I don't think I'd put anything on top of the hutch - the stuff you've got up there looks too close to the ceiling to me.

Agreed. The only visual "overload" is the stuff on top. It has no breathing room, and looks squashed in there.

The rest looks very nice!

I agree with the others. Just remove the stuff from the top, and I think it'll look perfect!

Honestly, no. For the most part, I think items on top of a hutch just tend to look cluttery, like an afterthought -- or like overkill.

I would take it all down. There is not enough clearance there for anything and I think it looks like too much small stuff - your eye doesn't know what to look at. Why don't you try it without the stuff and see what you think. Otherwise, I think it looks great.

I agree with Auntjen.

If you did anything at all on top, I'd maybe consider seasonal greenery or something that sits very low and snug to the hutch.

Fall leaves and twigs greenery for now
Holly leaf greenery around Christmas, etc.

What reno just said. :)

This was the first I really had anything up there. Now the minor problem I'm facing is I really like a majority of the items up there. Any other ideas how to add them into the hutch or arrange at least some of them on the bottom? If not, I don't know that I have anywhere else to put them. Decanters and butter dishes just don't work anywhere. :) Really like the pitcher thing too. I originally had that on the bottom where the blue plate is. This also doesn't fit IN the hutch. Hmm...

Haven't lived here that long but am already ending up with too much stuff I have no place for. Love it (the items) or not. I have space above my kitchen cabinets but didn't really want to put anything up there. I had a couple items up for awhile but took them down. Plus the space is only like 12" which doesn't leave much to stagger.

I agree . . . and disagree. I agree that you need to take everything off the top of the hutch. It adds nothing to the look except clutter, and your hutch is too pretty for that.
As for the rest of the hutch, I disagree to leave it as is. I'd move the blue & white platter to the middle and flank it with the two silver pieces. The platter draws your eye first and having silver on either side of it would balance the look better.
The inside of the hutch has too many low pieces to make a real statement. How about propping up some plates or platters behind the pieces on the second shelf (on either side, not the middle)? The top shelf could use a few more glasses, as it looks a bit sparse up there. The bottom shelf could use some plates, as well. How about platters on the middle shelf and plates on the bottom shelf, propped up? Perhaps replace the white candles with blue ones, too.
Lynn

I'm afraid I have to agree about the stuff on the top. If you really want something up there, a large, beautiful, but not too high bowl might look good. Something in copper or brass or art glass.

I like the way you have managed to showcase the china and glass inside the cabinet--putting them on different levels and not blocking them behind the woodwork.

Let's see:

TOP OF CABINET: Clear the top as mentioned above. Yes -- you could leave the decanters sitting together on the right-hand side -- with a touch of seasonal item -- for example -- a white pumpkin on the left. Leave the middle area "naked" LOL!

BOTTOM: Move the dark blue glass item (thats now sitting on the very top of the cabinet) to the left-hand side of the bottom -- to work with the blue-and-white platter.

TOP SHELF: Move the left-hand silver item (now on the bottom left) to the top shelf -- middle window. Put all of the four glasses in the left-hand window. Put the crystal bowl (from the very top of the cabinet) in the right-hand window.

MIDDLE SHELF: Take the flat bowls and place them up on their sides ---- you may need to get some dish holders for this step. Place the gravy boat in front of one of the upheld bowls and the cream-and-sugar in front of the other one. Thats it for the middle shelf and its windows.

BOTTOM SHELF: Place the blue condiment set in the middle window (to work with the blue-and-white platter and the blue item on the left) The rest is fine!

Add a blue OR blue-and-white bowl to the table to bring out the blue-and-white ......

Lynnie - I'll move the platter. Did have it to the middle at one point but then wondered if the larger silver piece made it look all off balance because it was larger than the silver/decanter on the left.

Believe it or not the plates are too big to stand in the hutch. They seem fine on the right side but it's quite jammy on the left. I could stand up the platter which is currently under the gravy boat on the top shelf. I have another set of those crystal glasses packed away I could dig out. The bottom only has small plates, bowls, saucers and I only have two cups. :) I can always order some additional pieces off ebay.

**Also want to note that I will be painting at some point. Working on finding the right LR color first.

Here are some (really poorly done) photoshopped pics of what some lovely seasonal greenery could add to the look:

For fall:

For Holidays:

I have things on top of my breakfront and I like it! however ceiling is cathedral and about 10+' there. At Xmas I add garland and lighting across front of top..
If you like it that's what counts!!
{{!gwi}}if you have ridge inside as I do you may want to stand up a plate or two, show them off..

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Susie, your setup works (beautifully, I might add!) because you have taller ceilings.

If Sheesh had taller ceilings, I think she could do more up there.

Teacats - Thank you for the long description! I need to get some cool seasonal stuff. Have nothing for fall.

The left hand silver decanter doesn't fit in the shelves. BUT it will if I take the top off. Not sure how that will look but I'll check it out. The cap isn't too big.

I actually originally had the glasses in one window and the crystal bowl on the other side. Yay maybe I had something right at one point! haha.

They are all dinner size plates on the middle shelf. I only have small berry size bowls. Again, could always order them off ebay.

Bottom shelf - The blue thing in the middle is one of those peanut butter glasses. The flower is iris. It, along with the cream and sugar are currently sitting in a medium size baking pan that has a silver carrier thing. Has feet on it like the bottom silver piece.

