I forgot to add that I'm thinking of painting the fu dogs orange (I wanted orange ones for Christmas and was given red ones).

I'm also wondering if I should line the back of the hutch with a pretty colored paper. I have some silver paper with black brocade on it...not sure if that would work.

You have so many beautiful objects! In order to add bulk and density, do you have stacks of china that you can put in there? Cups and saucers would also look very nice, especially if they have a decorative pattern. I think to a large extent it's just trial and error, and that can take a bit of time.

I think china cabinets are personal so any of what you have will look nice in it. Splashes of color with the white and crystal. I wouldn't put candles inside it.
Mine is full of crystal, mostly clear, but some colored glass objects. I also have vintage sparkly family jewelry lying on the shelves and draped on some items. Mine has a mirrored back so I've never got a good pic of it.

But, here's a very helpful hint: Wear those vinyl gloves that you can get at $ General, etc. when placing things into your cabinet and also when you clean the glass. There will be no fingerprints!! My DH figured that out when we first got ours and were trying to get the shelves in without leaving fingerprints. They also provide a better grip.

My china is in everyday use, so I keep it in the kitchen. I don't have kids, so I didn't feel the need to get durable, "everyday" dishes.

Just realized the orange picture isn't showing up...

Janine, I love your color palette.

You're already on the right track, because you're thinking in terms of "groups." Items which are similar in color, or shape, or size... groups which your eyes can identify from across the room.

I think it's an excellent idea to paint the little dogs orange. That way you have an orange "group" and you'll have a nice splash of color you can see from across the room.

Don't be afraid to leave empty spaces between the groups. Empty space can help frame and shape your groups.

Don't feel you have to cram too much stuff onto your shelves. Shelves with too many objects have no interest because the eye can never rest.

You should also think about "weight". By this I mean visual weight as well as color weight... dark objects are "heavier" than light objects. Items of greater weight should be on the bottom shelves.

I see from one of your photos that at one point, you had the pretty glasses on the top shelf. I'm not sure this works, because you can't see the tops of the glasses.

When you're done, post another photo!

Here's a first attempt. The fu dogs are definitely getting painted orange. The big white "candle sticks" are really there for their shape, not for function. Maybe I'll remove the actual candles so the emphasis is on the shape. I should probably pull them forward, to.

What do you all think of the back of the cabinet? Leave it white?

Do I need something in the middle of the top shelf?

I think you'll want a paper or fabric inside==the crystal just blends into the wall. Not too busy, because you want to have the crystal be the star.

Love the colors and the shapes.

I think I'd space the shelves more evenly, mainly to increase height of bottom shelf. I like the relationship between the three white pieces very much. The fu dogs are getting lost on bottom shelf against dark wood.

Much easier to style in person than remotely, but as a first go, I'd remove the non-essential clear crystal, the spiky silver balls, the plain white bowl, and the orange pumpkin. Put orange boxes on bottom shelf, and see how it looks. It will be sparse, but then work from there, probably adding back crystal. You could also add artwork inside the cabinet. The other removed pieces I think might work better elsewhere.

I remember your dining nook! I didnt know you are the one with the to die for chandelier! I actually liked your china cabinet with crystal and white objects and with the silver urchin things! I definitely like the white background of the china cabinet. Great furniture.

I agree that unfortunately the beautiful crystal pieces don't stand out against the white background. If you're going to use the boxes I also would put them on the bottom. I think the top shelf would look more finished with something in the middle. Perhaps the foo dogs flanking a small crystal or white object? They're gorgeous and I'd put them in a prominent spot. I'd be tempted to add another color, perhaps blue or green, as a contrast to the orange, but I personally love color and you may prefer a more monochromatic scheme. I hope you keep the pictures coming.

I would think about painting the back of the cabinet the same as your wall color. It will end up looking lighter because of the lighting in there that will wash it out a bit. Otherwise, I think all your glass and crystal pieces are getting lost.

I love the touches of orange, and I would not paint the foo dogs, but leave them the red for some depth and variety in there. However, the orange boxes stacked are just, well, boxes stacked. How about using them scattered around in the cabinet as bases for some of the other pieces? For example, the little white ceramic bird could sit on the smaller box. The medium box could be opened, some fine silver or grey shred added, and the three white ceramic egg(?) boxes nestled in there, on perhaps a lower shelf. The large box could stand on its side or end and be a backdrop for the white horse head.

The two amazing silver balls should be on the bottom, I think, and don't be afraid to let them sneak a bit toward the middle. You don't need to section everything by the way the dividers are on the front. Especially if there are similar items, some of it can be hidden a bit by the dividers and not feel lost.

I would also try not to have three groupings on each shelf - you want things to flow in kind of a serpentine motion from top to bottom. So maybe a larger grouping of items at top left, a strong visually substantial piece on the next shelf on the right, then perhaps the silver balls on the bottom left. Fill in here and there with some other items, so you get a sense of flow, not static display rows as in a retail store.

I would also take the two white ceramic candleholders, change the candles to taller orange ones, and use them on top of the cabinet, as an "introduction" to what is inside. I would fill the white bowl on the table with glass or wood or wicker balls in orange, or real (or faux) orange fruits and veggies. Or change to the cut glass rose bowl and fill it with orange roses that sit close to the top of the bowl in a mass.

You might also check the stores right now for holiday ornaments in orange that you could use in the bowl next year.

A lovely space!

I guess I shouldn't have "cheated" and used an old picture of the dining area. Here's what it looks like now (as I've said before, "restraint" is a word I like to use when I describe my style):

Here was how I left things in the cabinet earlier this evening. My puppy is sick, so I'll have to revisit this tomorrow or the next day. There are still more changes to be made, obviously (like getting some color up top).

