Decor – Decorating with Plates

When decorating our home, my design plan is to surround our family with things that have special meaning to us.  Over the years I have collected decorative plates by the Danbury Mint, Wedgewood, Norman Rockwell and Marty Bell.  Each plate comes with a certificate of authenticity. I don’t know if they have great monetary value but the ones that I have collected were purchased because they represent the places we have visited over the years or special events in our lives.  Some of the plates are of National Parks, historical places or scenes from the ocean that we love or the English countryside that we visited or commemorative plates depicting events or years that are important to our family.  I have also purchased inexpensive porcelain plates from our local discount retail stores.  I have even purchased decorative plates on our travels in England, Germany and Poland.  All these plates have been used in decorating our past and present houses.

Starting in our library, the room is a quiet place where you can grab a book, take a seat in one of the comfortable recliners and cover yourself in a soft blanket while reading a good book.  One wall of the room is filled with bookshelves which hold not only our collection of books but also our travel mementos.  Within the bookshelves several plates are displayed on easels, two collectible nature plates of ducks and wolves and a Native American decorative plate we bought during our southwest travels.  Above the bookshelves there is a collection of six Danbury Mint plates depicting scenes from some of the National Parks we have visited throughout the United States.  All these plates displayed in our library are in keeping with the room’s theme of travel and adventure.

Plates - library1    Plates - library2
Library bookshelf left    Library bookshelf middle    Library bookshelf right

The next room is our family room which has a large brick fireplace/mantel with two bookshelf/cabinets on each side.  This is the room where our family spends most of our time.  The room has beautiful wood paneling and a comfortable sofa and oversized chair/ottoman to sit in while watching the television.  In this room are several paintings and lithographs depicting serene landscapes from the English Countryside.  One of those is a painting by California artist Marty Bell called “Morning’s Glow”.  When this painting was hung in our California house over the piano, I wanted to give it a more substantial look.  I found an entire collection of Marty Bell collectible plates on E-Bay and purchased them at a reasonable price.  I hung five of the plates around the oval frame and they were the perfect complement to the Marty Bell painting.  When we moved to our new house I hung them in the same way and they look lovely against the wood paneled walls.

Plates - family room

Adjoining the family room is the kitchen, it has an open floor plan where both rooms are connected and divided by a railing near the kitchen table.  Near this area is a wall of upper and lower cabinets with a desk height marble counter with chairs.  My daughter uses this area to do her homework.  Above the upper cabinets there is almost two feet of space which is where I usually decorate each season for the different holidays.  Most of the year there is a picture, a couple of tea pots and three green porcelain decorative plates on easels.  Across this area, near the sliding glass door to the sunroom is a large decorative plate that was purchased on a trip to Poland many years ago.  It has special meaning because I had originally purchased it for my mother; her parents were born in Poland.  After she passed away last year the plate was returned to me.  I recently purchased an Italian decorative plate, my father was born in Italy.  I thought it would be a nice addition to the Polish plate and it would represent the countries my family immigrated from.

Plates - kitchen1    Plates - kitchen

We refer to our basement at the new house as the “California Room”.  This is where we have a wall of black bookcases filled with our Disneyland memorabilia.  Living in California, Disneyland was a place I visited as a child and also a place I frequently took my children.  (We miss our annual Disneyland passports!!)  Anyway, this room is subtlety decorated with beach items to reinforce that California theme.  Over the sofa is a large painting that I purchased years ago in Santa Barbara by a local artist.  The painting is of a beautiful Hawaii sunset in Kauai.  I have a collection of Robert Lyn Nelson collectible plates from the Danbury Mint that depict colorful ocean scenes of dolphins, whales and sea turtles.   I hung six of the plates, three on each side of the Kauai painting, and they are the perfect complement to the ocean theme.

I have used other collectible and decorative plates in others rooms of our house in California.  For my daughters old bedroom I had found some Beatrix Potter plates in an antique store and hung them on the wall in her bedroom near some framed Beatrix Potter lithographs.  I also had several Brambly Hedge collectible plates; we liked the Brambly Hedge books which are so beautifully illustrated in a style similar to Beatrix Potter’s books.  When I found a collection of the four seasons plates; Summer, Spring, Autumn and Winter, plus the Birthday and Wedding plates we hung all six on the opposite wall in her bedroom and they looked so sweet.   When we moved to our new house, my daughter wanted a more teenage decorated room and the plates went into storage.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

In the guest bedroom we had a bedroom that was decorated in soft blue and white, a classic color palette.  I found some Wedgewood collectible plates, on E-Bay and in also in an antique store and the color was absolutely perfect for the bedroom.  When we moved, I changed the colors of the guest bedroom and those plates also went into storage.

