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! 

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

It looked like it belonged.

Like it was special…remembered.

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

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? 😉