Amish China Cabinets: How to choose the perfect hutch for your home

The terms “china cabinet” and “hutch” are used pretty interchangeably nowadays. These large cabinets typically consist of two pieces. The base is called a buffet, and is typically enclosed with wood doors for hidden storage. The top part is called the display, and it is often built with glass doors and interior lighting, for exhibiting fine china or other decorative accents. Unlike many conventional furniture offerings, where the display top sits up on feet upon the buffet base, our builders use a special construction technique to secure the pieces together. They attach the display to the buffet top, which is built with a hidden bevel which nests inside the buffet case. This not only gives the cabinet a solid, one-piece look, but it also keeps the display firmly in place.

The Hampton China Cabinet is shown in the three-door size in cherry

66 3/4”W x 20”D x 81 1/2”H

More options available, see store for details

Selecting a Style Based on Your Needs

The first thing people think about when selecting their china cabinet is the size they need. Although most of the china cabinets on display in our showroom are three-door sizes, each is part of a bigger collection that also includes two- and four-door sizes. Our china cabinets range in size from 37”W to 89”W. The size refers to the widest point on the cabinet, which is typically the crown molding.

The Americana China Cabinet is shown in the two-door size in oak

37”W x 18”D x 89”H

Next, consider what kind of storage you’ll need in the buffet base. The simplest cabinets have drawers over doors, typically one drawer per door. Behind the doors is one adjustable shelf. The single shelves run the entire length of the inside cabinet, instead of having dividers between each door. This is excellent for storing large service pieces. If you find you need an extra shelf, we can easily have one added. Of course, some people need more drawers than doors, and there are plenty of options available.

The Newport Shaker China Cabinet is shown in the three-door size in quartersawn white oak

61”W x 19”D x 82 1/2”H

Will your cabinet be used only for storage and display, or will you need a serving surface as well? In a larger dining room, you may have a buffet, sideboard, or console table for setting out a family-style meal, extra glasses, or service wear. However, if you only have room for one piece of furniture, a china cabinet with an opening under the display may work for you. This gives you room to put out extra dishes or set up a bar when entertaining.

The English Shaker China Cabinet is shown in the four-door size in brown maple

69”W x 20”D x 81”H

Standard Features

The standard features on our china cabinets are pretty impressive. These cabinets are built to last with solid hardwoods, dovetails drawers, and full-extension soft close drawer slides. Just like all of our furniture, you get to personalize the look by choosing your wood species, stain color, and hardware. You’d be amazed by how big a difference these simple changes can make!

The River View China Cabinet is shown in the two-door size

Left: Oak with standard round wood knobs

Right: Rustic cherry with upgraded Antique English hardware

39 1/4”W x 16”D x 74 1/2”H

Most of our china cabinets come standard with recessed can lighting with a touch-control system built into the door hinge. The plate-grooved shelves are typically made of glass, to allow the light to shine through & illuminate your display pieces. Did you know there are three basic types of lighting that are essential to great interior design? These types are ambient lighting (the general lighting that provides overall illumination of the room or area), task lighting (focused light that targets a specific work space), and accent, or “sparkle” lighting. China cabinet displays are a great way to add “sparkle” lighting to your space.

The Larkspur China Cabinet is shown in brown maple

Three-door china cabinet: 63 3/4”W x 19 3/4”D x 83”H

Corner cabinet: 32 1/2” wall space x 83”H

Sideboard: 52”W x 16”D x 42”H

Options & Upgrades

Some cabinet collections are pretty straightforward, while others give you an incredible selection of options for a truly personalized design. The American Classic collection is a great example of this. The buffets and displays are priced & sold individually, so you can mix and match your perfect combination of doors & drawers in the base with the right amount of open service space and enclosed glass display in the top. Once you’ve chosen the configuration, you also get to choose your door style, crown molding, and foot. Plus you still get to choose your wood, stain, and hardware!

The Americana China Cabinet is shown in oak. The four-door size offers 3 tops, 6 bases, 3 styles of crown molding, 5 door styles, and 5 feet styles to mix-and-match for a total of 1350 possible combinations – before you choose your wood, stain, and hardware!

68”W x 18”D x 89”H

And there are still more ways to personalize our cabinets! Options & upgrades vary from builder to builder, and aren’t available on every style, but here are a few more ways you can modify your china cabinet:

• Flat, beveled, or leaded glass in the display doors

• Glass or wood display sides

• Glass or wood shelves with plate groves

• Flat wood, shiplap, or mirrored display backs

• Add wine rack or glass storage in buffet

The Oceanside China Cabinet is shown in rustic cherry

58”W x 18”D x 81 1/2”H

As always, this is only a small sample of what is available from our builders. Stop by our showroom in the mall at Pittsburgh Mills to see our full range of options!