DECOR TIPS:  Plates, both collectible and inexpensive decorative ones, can be an affordable, low cost way to decor a home.  Plates look great hung on a wall either singularly or in multiples, just purchase inexpensive plate hangers at your local retail or craft stores.  Plates can also look great on bookshelves; to display them purchase some easels from the craft store.  EBay is a great source for collectible plates.  Just do some research on the plate’s value before bidding, this will help you to determine a fair bid/purchase price.  Home Goods or TJ Max are great sources for inexpensive decorative plates, you can usually find the perfect plate to match your room’s color and decor.

Please send me your comments on what collectible plates you have and how you use them to decorate your home.  Also, if you have any other creative ideas on how to use plates to decorate I would love to hear your suggestions.

Decor – Valentine’s Day Decorations

Valentine door wreathValentine’s Day … a time to celebrate love!!  As many of you know, I love to decorate the house for each holiday celebration, it brings me a lot of pleasure and I know my family appreciates my efforts.  This year I am adding a couple of new Craft projects, Rosebud Hearts and a Heart-shaped Door Wreath.  For Valentine’s Day I don’t have very many decorations like the other holidays so I will keep it simple and easy!

Boyds Bears cabinetTo greet visitors at our front door or guests attending the Queen of Hearts tea luncheon, I am hanging a new Heart-shaped Door Wreath.  In the library, there is the glass-front lawyer bookcase filled with my Boyd’s Bear Collection, and I will add my special Valentine’s Day figurines.  I will repurpose the red sparkle netting that I used on the chair backs for the tea luncheon and arrange it among the Boyd’s Bear figurines on the top two shelves.  On the bottom shelf that holds the Boyd’s Bear Village, which is still decorated for winter, I will sprinkle tiny red hearts.  In the dining room, the table is still set with a red tablecloth and the deep pink rose floral arrangement from the family room.  I’ve added red feather sprays and three red sparkle hearts on sticks for the tea luncheon.  In the kitchen, I will hang several red and silver glass ornaments from the light fixture and maybe I will add some red ribbons to make it more festive.  Lastly, I will hang the Rosebud Heart from my daughter’s bedroom door with a special note attached so she finds it in the morning when she wakes up for school.

Please look for the February Celebration post for Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas, most of these ideas are projects to do with your child and one is something cute to do for the kids!

Decor – Holiday Decoration Storage

The holiday season is over – it is now time to take down the holiday decorations and store them until the next year.  Depending on how extensively you decorate your home for the holidays this process could take several days.  A good rule is that the time it takes to set up the decorations is the same amount of time it will take to put away the same decorations.

I have several large plastic storage boxes that we store in the basement.  I found that storing the holiday items in these tightly sealed plastic containers will keep everything safe and secure from damage.  I have used cardboard boxes in the past and there is always a risk of the cartons tearing or little animal creatures chewing through and destroying the decorations.  This happened in our other home when the holiday decorations were stored in the garage.  In our current home, my husband has built wonderful shelving that keeps the majority of the boxes off the floor since the water heater is located nearby.  Even if there is a problem with the water heater, there would be no damage to the holiday decorations.

When I converted to the large plastic storage boxes after our move to the new house, each was labeled with the contents.  Such as: Easter decorations, Halloween decorations and Christmas Nativity Set, North Pole decorations, etc. It is easier to find the boxes you are looking for when you are decorating during the holidays.  Also, inside each box is a sheet of paper with a detailed inventory of the contents because if I am looking for a particular item I could know immediately from the list.  This inventory list is checked twice (just like Santa’s list!) Once when the items are being taken out to decorate for the season and to make sure nothing is missing and then again when the items are being put away after the holidays are over to make sure everything is returned to the storage boxes.  A copy of this list is put into my craft folder that I take with me when I am shopping for seasonal decorations, this way I know exactly what I have and what I need.

