Here it is with the small toureen lowered. I think that looks a little better.
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I really like it without the silk plants!

Beautiful piece of furniture, & you've done a great job, as always, of decorating with it.

The only thing that really jumps out at me as less than perfect are the red candles! Everything else is so soft & pretty, & the bright candles seem to disrupt that a bit, but that's probably just me. I do wonder what soft white candles would look like though.

Your dishes are lovely. I especially like all the creamy white things. You have quite a nice collection.

As far as ivy or no ivy, I like it better without, & with the tureen higher, so we can see it! It is so cute.

I just realized I was spelling tureen wrong. Sorry, it was late.

Thanks guys. I'll leave the greenery off for now. I discovered some time ago I like tureens. Found almost everything in the hutch at our local thrift store.

Stinkygardener - I have some white candles I can try. I was trying to add color before but I see what you mean about them sticking out. I'm not as in love with those crystal handle holders as I once was so maybe I'll try it without. I'm assuming I should find a new home for the red/gold tassel too?

I think what's bothering me about inside the hutch now is where the small tureen was (middle shelf on the right) now looks lighter to my eye than the left side with the pitcher.

For a long time I didn't have enough stuff to fill the hutch properly and it looked bare, now I'm wondering if it's cluttered? I won't be adding anymore pieces unless something replaces another. I found a wonderful silver pitcher the other month that I bought and now isn't on display. Have to love the domino effect.

Great hutch and lovely pieces ! I LOVE the tureen on the top shelf-center! Really beautiful. Since you asked, I like it better without the greenery, but I wouldn't change anything else.

Really pretty!

Looks great! I would move the wood piece to the right with the ivy; and the white pieces together on the left, perhaps with the dark fleur de lis slightly over the wooden piece.

I think the tassel is a really nice, charming touch. Don't take it away! The colors look soft & blended. I may be the only person in the world who feels the red candles not ideal, so don't wisk them away just yet either!

Like homebody, I really like the tureen on the center of the top shelf. It's stunning.

As far as the candles go, what I'm imagining are pierced Creamware or Ironstone or ivory porcelain candlesticks with soft white candles. They'd be so perfect with your dishes, & so pretty against the warm wood tones in your hutch. Crystal works there too though. Crystal is a good, classic choice for just about any dining room!

Obviously you've had really good luck finding a lot of nice things, though Shee. Your hutch is filled with great finds!

What does it look like without the stuff on top? I think the hutch is great looking by itself.

And I think white candles or beeswax would look very nice.

Shee, the similarities in our decorating style is starting to get creepy! lol. When you posted the buffalo checkered pillows it was exactly what I was looking for.

I have two tureens on top of my Hutch! They're too pretty not to display and there isn't anywhere else to put them.

I like what you have going on. Have you tried your new plate collection in there? Now that would be stunning!

Would the tureen fit on the base? How about those other pieces on top?

It looks like you have a couple things on the base that are too tall ... the tops are hidden behind the trim piece ... at least that's the way it appears from the angle the pic was taken.

I'd leave the top empty.

Thanks guys! I'll take a close up shot of that middle/top tureen later. There's a matching platter with it. The one on the bottom is pretty neat too, it has fruit all over it.

I'll try moving the stuff around on top just to see. It was bare up there for a long time. In the past, I've changed the top out for fall and winter. Makes for a nice change of scenery.

Stinky - I do have some short, thick, white candles I'll try there. I think I even have some twisted ones somewhere but they're yellow and green. I have to admit, the first thought that just came to mind was "spray paint" - that's my answer for everything lately. I'd never light them but I probably shouldn't go there, iykwim. I like the idea of white candleholders.

Oakley - Well I know you have good taste in furniture. ;) I remember you were thinking of check pillow for your LR awhile back. You want some for your bedroom too? I've fallen in love with checks and plaids etc. lately. That big tureen on top, was sadly stuffed inside the hutch because it's too big to display anywhere else. I would use it but I never make soup!

Those other dishes...I just realized the other day I haven't used them yet (to eat off of) and dangit we're going to! :) I don't know how well you can see the patterned china really but I bought the pieces here and there off ebay. It's Haviland in the Blue Garland pattern. Since I have quite a few pieces of that (plates,tureen,gravy boat,only two cups..), plus the blue plate in the middle I didn't want to mix the red with blue and I didn't think I had enough variety of stuff to fill out the hutch right. However, since you mentioned it again, that could be a nice change for fall/winter! I think I would take out all the blue though. I have more bowls and small plates with the red set and other silver and white pieces that aren't in the hutch that I could probably work something out. I'm so ready to decorate for fall and it's not even Sept. yet! I will definitely be trying that. Thanks for reminding me!

