Throwback Trends: Plate Walls

How many times did you walk into your grandmother's, or some other ancient relative's house, and see plates hung on the wall? The plates were usually decorated with motifs of fake French scenery in colors that reminded you of a nursing home waiting room. To be entirely honest, I used to despise wall hung plates and never understood why anyone would own plates they couldn't eat off of. But as I got older I realized that china was an art form and that plates could be used to add unexpected charm to a room.

As stated earlier, this trend is definitely old school. People have been hanging plates on their walls for centuries as a way of freeing their dinnerware from the confines of the china cabinet. The traditional approach to plate walls provides for a stately look, especially when they are arranged by masterful designers. Design God's like Renzo Mongiardino and Alberto Pinto loved a good plate wall and appreciated the look's heritage. Reinterpreting an old world trend like this can be difficult, but many have been successful and so can you.

Milanese Dining Room by Renzo Mongiardino

The new plate wall always incorporates a contemporary edge. The look can be achieved in a few different ways:

1. Go Monochrome

Monochrome doesn't have to be boring. If you are a fan of one color, pull a few plates in different shades and group them together. This look is about being clean lined and subdued.

2. Geometric Pattern

Geometric's will always be in style and dinner plates with contemporary patterns are becoming more prevalent. Throwing a cool pattern on the wall in plate form updates the grandma chic look by introducing abstract geometrics to the ceramics. Go with a 70's pattern like tumbling blocks for a funky, I listen to Daft Punk, look.

3. Black and White

The black and white plate thing has definitely been done before. Nothing makes me cringe more than the plates with black and white faces on them: its horrible, don't do it. Mixing black and white plates with different patterns, images, and motifs gives a varied and "found" look even if you bought them all at Home Goods. Its a more understated look that can be simultaneously fun and sophisticated.

Plate Wall by Kelly Wearstler at the Viceroy Hotel: Santa Monica

4. Orientalism

This trend has been blowing up recently and it can give you the bohemian vibe without making you look like a smell like Pachuli. Throw up a grouping of Morrocan or Chinoise patterned plates on the wall from a vendor like World Market - you'll get the look for a fraction of the price. You can also go with a simple exotic image, like a Scarab or Beetle, that introduces a bizarre unatipated look to a lack luster room. I added these Fez Plates around a painting in my Living Room to add pattern and unexpected color.

Plate walls are one of my forecasted trends for 2017. Embrace the grandma chic vibe and put your own spin on the look. Just remember to change it up otherwise you'll be looking more outdated than outstanding.

Cheers,

Hugh