Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Where Do You Keep It All?, 2013

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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Each year, The Tablescaper poses the question "Where Do You Keep It All?  This time I have something new to add to the mix.  Last Fall, Sweet Mister announced that he needed another closet for his out of season clothing. He observed that I had every extra closet in the house filled with dishes, crystal, and accessories.  He was correct.  He thought that he would have a carpenter come build a cedar closet for him in the third garage/storage room.  I suggested that he could indeed do that....orrrrr....I could make a clothing rod available for him in one of the guest rooms, and he could have his carpenter turn the third garage/storage room into a china room for me.  Oh my gosh....he did it!!!  It took several months to complete; Sweet Mister designed the whole thing with the carpenter.  I'm still deciding which of our patterns I want to keep in the china room, and I am thrilled with his generous gift.  This week, I want to share the China Room with you...Come on in...


An assortment of tureens and bowls sit atop the cabinets on the right side of the room.  Some day I plan to replace those ugly light strips with a couple of chandeliers.

Cake pedestals plus some additional tureens live on top of the cabinets that run down the left side of the room.  
This oddly shaped table is really my slab roller that I use when I work in clay.  It's always been in this room, and I really didn't have any place else to locate it....and I didn't want to get rid of it.  I covered it with a large canvas tablecloth/drop cloth, and I placed sliders under each leg.  If I ever want to pull it out for clay work...easy peasy.  It's become a staging area when I move things in and out of the china room to the house.

A humble Rubber Maid cart has quickly become my new best friend.  Once loaded, it takes but a few moments to transport my china for luncheons and parties to the kitchen door.  Now let's take a look inside the cabinets...Yes, it's all color coded...

The whites and creams...

Each section of cabinets has three upper and three lower shelves...

 Middle shelf, left to right:  Ovington Brothers accent plate; Wedgwood Queens Plain; Royal Crown Sutherland, unknown pattern name; and Castleton Regal.  Lower Shelf:  Wedgwood Countryware; Cherry motif glass accent plate; Reticulated B&B plate; Haviland plain white luncheon plate; and Wedgwood Majolica Cream Leaf plate. (I displayed as many of the patterns as I could.)

Upper shelf:  Royal Doulton RD199 Luncheon plate.  Middle shelf:  Copeland Spode Jewel; Pottery Barn Enamelware plate; Coalport Kingsware Lady Diana.  Lower shelf:  Maryland China Company Minuet charger plate.


The pinks and reds are next...


Upper shelf:  Coalport Exotic Bird Z3137 luncheon plate; and Royal Doulton Lowestoft.  Middle shelf: Schumann Dresden Empress Flowers; Copeland Spode Irene; and Royal Crown Derby Olde Avesbury.  Lower shelf:  Royal Doulton Old Chelsea; Coalport Old Coalport; and Copeland Spode Red Aster.
Upper shelf:  Royal Worchester Regency.  Middle shelf:  Copeland Spode Mayflower; and Haviland luncheon plate.  Lower shelf:  Copeland Spode Luneville; and Coalport Sevres Group.

My wonderful blues...


 Upper shelf:  Minton Cobalt and Gold; Castleton Old Empire Blue; Coalport Spearpoint; and Minton Consort.  Middle shelf:  Copeland Spode Peacock luncheon plate; Ridgways Lynton; Wedgwood Albion; and Copeland Spode Ermine.  Lower Shelf:  Coalport Kingsware Blue Calico luncheon plate; Meissen Blue Onion; Haviland Meadow Visitors; Wedgwood English Countryside; and Copeland Spode Wildflowers.
Upper shelf:  Spode Blue Room Warwick Vase; and Aynsley Delphine.  Second shelf:  Haviland Rani; Haviland Saxon Flowers; and Haviland unnamed luncheon plate.  Third shelf:  Royal Staffordshire Louis XV!; and Spode Blue Room Byron Group.  Lower shelf:  Spode Blue Room Portland Vase.

The greens and orientals...


Upper shelf:  Wedgwood Napoleon Ivy; Antique Rose Famille; and Jadeite Alice.  Middle shelf:  Bernardaud Artois; and Wedgwood Majolica Green Ivy plate.  Lower shelf:  Bordallo Pinheiro Leaf plates; Arita Imari Fan; Coalport Cathay; and Coalport Exotic Bird Green Z3137.

Upper shelf:  Royal Crown Derby Old Imari; Mottahedeh Sacred Butterfly; and Coalport Corean Temple.  Middle shelf:  Coalport Chinese Willow; and MacKenzie Childs Courtly Check Charger plates.

And the browns, golds, and charger plates

Upper shelf:  Luneville Louis XV Honey; and Copeland Spode Delamere.  Middle shelf:  Alfred Meakin Fair Winds; and Staffordshire Heritage Hall.  Lower shelf:  Coalport Athlone Brown; and Royal Doulton The Beaufort.  The charger plates were too large to display vertically.

