Marble-Top Cabinet Dilemma
By Jane F ~ October 6th, 2009. Filed under: Décor, Furniture.
The renovation and repainting of our apartment was completed yesterday. This is the 60-inch space in my dining room [please excuse the construction photo] for a new “budget” dining room cabinet. The old one measured 48-inches and fit well. It held my silverware, table accessories and linens but my husband hated it and insisted on giving it away. It has been happily re-purposed by another family. I love being green.
We have marble kitchen counters now so I’m hoping to find a remnant of polished calacatta d’oro, a white Italian with caramel and gray veining, to coordinate with the kitchen and top off the new dining room piece. Here’s a kitchen that shows calacatta well.
One point of the renovation was to modernize our apartment’s décor. So I’m considering a contemporary cabinet or console table – not sure which. Still, it needs to blend with our distressed cherry transitional dining table and blue-upholstered Miles chairs [both below].
The kitchen and dining room are open to each other and the island that separates the two was repainted in Farrow & Ball’s Dauphin, a cocoa. Walls are Farrow & Ball’s Stony Ground, a wonderful café au lait that color-shifts during the day, which is why it looks gray in the photo at the top.
There is no dark wood in the room (or anywhere). My floors are original unstained white-oak parquet from the 1920s. (Since the contractors are just out, there is no overall photo.)
From the standpoint of budget, style and size I found several cabinet and table options at West Elm. I’m not thrilled about the “assemble-it-yourself” aspect of these nor is the very dark (java) finish ideal. One table comes in a lighter wood and one comes in white.
However, a cabinet would be more functional.
Also, my nagging green-gene wants to search for a finer piece (with its own marble top) at an auction or a show. Often they don’t cost more as the marble remnant involves fabrication cost.
I’d love to hear opinions on whether to go for a new WE cabinet or table from the ones selected here (all these are the right size). Which would look best with marble on top? Or, should I search out a unique, vintage piece?
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October 6th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
First of all, thanks for stopping by the party and leaving some great advice for me!
Second of all, thank you so much for linking up and getting the link RIGHT (you have no idea). 
I am a functional girl, but I also have two kids and lots of crap to hide, um, I mean store. I always think it’s more fun to go on the hunt for a unique piece that can either be made over or repurposed, but that’s just me.
I LOVE the Stony Ground color…to die for!!!
Thanks again for linking up.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I LOVE the last piece you showed. It’s beautiful.
Honestly, I think I’d use it without the marble on top – but I’m anti matchy.
Either way I think it would be perfect – it reminds me of a piece my grandmother had. The sliding doors are fantastic!
October 6th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I’m voting no on both tables. I’m with Amanda on sneaking in extra storage whenever possible.
With regard to the cabinets, I like the extra open shelf of the first, (I agree with Mandy, it is a fab looking piece). but between the two, think the other is better because it’s less fussy and has a much cleaner look.
HOWever…I’m nixing all of your posted choices because I know you and YOU need to find a vintage piece or keep looking because neither of the two cabs look like *you*
October 7th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Hi I’m visiting from Amanda’s blog, I love the color scheme you have going & have to say I’m very partial to the cabinets instead of the tables. And if you were able to find something vintage it would definately cozy the space up & you may find a pretty versatile piece that’s functional too. And even if you didn’t find a cabinet w/ marble top, it may be something that you could have measured, cut & fitted to what ever cabinet you do end up using. Good luck!
October 7th, 2009 at 7:26 am
I vote for looking for a vintage piece…….one that has clean lines. Love the table and chairs and all the colors you selected.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I’m excited to see the apartment revealed, as you see fit. Another vote for a vintage piece. Give yourself a decent time frame to find one, and if at the end you haven’t, there will always be new things available that will fit the space/your needs.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I think a vintage or unique piece would look good in the space, of the ones you pictured I like the dark modern one with sliding doors because it has a good combination of storage and then a shelf and display place on top
October 7th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Another vote for vintage. I think it would be a nice mix with your beautiful dining pieces and new kitchen. Something Art Deco came to mind. Looking for a sleek and modern looking example — well, too fun, haha. So fun, that my post is kicked out as spam! Trying without the direct links.
Buffet/Bar: http://www.decodame.com/decofurniture/bars_cocktail_cabinets.htm”
French Mahogany Low Cabinet, tho too wide:
http://www.decodame.com/decofurniture/bars_cocktail_cabinets.htm
French Mahogany Tall Cabinet: http://www.artdecocollection.com/749.htm“>Cabinet
French Sideboard: http://www.artdecocollection.com/1192.htm
Swedish Ebonized Bar: http://www.deconet.com/product/34067/Art_Deco_bar_cabinet
Belgian Mixed and Burled Wood Bar Cabinet: http://www.artdecocollection.com/319.htm
October 7th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Now my comment is too short! ok ….
What a mess!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
So here I am, trying to be more contemporary and no one likes it! I’m getting a great chuckle out of this.
The marble fabrication is quite expensive and, when I get the kitchen organized and photograph it, there may be enough marble in one room. It’s funny how things change when you live with them — even for one day. I’ve been here unpacking so that I can clear our bedroom for the bed to go back in.
It’s settled then. I’m going to take it slowly and look for something vintage. Anne, thanks for the links. Lots to look at and think about there! They worked perfectly.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I like it. I like it alot. Your contemporary is quite soft, and sympathetic to traditional. I can’t believe you’ve chosen the Miles chair. So have I, when I finally get around to it.
If only there were world enough and time, Joel could custom make you something from reclaimed wood. I do think you should go for something with some storage. I don’t see how a console would buy you much as far as airiness and space against that wall, if you know what I mean.
Barring Joel, I think taking your time and finding something vintage is the way to go. You’ll know it when you see it, I know you will.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Hi again! Thanks so much for all of those great tips! I’m so excited to start incorporating everyone’s ideas & making this bathroom actually look nice! Hope to see you around blogland again. Take care.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Oh my god, my birthday gift and I was late finding it! I don’t know about the tables but I LOVE that glimpse of wall – Stony Ground and ??? White Tie is it on the trim? Stony Ground is gorgeous. What a treat! Have to say, I wondered if that was Shaded White I was seeing.
I too think you could find something more in-line. Vintage modern or MCM would be a good fit in there.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I vote for this one:
http://www.wisteria.com/Tiered-Marble-Top-Console/productinfo/W3225/
I think those WE cabinets are too clunky for the marble top. If you want to be more modern and have something fabricated, perhaps a metal base – two shelves – french flea market industrial meets your pretty marble. Also, while I’m a big WE fan, a lot of WE furniture isn’t often good quality and tends to go out of style, IMHO.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Becky, I think you’ve put your finger on what was bothering me about the WE look, though I haven’t taken examined the quality (needs assembly is never a good sign) since there was no WE near where I’ve been since the end of June.
It makes very good sense to get a piece with marble rather than for marble. I’m a big Wisteria fan and that’s a great looking console. Bookmark.
What I forgot in my excitement about using the marble remnant (which turns out not to be advantageous price wise) was that I need an overall plan, which I haven’t yet done. My whole living room changed shape when we removed a door. I also need to look and see what’s around — I tend to get stuck at Baker or Holly Hunt.
Given the state of the furniture biz, perhaps I can pick stuff up at auctions and warehouse sales or relieve exhibitors at the various furniture shows of the need to cart stuff back to their home bases.
But if I don’t do the shlep, I won’t be ready to make the quick decision. So I do not pass go — yet.