This Vintage Cabinet Is An Adorable Way To Add More Kitchen Storage

Vintage fixtures and styles will always have a place in the interior design world it seems, and that's why so many antique additions are making their way into people's home decor. Be it for nostalgic reasons or because these pieces are made with such quality materials, thrifting and upcycling older furniture is a great way to elevate your rooms. While there are plenty of sought after antique home items to choose from, it's vintage pieces like pie safes that might be the real stars of your kitchen. Designed to keep pests out and food fresh, these cabinets are rustic and they also make for great storage within your cooking space. Rather than investing in new big box store cabinetry, why not check your local thrift stores and antique shops to find unique and one of a kind pieces like pie safes to bring a vintage accent to your home while also giving you a place to keep everything from dishes and cookware to actual pies?

Whether you've run out of cabinet space or you just need a little more decorative storage to balance utilitarian designs, upcycling one of these pie safes is a really fun way to bring a little historical charm into your home. You can search for them at local antique dealers and thrift stores, or you can try finding Amish retailers online that sell them. They can be pricey, but their style and usefulness makes up for the money they cost.

Pie safes made their debut in the United States with the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1800s. While the pie safe was around before this and could be traced back to the 16th century, the design really took off when introduced stateside. Not only did the cabinets keep baked goods fresh, but they also kept pests out so that food would last longer. Labeled by some as the first refrigerator, this clever kitchen addition helped to store other items like baking materials. Because modern ventilation units did not exist either, pie safes kept dirt and dust off of ingredients and food, which was likely a big problem during a time when HVAC systems relied on open windows. 

These cabinets were made of wood local to the areas where the people who made them settled and lived, although many were crafted with pine, and featured windows or screens to allow some ventilation. These could be made of glass or tin, the latter being one of the most common. This also helped keep mold from growing on the baked items, as moisture would not get trapped during humid months. The designs of the pie safe varied by crafter, but many were usually individual cabinets that could be placed anywhere in the house and stand on their own or hang on the walls. Many were fairly large and could be compared to modern day dressers, though you can find more compact versions online.

When it comes to decorating with a pie safe, your options are not limited to just using it as a baked goods storage unit. You can certainly fill it with the intended items it was made for, but why not get creative and find other purposes for it to really elevate the vintage piece. Many of the cabinets you can find online, should local secondhand or antique shops not have any, are fairly narrow with two vertical storage cubbies. These could fit into small nooks or crannies around your kitchen, including pushed up against the edge of your countertops or an island. 

Keep decorative plants and knick knacks on top along with cooking items, and fill the cupboards with supplies like dishes. Some versions feature glass windows, so if you purchase one like this, pick attractive items that can be displayed on the shelves. Although many of the pie safes you find through retailers online are in good condition and have been made new or refurbished, you can always give a thrifted version some TLC with stain and paint. You can easily blend your upcycled wood pie safe into a modern home by mixing and matching other vintage pieces, so don't skip this addition, even if you're worried it won't work with your interior. This find is just another ultimate storage solution for your kitchen, so keep an eye out or treat yourself to one to effortlessly extend your kitchen storage.