Have you ever thought of using a china cabinet in a way that it wasn’t originally intended?
Sometimes when you move to a new home, you have to reimagine different ways to display pieces of furniture. Many times they just don’t fit in the new space the same way they did in the previous home. Such was the case with the French Provincial china cabinet that I’ve had for many years. It simply wasn’t going to work in our new dining room, so it’s been re-purposed! The china cabinet is now a linen cabinet in the master bath!
This sweet French Provincial china cabinet has gone through a couple of makeovers, and served a couple of different purposes, over the last several years.
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you may remember when this china cabinet originally got a makeover, and then later, I changed the doors from glass to chicken wire for more of a French Country look.
When we moved into our current home, the cabinet didn’t fit well in the new dining room. The dining room ceilings are so high, that they dwarfed the china cabinet. I didn’t like the look of it at all, and even considered selling it at one point.
But then I realized that our very large master bathroom had a big wall on one side that was going to need a substantial piece of furniture placed there. It seemed like the china cabinet would be the perfect piece to repurpose as a linen cabinet in our master bath!
Hubby switched the doors from chicken wire back to the original glass (I’m glad I saved it!), and after moving the cabinet into the master bathroom, it seemed like it had belonged there forever. It was a perfect fit!
The glassed in cabinet top is perfect for storing bath towels and wash cloths. Glass jars filled with bath salts, soap, and cotton balls are so pretty behind the glass against the dark blue interior.
I’m still looking for a few more pretty glass jars to display, and I’m sure the cabinet will get tweaked many times before I’m satisfied with it.
After we moved the cabinet into the bathroom, I wanted to give the doors a small custom detail by adding a monogram. I wanted it to look like the glass had been etched, and I found the perfect decal on Etsy.
I ordered the script initial in a frost vinyl that looks exactly like etched glass once it’s applied to the glass doors.
We’ve never had a master bathroom that’s as large as the one we have now, so I’ve never repurposed furniture to use in a bathroom before. Now that I’ve added this piece of furniture to the bathroom, I’m loving the custom one of a kind look!
The bottom of the china cabinet has lots of drawers in the center, and cabinets on each side for an abundance of storage, and it didn’t take long to fill it up. We are loving all of this extra storage in our master bath.
I brought in an antique French children’s chair that I found at my favorite monthly estate sale, and sat it beside the cabinet for Miss RubyLou.
She follows us everywhere we go, including the bathroom! She loves hopping up in the little French chair and waits patiently for us to get ready every morning.
Our master bath is quite large and bright, so it was difficult to photograph. There is so much light that comes in through a glass block window.
The bath is wallpapered in a gray and gold stripe which appears to have been done recently, and I love the colors and pattern so I don’t have any plans to change it. There’s really not a lot of updating that needs to be done, only a few cosmetic changes such as updating fixtures, replacing the 1990’s lights, and adding a pretty chandelier.
I’m looking for a pair of pretty French sconces to hang on each side of the glass block window, and more accessories, but I’m taking my time in finding those so it’s a slow process.
Also on my wish list is a pretty runner for this hallway leading from the master bedroom into the bath.
The “boob light” will get replaced with something pretty, and I’m on the hunt for just the right size Louis XV French bench to go in front of the huge tub.
It seems like we’re going at a snail’s pace, but I don’t want to buy something in a hurry and then not be happy with it. I would rather take my time and find the perfect piece.
I did find a couple of antique French engravings at an estate sale recently, that I added to the wall beside the newly imagined linen cabinet, and highlighted them with a couple of vintage iron pieces in a French theme, so I am adding a few things!
Have you reimagined a piece of furniture, using it in a way that it wasn’t originally intended? I would love to hear about it!
Cheers, Cindy
Cindy, I have been following you for some time now loving all your great ideas. My newest need is a vaisselier for my dining room.Just missed the perfect one last week. Will you put one on your site if you get one ? We don’t get much French furniture in Sprinfield Missouri, but I’ll keep looking. Anyway thanks for all your encouragement and great ideas.
Hi Mollie! Yes, if I find a French Vaisselier, I will be happy to let you know! They are getting a little difficult to find!
Thank you so much
Your cabinet shines in that spot and the painted update is the perfect touch.
I am still laughing at your comment the boob light but must agree!
You are amazing at the progress you both have made…to date.
Have a great week.
I love the idea of a special display cabinet for the bathroom. I’ve been on the lookout for a smaller corner cabinet for our ensuite for a couple of years now. I’m getting impatient but like you I want the perfect one so I’ll keeping waiting! I love the style of yours….perfection!
I loved reading about this transformation! I did the same thing with a pine cabinet in our new bathroom, which is very large but has no linen closet! I also have a child’s chair in the room and am adding artwork to the walls. It’s the first time we’ve had a bathroom large enough to decorate with anything more than towels and as shower curtain! !
I have a curio cabinet in my bathroom. I love your China cabinet in your bathroom. Such a great space and looks so beautiful there!
Thank you, Shirley!
Yes I have re-imagined a 1940’s dining room buffet for storage (and styling) in our former home’s office.
