Trouble decorating- farmhouse look

I am trying for the farmhouse look. I am trying new decor on the credenza but I am still not satisfied. Any suggestions?
Trying to redecorate on my credenza. I have looked at thousands of ideas on here abs pinterest. This is what i have ended up with but I'm still not sure I'm satisfied. Any suggestions
  25 answers
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jan 28, 2016
    I think you have too much on it. The eye doesn't have a focal point. Maybe try a bigger item on the side and scale down to smaller items
  • Trudy Trudy on Jan 28, 2016
    I agree with Cheryl, there is too much and nothing is cohesive. One tall thing and the rest should be lower to showcase that beautiful old window backdrop, or raise the window.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 28, 2016
    In my opinion sometimes less is better.I think you should take away most of the smaller items. To me the window is the focal point.
  • Joanie Joanie on Jan 28, 2016
    Remove the sign in the middle and the clock! I agree with Trudy and Cheryl, sometimes less is more. Especially when you have something as pretty to showcase as that window!
  • WildflowerLoft on Etsy WildflowerLoft on Etsy on Jan 28, 2016
    Paint the piece of furniture white and distress it. Watch fixer upper on hgtv ... youre almost there. I agree with all the above, less is more
  • Brenda L Herrling Brenda L Herrling on Jan 28, 2016
    I agree there is not a focal point. I think you should paint the furniture as well. Perhaps off white, antique white along with the window panes. Because your stained glass is blue and yellow- I would focus on the blue to make it pop and the yellow like the lantern.
  • Barb Barb on Jan 28, 2016
    Paint the dresser white and cut down on items on top of it
  • Barb Barb on Jan 28, 2016
    Also, the mirror seems a bit too large for the dresser
  • Barb Barb on Jan 28, 2016
    Try changing out the burlap panels for wire hardware cloth
  • Rhonda Luttrell Rhonda Luttrell on Jan 28, 2016
    Thanks so much ladies for the help. The mirror is actually a stain glassed window from my parents church so I really wanted to try and keep it there but I'm not real sure then how to make it the focal. Do I just remove the bigger items and keep the smaller pieces on the ends only and then add some very low accent pieces to the center. Also I have always wanted to paint this credenza but does anyone ever worry about the white washed look going out and then all your furniture is painted? Thanks so much again for the advise. I love the help
    • Trudy Trudy on Jan 30, 2016
      @Rhonda Luttrell I am positive the white washed, chippy look will go out of style...everything does. But do what YOU like! If you want a change keep the wood but replace the fabric part as someone else suggested. Maybe having something in cobalt blue glass would connect the arrangement to that beautiful window.
  • LD LD on Jan 28, 2016
    There's this wonderful saying "Less is More", for when you put to much it becomes cluttered looking and therefore takes away from beauty/uniqueness of the items. So take everything off of the credenza, and look at this piece of furniture as to the function it serves and then add a few pieces that improve the function of the piece as well as adding color, and texture.
  • NKU284875 NKU284875 on Jan 28, 2016
    I think white chalk paint is the answer, otherwise, I love it.
  • Kristin O'Neal Kristin O'Neal on Jan 28, 2016
    Noticed you're from Knox-Vegas! Vol Nation Baby! :-) my baby brother is going to school at UT now! He says he loves it there! But to answer your dilemma.... I was going to suggest... It's just paint! No need to fear it! :-) You can always repaint when the look goes out of style or strip the paint off, sand it down and stain it if you begin to miss the look of the raw wood. Someone on Hometalk suggested to me once to paint the body and leave the top the beautiful raw wood (we were discussing what to do with a dresser of mine) and this way you have "the best of both worlds" as she put it. :-) As for the stained glass window...its absolutely beautiful and should without a doubt be your focal point! And I also agree that less is more...but this is about you, and what best fits you! So my advice is to just play around with placement of all your things (take pictures while you do this so you can choose which you like best)...also look on pinterest for different tips on decorating shelves, dressers, vignettes... Etc. Pay attention to the ones that have a large focal point (like a very large stained glass window) and go from there!! Haha I really hope this helps! I wish you luck my fellow rocky topper!! (Ok that was kinda lame! Lol) please keep us updated on what you decide to do! I can't wait to see! :-) have a great day!
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Jan 28, 2016
    Hi Rhonda Please don't paint that beautiful wood! At the most, see if you can replace the burlap door inserts and possibly the drawer pulls. To break up the area, I would add a rug or runner in front of the piece. That will add color as well as a definition between your furniture and wood flooring. Maybe skip the runner on top of the order, it seems too feminine to me. Echoing some other posts, remove the items on top...too many things the same height. Try a short stack of vintage books and place the candlesticks on top to add height and interest. Do you have another container for that topiary? Something like a weathered metal bowl? In my opinion your decorations are more French than country. They compete with that gorgeous window. Let the window be the focal point. Cheers!
