COTTAGE FURNITURE BASICS: COTTAGE CABINETS

Use this dining room piece to store and display your-cottage-worthy-dishware.

Use this dining room piece to store and display your cottage-worthy dishware.

The china cabinet is

a large piece of dining room furniture meant to store and display beautiful dishware. The piece first became popular in England in the 1600s, when porcelain china was growing in popularity. Portuguese explorers and merchants had been the first to bring porcelain china from China in the early 1500s, and it became a desired collectible and usable piece for the nobility. As quality dishware became more accessible to the lower classes, the china cabinet also grew to have a place in the everyday home—including the cottage, of course.

Did you know that a china cabinet is not the same as a hutch? While you can use both pieces to store and display your dishware, a hutch is typically made of two pieces, while the china cabinet is a single piece. Hutches are also traditionally more versatile than china cabinets, which have the specific purpose of storing and displaying dishware.

1. Soho House Fretwork China Cabinet, lightly-distressed antique finish contrasts beautifully with the warm pine moldings on the glass doors, features a working remote bolt locking mechanism, fully-adjustable top shelves and removable shelf, $1799. Visit wayfair.com. 2. Lachlan China Cabinet, reclaimed pine, inspired by vintage French doors, painted finish exterior; doors of bleached pine. Each piece is hand-finished with French casement style iron hardware, $1899. Visit wayfair.com. 3. Ashley River Buffet and Hutch, nine adjustable shelves, made in the USA, all wood construction with painted pieces of white pine, $4881. Visit cottageandbungalow.com. 4. Plymouth Hutch, spacious cupboard area, smooth pull-out drawers, counter space, and glass display doors. Standard additions include complete hardwood construction, touch lighting, dovetailed drawers, solid tongue-and-groove backing and glass shelves, $2970. Visit dutchcrafters.com.