Also had no idea what to use as a centerpiece on the table. I'll try all of the above!!! Thanks!!

For the top arrangement, is it JUST the fact that my ceiling are too low (8') for the stuff or is it the actual layout of the items that also don't work?

Reno - thanks for the PS. I guess I sort of knew deep down it was too close to the ceiling.

Susieq - Very pretty breakfront! Times like these I wish my ceilings were taller. :)

Wait - what should I do with the vase thing. The flowers can come out. This doesn't fit in the shelves either. Nice huh?

"Wait - what should I do with the vase thing. The flowers can come out. This doesn't fit in the shelves either. Nice huh?"

Centerpiece on dining table?

Are you saying your dinner plates won't stand up inside the glass front doors? Sure looks like plenty of room, but yeah, that'd be strange.

I agree, remove the stuff on top. I'd display that dark blue glass piece where it can be seen. If the decanters and such don't fit, are there other places in the kitchen they could be displayed?

Well..here's the kitchen side. The lighting in these pics look horrible. It's not usually yellow looking. Maybe I need to change the bulbs out. The table top is an off white.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

the door you see in this pic leads to the outside.
{{!gwi}}

I know that's weird about the plates. The shelves look straight to me. I'll check it out again later.

Also do you think I should put some kind of stand/plant/topiary thing beside the hutch on in the corner right near the sliding doors?

I rearranged. How's this?

{{!gwi}}

TOP - I currently have the crystal bowl on my buffet in the foyer. It may or may not stay there. Depends on the size of the decorative plate I ordered that hasn't arrived. The decanters tops are off because they were too tall but you can't notice it honestly. I'm not completely attached to the crystal decanters. I just thought they were pretty when I bought them. DH think's it's stupid to have them because we don't really even drink. I could always put the crystal bowl back. And the platter in the middle (casserole thing is on top) that's laying down doesn't fit standing up. I was originally thinking about standing that up and then sticking the blue toile plate in front but the toile plate is also a little too big for the look I was aiming for. I didn't have anywhere to put the cobalt blue butter dish so it's currently between the glasses on the left. Not super attached to that but thought it was pretty and added some color.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

MIDDLE - The plates DO stand up. Not sure what I was doing the other day with the one side! They are however, wedged in there. A typical plate stand that I'm thinking of won't work because there's just not room. Any ideas? I'm about to slap duct tape to the back of them.

{{!gwi}}

BOTTOM- I put the rest of the plates that were originally in the middle, under the saucers and bowls. I tried putting the blue butter dish on the middle silver thing (that has the two blue items) but the base is too wide.

BOTTOM BOTTOM :) - Got rid of the roses and stuck it back on the right (which was where it was before I got the idea to deck the top out) I think visually it looked better to have the big silver piece in the middle. I had the blue plate in the middle but the right side just seemed too heavy and I didn't have anything to balance it out right on the left. If I put two items on the left it started to look all jammy on the bottom.

*Note -In this pic the plates that were in the middle weren't under the saucers/bowls yet. . .
{{!gwi}}

I like the top better nekkid. Think I will stick to doing maybe some seasonal stuff up there. Thanks guys!

One more thing - the tassel I have is a curtain tie back. Where does everyone on here get the cute little tassels with the shorter/thin hangers? I searched "decorative tassels" on ebay and got much of what I have there.

Looks wonderful!

Well done! :)

Jan

Much better!

Most china cabs have a thin groove cut into the shelf to hold plates steady. Since yours doesn't have that, use painters tape and change it out with new ever so often.

The tassels you are looking for are available everywhere. I recently got one at Tuesday Morning. Saw some at Hobby Lobby, Hancocks and Calico Corners too. My favorite I bought years ago from Touchstone.

Tassels at Dollars store, Walmart, Fabric stores,

Looks great. The stuff on top needed to be removed. Painting the interior of the cabinet will really make the white ceramic pop.

Also, on the bottom of the interior of the cabinet the items look like they are sinking and drowning. Its a design flaw most cabinets have. The frame on the glass door blocks the clear view. What I did with mine is put a thick board on the bottom to elevate the items so that they can be seen in their entirety. The wood frame on the glass door hides the board when closed. Try it using a book to see if you like the effect better.

You can buy a putty at the hardware store that is made to "earthquake proof" plates and keep them from sliding when they are displayed upright.

Great job! Looks wonderful!

I'd put something on top, just not what you had before. I have an oval shaped bronze container w/ some fall greenery (not tall) and a Peterboro basket, no time to take a pic.

Susan ~

Did some more searches for tassels and found a better variety. I'll keep looking around.

dilly dally - Good idea about boosting the bottom shelf up. I'll look into that. Going to check on that earthquake stuff in at Lowes this weekend. Think they have that there? I'll probably use that or the painters tape. Duct tape may be too harsh. :)

I don't have any fall decorations at the moment. Would like to do a little seasonal here and there. Maybe just fall and winter.

Should I put a stand and some type of topiary on it beside the hutch or in the opposite corner near the sliding doors?

Been looking at this brass stand for awhile now but don't know what to put it.

{{!gwi}}

The new configuration looks great! Ya done good! :-)