I've been looking for paper like this, but with white lines instead of brown):

Let me preface my comments with, "If you love them, use them." (In other words, feel free to ignore me.)

But ... I don't think the orange boxes are china cabinet worthy. Your dining room is very elegant (and gorgeous!). The boxes seem more appropriate for a home office. I like the idea of something unexpected and love the color, but I think you can find something nicer for your dining room display. Maybe you could keep them there until you find the perfect replacement object.

jeannine - Can you tell me what color paint you used in there. It's a beautiful color.

Laurie

I would not use the orange in the cabinet, I would add more variations on the white/off white, so that nothing pops, it's a more elegant look, imo.....

Agree with mitchdesj = lose the orange and red - keep it all white and crystal - maybe eventually the beautiful paper in the back wall. Keeping in mind, your own word of "restraint" the orange is almost jarring! Could you use the boxes in some other area of your lovely home? And, the little pumpkin is doing nothing for me. When your puppy gets better, maybe try the idea of using the boxes as backdrops and see if you like it any better. You're off to a good start.

It's very lovely. Does the glass shelving have a groove at the back for plates? If so, could you stand a few plates in the back as a backdrop for the crystal?

I love the orange, and I love the room, I don't think it would be the same with out the orange to make it "pop"

I think whatever works visually is what should be in the cabinet. It's a house, not a museum. If you're only displaying stuff because it's pricey, antique, etc, then what's the point? I love the orange boxes, and the Foo dogs which extend the color story. But I like the first arrangement better.

Take a look for wrapping paper--esp. the single sheets that are somewhat heavier than the rolls. Or else, you could scan the style you like, fiddle around in Photoshop or get a silk screener to make you your own.

I understand how logically you want to create vignettes between the natural partitions - I ran into that myself when I was working on my china cabinet, but I found you need to think of the shelf as a flowing whole and not individual segment.

I'm still have to tweak, but I'm liking it as a whole.

Jim

Your last photo is working nicely. I'd be inclined to add something like a silver branch sculpture or tall stylized crystal piece in the center above the boxes & bird and not add more color to the top. It may be a lot easier to find fabric rather than paper with the color and feel you like, just as easy to install and a lot easier to change when the moods strikes. If you can find a similar shade to your wall in a quilted silk to pick up from the upholstery that would be wonderful. Your restrained elegance is lovely.

This room is entirely my cup of tea. I just love everything about it. You've not only made stunning individual choices, but did so within the framework of a beautiful overall feel.

As for the question at hand, i don't know what my "problem" is, but often the vignette i favor tends to be the "before." Such is the case with your china cabinet. My favorite arrangement is the first picture, the one timed 17:33. I think the orange boxes are an unexpected "pop" that contrasts beautifully with the other pieces. I agree with the person who said the room wouldn't be same without that pop.

This is a fantastic room. Congratulations on a job well done.

"It's a house, not a museum. If you're only displaying stuff because it's pricey, antique, etc, then what's the point?"

Ideefixe, I assume you are talking to me b/c I am the only one who didn't like the boxes. (Well, I like the boxes, just not in the china cabinet.) I don't think an object has to be pricey or antique to be displayed, but everytime I see those boxes, I picture a husband yelling "Honey, where did you put the stamps?" I think it is because the largest box has that silver rivet or snap on the side. They remind me of the canvas boxes that I just purchased at Target for my stationery supplies. They are pretty and functional, but their function doesn't seem suited to a formal dining room. Everything else in the OP's dining room is so polished and refined, the boxes feel like the odd man out.

Just wanted to clarify so you wouldn't think that I'm a dollar-sign snob.

I still prefer all white and crystal in your china cabinet. And I love the mirror wall too. And of course that chandelier. drool.

Well, it was my turn to be sick...I'm just catching up on all these wonderful comments. Thanks for all the input!

The boxes were a "substitute" purchase. I really wanted lacquer boxes likes these:

But, they're $300, which I can't really justify at this point.

I'll do some more tweaking tomorrow and post some pictures.

Regarding the paint color, it's Benjamin Moore's Smoke and I used Aura paint. I took a slew of pictures with different light sources for the gallery (second to last point in the thread).

You'll see from the photos that the color changes quite a bit when the light source changes.

Well, I'll be different... I the orange boxes. I think they give an unexpected whack of color and shape.

One basic change I think you need to make...

You have three glass shelves, so you have four shelf surfaces. That is, you have four "spaces" in your cabinet.

You should adjust the intervals between the shelf spaces so that the space on the bottom is the tallest, and the space on the top is the smallest. The intervals between the shelves should be larger at the bottom and gradually get shorter.

Does this make sense?

This means that your tallest items (the candlestick, the horse) should be at the bottom, and your shortest items should be on the top.

I also think your orange group should not be right in the middle. Too emphatic, too symmetrical. Put it off to one side.

Jeannine - Thanks for the pictures. So, is it more like the ones with the flash or without?

Laurie

Laurie - it's hard to say...the dining area of my condo gets very little natural light, so I'd say this is what the paint normally looks like in there:

The living room gets a lot of natural light, so it looks more like a gray-blue:

Keep in mind that some people say the same color can look different in Aura paint. I haven't seen a room painted in Smoke using one of Benjamin Moore's other paint formulas, so I'm not sure if that's the case with this color.

If the boxes were not super expensive that you did buy, I would try painting the rims of the lids with black enamel paint. Then use high gloss spray sealer in several light coats following the can directions. You might end up getting a very cool high gloss look that you want.

One other thing. I have been thinking about your cabinet since last night. I really think those two cool silver balls belong on the DR table. They are so textural and are begging to be picked up and examined. Locking them behind glass takes away that opportunity. Perhaps more interesting on the table than a white bowl of fruit, too.