Natal - The large tureen does fit on the base. Everything else would but I think the wine box lid. I have the whole box but it wasn't working quite how I imagined it so I just used the lid.

Hutch decorating is very much an expression of personal style and with very few rights and wrongs. My taste runs towards have much less on display and with some added color beyond the white dishware.

If I were decorating your hutch to my taste, I would remove everything from the top of the hutch. I would display only one or two soup tureens, placing them on the open shelf at the bottom in place of the gold items that are there now. I would display your dishes as place settings, with the dinner plate at the back on its edge and the salad plate and cup and saucer arranged in front, with this repeated in one or three other of the windows. And a couple sets of your good glassware showing the same way - maybe three different size glasses in two groups.

I would be out searching for a matching set of cobalt blue something-or-others to use in two of the windows to bring out the blue of the plate in the middle. I would probably have the biggest soup tureen on the dining room table or a server rather than in the hutch.

I would also try to add some interior lighting to the hutch if possible. Ikea has some rope lighting that I am considering.

This is just another way to go and not meant to be at all critical of your choices. I'm just very much a "less is more" type decorator, except at Christmas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea rope lighting

Very petty hutch. Your tureens are great. To be honest I find the wooden box distracting. Wonder if you tried to put the large tureen on the top shelf in the middle with nothing else. Then maybe the white platter from the top on the open shelf on the bottom. I think your white shows up beautifully and that would carry through from top to bottom. I agree with other posters about the candles too. Even if you didn't change anything it is very pretty.

Graywings - I'm not offended. I guess this is one of those things like art that is more personal. I'm sure there are people looking at these photos and gagging.

I do want to clarify that the bottom items are silver, not gold. My camera isn't doing a swell job of taking pictures. Or wait, maybe it's the photographer? :)

The hutch doesn't have plate grooves so that makes standing the dishes up more difficult. I have them standing up with that blue putty stuff. I have some colbolt blue pieces tucked in (behind the main windows. One piece is a pretty butter dish. IRL you can see see them better when you're looking in because of the angles.

I really wish I had a formal DR! We don't entertain often but it would be another space to decorate.

That rope lighting is a great idea and it's finally something I can order online from IKEA!

Graywings, does the rope lighting have a simple plug to plug into the wall? If so, I'll recommend this to my DIL for use under the cabinets. I'd like to put it in my hutch too.

Shee, I want the buffalo check for my living room. That particular room is a mishmash of old world/country/farm. I'd like to have some black checks for the pillows on the sofa. We actually use the pillows on the sofa. I've only got about a thousand pillow forms and I still can't find the pillow covers I want.

You have a lot of pretty things. How about using blue candles since you have that blue platter. Have you tried putting them both to one side? I think they would look good that way.

I don't care for the wooden box on top, either. Otherwise, I think it looks great.

Could you move the wine lid into the kitchen area? I agree it competes with everything else on your hutch.

Shee, after taking a second look, I think the Tureen you have on the top shelf behind the glass is really a stand out piece and should be put on the bottom shelf where the candles are. What a gorgeous piece!

Natal - Any suggestions where? I could maybe hang it somewhere. I don't have to use it but I think it's neat and it's light like my cabinets which I was trying to tie that in by adding it to the hutch.

Kitchen side.
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Patio doors to the right of the table.
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Old pic before we made some changes but you can see the other side. That phone isnÂt hooked up. IÂd like to get a picture or something to cover the jack.
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Oakley - Here's a close up of the top and bottom tureens.
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Maybe with those command sticky things on the wall here?
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Maybe on the backsplash covering one of my way too many receptacles?
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Oh, that looks so cute there! Perfect accessory for your kitchen!

Like the rest of your house, your kitchen is adorable. Those little slipcovers on the counter stools are precious.

I know you and Oakley have the same sofa, but I think the similarities end there. To me, you have two completely different decorating styles. It's interesting to see what each of you have done with the same pieces.

