Growing up, we had some beautiful sets of China that we actually used to eat on. My mother also displayed pieces of her china sets whenever possible. So I love dishware and always try to buy interesting and beautiful pieces for meals, but also to use as part of the decor. It is an inexpensive way to add interesting chatchkas to your home – and my home is full of chatchkas, often arranged into decorative vignettes.

Here are some of the dishes I’ve used in my kitchen, eating area and sun porch, on shelves, on tables, and on the walls.

This cabinet is mostly decorative and I rarely use those items.

This cabinet is totally functional and houses my everyday dishes and cups.

Decorative cup and salt shaker

Two decorative plates in my kitchen bookcase

Another decorative plate flanked by salt and pepper shakers

I also use plates as wall decor.

One narrow wall flanking a window from the porch to the kitchen

The other side of the window into the kitchen/porch

The same fish plates used on top of the cabinets above the stove area in the kitchen

Plate on small wall in eating aarea

Matching plate on the opposite small wall in eating area

I still have many of my mother’s and my old china sets that are too country or too formal for my homey but modern house today. They also don’t fit in with my mostly aqua and turquoise color scheme. But I still love them and want to share them with you.

Formal dessert set I got for my first wedding in 1974

The charming and less formal set I bought for my first home in New York City in 1974 (from Italy)

Magnificent but whimsical floral plate of my mother’s

Another of my mother’s beautiful china sets

One of my favorite dessert sets ever!

Tiny plates my mom used for decoration in a hutch

My favorite of all my mother’s china sets which we used in our summer, country style house in CT

Categories: Arts, Photography, Pottery-plates-porcelain

Tags: Ellen Curley, Photography, Porcelain, pottery