room design.


Brooklyn Limestone just posted on her master bedroom and she selected a gorgeous painted dresser with bun feet. Love it!

Wisteria has a helpful design glossary and here's their definition: "A Jacobean term for a foot shaped like a stubby knob. This term came to use in the 17th century. This is an English term for ball foot." Here's some more examples, this first one is Brooklyn Limestone's dresser with shelves from Find Home Furnishings.

Dresser with antler pulls from Find Home Furnishings
I was curious to see if Pottery Barn offered furniture with bun feet. Here's just one of their pieces - the new Belvedere Armoire
The Baxter's side chest (above) and Benedetta's side table (below) from Ballard Designs
So, are there more bun feet around lately or is it just my imagination?

33 comments:

Em said...

Oh wow !! I love the silver drawers they are fab xx

Hill Country House Girl said...

Oh so funny - when I met my husband he had a matching set of bedroom furniture which included two chests with bun feet! They were pine, too, like you referenced! They have since moved on to new homes.

I guess if we hold on to something long enough it comes back in fashion - but, the matching set would still not be my favorite! Love your photos - especially the Wisteria piece!

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

Interesting question, will be interested to see what others say. I've got an armoire in my guest room that has bun feet...it is from college....picked it up for nothing in hickory. Maybe the dated piece will look current again? BTW, I love that wisteria chest. I used it in the moodboard monday party a while back. I'd love to have one!

Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself said...

that PB chest is gorgeous!

alaina

Laura Trevey said...

Thanks for this post! I have been looking for a small side table ~~ and the Ballard Designs one is fabulous!!

xoxo Laura

Dweller-Carly said...

I think bun feet can still be done. The first image is too much for my taste, but some of the others would look great as an accent piece.

CLAIRE WATKINS, ASID ALLIED said...

How funny and observant! I have never heard that phrase, but I love it {and I like them, too}. I like the strong geometry. 2 Buns Up!

cardinalkay said...

We've got a Broyhill, bow front pine dresser with bun feet. I agree, that Pottery Barn armoire is gorge. I think any raw wood furniture is on trend right now. We just stripped a (formerly) bad oak dining table, and I'm loving it!

pve design said...

Hot cross buns! I consider myself more of a leg than buns lover, but I do love these - it all depends on what the buns are attached to. Oh, this sounds so wrong as my 10 year old would say "so wrong." I wonder where they began, those bun feet?
pve

Renée Finberg said...

it is true!
they really never went away for 'traditionalist.'

i think it is just what people are comfortable with. i know this from working with normal buyers in design.
they are used to it.
they have seen it everywhere,they think "it must be okay....i've seen that before"
so,they feel that they are not making a mistake.
buyers today are 'chickens.'
anything out of the box to a buyer (in this economy)scares them away.
maybe that's why they are showing up again. i guess it is old news to the furn industry.

love the images.
all great!

xx

la cabeza de maria antonieta said...

Love this silver bowfront dresser!!!!

debra @ 5th and state said...

something i have not considered in some time. your attention to detail is remarkable

but to answer your question, buns up! appear to be a classic touch that adds an element of style.

crazy for the bureau from boxwoods and limestone's master bedroom
xo
debra

Mrs. Limestone said...

Im not really that crazy about bun feet to be honest. It just feels a bit heavy to me.

For this piece, I forgave the feet b/c I liked the shape, color and finish so much. But its funny you mention it b/c the feet definitely made me think twice before buying.

Karena said...

I do love bun feet and your examples are perfect. I actually have them on my sofa! My heart beats faster when I see that silver chest!

CarolAnne - camdesign said...

Yes on case goods, No on soft seating...

custardbydesign said...

wee buns...love the images for this post...

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Hmmm...the bun question, sticky indeed! Generally speaking I am not a fan, no doubt the early 90's wrecked it for me. The Wisteria piece would make me reconsider.

Splendid Market said...

Thank you for the terminology -- I have a dresser with "bun feet", never knew what to call them. The silver dresser is beautiful!

vignette design said...

I'm ok with bun feet.....

Cara said...

I love them, they are definitely charming!

Christine said...

Much prefer the modern version of bun feet you show, but I am guilty of owning the 80s version too. My armoire has bun feet and I grew a bit tired of it long ago but just never found anything I liked better to hide the dreaded TV (can't live with it, can't live without it).

Michelle said...

Great post! I like them done without the eighties look. Can't help but think Melrose Place. The first piece is stunning! I'm keeping my mind open.

Best,
Michelle

Beth Connolly said...

They are also a trend in kitchen cabinets-they give a furniture look.

Room Temperature said...

I have no opinion one way or the other about bun feet. Like claw feet & spade feet & Dutch feet & Spanish feet, they've been around forever, and to me, the fact that they just happened to make another of their cyclical re-appearances in the 1980s is no more significant than the 1986 reappearance of Halley's Comet. It's certainly no reason to avoid them.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ya know...I never really noticed they were "out". I've seen them on so many things throughout the decades.

Kathysue said...

I like bun feet whether they are in or out. Love the first image in the paired down version ,great piece. Funny how things are in then out and in again,look at the new take on wallpaper again. It keeps us buying!!Kathysue

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

I'm glad I hopped onto your lovely blog. I love these photographs! Wonderful designs.
I'm off to read some more of your older posts!
Saskia
ox

Yansy said...

Sorry I've been mia lately. Love the progress in the dining room!

Things That Inspire said...

So interesting...I have always loved bunfeet, and have them on several of the furniture items I purchased in the late 90s!

I was at the Waterworks store today, and saw a beautiful tub (I took off my bboots and climbed in to see how it felt). The sales person told me that it came in a bun feet option too! I looked at the picture, and it didn't do it for me, despite my love of bun feet.

DesertChildAZ said...

I love those vintage fans. I bought one on Craigslist, with the cloth electrical cord. It's so powerful and the best fan in our AZ house! However, the wire caging is so spaced that I'm always afraid of chopping off my fingers when turning it off!!

alison giese Interiors said...

That silvered Wisteria piece is fantastic - if that's the new bun feet, I'd way it's the wearing-Blahniks-version! Gorgeous!

Doug Davis said...

they do seem to be showing up on a lot of curvy fronted 3 drawer chests lately, huh? I put them on a dresser I refinished when I was 16 (and they are still there...and that dresser is in my bedroom right now). guess they came back into style! haha

72 and sunny said...

I love the 'bun' feet on the Wisteria piece, but I'm not loving the chubby shaped bun feet. There's something stale about the look, 80s feeling.

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