I have come around on decorating with plates.

For many years, I could not shake the dull and uninspired images of my Grandmother’s generation’s dining rooms: Dark and serious rooms anchored with an oversized hutch stuffed with good china to be used only on special occasions. Then there was usually a family heirloom plate or two on display. And although the plates were gorgeous, they somehow managed to look stodgy and boring in the ubiquitous setting.

Fast forward two generations or so, and now I can’t get enough of plates as decoration. What changed? The display location for one. Plates hung outside of the dining room - in an entryway, office, bedroom or a living room - can provide a fabulous fresh layer of unexpected color, shape and texture.

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