These are hard choices, I will say the buffet looks like it has some wear to it, so you could possibly chalk paint it, or feel ok that you have given it lots of years of love. The china cabinet is very large, you could just keep the base and use it as your new buffet. I suppose the true point is no one will probably want them down the road.

Thank you Helen! Yes this is exactly how I feel, like I needed to keep it in the family.

RL Relocation I was debating about painting the buffet and using new handles but wasn't sure if it was worth it or how it would look? I was very close to my grandmother so it makes it hard. I'm not even sure Habitat would want them. I hate the thought of someone else not using them.

I agree with the above—by all means keep them if you love them or would be really unhappy to lose them, but don’t hold on to them just because you feel like you have to.

If you really want to keep them, they both seem like they provide great and versatile storage so that’s a plus. Paint is always an option. Also I’m no designer but it seems to me that someone with a good eye can do a lot to vary the look of a hutch like that depending on how they styled the inside.

I love both peices it would be a shame to not use them. I have a lot of family treasures in my home. I think that is what makes it a "home" not just a house. I don't care if it's not the style, they make my home comfortable. I think it would be a shame to paint a family piece unless it has major problems. If you can't use them in your dining area, I can see both working in a home office. Every office needs places to hide the paper that accumulates. The buffet for printer and paper you need for it. The China has hidden storage and display behind glass that doesn't need to hold China. A collection? Or souvenirs fron trips? All you need is a desk and a chair. If you sell someone will be getting some great pieces. My home office

I immediately thought the hutch would work well as a bookcase in an office or bedroom.

Cheryl great idea of the buffet. There is an office, but not sure it is big enough for both pieces. Will have to consider this, thank you.

In the picture below you see that large wall area to the left of the doorway (where there are some blueboard pieces leaning?

Here you see the very left of that wall before you get to my kitchen area. I was thinking I could possibly put the hutch there but not sure it would look good. The hutch is so dark.....and not sure it is the right space for it.

The buffet looks kind of Deco to me and is very pretty design. Either paint or strip an re-stain and maybe use as a cool bar??

Yes, Habitat will want them and I agree that you should only keep them if you want to them, not out of obligation. You grandmother would want you to have a home that suits you, not a museum to her.

I would keep the buffet - it is smaller and easier to work with. I would probably go over it with some Old English to blend in the nicks and leave it as-is. Hang a large modern colorful art piece over it. The buffet would also make useful coffee/beverage station or bar if you have a wall for it.

Looks like you have the exact dining chairs I've been trying to sell on Craig's List for months. $10 each is about what people want to pay. The "hutch" is a real breakfront and might be more desirable because of that. Looks like the buffet makes a nice bar. It probably isn't real cherry so painting won't be a sacrilege.

I often use old hutches in closets for accessories if you have the space.

“Home” is made by curating and collecting items that make you happy and comfortable, not keeping a bunch of inherited items that aren’t your taste. You can still love your grandma and let go of this piece so someone else who loves it can enjoy it!

I have an old hutch/pie safe that belonged to DH’s great-grandmother and is more than 100 years old. Its extreme age helped me decide to hang on to it - if it were only 50, I might not. That, and the fact that my son’s wife says she’d like to have it one day.

I’m using it as a bookcase.

They are very pretty, I have to say that the thrift and vintage stores around here are full of old hutches that they are practically giving away. Have you thought of repurposing the buffet in to a coffee bar in you new kitchen? It could be painted to match or contrast. If you are doing stone tops in your new kitchen you could have a pice cut fit the top. Remove the wood top and replace with the stone.

If it doesn’t work in your home and it doesn’t bring you joy, I say find a new home for it. I have a few pieces from my grandmother and one from my husband’s great grandmother, but they work for us. The pieces that didn’t work we sold when they passed. You should not feel obligated to keep stuff.

I love the repurposing ideas--coffee bar or closet hutch.
My friend debated painting a hutch that was passed down from her husband's family. She finally sent it out to be painted the color of her cabinets, and she's really happy.

I put a hutch in my kitchen rather than using new cabinets.

