This hutch was given to me by my childhood friend, Carrie, a few years ago. It was originally in her parent's home. Her father was a farmer and I don't doubt that it came from a farmhouse many years ago. Her family is very dear to me and I am honored to have it.
I don't have fancy china, but I do have several items that were given to us by our grandmothers that I store in here. It's fun to pull them out as serving pieces. They are not of much value, but they are precious to us. I like having a safe place to display them.
Currently I keep linens in the drawers and homeschool books underneath. It's very useful, but not all that it could be. I see the word "potential" written all over it, but I lack inspiration.
Carrie painted it white to match her home before it came my way. I taped wall paper on the back of the shelves for interest. But it's not very interesting.
Help me out here. My kitchen is a nice yellow (not greenish like picture). The counter tops are green. I have a lot of reddish accents around. I'd say the style is "want to be like Pottery Barn" but far from it.
Inspire me. What do you envision? What would you change? What would you do to do to accent up this great piece of furniture?
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15 comments:
Love that hutch! you could put up a red background and do an arrangement of your glass/china (less than you have -- which means you'd have to store the extra somewhere else). BTW, your house looks closer to Pottery Barn than you give it credit for (at least when I see it :) ). I'll have to look around -- I bet I have some ideas in magazines....
I love the idea of brighter paper to really pop! Also, you could go to an antique store and look for some great knobs to spice it while remaining true to it's age.
It's a beautiful piece, but it doesn't make a statement in white. I would paint it black (sherwin williams has a nice no chip black enamel). Black would make it pop, it would coordinate with yellow and red and look VERY potterybarnish.
I was thinking you could paint it black like the previous commenter suggested, but because your cabinets are wood and your table is too (yes?) I think you would get more bang from your buck if you paint it red to match your red accents. And your could paint the inside yellow to match your walls, or put in a new paper background that was lighter/brighter like yellow with red and green. You can use scrapbook paper for that kind of thing.
I think red would make it funky but still not crazy, whereas I think black might make the piece look too imposing in your kitchen.
Just my thoughts, I would love to see what you decide to do!
I was coming in here to offer some suggestions, and I see that Catherine above me has said almost exactly what I was going to say! I would absolutely paint that beautiful piece red and put some yellow paper in the back. I'd also put on new knobs -- maybe brass or something like that?
I agree with Catherine & Fresh Girl. Good ideas.
I agree that new knobs would totally make it stand out.
And I like yellow and red, so I might agree to painting it red. I usually have to see things before I can decide though.
Monica, I have been enjoying reading your blog. All of you keep me up to date with the happenings back in Indy, it makes me feel much less out of the loop.
Before I even read the other comments I was thinking red as well. Not too bright but more of an antique or scarlet darker red - but not quite maroon. I think the new knobs are a great idea as well, that would really make it pop.
What a cool piece of furniture. I love when you can take something older and turn it into an amazing new look with a few simple changes.
Mary Farrand
I don't think you can go wrong, friend. I think it would look amazing in either red or black. (I painted mine black.)
I also love that it is white simply because Carrie painted it and b/c it seems farmhouse-ish (real word) in white. If you left it white I would get some red paper in the background, new knobs, and find a black piece of pottery or something to put in it or on it. (Trip to Clay City with your favorite freckled friend??)
See I would leave it white and go with Brightly colored Dishes in the cabnets and some greenery ontop and around. The white Pops nicely on its own it just need to look like it belongs in your home. :)
That is a beautiful hutch. I love old pieces of furniture. There is so much history in them.
I don't know what kind of wood it is but I would say strip it and stain it, letting the natural wood show through. You can choose a stain shade that would compliment the rest of your furniture.
Oh, that's beautiful! And I'd definitely paint it black. Black 'anchors' a room and adds a touch of sophistication. Everything goes with black, LOL! (And your walls are very pretty--they look yellow on my computer!)
I have one too.
No need to paint it black, unless you want something dark in the house.
You can put an ivyplant on top so they hang down beside the furniture.
I've made crochet curtains, which match the colour and it gives it a nice look.
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Laane on the World
Have a great day!!!
I wouldn't paint it unless you are in the mood to paint...
My suggestions are to look at it like sections behind each "pane" of glass: top right section--make two rows of cup hooks and hang coffee or tea cups; middle right section: a stack of plates or bowls (or both, if they fit); lower right section: one big serving bowl/salad bowl.
Top left section: plate or serving platter displayed on an easel; middle left section: sundae glasses (the ones in the pic); lower left section: I would make this section your *seasonal vignette* section--a nest or basket of eggs, a framed Easter card, etc.
Another idea is to glue or tape ribbon to the edge of each shelf--it will add a nice finishing touch (but it's not a very Pottery Barn thing to do, LOL!).
I also like the idea of adding something to the top--I keep a teapot and my punch bowl on the top of my hutch.
:)
HTH,
Kat
It's a wonderful piece of furniture.
Many of my ideas have been mentioned. I think some paint would probably change the look of the entire room and if you are up for it, would look nice. A word of caution if you go with red...We painted our white front door red and even with primer, it took 6 coats of Benjamin Moore paint and could probably use another 3. Red id the hardest color to get good coverage with!
I like it white and think brighter paper and less stuff in it would make it very PB.
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