11 creative ways to show off your dishes—glass cabinets are back!
Beloved dishes deserve to be on display—it’s both a beautiful and practical solution. Give an old glass cabinet or sideboard a new role as a dish cabinet in your kitchen or dining room.
1. A combination cupboard
In the kitchen of this English single-family home, there’s a clever L-shaped cupboard. On the left, in a recess, there’s a walk-in pantry, and next to it in the foreground are wooden open shelves for dishes. They are connected by metal-framed glass doors built into the wall. The doors are by Penroe & King.
2. Favorite dishes at hand
The oak-veneered open shelf placed between black upper cabinets is dedicated to collectible tableware. On display are cups and plates from Pentik’s Hiisi collection as well as Birger Kaipiainen’s Paratiisi series. The dishes don’t have time to gather dust, as they’re in daily use.
3. The patina of a vintage cabinet
In this kitchen of an old city apartment stands a sturdy Indian vintage dish cabinet. The resident found the cabinet, which was the perfect match for their urban kitchen, at Moko Market, Helsinki. The patinated cabinet has solid doors in the lower part, used to store dishes that aren’t needed daily.
4. Grandma’s heirloom sideboard
In this dining area, the oak heirloom sideboard has compartments and drawers of various sizes that have plenty of space for both new and flea-market dishes. You can refurbish an old sideboard by sanding and staining it. The frame for the Hanna Peterson poster from Wall of Art was found at a flea market.
5. Like a candy cupboard
In this kitchen, you could easily leave the doors of the upper cabinets open. The colored glass collection that has grown over time has been acquired secondhand. Among the pieces in the cabinet are Kerttu Nurminen’s Mondo glasses and Arabia’s Koko mugs. On the counter is a footed Issima serving dish by Bosa.
6. Handmade from old windows
The homeowner built this patinated display cabinet out of old elementary school windows, and the legs are from an old sofa. The frame and shelves of the cabinet are made of glued laminated board cut to the correct dimensions. The back of the cabinet is paneled.
7. Graphic black lines
Square tiles with black grout make the perfect backdrop for the black-framed display cabinet, which has square shelves. The Asko glass cabinet showcases designer pieces, vases blown by the resident themself, and vintage dishes. Around the homemade dining table are old classroom chairs. The Pasila pendant lamps are by Innolux.
8. A classic choice
In this renovated kitchen in a century-old city home, you’ll find a classic dish cabinet with glass doors that slide to the sides. The family wanted a cabinet that would allow them to see all their dishes at a glance. The display cabinet is aligned with the height of the doorway. There is no baseboard on the center lower cabinet to ensure the built-in wine cooler’s airflow. The cabinet system, designed by Creanno, is from Kvänum.
9. Glass display
In the dining area of this old log house sits an antique sideboard showcasing the resident’s extensive glassware collection. Painted in light gray, the sideboard was found at an online flea market.
10. A compact display cabinet
In this living room’s dining area, dishes are conveniently at hand. The old sideboard goes perfectly beside the four-person table in terms of its proportions. The white color really makes the colors of the dishes pop. On the wall hangs a piece by Ossi Voutilainen. The Kupoli floor lamp by Yki Nummi is from Innolux.
11. An affordable solution
The simple, 50-centimeter-deep storage shelf is an ideal solution for dishes. There’s enough room to place bowls in two rows on the shelves. The secondhand solid wood Ivar shelf by Ikea was painted a light gray. A Flowerpot pendant lamp by &Tradition hangs overhead.