At this time, when I am putting the decorations away, it is a good time to make repairs on any items damaged during the holidays or to create a list of items to purchase for the next year.  I know it sounds like a complicated process but this way everything is organized.  It will also save you a lot of time and money.  Time – because if you make the repairs before the items are put away then the next year you can begin decorating as soon as you unpack everything with no delays.  Money – because it is a good opportunity to shop the holiday clearance sales.

During the holiday season I always find craft ideas or projects that I want to try for the next year.  Now is a good time to make a list of items needed for those projects.  Take advantage of the holiday clearance sales when the prices for the items are severely reduced.  Another good idea is to shop during the year for those items so the holiday projects can be completed without the time crunch and pressure of a holiday deadline.  Another tip is that if you are prepared with a shopping list of items required for those projects, the following year when the holiday supplies and decorations are first available in the craft stores there is a better selection with no risk of those items running out stock.

Holiday decorations can last for years if they are properly stored and maintained with minor repairs.  We spend so much money and time on these decorations it makes sense to store them properly.  Also, I have several heirloom items that I would like to pass onto to my children, so I’m willing to take the time to store those items securely from damage.

Decor – New Year’s Party Decorations

New Year's Day Buffet 8There is something classic about the color combination of silver and white.  These are the perfect colors for our New Year’s buffet this holiday season.  Whenever I am shopping in places like Home Goods or antique stores on a weekend trip, I always keep my eye open for beautiful serving pieces to add to my collection of party and special occasion tableware.  I have several silver bowls, silver serving platters and a beautiful silver/mirror cake stand.  I also have several crystal bowls and a lovely clear glass serving platter with frosted snowflakes.   Several of these pieces will be used for the New Year’s buffet.

Currently on the dining room table is the Fall Victorian Centerpiece that I made this year for Thanksgiving and it has remained for the Christmas season.  (Please see the November Craft post for photos and instructions)  This centerpiece will be removed for the buffet and I will use a white tablecloth with a simple holly leaf design for the party.  Next I will set out a new floral centerpiece I made of white poinsettias with crystal and pearl accents in a silver bowl and on either side I will use two newly polished silver candelabras with white candles.  For some additional interest to the table, I will hang crystal snowflakes from the dining room chandelier.  To add even more sparkle I will scatter around the table glass tealight holders.  For this party I will be using our Noritake Rothschild china, antique silverware and Italian crystal glasses for an elegant New Year’s buffet.

New Year's Day Buffet 9    New Year's Day Buffet 10

New Year's Day Buffet Centerpeice    New Year's Day Buffet cake

I think these decorations will make a festive party for our friends to ring in the New Year!!

Decor – Christmas Home Decorations

CHRISTMAS… the weather has turned a little frosty and there might even be snow on the ground. (if you are lucky!)  If you live in a warmer climate, don’t worry about it because as soon as you put on some Christmas music to set the mood and start to unpack those Christmas decoration boxes you will definitely get into the holiday spirit!

After Thanksgiving, I pack up all the fall decorations and the boxes are stored down in the basement. Then, my husband brings up the Christmas decorations and it can take awhile because I have several boxes!  The process of decorating our house for Christmas can take several days but I enjoy every minute of it!  The interior house Christmas decorations I have collected over the years are not specific to a certain room and I can be creative with the different accessories, so I’m not limited to the same decorations in the same place every year and this keeps things interesting and fun!  I have fewer exterior house decorations and generally they are the same every year.  For the last couple of years we have decided not to decorate the outside of the house with lights to save both time and money – please don’t call us Scrooge!!

Like most holidays when I start the decorating process for the holiday season, I begin with setting up the Christmas decorations outside on the front porch.  Living in the Midwest the weather conditions can get very harsh and I usually keep all my exterior decorations under the roof of the porch to keep everything safe from the elements.  I start with a couple of pre-lite artificial Christmas trees and for the last couple of years I have added a pre-lite snowman bought at a Target after holiday sale.  I liked the size of the snowman but embellished him a little by gluing on larger black buttons, topped it off with an old black winter hat and this year I’m going to change the wire nose and add a large artificial carrot instead!  To complete the front porch, I hang a Christmas wreath on the front door.  I have three different wreaths that I rotate from year to year. One is a large pine wreath decorated with pinecones and red berry sprays, another is a wreath covered completely in velvet holly leaves and the third one is a pine cone wreath accented with holly leaves and red berries.

