Decorating and Design - blending formal china cabinet

I am moving into a house with only an eat in kitchen area. Our overall style is kinda casual but I have a rather formal antique duncan phyffe style china cabinet. This was my mother's and I don't want to part with it. It is a valuable antique so I cannot paint it nor would I want to. How do I dress this piece down to work in a "country" kitchen? It is dark wood. The kitchen colors are blue and yellow. Would the objects I put in it work? (Ideas, please) I also need new chairs. The table is dunan phyffe style too so I thought maybe if I keep a tablecloth on and have different style and color chairs that might help. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi,

I will be glad to help, but I need more information. Can you attach / or send me a photograph of your furniture?

Regards

Thanks, Patricia. I have a picture, and a scanner. Putting the two together, however would be a trick as I am not very computer savvy. I'll have to ask someone to help me. Please check back to see if I figured it out. Thanks!
Annette

Hi Annette,

OK, I'll be waiting

I saw an idea in a decorating book recently that might work for you. For the inside of a china cabinet that you do not want to paint, use cardboard pieces, cut to size, covered in wallpaper as back-drops for the cabinets contents. You could use any thing you want as a covering: wallpaper, fabric, contact paper, even paint! I'm thinking too that some doilies draped inside would "country-up" a formal china cabinet. The kinds of dishes or things you display will also carry out your theme :)

Hope this helps.

Elizabeth

Annette:

I received your photograph and I agree with you: you can't paint the cabinet, it is beautiful!!!.

You can "marry" this cabinet with a casual style. IMO, the key will be in the chairs: use dark wood chairs, but with strips or chessboard style in blue and yellow. The tablecloth can repeat the colors as well a rug (if you are considering one). Lamps can follow the blue, with golden details. The curtains will follow the chairs' fabric, in a casual country style. Walls can be painted in a pale yellow.

As a rule, casual accents in formal furniture must be carefully studied, but usually they work fine. Of course, in your situation, it will depend of the kitchen and of the general space (room, light, etc.). Perhaps you can consider 3D visualization.

Hope this helps,

Thanks, Patricia and edtree! I love both your ideas and will probably use pieces of both. I appreciate your help.
Annette (maniacmanor):)