With school starting back up, all of us are actually enjoying being back to a more normal routine. And “normal” for me means tearing the house apart and putting it back together in a new, improved way. I’ve gotten the living room to a fairly livable state so now I’m jumping into working on the dining room since it’s the most “un-me” room in the house. It does have two things going for it though – a beautiful bay window (similar to the one in my living room) and a built-in china cabinet. I wish I could tell you that my china cabinet looks like this {this fabulous one} from Southern Living but instead it looks like this:
So I’m working on a master plan to fix up this shabby looking lady including:
- surrounding her with a more flattering paint color – the light blue must go. Immediately.
- adding larger crown molding around the entire dining room as well as the top of the cabinet
- lining the back of the cabinet with…something. Wallpaper? Burlap?
- new hardware
Other beautiful examples where cremone bolts were used are {this beautiful library} and {this eclectic kitchen}.
I’d love to luck upon a vintage cremone bolt at a flea market or antique shop but I’m also exploring my options online. So far, these bolts are my favorites:
Update! I finished off my dining room and unfortunately couldn’t end up using a cremone bolt because I didn’t have enough room for it at the top after installing new crown molding. I ended up adding large pulls instead and am so happy with how it turned out:
You might also notice that my built-in cabinet has a new wood backdrop – you can read more about what I used and how I installed it {here}. And if you want to see more pics of my finished dining room, including my huge plate wall, check it out {here}.
Hi Kris, next summer I will have the same situation as you…kids in a new State with no friends. Now I’m feeling sad about it. I do believe that it will make them more flexible to new situations later in life. As for the bolts….heck yeah! I love them and would try really hard to find vintage ones with a bit of patina if possible.
That would be ideal!
…so that’s what they’re called ~ we just say French shutter handles! And I’m awfully pleased to be able to say that I picked up 7 sets (that’s 14 bolts) for 12 euros, best bargain I’ve found in yonks! I’d take a piccie to show them off, but my camera is in the car, which is in motor hospital 120 miles from here at the moment (but that’s a whole nother story). AND they are full door size, practically floor~to~ceiling long, and all pretty cut~outs and curly bits…I LOVE them…
How lucky are you?!! That is indeed an AWESOME find!!
Kris I love your thinking!! Your built in cabinet would look so fabulous with that hardware!! I have coveted FORever a cabinet with that mechanism (never knew it had a name!) at Restoration Hardware. I’m so excited to see where your dining room is headed – fun project!
I think it’s a really cool look too and you’re right – RH has some very cool cabinets with them!
you should soooo go for it! It will take your cabinet to the next level!
Thanks Stephanie – hope it will work out like I’m envisioning it!!
LOVE the Cremone bolt idea (and I learned a new word!). I will have to keep this in mind when we redo our kitchen in the next year or two!
Wouldn’t these bolts look beautiful on the doors of a kitchen pantry?
Hi Kris,
I just graduated with a degree in Interior Design and they never talked about these! Wow I love them! I’m going to keep my eye out for these when shopping. Thanks so much for sharing!
Kristi
Congrats on your graduation Kristi and glad I could share something new with you. I’ve got my eyes peeled for a cremone bolt too – no luck yet…
Kris–
Maybe you can help me since you’ve been studying this longer. I am having a china cabinet made and using one cremone bolt…BUT what happens with the door that doesn’t have the bolt??Thanks
Usually the bolts are used on the type of cabinets where the doors interlock, meaning that you need to shut one of the doors before the other (the first door has a lip on the edge facing the second door that the second door closes over. So if you use the bolt on the door that closes second, it keeps the entire cabinet closed. Hope that helps!
cant wait to see your finished result!
Kris – I love the compilation of photos here. Cremone hardware has been really popular for us over the past few years. Mixing finishes on the rods (silver cremone hardware with matte black rods) is a fabulous way to add some finish to your look. Thanks for mentioning our cremonehardware.com website – we manufacture all of our hardware to order!
Anywhere to find similar hardware that isn’t so expensive ?
Unfortunately I haven’t come across any less expensive sources!
The French Country shabby chic look is so “in” these days. Decor Interiors has a lot of items from Aidan Gray and Go Home, which I believe makes some of the furniture for Restoration Hardware