With the outside of the house done I can now start decorating the inside of the house.  In the entry hall I set up a whimsical 24” Santa displayed with two elves hanging onto the branches of a small Christmas tree.  Nearby I have a pair of black ice skates hanging from an antique sled with a Boyd’s moose named Mortimer.  Whenever I am shopping in the antique stores, I always look for holiday items – on my wish list is a set of old skis and poles and hopefully I will be able to find it before next year.  This year I have added a Christmas Kissing Ball and I think it will be fun for our guests’ arrival and departures this holiday season!  (Please look for the December Craft post for instructions on how to make your own Christmas Kissing Ball)

    

The next room of the house is our library; this is the room where all our books and vacation memorabilia are in bookshelves that fill up an entire wall.  On the other side of the room, I keep my Boyd’s Bear collection year-round in a small lawyer’s bookcase.  I add my Boyd’s Christmas figurines and I decorate the two shelves with pine branches to give it a festive Christmas look.  The bottom shelf holds the Boyd’s Bear Village and I decorate the display with winter trees and tiny snowflakes.  I also add a Boyd’s Bear Santa to one of the ivory chairs in the library.  On another side of the room, I have displayed for the last a couple of years our Fontanini Nativity set on an antique table that my husband’s Grandmother kindly gave us.  This heirloom table is very special to us because it has been in the family for a very long time. (Please see a previous December Décor post for more detailed information on the Fontanini Nativity Display)

The next room to decorate is the family room.  One wall of the room has a fireplace and mantel flanked by two bookcases/cabinets.  For the past few years I have displayed our Department 56 North Pole Village in the bookshelf but this year I will be doing something new and it will be displayed across the fireplace mantel.  The fireplace mantel is also the place where we traditionally hang our Christmas stockings.  Next, to complete the family room, I will set-up a display on the fireplace hearth with a traditional 29” Santa, his two reindeers and a small Christmas tree. (Please check out my previous December Décor posts for more detailed information on the Department 56 North Pole Village display and the Christmas stockings and Fireplace Mantel decorations

In the dining room, the Memory Tree set out for Thanksgiving will be moved to the family room.  (Please refer to last month’s Craft post for ideas and tips on how to create your own family Memory Tree)  In November I had displayed in the china cabinet three Currier and Ives porcelain houses I purchased at a local craft store a few years ago.  Our china cabinet has a mirrored back so you are able to see both the back and the front of the display of the houses.  I add a few small pine trees and additional figurines and these are set-up on a beautiful elongated mirror and silver stand.    This display is an example of a decoration that works for both Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons – I love when that happens!  This year I have added two new Craft projects to our dining room decorations – a Victorian inspired fruit arrangement that I made last month for our Thanksgiving table and a Cranberry topiary inspired by one I had seen in a past HGTV White House Christmas shows.  I think they are great additions to our traditional dining room design.  (Please look for full instructions on making both projects – the Fall Victorian Centerpiece is a November Craft post and the Cranberry Topiary is a December Craft post)

The last room on the main floor of the house to decorate for the holidays is the kitchen.  Now, this can get a little tricky because the room needs to function as a full service kitchen, so the counters need to stay clear of decorations because food and meals are being prepared and eaten at the table on a daily basis.  We have a fairly large kitchen that is open to the family room and these two rooms of the house are where we spend most of our time.

Several years ago I found the perfect Christmas theme for the holiday decorations in the kitchen – gingerbread and candy canes!!  Since there are several areas in the kitchen that I decorate for Christmas, I start with an area that has a long chair height counter with upper and lower cabinets.  This is the area my daughter does her homework and the counter needs to stay free of clutter.  So, in the space above the upper cabinets I usually set-up a Department 56 gingerbread train that is displayed with pine boughs, red berry sprays and this year I have added “white icing” snowflakes to give it a different look.  I also hang two holly wreaths with red berries and gingerbread snowflakes on the cabinet doors.

    

The last area that needs some Christmas attention is the area by the stove and oven.  Please be careful with the holiday decorations in this area because with the extreme heat from cooking you don’t want anything that is flammable or a fire hazard.  I have a basket of artificial vegetables on the counter and I add a cute “North Pole Candy Canes” container that holds some wooden candy canes and pine sprays.  I also hang some Santa towels from the oven bar handle.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of our house decorated for the holiday season and I try to create decorations that are classic and traditional but fun and interesting.  Please let me know your comments or suggestions; I would love to hear what you think.