I needed a lot of space for office supplies but wanted them stored in something pretty. When I found the buffet for the incredible price of $60, I was thrilled. That piece came with us to the next house, again used in our office and finally with our last move, I sold it to a young couple just starting out. They loved the sleek lines of the piece as well as its sturdiness. Sort of hated to sell it but truly there was no place in our new home for it. But it lives on with another family so all’s well. 🙂
I love the way you make old things new. This is a beautiful idea for anyone with a large bath or even an empty space.
Not only lovely, but functional.
I liked you better in your blue period. But the gray period is really a change and is almost subdued but not boring. You seem to be very busy, busy, busy with new projects. It’s very exciting to read about.
Great post! China cabinets present a wonderful solution to storage challenges. They offer a unique look and are cheaper than custom cabinetry, plus much better looking than some store bought cabinetry, with a few exceptions.
We needed an entertainment center after moving into our latest house. Bought an Ethan Allen china cabinet for $40, then flanked it with base cabinets and topped those off with book shelves. Holds the t.v., audio equipment, and the bookcases offer display opportunities, etc. Very happy with the outcome and at a fraction of the cost of custom cabinetry. Thank you for the inspiring photos, such a lovely space.
The hutch looks fabulous in the bathroom, like it was painted to match the wallpaper. Such a big bath! I once took a dark cherry gun cabinet and turned it into linen storage in the master bath by adding glass shelves and storing white towels inside. Now a days it’s a curio cabinet in our daughter’s dining room with the inside painted a pretty coral color. It shows off her ceramic vintage shoe collection among other pretty things.
What a great idea!
Great article! The French Provincial china cabinet itself is a fantastic decor.
The addition of this gorgeous cabinet is sheer perfection! Well done!
As always, your ideas are inspirational! I also changed a small mahogany China/secretary cabinet into a jewelry cabinet. I didn’t care for any of the jewelry armoires in stores so I repurposed. I pasted golden French style wallpaper to the inside of the China cabinet, added jewelry hooks for necklaces and velvet ring and bracelet holders. I love mahogany so I left the outside of the cabinet mahogany. A custom jewelry case with drawers at the bottom for scarves, etc.
Susan, your jewelry cabinet sounds beautiful!!
Cindy, can you give me the name of the Etsy site from which you ordered the letters for the doors of the cabinet?
The piece looks great in your bathroom! I love to repurpose pieces. Thanks, Mildred
Hi Mildred! This is the shop that I bought the decals from: https://www.etsy.com/shop/IslandCustomDesigns?ref=shop_sugg
My bathroom is much smaller than yours but I have been looking for a French style corner china cabinet to store towels and such. I love what you did with yours. The monogram is the icing on the cake! Love it!
Thank you so much, Char!
The China cabinet is beautiful in the bathroom! And a big yes for using furniture anywhere it looks good in your house….I’ve got a China cabinet in a hallway full of majolica. And corner China cabinets in my family room with books and French treasures…..and the list goes on. It’s what you love in decor. Don’t want anything to be matched pieces from retail furniture store! Looking forward to you beautifying this home!
Love your ideas, Nancy!
I have a china cabinet in my master also. I love this look! Great Job Cindy.
Thank you so much, Joanie!
The perfect spot! Great job thinking outside the box!
Thank you, Patricia!
I love this idea! It is practical and beautiful, very “Edith & Evelyn”!
Thank you so much, Julie!
Oh, RubyLou! You are so lucky. That chair is perfection. Really like the decals…and what is that charming little gold figurine on the bottom shelf?
It’s a small cherub statue that was the last gift that I gave my mother (for Mother’s Day 1996) right before she passed away. She adored cherubs and angels, as I do. It’s very special to me.
The cabinet looks like it was made for that wall. I love the wallpaper with it. Of course nothing is complete without Ruby.
Thank you so much!
Ruby Lou in that wonderful chair….charming!!!!
She is very spoiled! Thank you so much, Eileen!
LOVE IT ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Deb!
Just a lovely way to repurpose and reimagine a piece of furniture too beautiful to part with. I love to see Ruby Lou! I have owned 5 schnauzers and have been without one for several years. They are incredible pets and are truly a member of the family. I look forward to all of your posts and appreciate the inspiration.
Thank you so much, Sherry!
Recently moved to a manufactured home that is 40+ years old. Storage in the bathroom is very sadly lacking and since this home is not permanent (temporary while building) I did not want to spend money on new bathroom cabinets. After searching Facebook Marketplace for months it dawned on me that the old (massive) entertainment centers meant for the large backlit TV from the late 80’s are extremely inexpensive and have tons of storage. I purchased one for $100, the two side cabinets are now linen and towel storage. BONUS the slide out DVD racks that are top to bottom hold TONS of products! Very happy with the outcome
What a great idea, Robbyn!
So glad you did not sell the china cabinet. It looks fabulous in the master bath and I love the pictures and metal pieces you added beside it. It is lovely and coming together nicely.
Thank you so much, Sandy!
The China cabinet is perfect there! I wish I had more room in my bath for a larger storage piece. There’s never enough storage!
I love Miss RubyLou’s new chair. She’s so sweet
The new home is just lovely to start and with transform beautiful with your decorator’s eye. Thanks for always taking us along
Thank you, Debbie!
My master bath is barely big enough to turn around in, but I found a pretty cabinet to hang above the toilet and I display my mother’s perfume bottles… And I love it.
Adding the etched monogram was the perfect touch!
It looks fabulous Cindy!
Thank you, Lina!