Looking good Shee and I'd like to see the tureens on the top or the bottom either one. Maybe add some more - start a collection! LOL I sound like a broken record, but I know you love Rhoda's house and style, and she has some beautiful tureens and white pieces displayed. Maybe you can get some inspiration from her blog.

I also like the lid displayed on your counter, reminds me of breadboards displayed.

tina

Oak, I don't know anything about the installation of the lights from Ikea. But if you click on the link and then click on the alternate images and enlarge them, there are lots of pieces and it looks like it is more than just a plug and go installation. It looks like you are linking sections together. But it plugs in, it's not hard wired.

The hutch appears to be very tall. I'm in the "remove everything from the top" camp. I like the idea of displaying the tureens on the open shelf, as Graywings suggested.

I love your tureens, but I especially love the one on the right in the close up. Are they a true white or more of an off white? I'm trying to figure out how to decorate my kitchen and you're giving me some ideas :)

Laurie

Glad you're removing the wooden piece, it was too heavy & distracting. For me, everything is so symetrical and that is hard for me. The blue platter in the middle...me, I'd move it to a lower shelf to the side, and add your silver in the mix also behind the glass. My eye is just not taking in everything the way you have it set up. It's going to the center, then up & down, not side to side.

You have lovely things! I'm rethinking a hutch now that I see this. I just don't have the room right now, but when I finally do, I think I have to have one.

I haven't chimed in because I keep scrolling up and down to see if and what is different in the hutch and honestly, I don't see it! Driving myself nuts! Anyway, try the tureen that is on the top left and place it in the middle where the silver chafing dish is now. I think it will stand out better down there. The silver and the glass is not registerig with me for some reason. The thing with glass is unless it is filled with something, reads as empty because of the transparency. The same with the glass candle holders. Try the white tureen by itself. I like the wine board better in the kitchen. Things were looking too crowded up top. Maybe remove some things and play around inside. I think a little breathing room inside the cabinet will help the over all look.

I like graywings suggestions very much! That's what I would do, too.

Love your hutch and everything you've done with it! I second the lighting option, which would really make it even more beautiful. Great job. Your home is so nice.

Great piece. I like it better without anything on the top tho. The tureens are fab, especially like the one on the right in the pic you posted of the two tureens. Very interesting piece. I think decorating a hutch is a personal preference type thing. Pretty much anything you do is going to look great as you are starting with great pieces.

I would definitely look into lighting the inside. My breakfront came with lighting and it looks lovely when lit. I pretty much rely on candlight (sticks on the table and tea cart); the lighting in the breakfront and crystal chandelier on a dimmer when we use the dining room. I think it makes for a really nice mood. Who doesn't look good by candlight?

Just me, but I change the things in my hutch seasonally. Pretty much the motivator to take things out to dust and clean the shelving. The only thing that pretty much stays the same are my Waterford water goblets. They catch the light and really sparkle. Love the look, and having them within hand's reach makes me use them more often than if they were behind a solid cabinet door.

You have a lovely home shee.

I would simplify. I think there's too much stuff going on both in the interior and exterior. I really like your hutch with the white pieces. Maybe do an all white display inside, maybe using the patterned platter as an accent either on the interior or exterior. I'd remove most if not all from the top.

Tina, I probably shouldn't have said our decorating style is similar, but Shee and I do like the same things. We just use them differently is all. We even have the same set of "castle" keys hanging on our walls!

Now that she's leaning towards beadboard/paneling, it does make our styles come together. :)

Shee, I love the wood lid as a backdrop in your kitchen. It fits perfectly there.

And that Tureen! Beautiful! I still say put them on the open ledge because they deserve a spot of their own.

Thanks guys!

Msrose - The tureen on the right is more off white/cream and the fleur de list plate is also more cream. Everything else is white.

I haven't had much of a chance to mess with the hutch since I dove into the stair project. (Currently the risers are white and everything else is a hideous purple from the tined primer) This weekend I think I'm going to take everything out and I'd like to add some of my red dishes (with the white/silver/crystal) I have for a seasonal change.

I'll have to get some more of that blue putty to stand the dishes up or maybe I should get a bunch of cheap plate stands. I need to look at some inspiration hutch pics.

That decorative wood piece (in the middle) at the base of the hutch somewhat hides the large soup tureen.

DH doesn't like the wine board at the counter area. I may hang it on the wall somewhere.

Thanks for all the feedback! It's nice to have fresh eyes take a look at something. I'll get some pics post when I make changes.