Erin Napier’s Clever Design Trick That Works in EVERY Room
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If you haven’t yet noticed, antiques are having a moment, as is a more nostalgic approach to interior design (see: café curtains, pastel tile, knotty pine walls....). It’s no surprise, then, that vintage dishware is also trending, but if you’re prone to maximalist tendencies or a cluttercore enthusiast, you know that (sigh) a hutch can only hold so much.
As these collections—floral china, cabbageware—spill over shelves and out of cabinets, it only makes sense to find new ways to put them on display. After all, refraining from future antiques shopping is not an option.
Fortunately, our designer friend/fellow old soul Erin Napier has a solution. On the recent season 3 premiere of Home Town Takeover, in which Ben and Erin bring their downtown-revival skills to Sebring, Florida, Erin outfitted a lucky local’s dining room wall with a thoughtfully curated collection of plates. “There’s nothing more Southern to me than a nice plate wall,” says Erin. “It’s something you can add to for the rest of your life so it becomes a plate room,” says Erin, referring to the latter scenario as her “dream.”
In the episode, Erin can be found sourcing pieces from a local antiques shop, including finds from Sebring Pottery, a nod to the town’s founder, George Sebring, who was both a potter and community developer (first in Ohio, and later, Florida). She also made a point of working in her Hospitality State roots. “I want to be sure we’re mixing plenty of Mississippi in,” says Erin, who incorporated a souvenir plate from a Laurel Baptist church. “We’re sister cities now,” she tells the homeowner.
As much as we love Erin’s dining room installation—and the Lemon Grove wallcovering that pairs particularly well with the porcelain—it’s worth noting that a plate wall needn’t be limited to a dining space. Inspired by Erin’s installation, we mined the robust Country Living archives for a few of our favorite takes on the plate wall—some more formal, some more whimsical. Whatever your design aesthetic, there’s a version of this look that can step up to the plate.
KEEP IT NEUTRAL
For a more understated assortment—which works especially well atop a patterned wall or bold color—look to neutral dinnerware such as ironstone or milk glass.
PICK A PALETTE
For a collected yet cohesive look, seek out plates with a common color thread—think pretty pastels, blue and white, or earthy browns. Similarly, a common motif—florals, fish, deer—will help your installation hold together.
TAKE CHARGE
Don’t overlook pewter pieces, such as chargers and platters, which can bring refinement to a room.
LET LOOSE
By approaching your display more organically—think a winding “vine” up a wall—you’ll set a lighthearted tone. (A less structured installation also makes it easier to add new pieces over time.)
ADD SOME QUIRK
When your selections have personality, a little goes a long way. Retailers including John Derian and Anthropologie are good sources for unexpected artwork.
GO FOR A GRID
For a cleaner, more buttoned-up look, arrange plates in a more linear and symmetrical fashion.
FLANK A WINDOW
When artwork isn’t feeling quite right, a stack of plates or platters can make it easier to achieve symmetry.
CONTINUE THE COLLECTION
If you have your favorite pieces displayed in a hutch, don’t let lack of shelving limit your display. Surround the furniture with more of your collection secured to the wall.
CIRCLE ROUND
A wreath-like arrangement inherently brings a festive feel to a space, which is why we love this approach for a seasonal display, such as Spode Woodland dinnerware for Thanksgiving, green transferware during the holiday season, or cabbageware come Easter.
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