I briefly mentioned the dining room when talking about our resident seagull a few days ago. Keith inhabits one wall of the room, which has changed quite a lot in the past few months: the alcove shelving has been built, the walls have been painted (Farrow and Ball Chinese Blue in case you are curious) and I was given a beautiful French Dresser in February for our fifth wedding anniversary, which traditionally is represented by a gift in wood.
Above the dresser sits my present for our first anniversary (paper): a large photograph of St Paul’s Cathedral, where DH and I were married. It’s such a super shot, taken at night with the lights all screaming past, conveying the energy of a busy city and yet, in the centre, the Great Dome of St Paul’s which has stood for so long.
A further painting of boats in a harbour adorns the third wall. For the longest time I didn’t know what to do with the last wall, which sits behind the door. I imagined I would need another painting or large picture yet couldn’t find one to suit without spending a small mortgage. I was watching a BBC 2 programme on food a few months ago when I was struck by their kitchen wall, which was smothered in white plates of all different shapes and sizes, and I knew that this was exactly the idea I had been looking for.
Several months later, I had a collection of about twenty plates, all of different shape, size and manufacture, bought because they spooke to me. The thrilling thing is that I bought them all at car boot sales, charity shops and on fleabay, so together they cost less than £100. And I can proudly show them off after DH spent an evening arranging them exactly as I requested. I’m really pleased with how they all look (although don’t ask me to chose a favourite….you’ll be here for hours), and particularly like the fact that I still have room to grow, should I come across plates that ‘speak to me’ in future.
We hung the plates with some brilliant new hangers I found, again on ebay. They are a long way from the wire hangers that I remember my nan using to hang things. Made from plastic, they are fully adjustable: you just thread the central bar through the second set of hooks, and pull tight. 
The central bar looks and acts just like a cable tie so it holds the hanger tight in place. Snip off the exposed end and hang on a nail. They are virtually invisible even up close. I love them.
I have been looking EVERYWHERE for those plastic plate hangers. I bought one years ago and can’t find them anywhere anymore. Do you remember the brand?
i can check for you but I know I bought them via ebay LBS
Fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome Jordan. Thanks for stopping by.
They really look gorgeous. I love that you love them all so much and find it hard to choose a favourite. Great dresser too!
Thanks for visiting Amanda- it is jolly hard to choose just one. That’s the genius of amassing them over time. Every plate has something interesting about it that made me want it!
Wow! That looks amazing! Loving the use of light too 🙂 Great tips! I am also quite impressed that you were married at St. Pauls Cathedral!!! 😀
Thanks so much for linking up!
You say the nicest things Mummiafelice!
What a great idea! I love that they all mean something to you also. Thanks for sharing!
Moquelish, you are very welcome. Thanks for visiting!
This looks really cool! Love your wall color!
Wow this looks amazing and the wall colour really sets off the colours on the plates!
Your plates look stunning. Great tip about the hangers – I always worry about damaging plates with those old fashioned wire ones.
But the bit that really struck me…You were married at St Paul’s Catherdral. What are you? Royalty?!!
Beautiful, you have done a great job. Mich x
Such lovely comments! Thank you all so much!
Great idea! I’m a new follower. I saw you at Family Ever AFter’s blog hop. .
Welcome Mel, and thanks for commenting!
I just found your blog and I’ve really enjoyed reading it!
I really like your “ways to play” posts, I started something similar on my blog and I didn’t realise that you were doing it already, I’ll make sure not to duplicate anything!
You have some fantastic ideas!
Jennifer- just keep doing what you are doing. Even when ideas stem from the same starting point they always turn out differently. That’s the bast thing about blogging! Thanks for the compliments!
I’d love if you’d link this up to the blog hop I’m having this weeekend. You have some other great projects as well, you can link as many as you want up. Hope you can join in!
http://mumofalltrades.blogspot.com/