A dealer told me that many...
A dealer told me that many of the Danish import credenzas you see in the U.S. that have glass display cabinets on top were actually cobbled together by the retailer for the buyer, by adding an upper cabinet with sliding glass doors made by a different manufacturer (I think he cited Lovig as a maker of these glass sliding door upper cabinets). So, while I have seen a lot of Danish credenzas with china display cabinets on top, I don't know which ones were originally intended to be like that.
tchp - a dealer also told me ...
tchp - a dealer also told me that the Danish sideboards were typically sold separately from the tops, though I hadn't realized they weren't even made by the same manufacturer. But even though the top parts might have been afterthoughts, they still look right on the sideboard, and would be a good way for someone who is looking for a modern style china cabinet, since that is how they were sold in the US market.
However, the same dealer also told me that when they get in teak sideboards with the display top, they will separate them and just the sell the sideboard alone and then put legs on the top part and sell it as a bookcase or display case. He told me the sideboards fly out the door, but nobody wants them if they have the top part.
The 'useless shrine' thing...
The 'useless shrine' thing kind of hits home. Personally, to try to minimize both the shriney and arguably useless effect of decorative stuff, I tend to display items I'm fond of on built-ins, free-standing wall shelves, or on other furniture/accent pieces (occasional tables, tops of credenzas, fireplace mantles, stereo speakers, etc) throughout the house.
As for china or arguably more useful items, I don't 'display' them. Interestingly or not, one of my favorite china cabinets, a JK design for Brown Saltman, is fitted with a mistlite type of glass that items cannot be very easily seen through.
One also sees often these days open-designed kitchen cabinetry, which would sadly never work for us, although I tend to really like that look for those rare people I have a feeling it works for.
"But, do you actually USE...
"But, do you actually USE the china contained within the cabinet? If not, maybe that's why you find the concept vaguely embarrassing. The reason why china cabinets have gotten a bad rap is because people tend to use them as uselss shrines, I think."
I don't use the dishes. Or not regularly at all.
I see your point, however it's a slight miss to say I am embarrassed. Rather, I am just not overly in love with the concept.
There are a few reasons for me to display these. My grandmother has horrid taste, but is a very prominent figure for me. It's purely sentimental, which many modernists seem averse to, but for myself I believe in sentiment in interior design. After all we design for people, right? People are sentimental in general.
The other reason, is simply a lack of another place to put it. My cupboards are already full of my daily dishes ? my Russel Wright ? which I actually prefer.
I like built ins. I am considering just doing two handing cabinets bought from the same manufacturer as my kitchen cabs. The bottom 15 inches deep with the same white counter top material, and the top just 12 inches deep with glass doors instead of wood on these.
But my hesitation is it's close proximity to a door way. Afraid that permanently dividing up the wall plane to close to the door would be too busy. A pice of funriture, while it does the same thing in a way, seems more temporary and thus less involved with the actual architecture.
The other idea was some rough hewn type wood made into floating shelves on the wall.But I'd need to store the stuff in the cabinet elsewhere, which would be a con .... it holds paper towels, odds and ends, and our sodas...
ps, Fiesta is great,...
ps, Fiesta is great, even/and in spite of its popularity. I bet there has been a discussion on china here at DA before, but what again do you all use?
We use Stonehenge Midwinter, in Sun & Earth patterns for everday (I think this is Wedgewood) and for more formal occasions, Red Wing, Pompeii.
Don't mean to derail the thread ...
Oops, posted again before I...
Oops, posted again before I read your response, whitespike. I hope I didn't imply embarrassment with regard to your (or my) display items.
I was speaking personally.
But here's why I think I don't like china cabinets in general. They tend to say louder than almost any other platform -- even when they are not trying -- look at me.
I think it's the large opaque...
I think it's the large opaque bottom/small transparent top that I don't like. That form just seems odd. I tend to like something more uniform... like bookcases.
I almost like the idea of rough wooden post type wall shelves, but as somebody mentioned earlier, it's the required dusting because of the lack of cover that's irritating. Especially when you are talking china.
I think glass doors are essential to whatever scheme you come up with
Which seems to rule out floating shelves. Believe me, if I don't thoroughly wash my entire service for twelve every month or so, the items on the lower shelves are covered in a thick layer of visible dust, cat hair, and airborne kitchen grease. Blech... not pretty.
I love floor to ceiling built ins, but there's no denying it'll semi-permanently alter the space.
How about some sort of commercial display case? A five-sided cabinet with adjustable shelves and sliding glass doors? (It could even be a case that rests on four legs, to make it seem less heavy?)
Just speaking personally...
Just speaking personally here -- I don't like china cabinets at all. I love dishware, but to my mind, it's just not meant for display in a case. I appreciate their beauty as part of a well set table. I love flatware, too, for that matter -- but I just wouldn't put it on display.
.
The sideboard you have now does have a 50's vibe. I understand why you
have it. It was necessary at the time. Always good to live with something
for a while knowing that someday it will need to go. I also thought at first,
contacting the kitchen cabinet supplier might be a good idea, but that just
extends the kitchen into a surround and may be a bit much.
Just from experience, my kitchen has one wall that is a built-in wall of
cabinets. Four big.sliding doors. You seem to have the room for 15inch deep.
I would think adding storage instead of taking away would be a good
choice. One is used as a pantry. Coffee grinder and mini mini microwave at
counter height shelf.
Next one over is less used dishes and
platters, my mother-in-law gave me her Eva Zeisel. It is still somewhat
displayed when that door is open. It seems one door is always open.
Third one has a small kitchen office with a pull out desk. Bar and wine rack
above. And the fourth is for broom, mop, cleaning stuff and the vac hose.
You could have something built custom and get a chance to design it yourself.
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