I have a collection of mismatched china which has been handed down to me from family along with special pieces I have purchased myself over my many years of antiquing & thrifting.  I love them all but most sit in boxes as I struggle with how to add them to my apartment decor. I remember the advice I heard on a decluttering show by master organizer Peter Walsh about taking special pieces out of boxes where they go unseen and give them a place of honor in your home.  That is a goal I would like to accomplish this year.  

To help me with that, I decided to go through each piece and/or collection and find the perfect way to display them. Perhaps it will also help me finally decide I no longer want some of my items and donate them to give someone else a chance to love them properly.  The first piece I want to display with honor is this beautiful rose platter that belonged to my paternal grandmother, Ida.  She received it as a wedding gift from her mother in 1934.  Isn’t it wonderful?

(Image by me!)

The biggest problem I have with it is the pattern.  As pretty as the roses are, red is my least favorite color. So except for a few Christmas pieces, I do not have any red in my home.  I do not have an entirely neutral Pottery Barn like look, but that is the dominant tone along with softer shades of colors I love like blue, yellow and pink. I am also not a huge fan of gold but I do not mind it as the detail on both of the grip sides.   

(Image by me!)

I have not been able to find out too much about the brand by the stamp on the back, but I did find dinner plates for sale on Replacements.com if I ever choose to add them. I am sure with a deeper dive I will find more pieces to peruse.

(Image by me!)

Luckily since the pattern is sparse, I believe it will blend in as a subtle pop of color wherever I display it. I could go the traditional route and place it in a hutch. However, I live in an adorable but smaller sized apartment and I only want one of those which I would like to use just for my white Ironstone. The platter is also quite big (16 x 11 1/2) and heavy so I would never be comfortable hanging it on a wall. I am also considering using it on my coffee table on top of some large books.

For more inspiration, I turned to-where else?- Pinterest. I discovered I really love the look of placing the platter in a basket. But my kitchen is a small galley style one so devoting a lot of room to a decor corner does not seem prudent. I could use a platter rack, but I am not sure about relinquishing that much wall space for a display. And since I cook less & less these days, I do not spend enough time in there to justify relegating the platter to that room just because it is a serving piece. Below are some ideas I am considering. I really love that not all are limited to the kitchen:

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.) 

(Image courtesy of DIY Beautify.)

(Image courtesy of Decor Steals.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) 

I would love to know which idea you like best. Please share in the comments below or tell me how you display cherished items in your home.

Until next time, stay safe & well.