Inspiration: A New Look At Hanging Plates

Last week, blogging collections, we suddenly remembered the genesis of the obsession: the colorful pottery our parents lugged back from Italy and hung on the stucco walls of their wood beamed dining room. While the look seem a little old-school for us, we wondered...would the hanging plates translate into our own home?

A glimmer of an idea surfaced when we saw these plates for sale in the Room Service Home Catalog. Better. But still we hesitated. It wasn't until we happened upon Ma Maison Sofitel's take on it that we reconsidered. Instead of ordered columns of patterned crockery on pale walls, an organic, amorphous arrangement of subtly glazed plates spreads out over a dark background.

We have a beautiful set of orange dishware we seldom use that we know will give us more pleasure on our yellow walls than hiding in the drawer; even white plates on white walls could add interesting texture to an otherwise stark modern room. We've had our eye on new tableware for a while. Knowing it will serve a dual purpose might be just the impetus we need to get it.

Related Links:

Look! plate clusters

[top image courtesy of Room Service Home.]

Comments (13)

That is wonderful!

I am reminded of a tip I saw on Room & Board. That collections of things are best displayed in the room where a utilitarian version would be used. e.g, plates in kitchens and dining areas, wine corks in a lounge or dining area, Celadon vases in a living room, quilts in a bedroom, etc.

posted by kimg924 on February 29th 2008 at 11:32am
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Must. Have. Now.

posted by Lisa Hunter on February 29th 2008 at 11:34am
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Pottery Barn did a pretty plate arrangement recently.

http://flickr.com/photos/84386689@N00/2300210963/

posted by fastkat on February 29th 2008 at 11:35am
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Does anyone know what kind of hardware or plateholders that are being used in these displays?

posted by caw261 on February 29th 2008 at 11:55am
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I just saw a pretty plate arrangement on Martha's magazine, this month's gardening edition I'm pretty sure.

posted by RJD on February 29th 2008 at 12:01pm
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I'm not sure what is being used here, but typically plates intended to be hung on the wall will have a slightly taller foot ring that flares out a little. This way you can just wrap a wire around the foot ring and hang it from a nail.

posted by krisnic on February 29th 2008 at 12:03pm
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Yes, please tell us about the hardware.

posted by monarda on February 29th 2008 at 12:35pm
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I have two japanese plates hung in my dining room and I use the standard claw and spring bracket and a picture hook. I never notice the bracket tongs, but if there's an invisble plate hanging system out there, I'd love to know! (clear pastic, maybe?)

posted by kimg924 on February 29th 2008 at 12:48pm
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I'm interested in he hardware too. I brought a great plate back from a holiday in New York. I used a spring type holder one day it 'sprang' the plate was shattered.

posted by hrhprincessfiona on February 29th 2008 at 9:52pm
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I have some odd shaped earth-ware that I wanted to mount, but the regular place holders won't hold it. I am interested in knowing how they pulled that off.

posted by stillreign on March 2nd 2008 at 5:36am
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I think they sell an adhesive type hanger at Containers and More if you don't want to use the spring holders. They stick directly to the back of the plate and the salesperson assured me they are removeable. I didn't have the nerve to try them on my Grandma's wedding china so I passed. They certainly would work for this style arrangement though.

posted by greta on March 2nd 2008 at 5:29pm
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this exact thing was done at the spa in the Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas.
I have pictures if anyone is interested

posted by rachelrachel on March 3rd 2008 at 8:26am
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I saw the Pottery Barn picture when it first came out - and wondered if they were selling specific plate holder to do the collage of plates. I have some larger platters that I would like to hang - but haven't found hangers that are deep enough to hold it (8"). Anyone have any ideas? I wouldn't want to try Container Store adhesives...and the mega spring plate holders I've tried - won't fit the 8" depth. I love the collage idea - very fun.

posted by thebungalow on March 9th 2008 at 5:52am
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