Formal Dining Room Furniture - Question

[mickeysgal]

Not an earth shattering question, but just want some opinions...

We are looking to replace our, in my opinion, dated dining room furniture.
Are full sized china cabinets in or out, in your opinion? I think they're large and cumbersome. I have one now and don't want to replace it. I want just a longish buffet server and the table/chairs. Furniture stores show rooms both ways.

 

[Southernmiss]

Not an earth shattering question, but just want some opinions...

We are looking to replace our, in my opinion, dated dining room furniture.
Are full sized china cabinets in or out, in your opinion? I think they're large and cumbersome. I have one now and don't want to replace it. I want just a longish buffet server and the table/chairs. Furniture stores show rooms both ways.

I have a full china cabinet and if I were to do it over, I would not have a full china cabinet. I would do as you suggest--longish buffet server.

 

[MIGrandma]

I would love to have a full size china cabinet.

I have my own set of good china, plus crystal goblets, etc. and I have a set of gorgeous hand-painted china that belonged to my grandmother. I would love to be able to display them, in a cabinet behind glass.

But if you already have one, and would rather go with the buffet server instead could you sell me your china cabinet?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not an earth shattering question, but just want some opinions...

We are looking to replace our, in my opinion, dated dining room furniture.
Are full sized china cabinets in or out, in your opinion? I think they're large and cumbersome. I have one now and don't want to replace it. I want just a longish buffet server and the table/chairs. Furniture stores show rooms both ways.

Let's see....I am storing my mom's giant china cabinet in my dining room. My parents have the matching buffet and table/chairs in their apartment.

The problem is that when you downsize, now you have overpaid for a big piece of furniture.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Many furniture manufacturers have turned to downsized dining rooms sets in recent years. By the 1990's many home builders were forgoeing the formal dining rooms in their room plans and were replacing them with family rooms or open floor space plans.

That along with the baby boom generation downsizing to apartments, condos or townhomes have resulted in fewer formal dining room sets with the traditional large china cabinets.

I think to each his own. If you have the space but want the look of the buffet rather than the large cabinet, then by all means go for it. There is no "right" or "wrong" but merely whatever you look you are striving for. Good luck!

 

[Pipkin]

I would love to have a full size china cabinet.

I have my own set of good china, plus crystal goblets, etc. and I have a set of gorgeous hand-painted china that belonged to my grandmother. I would love to be able to display them, in a cabinet behind glass.

But if you already have one, and would rather go with the buffet server instead could you sell me your china cabinet?

I agree. I have heirloom china that I do display. I would hate to put it out of sight.

 

[minniecarousel]

I only need to display a few pieces of my grandmother's china. When we get rid of the old oak china cabinet, we will either buy someting used (antique?) or get a buffet with lots of storage. We have swapped our living and dining rooms, so we have a very large dining room. The living room is a cute little sitting room, just off the front door.

 

[Poohforyou]

We have a china cabinet that dh bought before I knew him. Personally I think it's a waste & would much rather have a buffet or nothing at all.

 

[mickeysgal]

I have a full china cabinet and if I were to do it over, I would not have a full china cabinet. I would do as you suggest--longish buffet server.

The buffet/server that we're looking at has two glass doors on both ends with shelving - perfect for some display of stacked china. It has a center bank of drawers.

It's just hard to break with tradition and going china cabinet-less. It's not the biggest room to begin with and I think getting that big piece of furniture out of there will visually increase the size of the room.

Part of me likes the idea of homes without dining rooms and part of me likes a formal room for special occasions.

 

[TheElectricMayhem]

I have been shopping lately for furniture and noticed there wasn't a single china cabinet on display in any of the stores I visited.

Personally I love my china cabinet, I have my grandma's china on display along with a lifetime's worth of collectables, curios and my mother's crystal. But if I had a bigger home with more storage so that I didn't have so much stuffed in the china cabinet, I'd be just as happy with a buffet. Either way, enjoy the hunt.

 

[Gigi22]

I have a two piece china cabinet--the bottom is a cabinet, the top is a hutch with glass doors. I can empty out the top, remove it, and create a new look without buying new pieces.

 

[akcire]

I have another option for you.

Corner cabinets. I have two corner cabinets that are split with the bottoms being approximately 35% of the height, they have a solid door. The top portion is approximately 65% of the height and is a clear glass. This allows lots of storage, including display--but is completely out of the way.

In addition I have a buffet or side board, that is the long low piece of furniture you were seeking.

Of course since our dining room has become part office/part play room, it has lost a little of its cachet.

 

[RachaelA]

I wouldn't necessarily say they are "out" but more that they aren't as common. I'm 26 years old and we bought a china cabinet (and matching table and chairs) 2 years ago. The furniture store I went to had 3-4 options and then you could order other stuff from a catalog. I got an entire set of china at my bridal shower (that I have never used) that I wanted to display.

 

[tvguy]

Wow, learn something everyday. Didn't know dining room furniture could be dated. Always think of that as something you buy and keep for the rest of your life. I sure wouldn't have spent what I spent 30 years ago on that furniture if I thought it wasn't a lifetime investment. Same with the china we use twice a year!

 

[mickeysgal]

Wow, learn something everyday. Didn't know dining room furniture could be dated. Always think of that as something you buy and keep for the rest of your life. I sure wouldn't have spent what I spent 30 years ago on that furniture if I thought it wasn't a lifetime investment. Same with the china we use twice a year!

All furniture and kitchen cabinetry can become dated. Swirly-grained oak cabinetry in kitchens used to be the thing to install in the 80's. Now - not so much. Same thing happens with furniture. To some, it doesn't matter if it's dated.

 

[scubamouse]

We got our china Cabinet 20 years ago. It's great for display and storage but I wouldn't re-buy it. I'd go for a sideboard/buffet. It works in our dining room because the room is pretty formal but functional. We eat in there all the time because while our kitchen is pretty big, it isn't eat in, just a big counter.

We also use our china all the time. It's dishwasher safe and I'd have to have all that storage wasted on something we only used a couple of times/year.

 

[ilovemk76]

I think space dictate which is better.

We have a large dining room and enlarge china cabinet. I only display a small amount of china with my other collectibles. Our cabinet has a huge amount of storage in it and the top can be removed to turn it into a buffet. The rest of the china, all the linens for everyday and holidays and the decorations are stored in the cabinet.

 

[sms]

You can always change the look of it. The "new" thing is painting furniture. You can use chalk paint. That way, no sanding etc. involved. If you are on Pinterest you can get some great ideas. Otherwise google "chalk paint" and get some ideas. Just a thought.

 

[mickeysgal]

You can always change the look of it. The "new" thing is painting furniture. You can use chalk paint. That way, no sanding etc. involved. If you are on Pinterest you can get some great ideas. Otherwise google "chalk paint" and get some ideas. Just a thought.

Never heard of chalk paint. Does the grain of the wood still show through? I'm off to research...

 

[kimmar067]

....how about this idea? Get the buffet server, like you wanted, but then also get a two-tiered shelf that you can hang on the wall above the buffet. This way you can still showcase some of your valuables but still have 'counter space', AND, it won't seem too bulky...

...obviously, this is a more primitive design,

....and this one may be too open, but you get the idea...