DECORATING WITH PLATES

By Amy Montgomery

PHOTOS BY ALLISON ELEFANTE

Collecting plates whether new, vintage, or heirloom has risen in popularity in the last few years as evidenced by the beautiful displays seen in designer showhouses, Architectural Digest in antique stores. While some collections are displayed for the overall beauty of the design element, for some collectors it becomes a necessity to display on walls, in cabinets, and on bookshelves when china cupboards and kitchen cabinets overflow. All china should be used and enjoyed for dining, but a curated collection can be enjoyed on the walls just the same as collected art. A collection of dishware either collected or inherited is easily an extension of personal style.

Dishware can be easily displayed in a cabinet and complemented with books and plants. Books can be used to raise the height of smaller pieces and to add interest. The addition of a fresh or preserved plant gives just the right touch of texture and life to a vignette. A smaller plate propped in a plate stand on a wooden flatware box or a book will give interest to any library shelf. So, now we have moved dishware to the shelves of libraries and out of the dining room, so we should just keep moving and place a collection in the bedroom. While china is meant for the dining table, that personal style can be carried on in a bedroom with an array of plates arranged on a bed wall. This lends an added layer of style and dimension that is unexpected and fresh.

Installing plate racks in a kitchen, dining room, or butler's pantry can become wonderful storage and decorative art all at the same time. The depth required for these racks is minimal and plate racks can be built as tall as the wall allows. Use of a plate rack will free up cabinet storage and simply requires a quick rinse before using at your table setting. When plates are pulled from a plate rack for use, a coffee table book, a pretty cookbook, or framed art leaning against the wall is an easy place-holder until the pieces are returned.

Additionally, plates can be mixed in for added interest in gallery walls. The soft curves of a plate can ease the sharp edges of frames and bring a finished and dimensional look to a wall of various collections. Designer and author James Farmer famously displays his antler collection with his assortment of brown transferware plates. The use of plates for display purposes dates back to ancient civilizations and was certainly a staple in American homes in the 1950s and 60s. As all trends in decor and fashion do, they cycle back around, and old is new again. So, take those plates and dishes out of the cabinets and hang them like art on your walls! 

AMY MONTGOMERY has 25 years of design experience and owns Amy Montgomery Home in Columbia, Tennessee. She is a lifestylist focused on home and flowers and delights in offering her customers an elevated customer service experience. Visit amymontgomeryhome.com for additional information and follow her on social media at @amymontgomeryhome.