China cabinet update- I need Ideas

I need Ideas on easy ways to bring this beautiful china cabinet up to date! It’s a focal point in our new home, but I don’t know what to do for a boarder or if I should paint/stain it.
  8 answers
  • Bijous Bijous on Jun 03, 2018

    Stain it to tone down the red and paint the wall around it a darker shade of the existing wall color. And congrats on your new home!

  • Joyce Joyce on Jun 03, 2018

    I love painting with chalk paint and always love the results.


  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Jun 03, 2018

    Your China cabinet is too dark for such light color walls. Your table is another color, but it blends in with the walls. I would buy a kit for antiques, in light gray, this will blend with the table and walls.

  • Jcraw Jcraw on Jun 03, 2018

    I would take the easy route to start.

    Paint the niche it’s sitting in white, including ceiling.

    Declutter, or at least rearrange the items in the cabinet so they are a balanced display, like you see in fine shops. At present it just looks like you put stuff away.

    Use a little extra fine steel wool to brighten the pulls. Not shiny, just a tiny bit brighter.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Jun 03, 2018

    Well you may get 2 versions cause I have no idea what happened to what I typed. Remove glass doors. Paint white like trim. It has what appears to be a cherry finish, so either you can update table to match that finish you you stain to match your table that in photo appears grey ash color. I would remove the doors and leave it open but honestly to make it look built which it appears to be I would paint not stain. Then change hardware as well you don't want old hardware with modern cabinet. It's not in anyway shape or form ugly to me,I love old fashioned built in but to bring it up to date then you have to be drastic and commit to change. It's a shame because it speaks to a time when craftsmanship mattered. It's a focal point for a reason because it's beautiful. I would prefer to stain table to match it and leave it alone. But I respect your question and was just making it clear that it's not that I don't like it it's that to update it you have to be drastic and willing to see the project through even including hardware, but save it all just in case you sell home. Next buyer might actually want to scrap off paint and bring it back to this state. I would and I would be thrilled if you had original doors and hardware. See, everyone is different. That's the beauty of this world.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Jun 03, 2018

    Before you do anything to this piece of heirloom furniture, you should collect as many photos of similar pieces in as many styles/treatments as you can. Ones that are stained, painted, whitewashed, etc. until you see a finish that makes you happy and that will work with your decor.


    After you make a decision, go to the paint department of your home improvement store and ask for their advice on paint/stain and application tools.


    You don't want to make a mistake with this one!

  • Bdd33309273 Bdd33309273 on Jun 03, 2018

    First off Love the color of your walls .

    Chalk paint would work great in your project . Just clean cabinet surface , take all hardware off . Paint it white and new hardware .. paint your dining set too . It will look fresh and updated ..

  • Heje Heje on Jun 11, 2018

    A beautiful piece of furniture that will look even better if the color was changed whether with paint or stain. The hardware could be changed for an updated look.