Corbels
Corbels as a Functional Architectural Detail
Traditionally used as a supportive element for various architectural structures, the corbel’s utilitarian use saw that its decorative applications were frequently more of an afterthought. Today, thanks to the structural soundness of modern buildings and the strict codes to which they are built; the decorative application of corbels is experiencing something of a revival. But despite their modern makeover, the corbel must keep true to its original roots: while the modern corbel may not be as supportive as its predecessors, it is imperative that the corbel appears as if its application is as being an element of support, otherwise it will simply look silly. The corbel must look as if it serves its pre-determined purpose; and if it doesn’t appear to have one, then the corbel will look as inappropriate as a tuxedo at a funeral. “Corbels are special details that add a refined touch of class to the home, and should always look the part. Today’s decorative corbel is meant to enhance and accentuate what is already there; similarly as to what the push-up bra does for the woman who wears it,” says this designer.
The surge in the corbel’s popularity indicates the formation of a trend, and the trend indicates that the modern corbel often appears in hub of the home: the kitchen. Corbels are frequently spotted underneath the overhang of the countertops and alongside the hood of the stoves. Corbels are often spied alongside fireplaces, flanking the mantle. And corbels nestled into the corners of doors and entryways have become a popular place for them to reside. Corbels certainly add depth and another layer of interest to a home’s interior architecture, but it is the full range of designs and the carvings available that truly fuels the trend. “The range of designs and styles, the warmth and detail of the carvings themselves, makes it possible to highly customize your home decor, to truly make the space a reflection of you and your tastes,” explains this designer. And so it is not off the mark to say that just like the circular pattern of fashion trends, corbels and architectural details share a common thread: everything old is new again.
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I think you are thinking like sukrat, but I think you should cover the other side of the topic in the post too…
- DarCliltPeera, January 12th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I think corbels can really make a home that much more beautiful. They can certainly add a nice decorative touch. We have some that support our marble countertop and they look great. They’re both beautiful AND functional.
- Kristina, January 14th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I think corbels should be functional and then beautiful. I have to admit though, there are plenty of corbels to choose from and they all have their own way of asthetically pleasing the eye.
- Tyler, January 19th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
We just had some corbels installed and I am so glad that we did. They are doing a wonderful job at supporting our new granite countertop and it really adds a lot of personality to our kitchen. They’re great!
- Sarah, January 20th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I never really thought about the purpose of corbels and I don’t think I ever knew that they could be decorative also. Now that my and my fiance are building a home together, I have been noticing corbels and brackets mentioned a lot. They have a lot of uses that I never realized were utilized – until now that is.
- Molly, January 22nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
My wife and I just installed some corbels to support our new granite countertop and it looks great. They add some nice detail to our kitchen. We’re impressed with the craftmanship of the corbels that we bought. I can’t believe they’re handcarved. We bought some really ornate corbels, so it’s impressive that all of those details are handcarved. And there was a great selection on this website too.
- Eric, January 30th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I have a fulfilled life. I have everything I need but there is that one thing that I would love to do that would make it all perfect. I would love to give my home a whole new facelift. The thing is I’m not imaginative enough to come up with ideas and it boggles my mind thinking how some people are just that creative! Hence I prefer to leave it to the experts.
I never knew what corbels are but thanks to their very informative and easy to browse through site, I have been educated. And I realise that having them fixed at the right spots would make my home look awesome! The next thing that I’ll be sure to chuck out and fix is my ceiling. I think what it needs is a suitable crown molding. And who else better than the designers and professionals at InvitingHome.com to help me decide.
- Sweetest, February 6th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
We are still redecorating my home. It’s been a long process but there’s still a lot of work to do. In our den, my husband built a new wall but we still need to add molding to the bottom of the wall. We’re also thinking of adding some around the wall, because it is a recessed wall.
While looking through the site, I also found Corbels which would really add beauty to my kitchen counters, especially the part that hangs into the living room area of my home.Finishing up my home is something I need to get done to reduce my stress levels. I hate when I’m not feeling well, I’m sitting around the house and I look at all of the things that still need to be done here.
- Connie, February 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I really want to put a window seat in our living room. I’ve always loved them, and I think one would look super cute there. Plus, it would give us more seating, since we plan to get rid of our sectional sofa (which our cats have torn up) and get a regular couch instead. I also think it would be neat to put some corbels in our kitchen but, since we don’t have an island, I’m going to have to think of a creative way to do that. I think corbels look so elegant, though. And, as if all that isn’t enough, I’ve been thinking about putting some crown molding up against our ceiling, at least in some of the rooms. I think it would make them look much more decorative.
- Kelly, February 6th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
My wife and I are thinking about remodeling our kitchen and putting an island in the middle. We want to set up a bar on it so the kids can eat their snacks in the kitchen, and so we were told about corbels. I never thought about them before, but we found some that will be functional for us to support the counter top. They look pretty good and will go well with the style of kitchen we have also.
- Nick, February 10th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
We’ve been looking for some corbels to replace the ones we have now (they are just getting so old and they are completely out of style). We need them to be functional (they will be supporting an existing granite countertop, afterall) and we want them to kind of stand out and a beaiutiful way. We have finally discovered a website that can help us in both areas! We are pleased with our selection and we’re really excited to see what they will look like in our house.
- Michelle, February 17th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I have been installing countertops for years, and I have had some clients that have found some really nice looking corbels that are also deep enough to support a heavy countertop. It’s nice to see that corbels can be decorative as well as functional.
- Gary, February 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I think it’s a little amusing that maost people know that corbels are functional, but most of my clients are concerned with how “pretty” they are. I really like the selection that is available on this website. not only are they finctional, but they are beautiful and available in so many sizes that most corbels on this site are able to be incorperated in most projects. I try to refer my clients to this site whenever possible, since I know they will find something that will be functional (which is what I am mostly concerned about) and they will also be pleasing to the eye (which is what most of my clients are mostly concerned about).
- Bill, March 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I never really thought of corbels as decorative. I’ve only thought of them as functional. But my wife is an interior designer and used them on a project of hers. She nows points out corbels wherever we go and I never noticed how decorative they are. They are used everywhere. It’s amazing how they add to something, yet they don’t stand out.
- Grant, March 16th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Thank you.
I just installed the Jacksonville corbels (R301 medium) and they look fabulous. I was a little concerned they were a bit too ornate for my room. Was I wrong! They look fabulous. And, I already know the carving is perfect.
Thanks for all your help you were wonderful to work with. I do not do many transactions via the internet. But I am so thankful I found your company.
Best Regards,
- Mary Jo, April 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I would just like to say what a pleasure it has been working with your company. I purchased some Chicago brackets from you just last week, and I am pleased to say that they arrived 2 days later! Not to mention the quality is outstanding! Our bar is now installed and the brackets look wonderful. I hope to order from you again soon!
- Allison, April 24th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I never thought that sometime in my life i would go from not even knowing that a product even existed to actually not being able to imagine how my house would look like or how my counter top would actually hold up without it! they are fantastic and you have amazing selection. I looked all over different web-sites and different showrooms and they couldn’t offer more than just a few generic designs. This is the first place that satisfied my tastes to a t.
- Gillian, June 24th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Ah!!! at last I found what I was looking for. Somtimes it takes so much effort to find even tiny useful piece of information.
Nice post. Thanks
- Health Insurance Guy, November 14th, 2009 at 7:36 am
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- Spanker Mom, November 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
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- bradd, December 30th, 2009 at 6:34 pm