Where Do You Keep All Those Dishes?

     I really don't like posting this "before" picture. The rest of my house is actually kept neat and organized! Some of you may remember a few months ago I decided to turn a bedroom in the basement into my dish room. This room will never be cute or stylish. We have pulled odds and ends of old furniture that we were going to get rid of to use in here. I did think over the weekend that I'd like to turn my friend Kim @ Savvy Southern Style loose with her paintbrush in here. I know things would look better with a coat of shabby white paint on everything, but I also know that in this room...the paint would get scratched very easily.

     This room started out somewhat organized, but over the months and after many trips thrifting and all those times I asked my husband to "put this in the dish room" after tearing down a tablescape...this is how it looked. Cluttered, messy and simply awful. So, over the past two weekends, we emptied the room, added a fresh coat of paint to the walls and started over.

The walls are now a deep taupe

(almost every room in my house is this color)

and the woodwork has a fresh coat of white paint.

     Remember when I bought my thrifted desk and it came with a hutch I wasn't going to use? It is perfect for holding wine glasses. We thought about hanging it on the wall, but I decided there was less risk with breakage at this level. I love using old crocks to store floral supplies, tubs hold the larger items.

     A large antique crock in the corner holds more floral supplies. An old rocker from my grandparent's house is covered with vintage quilts. See the cute little pretty hanging on the pine cabinet...it was a gift from my pal Jenny @ Jenny Matlock.

The pine cabinet is full of Christmas

things and teapots, cups and pitchers.

     The old cedar-lined wardrobe (ugly thing isn't it) holds all my tablecloths, runners and throw pillows. Large vases and my grandma's china sit on top (the pink cup is an "oops, I forgot to move the tea I was drinking before taking the picture". The old walnut bookcase is nice and sturdy for glasseware. I had a couple shelves I purchased and painted for other locations and didn't like them...up on the wall they go!

     My cedar chest is full of spring and summer dishes and topped with ones I will be using during the winter months. You can see another crock full of florals to the right.

These shelves were from my daughter's dorm room.

They aren't very sturdy, but perfect for ribbons and crafty things.

  

     The oak dresser was the first piece of furniture we bought after we got engaged. It was $35 at an auction. It holds napkin rings, candles etc. Silver sits on top. The rocking horse was mine as a child and the dollhouse my dad made for my daughter's 9th birthday. It still feels a bit cluttered in here, but that is because I have too much stuff and keep adding more. At least now it is organized clutter. I have my glass table in the room so I can play with combinations before I carry things up the stairs. Not all of my dishes are kept here. My good china and crystal are upstairs, as are several other sets of dishes that we use frequently. My mom's china is stored in the kitchen in the wet bar. I like the idea of our good china being a bit more protected from collapsing furniture or young grandchildren.

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.

There are some great decorating tips to be found there!