There are a few pieces of furniture in our home
which have extreme sentimental value to us.
One of them being our antique English hutch.
It was inherited from The Hubb’s grandmother,
and has traveled all over the world with us.
I was always petrified, whenever we moved, that
the original glass would get broken. So we always paid extra money to the movers so they could construct its own for a crate.
I wish you could smell the inside. It’s has a wonderful, slightly musty but old wood smell.
I can’t explain it, but every time I open the doors
I get a whiff and I love the smell.
When my Living Room went through its various color changes over the past year…
aka “The Season of Indecision”
Cherry Red
Laura Ashley Navy
and now Summer Cottage Blue…
I wanted the hutch to get a fresh pick-me-up, too.
Here is the hutch as it appeared for several years with some of my collection of blue and white
Staffordshire, along with some crystal and silver pieces too.
You can see how this hutch has its shares of boo-boos. Chips in the veneer. One day I will get it to the Furniture Doctor for a much-needed facelift.
I emptied it all out of the blue and white, and filled it with an assortment of white dishes and accent pieces of crystal and old books.
I love the lighter look.
Above, you can see the new Summer Cottage Blue color, which I absolutely adore.
I love layering pieces in a hutch to create peaks and valleys. Books and plate stands work great for that.
Some old, some new, some borrowed, some….wait.
Some white. Yes, white. All white.
I am thinking about adding some fabric to the back of the hutch. I think some blue and white French ticking.
I also added some crystal pieces for a little sparkle.
We Southern gals just love our sparkle. This is my grandmother’s vinegar cruet.
My fave mini salt and pepper cellar, and Victorian eye cups.
One of my many gravy boats. I love the versatility of gravy boats. But, I love gravy too so that would make perfect sense. 🙂
Hopefully soon I can reveal the new Living Room.
Until then, thanks for letting me share my English Hutch.
I will be sharing this Before and After Hutch display on:
Met Monday, Between Naps on the Porch
Boogieboard Cottage, Masterpiece Monday
A Stroll Thru Life, Tabletop Tuesday
Wow Me Wednesday, Savvy Southern Style
Don’t forget about the Pier1 Pillow Giveaway.
If you have not already registered to win, you still have time.
And tickets! Tickets! Tickets! Get Your Tickets!
The Southern Bloggers Conference 2012 is now on sale. Visit the SBC2012 website for more info.
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality, Kari @ Thistlewood Farm, Heather @ At the Picket Fence,
Kristen @ Sophia’s Decor and Myself with be presenters! What a fun day we have in store for everyone. Did you miss Haven? Then here is your chance to get a small taste of a 1-day conference.
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Barb, it is such a stunning piece and I love the beautiful wood detail on it. Your vignettes inside are all stunning, but I really do love the all white. So beautiful. Hugs, Marty
View Commentℳartina @ Northern Nesting says
Such a beautiful piece Barb and I love all the pretty displays! A fabric backing would look beautiful!
View CommentKim @ Savvy Southern Style says
That is a gorgeous piece you inherited. Love it filled with all white since I am on an all white kick too right now.
View CommentGretchen says
What a beautiful piece of furniture your hutch is. You just can’t find pieces like that often anymore and I love it fill with all the white for Summer.
View CommentAnn from On Sutton Place says
I loved the blue and white but I adore the all white. What a lovely change! When you emptied out the blue dishes what did you do with them? I would love to do the same thing with my corner cabinets but I have NO IDEA what I would do with everything that’s in them right now!
View CommentNanaDiana says
Love how fresh and clean it looks with the all white- although I liked the blue and white, too. It’s funny but before I got down to the part you wrote I thought…that piece would look great with a fabric in the back. Great minds, huh?;>) xo Diana
View CommentRhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Beautiful hutch, Barb!! And I loved that new wall color, so nice and fresh. I really like your new blog design too, great job.
Thank you for the warm invitation for the Southern Bloggers’ conference, looking forward to being there with ya’ll!!
View CommentCindy says
Love the beautiful hutch and all of your displays! I actually like the Navy blue…. Would love to see more of the Summer Cottage Blue in the room. Pictures? Or did I already miss that post?
View CommentShirley@Housepitality Designs says
Truly love the iighter look!…Amazing heirloom…such a treasure to be able to pass down…beautiful.
View CommentPat says
What a beautiful hutch, and so nice it came from family. In these days of painting every wood piece, it is so nice to see your hutch. You decorate it so nicely, I especially like the blue and white.
View CommentAtta Girl Amy says
While I love the look of the restyled hutch, I think I liked best your description of the piece, its smell and the care you and your husband have taken to safeguard it through the years and through many moves. I hope that whoever you pass this piece along to cherishes it as much as you have. And while I love painting and redoing furniture, I think all those blemishes are part of this hutch’s story. You may not want to “fix” those.
— Atta Girl Amy
View Commenthttp://www.attagirlsays.com
Honey at 2805 says
Your hutch is a beautiful heirloom, and the white dishes and vigettes are lovely!
View CommentDebra says
That is one beautiful hutch…quite the heirloom and I love the displays!
View CommentNellie's Cozy place says
Hi Barbara,
View CommentLove the new look of your hutch, that
white just shows up so beautifully in there, and really looks so pretty
and summery too.
Very lovely piece of furniture your hutch. No wonder you treasure it so,
nice to have things that are from the family. Enjoyed your post.
Blessings, Nellie
FABBY'S LIVING says
Oh yes, some pieces we have and love, specially heirlooms like your gorgeous hutch. I love it before and I love it now with all the white, pretty pieces you’ve displayed in it. We have a beautiful piece too from hubb’s grandafather and we specially love it so…but than we have a couple more from his mom’s that we also love. Thanks for sharing Barb. Enjoy your weekend.
View CommentFABBY