  • Kate Taylor Kate Taylor on Jan 28, 2016
    Hi there! Well, the credenza is what is throwing off the look - wrong color and that's a French motif not even Country French - I would definitely say you have to edit the top (not to mention its going to be a pain to keep dusted!) ... Always remember the designer rule of "odd" numbers of pieces - either 3 or 5 - and go for asymmetry. Too much stuff so you're not able to appreciate the beauty of any one piece. Most importantly, as I started above, I would suggest painting the credenza weathered white for a true farmhouse look that will also coordinate with the stained glass piece. Chicken wire inserts would allow you to put some of those top pieces inside and still view them, chalkboard paint in black would add that hint of black all vignettes need to ground them; or, you can hit flea markets, etc to try and find matching or complementary stained glass inserts to pop the white. Don't forget to change out the drawer handles! Let us know how you do! kT ~xXxoâ„¢
    • Pjakin61 Pjakin61 on Jan 28, 2016
      @Kate Taylor I agree, the decor items are nice and the credenza is nice, just not together....paint the credenza or replace it with another cabinet
  • Lalybelle Lalybelle on Jan 28, 2016
    I LOVE the wood! I agree the inserts could be lighter, though, I kinda like the different drummer you are following. I think maybe, start with the top. Everything is too close to the same size, and too uniformly positioned. Squint your eyes and see what pops- start there. I would also remove the dresser scarf and layer vintage fabrics for a little whimsy on your formal piece. All of these changes are EASiLY reversible!!
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Jan 28, 2016
    No offense to anyone who is mentioning white chalk paint...but old farmhouses didn't usually have beautiful furniture chalk painted, they had old furniture with a patina from being loved and used for years. Chalk paint is all the rage but in the long run, in my opinion, painting this is not what help she needs here. Again, my opinion. Remember when we all thought avocado appliances were to die for? Lol. Best wishes and Rhonda...post some more photos as you go along!
  • Rg Rg on Jan 28, 2016
    Remove middle drawers, (save for another project, ie. underbed storage), cut a piece of wood to fit middle, stain to match the rest of the wood. Buy two large wicker baskets (or wire baskets) to fit spaces. Remove about 1/2 the collection on top of the credenza, add a tall lamp on one corner, group remaining collection into one cohesive arrangement in the middle of the credenza.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Jan 28, 2016
    Hi Rhonda- I saw this question when it was first posted and I was curious to see what other folks would say. I, too, think that you have too much stuff on the top-best to take everything off and start over. You need a couple of taller pieces, like the candlesticks, on one side, and then something to balance them on the other side. The ruffled runner confuses the look as well. The vintage window is gorgeous, and the gold glass picks up the golden color of the wood. I think the trick is re-imagining the credenza without painting it. The patina and grain are beautiful! (For the record, I love painted furniture, but in this case I vote to leave it alone and let it shine). I would remove those stenciled panels on the front- those are French-inspired- and perhaps change out the hardware for darker and more rustic, rather then refined appearance.
  • Pat Pat on Jan 28, 2016
    Yes, less on top of your cabinet. I would put the clock on one side and the two candlesticks on the other. I believe the rule of 3 or 5 looks best. You could paint the frame of the blackboard saying about God's Love...Maybe a gold color like your beautiful window and use it instead of the clock. Something low in the center would be okay...a bowl, a book, a small plant...etc. might work.
  • Marie Alesi Caruana Marie Alesi Caruana on Jan 28, 2016
    I would leave the wood alone but cover the door panels with a white fabric or white veneer, then spray-paint the hardware black. No scarf on top and fewer pieces. Candlesticks are gorgeous on one side, oil lamp on the other side. Or, as Pat May suggests, clock on one side, candlesticks on the other.
  • You might cut back on the accessories (less is more), and use fewer colors. (Whites are always safe.) But you could play with color on the buffet itself:
  • CK CK on Jan 29, 2016
    My first thought was some of your items look a bit too large for the credenza. They're all wonderful pieces in and of themselves, but I think you have too many on there right now. Here's what I'd do if you were my client. I'd ask "Which of these things are your favorite right now? OK...I'll work with those. Then you can change them out when you want a new look." :-) Here's an example: I'd take everything away, set it all on the floor. Then I'd start with the two candlesticks and get some pillar candles maybe blue or white or gold (all colors found in the window on the wall). Place them in line with where the right side door meets the drawers. (slightly to the right of where the lantern currently sits). Then on the other side keep the vase with the greenery but move it over that 'line' above where the door meets the drawers. Find a shallow bowl with colors that coordinate with the colors in the window and you're set. :-) You have pretty things to work with....just too many right now. Also you've used a lot of square/rectangular items that are sorta fighting with the shapes of the window. Using rounded shapes (like your candlesticks) will soften the look.
  • Colleen Colleen on Jan 29, 2016
    I think everything you have is lovely and fits the look you are going for overall, but it could be the abundance and variety of objects and color which is keeping you dissatisfied. Here are my thoughts: the cabinet would be lovely chalk painted a creamy white, leaving the top and doors as they are....wood (though you might think about switching out the hardware to something less refined and more rustic). I think that would tie it together really nicely with the amazing stained glass mirror, being that it's frame is a creamy white. This would draw more attention to the mirror as well. I think the balance of proportions is off slightly with the mirror and cabinet being about the same width, which is emphasized by the number of objects spanning the top (recognizing of course that I can't see what you have on either side right now :) Fix that by flanking either side with matching tall floor vases filled with some rustic branches.This will also add texture and interest without competing for the attention of that mirror, which is obviously something you would like to keep as the focal point. Then, move some of the things off the top....my vote would be to remove all but the candlesticks/wreath(liking the way you have the wreath leaning up against the candlesticks!), and clock....but move those just a tad bit closer to the center from where they are. Whatever you decide to do, please please post pictures of the 'after' as it's always so fun to see what people come up with, after reaching out for input :):)
  • Deborah Conard Deborah Conard on Jan 30, 2016
    I'd drop everything but the white pieces.