Display Cabinets for an Antique Toy Collection in Santa Barbara

These display cabinets were another one of those fun but challenging projects. The homeowners (who started out as clients and over the years of working with them on many projects for their homes have become friends) have spent a lifetime collecting antique toys and needed a space for showcasing their collection. We started with the downstairs family room. They wanted the whole wall in cabinets. The house is traditional English style but they wanted the cabinets to be more contemporary. It was also very important that the toy collection stand out and not be overwhelmed by the cabinetry. 

For the wood we chose a solid rift cut white oak with a slight light tan wash. The shelving is glass with concealed adjustment brackets that hold the glass firmly in case of an earthquake but give maximum flexibility for shelving layout that can be changed if desired. Lighting was also added to the cabinets. We later added frameless bi-pass sliding glass doors because dust was more of an issue than we originally thought. I used non-reflective glass in the doors, which removes all glare and shadows, to maximize the visual effect of the collection. 

The cabinet was built in three sections so as to be able to get it into the room through a small door and hallway. I designed the cabinet so that the seams are almost impossible to find once assembled into one piece. We also covered all the beams on the ceiling in the room to match the cabinetry.

The antique toy collection is a sight to behold, an amazing display of small works of art, not overshadowed by the cabinetry but enhanced by it.