In my current house the china closet fit in the dining room, but the buffet didn't. I like 4 ft clearance behind chairs. I put the buffet in the living room. It worked out great. By the way any buffet used in any other room beside the dining is called a sideboard. China closets painted look cute in kids rooms. They can display their trophies, dolls, etc in them.

All great ideas. I think the buffet will be much easier to use.

I saw this article that shows a china cabinet close to what mine looks like at the top. Id love to paint it a color but am not fond of how that top looks painted. See picture in article.

https://thriftdiving.com/thrifted-china-cabinet-makeover/

I am wondering if I could change the hutch up and take that top piece off?

I know I could find space for the buffet easily.

As for the hutch would it look good painted though and would I change the handles? This is not something I have any knowledge of. I really like hutches that look like this (not built in):

ETA that I really am not sure what I can do with the hutch and would want to change so much of it that it may not be worth keeping.

Some the tops come off and some don't.

Personally I would get rid of the buffet and keep the hutch. Your inspiration picture shows hutches of a very different style than yours. Could you use the hutch in your living room flanked by two chairs? Use the shelves for books and the drawers for whatever. Please do not make anything into a " bar".....unless it is a cookie bar :)

Hi, NewEnglandGal

You've received some good ideas thus far. I've had to deal with this as well. A few more ideas for you to consider: the glass part or the "hutch" part of the china cabinet can be removed and the lower part could be used for a media console or as a breakfront in your new dining area. The smaller buffet piece could be used as an entry table or in a curated vignette maybe in an unused wall in your living/dining space? Could you use it in a spare bedroom?

Thank you zsmith! I have a huge long wall right near my kitchen (open floor plan), wall left of door opening in pic below.

I could put the hutch there but the buffet would look lost on that wall.

I could fit the buffet on another wall and could use it for storage but again, would most likely need to have it redone, either different stain or painted.

I will have to see if the top can come off. If not I may end up giving it to Habitat For Humanity to sell. These are not antiques because they are probably only 60 years old.

Lots of great ideas from everyone. I will not keep them if I cannot find a reasonable way to use them.

Without a doubt, I'd keep both.

Hutch-.

-Closet- Display shoes and purses in a big walk-in closet.

-office- display trophies & awards and handmade treasures by kiddos.

-kids bedroom-. storage of stuffed animals and treasures

Buffet-- entry way table, end of a hallway, office storage (paper & family albums) , Tv cabinet for video game play

I live by William Morris' quote: "If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

Your pieces are lovely, no question, but that doesn't mean they are right for you. Keeping things because you have a sense that you "should," regardless of whether that comes from guilt, love, memories, or any other reason is really, truly not a reason to keep them.

My mother is on Hospice (my father died in 2012), and when she goes probably almost everything in the very large family home will be sold to antique dealers (if it has value these days) and in a massive garage sale. There are five children and I know four of us want very little. My other sister, who might take more, can't because she lives in low-income housing and has only a small studio. I wouldn't take any of it because I have what I love acquired over the years--and I want no more.

To me, it's better that it be sold to someone outside the family IF that someone will love it and make it theirs than for it to stick around, unloved and possibly resented, just to keep it in the family because those kinds of feeling, which will grow with each year it takes up room, will eventually lead to just getting rid of it any way, any place.

Where did the idea that all wood in an area has to be the same? I suggest you search a few issues of Archetectural Digest for ideas.....don't paint a piece that obviously was orignally stained and anyone with a brain can see that it's solid mahogany under that paint>
If you hate it, get rid of it....but first look at pictures of very high end, well decorated rooms....and skip the West Elm Pottery barn stuff.

Sorry but I don't think those pieces will work in your home. I understand your desire to find a place for them but maybe just let them go. Maybe a consignment shop would take them. In SoCal the demand would be very low.

Why all the energy expended on attempting to use furniture which you probably don't even like and which doesn't fit your needs anymore.

Per my original post - release it into the universe and replace it with items that are more to your taste and are more functional for your current living situation.

Donate it to any number of thrift organizations and your conscience will be clear in terms. Someone who needs furniture will find a place for it and you will be free to fill your home with items that you love and function well.

I would suggest using black chalk paint and polishing up the handles