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}.
Linda {Calling it Home} says
August 28, 2013 at 7:25 amHi 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.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 2, 2013 at 9:30 pmThat would be ideal!
Poshe Poche says
August 28, 2013 at 1:30 pm…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…
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
August 28, 2013 at 3:58 pmHow lucky are you?!! That is indeed an AWESOME find!!
Lisa @ Shine Your Light says
August 28, 2013 at 5:25 pmKris 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!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 2, 2013 at 9:31 pmI think it’s a really cool look too and you’re right – RH has some very cool cabinets with them!
stephanie says
August 28, 2013 at 6:49 pmyou should soooo go for it! It will take your cabinet to the next level!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 2, 2013 at 9:31 pmThanks Stephanie – hope it will work out like I’m envisioning it!!
Khammany @ Sweet Inspired Home says
September 3, 2013 at 11:46 pmLOVE 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!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 4, 2013 at 9:34 pmWouldn’t these bolts look beautiful on the doors of a kitchen pantry?
kristi coleman says
September 10, 2013 at 2:14 pmHi 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
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 10, 2013 at 7:45 pmCongrats 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…
Anonymous says
November 1, 2013 at 7:03 pmKris–
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
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
November 2, 2013 at 2:15 pmUsually 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!
Anonymous says
March 31, 2014 at 3:28 pmcant wait to see your finished result!
Greg says
December 2, 2014 at 1:15 pmKris – 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!
Lora says
February 1, 2017 at 11:35 amAnywhere to find similar hardware that isn’t so expensive ?
Kris Jarrett says
February 7, 2017 at 12:28 pmUnfortunately I haven’t come across any less expensive sources!
Bill Ferris says
November 9, 2017 at 7:22 pmThe 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