The lower bank of cabinets hold open drawers which house...
Assorted bowls...

...placemats...

...and napkins...And finally...

I ended up with the cedar closets.  These are the tablecloths for the formal dining table.  They were moved to give Sweet Mister the closet that he wanted in the house for his out of season clothes.  Thank you, Sweet Mister!  I can hardly wait to see where you 'Keep It All"!  I'm always looking for new and better storage and organizational inspirations.


Wednesday is the 64th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "Let's Dish". I'm excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits.  Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!  

                                                                
Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme,  "Tablescape Thursday."   Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

June is here, and the Tablescaper has invited us to join her for "Where Do You Keep It All?. I'm always a bit surprised when I participate in this one. I could only trust this to a group of fellow dishalolics.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme  Seasonal Sunday.  Hope to see you there! 

  
You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions""  It is available on iTunes or through her website.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!  


  



  






Entertaining Women
Entertaining Women

Hello, I'm Cherry Kay I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience.

35 comments:

  1. Oh my I'm in awe! Your storage is perfect! I have one bedroom closet I am using for my dishes and it's already full!

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  2. I can hardly contain my excitement! I am so happy for you that you have this wonderful room to store all your pretties. I wish I had an extra room to do something like this with. Maybe in the garage.. hmmmmm. That would be wishful thinking on my part. Your husband spoke straight to your heart. This is wonderful. I spied some great pieces.. the Majolica caught my eye. You've made me want to go through my things and organize them this well! xo marlis

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  3. Oh my GOSH! I'd love to come dish shopping in your storage closets! I think you have a dish pattern for every imaginable occasion. It all looks great, and so neat and organized.

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  4. You are the envy of every tablescaper out there! What a magnificent way to store and so many items are bulky and don't stack and you have a wonderful place for them too! In addition, the hanging area - I am in awe and terribly green right at the moment! What a way to access them! Lucky, lucky you - enjoy every moment of this!

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  5. Now that is one awesome china storage room.....I enjoyed seeing all of your patterns..like walking through the china department in a fine dept store years ago...I am sure you will enjoy all of this space...what a sweet husband you have..
    Love, Mona

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  6. And I thought I had dishes! I had to stop buying dishes, placemats, napkin rings etc. I just couldn't find another spot to cram it in. I am sooooo envious. Wait till I show hubby your collection. I wish I had the space for those shelves.

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  7. OMG! You totally win the prize. I am beyond impressed with all of that storage and totally salivating at the sight of all of those magnificent dishes! One amazing, elegant pattern and brand after another. and to have the space to display them as well!!! Wow, I think you're in dish heaven!!!!

    - Alma, The Tablescaper

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  8. oh. my. goodness. And here I was feeling a little guilty for buying 10 new plates last week! What a fabulous collection of china and linen! And your organized storage is a tablescapers dream of course! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
    Jenna

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  9. So wonderful to have all that space, but do see room for more! What a sweet Mister you have support you in this way. Dianne

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  10. I have to go back and look again! I am in awe of all of your dishes - and especially impressed that you know the name of them all! How lovely that they are all within reach and that you use them and enjoy them, too!! I spied those Courtly checked chargers and was so envious! You have such beautiful dishes! Your husband wins the prize for giving you the best gift!!

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  11. Wait a minute....did I actually see some bare space there at the top left in the blue cabinet???!? I think that means you need some more blue dishes!!! :-)

    What a kind and generous husband you have. Please ask him to send a note to ALL of our husbands requesting that they do something similar for all the wives. Spread the wealth!!! Seriously, though...this is a great way to safely store your stuff in a way that is easily accessible. To have all of the china in one place (except that on display in the dining room) is a blessing! I'm sure it makes the "shopping" much easier! And the little Rubbermaid cart...it's like the little train that could! It will get a heck of a workout, I'm sure!

    You and I hoard...I mean HAVE about the same amount of dishes, so I am going to show this to Ramon and ask him if it's worth it to him to build something like this for me! :-) We already built on to the house once to accommodate my decorating items, so I'm guessing the answer is NOT that "it's cheaper to keep her" this time around! :-)

    Great post, Cherry Kay! Congratulations on the great space!

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  12. I am green with envy over those awesome cabinets, Cherry Kay!
    Have a wonderful week...hope the storms dissipate before doing any further damages to tornado alley.

