I have been wanting to do something different with the corner cabinet in my dining room for a long time.
I love the cabinet. It was a family piece and probably not in the fine antique category, but it means a lot to me, so painting is not on the menu (can you hear my entire family breathing a collective sigh of relief).
I use it primarily as a place to store my formal china and glassware.
But the cabinet was sort of boring to look at. A very uninspired and run of the mill display.
I originally thought that it would be fun to use it to showcase my white ironstone tureens, pitchers and vases. A sea of creamy, dreamy whiteness. But I still needed a place to store my china and glassware. Call me crazy, but it seemed pretty silly to have a china cabinet and then store my china in a box in the basement.
So, I decided to rearrange the china, by stacking some of the plates and glassware, to gain enough room to add just a few larger pieces for more interest.
Corner cabinet before:
(yawn)
Corner cabinet after:
I replaced the white vases and soup tureen on top of the cabinet with this vintage basket that I bought at an estate sale last summer.
One would think, that since I originally had planned on all white in the cabinet, that I would have left the white pieces up there, but I thought it needed something more simple on top.
I put one of my white tureens on the bottom shelf along with one of my dogs.
My silver oblong footed bowl on the second shelf with another dog. These dogs really have mastered the “stay” command.
The third shelf still has a primarily china and glassware theme.
And the top shelf is where I put another white tureen with some hydrangea in it, alongside my MIL’s silver candlesticks.
Not a huge change, but it seems lighter, brighter and less serious now.
I would love to leave the doors open. But Otis, the cat, would be in there in a flash, throwing the dogs to the floor and making a bed out of one of the tureens.
After all, he is the cat who tried to sit in my vintage McCoy mixing bowl and knocked it to the floor breaking it into 100 pieces. He’ll try to cram his butt into anything.
NanaDiana
Oh it does look nice with the door open but I so understand about the cat. So, after he broke the McCoy bowl does he only have 8 lives left now?;>)
It looks really great, Pam! xo Diana
Janet
It looks lovely and I so understand the cat in the cabinet issue 🙂
Linda @ A La Carte
I like the change a lot! It looks fresh and springy! Oh cats will try to cram their rear into something way too small for them! Funny creatures! Hugs, Linda
Heather
Ooh, Pam, your corner cabinet looks fantastic! I am so jealous of those soup tureens!
Pat
Pam, your cabinet really looks good. I like how you arranged it. And I covet that silver bowl and tureen. My daughter has 3 cats and every time I see something I know she would like and I start to buy it, I don’t. She can’t have anything nice because of her cats trying to sit in things!Oh well….
AntiqueChase
Fresh and looks fab!!
reFresh reStyle
You’re right, it doesn’t look as serious and it looks lighter and brighter! Otis is cute but sounds like he desires an expensive place to lounge! Love the good doggies, sit, stay, perfect!
Debbie
Shabby chic Sandy
I don’ think your cabinet looked boring at all–I love it. But I do love what you have done with it now. Looks awesome!
Carol A.Bender
I love it. You are amazing.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
LOVE, love, love everything about it…and Otis is a naughty boy…good thing he is so cute!
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Cupboard love! I could have vintage cupboards all over my house, and yours is no exception. It really looks updated and chic with it’s new/old accessories. Whatever was I thinking when I gave a lovely white tureen to our youngest daughter?!
The Summer Kitchen Girls
Love the way it turned out Pam! & we’re laughing about otis sticking his bum in the mixing bowl…and crying that it broke into a 1000 pieces! My cat Mr. Cuddles always thought he could hop in my small bathroom window that had a vintage mccoy vase in it ~ it ended up falling, it didn’t break, but it put a nice chip in my new tile floor *sigh* got to love those felines!
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
Pam what a pretty piece and I love the changes you made to the inside!
Shelia
Oh, this is so pretty!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Debby
That made a big difference. Can’t believe that your cat did that. Funny now. I have the same problem with my grandmothers cabinet……about painting it.
Kim K.
It’s so nice to know that I’m not the only one who has cat issues when it comes to dishware. I swear our new kitten has taught bad table manners to our older cat lately. Such a fun cabinet tour. You have a beautiful collection.
Amy Burzese
It is great! I did the same thing a few months ago. Removed crystal and some china and added tarnished silver and ironstone. I like it better than the other things that had been there for 10-12 years. Thanks for sharing!
TARYTERRE
LOOKS lovely. The doors open really make it pop. But I understand about Otis. I have a couple kitties myself. I got rid of my china cupboard a while back. No longer display or use my GOOD dishes. Sometimes it makes me sad, but such is life. ENJOY! Little changes make a big difference.
Tammi
I love the changes!
Gillian Layne
So pretty!
Thanks for the laugh before I head to bed. Glad to know I’m not the only one that makes decorating decisions based on a cat (and a dog with serious jealousy issues) 🙂
Betsy
I love this Pam. What a beautiful old cabinet and your special touches add so much charm. I really like the doors open showing off all your beautiful treasures, but you sure don’t need any more broken dishes:-)
[email protected]
Perfection 🙂
Anonymous
love the cat so cute
Mark
I can’t exactly put my finger on what makes your photos so special. When I have 5 minutes to myself, I try to get that same quality but I always come up short. I’ll keep practicing!
m.
Sue
Pam, Yoe are doing’ really well on manual mode, girl! Great shots of the newly styled cupboard. Of course, I luv the tureen- so pretty with the doors open. Aahhh-Pets…. I would have nothing left if I had a cat! I liked your pansies in the last post. I need to put some in a planter, even if it h,as to stay inside for a while. I cannot wait for permanently warm weather! Oh, and then we can maybe meet up somewhere?! Let me know what u think. ~Sue
Mary
It’s all about that bowl of petals. Thanks so much,
Mary @ Sea Quilts
LizlovesVintage
You are so organized!! What great pieces and lovely china. My hydrangeas are on top of my secretary. My favorite dried flower. I’m guessing yours too 😉
Have a great night,
xxx Liz
LizlovesVintage
PS. When I first stopped by, your header advertised for PAM, cooking spray. I had to chuckle:)
Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky)
Your china is lovely and it did look good before, but I love the new look. The white and silver pieces mix so well with your good china and makes for an interesting arrangement.
JunkStuffTreasures
Looks great! I’ve been thinking about re-arranging my hutch contents, also. Stacking the china to gain more display space for favorite pieces is a wonderful solution!
curio cabinet
Your corner cabinet looks fantastic!