Fixing the Cabinet that the Cat Broke

You may remember my post about stenciling the glass china cabinet doors. Fortunately or unfortunately, a cat hurled itself at the glass door (obviously something freaked him out) and the glass on one of the doors broke. Now mind you, I didn’t see this happen but I heard a crash in the dining room and when I came in, there he was looking all guilty. Rather than get too upset (it’s just a cabinet, after all) I used it as an opportunity to do something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile but lacked the courage to just do it.

Farmhouse Hutch

I replaced the glass with chicken wire, or rather, poultry netting if you want to be politically correct.
I never had the guts to replace perfectly good glass, so now was my chance.

 


Hubby removed the glass which was easy to do and added the chicken wire.
Then I took a dry brush and painted the wire with Old White chalk paint from Annie Sloan.

 


I also took the opportunity to swap out my antique china and replace it with white dishes I’ve been collecting.

 


I think the solid white provides more contrast against the Duck Egg Blue (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) used on the inside of the cabinet.
I added a couple small mirrors for interest and to help reflect some light in there.

 


I’ve started collecting white ironstone and like to mix it in with less expensive white pieces. This way, you get a nice white collection that doesn’t break your bank.

 


I’ve also been collecting the white glasses (don’t know what they’re called, do you?) at flea markets.
My grandmother had a set exactly like these and they remind me of visits to her house.
I bought these for about 50 cents a piece. I’ve seen them go for more, though.

 


The Ball Mason jar was another flea market find and was just $2. I bought 3 of them.
The small aqua jar I found at a dump in a nearby forest preserve. I added the lace to pretty it up.

 


The white dishes and the chicken wire lend a less formal, farmhouse feel to the hutch.
The glass doors and antique china were pretty, but I like this arrangement better.

 


Oh, and the cat? He’s doing just fine. He didn’t even cut himself.
Every once in awhile a spell of the cat crazies comes on. Thankfully it’s not too often!

 

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55 Comments

  2. Luv the chicken wire. Or should I say Poultry Netting 🙂 In our other home I had this in our kitchen cabinets. Luved it then as well. Been looking for an excuse to add some ti this home… Hmmm.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Cheers, Gee

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  3. Thank goodness kitty wasn’t hurt! I love the cabinet with the chicken wire in the doors!! It looks wonderful! I think those glasses you have are milk glass. All your white dishes look so pretty against the blue background!

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  5. I love your cabinet with the chicken wire!! And i love all your white dishes. I thought all along i was following you and when i went to put your blog on my sidebar i found out i wasn’t.I am now!! Sorry!

    Kathy

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  6. Everything looks lovely ! Oh bad kitty no wrecking mama’s lovely things, now scootch ! I am glad he didn’t get hurt silly kitty ! Cat crazies happen her with Harley every night she goes ballistic dashing and running around tossing her toy mouse ! Glad all is ok ! Have a good day !

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  7. The white really does pop against the lovely blue.
    The white glasses are milk glass.
    Our cats get all frenzied sometimes. We call it “the scampers”. Scientifically, it is because they are crepuscular (nocturnal) and their prey is most active at dawn and dusk, which is often when they get the scampers, but not always!!!
    Your kitchen looks divine. Congrats on the upcoming photo shoot. It’s going to be wonderful.

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  8. Jennifer my Tabitha get’s that burst of energy once in a while.I don’t know what goes through there heads LOL! That turned out so pretty! Cutting chicken wire is not easy! I did that on a piece I am selling in my space.Don’t plan on doing it any time soon! That color on the inside is a great accent color too!
    xx
    Anne

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  9. Oh I’m glad the cat wasn’t hurt. But, what an opportunity to change things up with your cabinet. I love the look of the ‘poultry netting’ painted white and your pretty white china against the duck egg blue paint. Love the idea of the small mirrors for reflecting light. It looks really pretty!

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  13. Jennifer, I think the chicken wire give a fresh french look to your hutch… and is perfect with your pretty ironstone and other vintage things in the hutch!!! I think you should give that cat a catnip treat and a good pet to thank him!

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  16. I did the same thing with the jelly cupboard that belonged to my MIL after hubby broke one of the windows moving the cupboard. I love the blue in your cupboard with the white dishes. Just beautiful!

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  18. It takes a crazy cat to make a decision for us sometimes, doesn’t it. Glad you found a reason to try out the chicken wire. It looks great with all your new touches.
    Liz

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  20. Ok, I should be so lucky! I really want to do this to our dining room cabinet but I know my husband will be like “What the—?” if I ask him to take out the glass. I’m jealous! Love that you painted the wire white. I never would have thought of that. I also collect white ironstone and believe it or not I find some of my best pieces at local Goodwills. I think the cups are milkglass? Great transformation, Jennifer.

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  27. I like it too, especially that you painted the wire. My hutch doesn’t have doors on it, but I have mentioned to my husband that some simple ones with chicken wire would be a nice addition. We’ll see……

    Bliss

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  36. Beautiful! I love the chicken wire and that you painted the back of the cabinet duck egg! Your ironstone pieces are so pretty popping against it!

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  43. I love the new look of your hutch!! Fate can show an amazing path – you chose your reaction to be positive from something that was negative and it’s a beautiful result! I think the glass is called Milk Glass. Loving your collection though! J9 x

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  48. So pretty and a good thing that cat didn’t get hurt. We have a narrower white cabinet with aqua interior that I have had for a number of years. Our 15 yo son tipped back his chair and broke the glass. He added some of his rabbit cage wire and I like the rustic touch.

    Reply