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  13. Oh my gosh,, I thought I had great cupboards in the garage that house my dishes, but the drawers you have are totally awesome and your dishes are to die for...I just finished leaving a note for Kathleen that I would be joining her for her sat."where do you store your dishes postings",,,I have to say yours is just incredible and I throughly enjoyed viewing it...not just the dishes and the space, but the incredible design, so perfect for dishes and linens the shelves and drawers...wow Mr. Sweet should be called Mr. Design Star...I am sure he would be in great demand for a personal dish space designer...yay for him and yay for those delish dishes...

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  14. I knew you had a dish room, but I had no idea of these incredible details. I've been wishing for a butler's pantry, but this takes it to a whole new level. I'm impressed that you can have all these beautiful dishes and tabletop accessories organized so you can easily access them. I'd love to have everything in one location rather than in the attic, garage, extra closets, and every cupboard and storage area in my kitchen and dining room. How impressive that you have them organized by color, have space to hang the linens, and adequate space for all those hard to store serving pieces. I think you win the prize, Cherry Kay!

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  15. Oh my goodness, I would think I had died and gone to heaven to have all of that exquisite china AND those amazing cabinets!! I am Pinning this for my wish list... What a sweet hubby you have!

    XOXO,
    The Glam Pad

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  16. How beautifully organised it all is, Cherry Kay! Your dear Husband is very, very thoughtful!

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  17. Really? really? you just excite the dishaholic I am! Wonderful storage and such a program going on different types and colors....I am so in a hopeless sense of awe with this.
    Love it!

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  18. As a woman who is almost obsessed with organization but without the means to organize as efficiently as I would like, I am struggling with awe and envy. I will settle on this being very inspirational for me, and it is! Finally, someone has shown me a way to organize china and glassware my husband & I use often as we share meals and hospitality with friends 7 family.

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  19. Oh, my goodness, what a fabulous new storage place for your treasures! I knew you had quite a collection, but it was something to see it all together! I especially love the rollout shelves for linens! Thanks for giving us a tour!

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  20. oh my! This is my dreams turned into reality! How lucky you are. You have the most exquisite collection of china I have ever seen and you have the perfect place to store them. LOVE!

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  21. *GASP* What a PLAYROOM for a dishaholic!!!!! Give Mr. Sweet a bit hug & a kiss for this one...I am green with envy, not only for the shelving units but for the way you've organized it so beautifully.
    I can't WAIT to show this to DH!! He is NOT going to be happy with you, ya' know. LOL

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  22. I've never seen anything like this! Sharing this on my Facebook page! You are wonderfully organized!

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  23. Lovely! Your storage is a dream. I wish my husband would have the same idea....

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  24. Lovely! Your storage is a dream. I wish my husband would have the same idea....

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  25. Cherry Kay, this must be the answer to your dreams! What a darling your Sweet Mister is to have this designed and built for you. You have it all so organized and arranged so perfectly.

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  26. "Entertaining Women" has been included in the Sites To See for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2013/05/sites-to-see_31.html

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  27. Had to come back and view again from The tablescaper, wow, I gotta say I am thinkin you win the prize for most creative incredible space....congrats...phyllis

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  28. What a FABULOUS STORAGE PLACE dear lady! Your perfect organization amazes me so.. and I love it! I'm enjoying looking at your drawers and cupboards. You are blessed to have a special room for it all...wish I could, but my rooms are all taken for when the girls come over, but I will inspire myself in your space for when I re-decorate the two guest rooms. Big hugs and thanks for sharing.
    FABBY

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  29. I am so jealous.....and saving this idea for my birthday so hubby knows what to get for me. A dish room! You are so organized and have given me great ideas....Thanks you!

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  30. Wow, what a guy and what a fabulous space. This is just mind bogging to see your organization of your gorgeous dishes, tureens and more. Love, love this one.

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  31. Now THAT is a dish room! Love the cabinets and how you have displayed a plate so you know what is what. I am in awe of that room! Your Mister is a great guy to do that for you!

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  32. I've come back for a second look & to drool over all your pretty treasures, CK! I made DH stand behind me as I scrolled down & down, describing all the different patterns you have.

    I'm praying that you & yours are all safe from harm after this 2nd round of tornadoes. Know that you were on my mind & in my heart all weekend.

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  33. And I thought I had a lot of cabinet space! You've got me beat in spades, but isn't it wonderful to open doors and see what you have. Do you ever wonder what's going to happen to all your stuff?

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  34. Hi lovely lady.
    Wow! All your dish areas look so pretty and organized. And you have so many lovely different things! thank you for the fun tour! Have a wonderful day.
    XXOO Diane

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  35. Oh My Goodness! This is just wonderful! Not only your storage, but your gorgeous china patterns we got to see. And oh, a cedar closet for your cloths. I am in love with your china closet! And did I see a practically empty shelf? Hooray! More dishes. I think your husband is a keeper. laurie

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Thank you for spending your time to leave a comment. I read each and every one of your generous thoughts. They encourage me in so many ways.

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