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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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July 31, 2015

DIY Wall Plate Rack

Oh happy, happy end of the week! Are you all in total denial like me that July is already over? Slow. Down. Summer.

So, we’re continuing on with our Flashback Friday series today and I’m sharing with you a project I did almost two years ago in my kitchen but it still remains one of my all-time favorite DIY’s. 

You may notice that some things look a tad different in the house but don’t forget that this includes old photos. Since this time we have painted the kitchen island and changed up the dining room a bit. 

Now, without further adieu, let’s take a look back at my DIY Plate Rack! 
DIY plate rack with silver platters atthepicketfence.com

Do you ever have projects that you put off for…oh…say about 5 years?

Ummm…yeah…me neither! 😉

In our kitchen there is a narrow wall that you pass by on your way to the dining room. Or if you are coming from the dining room you pass it on the way to the kitchen. You get the idea!

I like to call it ‘The Forgotten Wall’. Just something you pass by on your way to bigger and better things…like coffee.

plate rack on wall in kitchen atthepicketfence.com

Oh sure, I made half-hearted attempts at giving it some attention. There was the chalkboard that looked fine but no one ever stopped to read all of my beautiful quotes carefully written with hopes of encouraging and inspiring. Because it’s a wall you just pass by after all.

Well, friends, I think it is safe to declare that ‘The Forgotten Wall’ is now my most favorite part of my entire kitchen! It is forgotten no more!

How to Make a Wall Plate Rack atthepicketfence.com

It only took me 5 years and one long afternoon to help the wall fulfill it’s destiny by making a very basic wall rack.

How to Make a Wall Plate Rack

1. Build a simple frame using the size of wood appropriate for your space. Because this is a narrow area I went with 2×1’s. I had Lowes cut the ledges to fit the width in between the size and also 2 additional pieces for the top and bottom.

plate rack frame

 2. Cut molding to trim out the top and bottom and add detail to the frame and attach with wood glue.

molding detail

 3. 2 rows of screen molding cut to size and attached with nails or wood glue hold the plates in place.

screen molding detail

I painted the entire thing a lovely shade of ivory and hung it right up on that forgotten wall.

DIY plate rack hanging on wall

I think I might have heard it sigh.

It was a sigh of relief…of satisfaction.

Because it finally looked like it was always meant to look.

This incredibly simple and basic plate rack that only took 5 years and one long afternoon to make looked like it had always been there.

plate rack on wall

It looked like it belonged.

Like it was special…remembered.

And that’s really what we all want, after all, isn’t it?

DIY hanging wall plate rack

To know that we ‘belong’…that we’re special, remembered.

We don’t want people to just pass us by without really noticing us.

Because we all know how absolutely amazing it is when someone recognizes our capacity for great things.

Our ability to truly shine.

And we also know (or we should know!) that it feels even better to be the one to recognize the potential in someone else…to speak it into their life…and to watch them shine!

It’s really pretty awesome the lessons which can be gleaned from a plate rack, isn’t it? 😉

 Vanessa signature

22 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Flashback Friday, Good Ideas Tagged With: decor, decorating, DIY, kitchen

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Comments

  1. Michelle Mortensen says

    July 31, 2015 at 2:33 AM

    It does look good! Great work.
    Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    July 31, 2015 at 4:04 AM

    Love it! Very creative and different. Great idea! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  3. Peg says

    July 31, 2015 at 5:51 AM

    Love this Vanessa and love what you said
    about belonging and being special. You made
    my day. Take good care! : )

    Reply
  4. JP says

    July 31, 2015 at 6:55 AM

    I love this idea and it looks fantastic with your display of silver plate trays…I pinned it to hopefully get a chance to make one, someday!
    Hope you girls are doing well!
    JP

    Reply
  5. Deborah says

    July 31, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    You read my mind. I am so glad you posted this cause I missed I the first time around. I am really thinking about making one so this is perfect.

    Reply
  6. Lisa Mothersead says

    July 31, 2015 at 3:46 PM

    I’ve noticed this in your kitchen pic’s before and have admired it and assumed it was a custom built-in. That is so cool that you built it yourself!

    Reply
  7. Sandi says

    July 31, 2015 at 4:25 PM

    I love it!! It looks like it has always been there. Hugs,

    Reply
  8. FABBY says

    July 31, 2015 at 8:49 PM

    Fabulous, I love it!!! Yes, I have a project that’s been put off close to 4 years so far, lol!

    You did an awesome job.
    Enjoy your weekend.
    FABBY

    Reply
  9. Shelby says

    August 3, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    So beautiful and great use of space!

    Shelby at craftylovestory.com

    Reply
  10. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 3, 2015 at 7:16 PM

    I love this project…such a great way to display your pretties!….thanks for the tutorial…

    Reply
  11. BetteJo says

    August 3, 2015 at 7:40 PM

    Love this! Simple – maybe even I can do it!

    Reply
  12. Julia says

    August 4, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    I have had this post in the back of my mind – because I want a plate rack! Thanks for posting it again!

    Reply
  13. Sierra Slaughter says

    August 5, 2015 at 6:40 PM

    Finally! Something I can do with all of the antique plates from my great grandfather’s estate. I can’t wait to get them up in the kitchen!

    Thank you so much:)

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      August 5, 2015 at 9:26 PM

      Yay! So glad you think this will work for you!

      Reply
  14. Nancy Roberts says

    August 25, 2015 at 6:42 PM

    I have pinned several wall plate racks similar to this and absolutely love the look. Yours is beautiful! It looks like it should have / could have been there the whole time. Perfect! I plan to do this sometime too, maybe in 5 years! lol Thanks for the directions on what you did.

    Reply
  15. sharon says

    December 29, 2015 at 5:36 PM

    Looks great easy directions but how is it hung up on the wall

    Reply
  16. Mamie says

    January 2, 2016 at 6:53 AM

    How did you secure it to the wall? I love it and I am going to make it, I made a tea wagon years ago from your plans and still have it,

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 2, 2016 at 9:19 AM

      Hi Mamie! We attached it to the wall at both the top and the bottom using L-brackets so that it’s nice and secure. Because it’s so long, if you only attach at the top it tends to want to pull away from the wall a bit which is why we decided to secure it on the bottom as well. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Marisa says

    January 10, 2016 at 8:44 AM

    Saw you in BHG this month – The hubs is on his way to get the lumber now. Thank you!!! I hated my dead space and now it’ll be useful! It may not be as decorative as yours but I’ll finally a place for my pampered chef stoneware!

    Reply
  18. Chris says

    January 18, 2016 at 3:38 PM

    I love it! I’m afraid the plates/platters could slip thru the bottom though, especially when you have two placed on same rack. Have you had that issue or have any suggestions?

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 18, 2016 at 4:04 PM

      Hi Chris! I’ve had this hanging on the wall for a couple of years now and have never had any problems with a platter slipping through but would definitely recommend you only put in more thin/narrow plates and platters unless you make the ledges wider.

      Reply
  19. Dan Sullivan says

    April 2, 2016 at 6:27 AM

    Venessa great idea we had just the right spot for your tray rack. I added some of my own ideas (hopefully improvements). Built the rack with 5/4″x6″ to gain extra depth I used this depth to recess the nose and cove mouldings. Also trimmed the face of the shelves with a larger nose and cove which I held up a 1/4″ to act as a stop for trays. Thanks for the idea will attach photos.

    Reply

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