I’ve always had a bit of a passion for matt white porcelain; there’s just something about its beauty and fragility, and the understated simplicity of it. Having neither the lifestyle not budget to warrant actually buying it, I’ve till now satisfied my passion with window shopping and pinning artists and makers like Caroline Swift (below) and Isabelle Abramson (bottom)
A couple of weeks ago I was drinking coffee in the kitchen and wondering idly which picture to hang on a long, thin wall when I decided to do something very different – I’d try creating a sculpture wall of porcelain-like vessels and kitchen implements which could hang quietly against a backdrop of white until noticed…
I began by assembling any old and chipped plates we had, plus odds and ends like a couple of baby feeding spoons from when Harry was weaning, and a pair of chopsticks. I did a quick trawl of local charity shops and managed to pick up a cheap teapot and a couple of china mugs and saucers. These were a myriad of different colours, but of course that doesn’t matter at all as everything will be sprayed white. Oh, and remember the teacup bird feeders I made? I swiped one of the cups and saucers from there to repurpose on my wall. I gave everything several thin coats of matt white spray paint and then rolled out a length of white paper to play with the arrangement of the items. I used a leftover roll of lining wallpaper for this – very cheap and super useful. I moved the items around, repositioning and taking photos to work out what arrangement would look best on the eventual wall…
It was also at this stage that I gave some serious thought to how to fix the china and objects to the wall, especially those – like the whisk – that I wanted to hang at a particular angle. The answer was to use a few different methods. For lighter items like the baking implements below, I just tapped a handful of nails into the wall to secure them in place, spraying the nails white afterwards. You can see them if you look for them, but otherwise they pass largely unnoticed…
For heavier plates and arrangements, I glued the pieces together before spraying them, then used plate discs to adhere to the back before hanging flush on the wall using nails. The plate discs hold an amazing weight, but you do need to follow the directions and let them ‘cure’ overnight first before testing their strength.
The most challenging items were light, individual pieces like the little ramekins and the fish dipping dish. I wanted them to appear completely flush with the wall and seem almost to be floating. In the end, I opted for super-strong velcro tabs which are designed for picture hanging. One side adheres to the wall, and one to the piece you want to hang, then they simply clip together (see below for more details). This was great to use for any pieces which I was hanging in arm’s length of visiting toddlers – they can be peeled off the wall if some strength is used, but can’t be knocked to the floor and broken. Not easily, anyhow…
Fancy having a go? Here’s what I used; matt white spray paint to get the china a uniform, flat colour. Command picture hanging strips to adhere lightweight pieces directly to the wall; this is great as you can reposition them and move the pieces around to different positions. Adhesive plate discs, for invisible hanging or larger items, which are then hung onto nails or hooks; I used these tap-in angled ones below for a near-flush finish; you could use ordinary nails and gently tap them at an angle to avoid pieces jutting out.
Our Great Wall of China joins other kitchen features like the mounted boat transom (below) and folded books on the fireplace and completes it at last…
It will probably provoke similarly mixed reactions from friends, with some who think it’s the coolest thing ever and others who think we’re completely nuts… and that’s fine too. Debate can ensue over a Saturday night glass of wine or three…
I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, wherever you are!
Kate
Modern Country Style
I love the creative ideas you come up with, Kate…and, of course, am drooling over the extra shots of your gorgeous kitchen!! A bonus in any post!
Sarahx
nicola baird
Utterly wonderful idea, with a nice witty name. I wish every cup of coffee I drank produced that sort of inspiration!
Kate
Thanks Nicola! Though I have to confess; as a result of said inspiration, coffee cups, saucers and spoons are all now in short supply….
nrhatch
What a creative idea . . . a different slant on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Kate
Hi Nancy, it’s funny isn’t it; in my head I’d planned something elegant and understated, but as soon as you hang a teapot on the wall, it takes a turn for the bizarre and Carroll-esque… But I think that’s ok
thehouseofjones
Ooh I like it! Wouldn’t work in my house, but I shall admire it in yours and wish you luck with the dusting, hehehe!
Jones x
Kate
Haha! Tactful Jones, thank you . Oh and ummm, dusting? What’s that??
apartmentwife
This is absolutely stunning. Have you shared it on DwellingGawker? It would make you a star in about 5 minutes.
Kate
Ahh, thank you! I hadn’t come across DwellingGawker (however not, I wonder?!), but I can see it becoming a new addiction…
thefrenchcorner7690
Love!
Anonymous
You are inspiring Ms. Kate!! Beautiful…I melt over white porcelain…
stephanie
This is amazing, Kate! It reminds me of that scene in Mary Poppins where they are having tea and when they start laughing, the whole table floats up to the ceiling!
katengland
Love it! It is understated yet whimsical. It will certainly encourage your friends to sit and enjoy a cup or glass.The cup shortage may require a shopping trip… darn..
Jenny
brilliant, quirky and totally inspirational
lovelucie1
Brilliant. You need to email copies of this post to all the interiors magazine editors.
jet
i understand your love for the china. I have the same. but i think it’s a kind of thing of my roots.
I have the same problems, but in the Netherlands you can buy in the special museon small items and insteade of presents you can ask for money to safe for such prescious piece to buy.
or to ask items for many years.
I have small items myself, but i made of paper mache my own items as well.
When you work with very with paper mache (the pulp) you can make your own items that looks like china but isn’t. Don’t give it a vernish layer, it distroys the look;-D
I hope this is helping to receive some of your items your self.
i love the items on your blog very pretty and gourgious. Thank you for the sharing
Kate
Hi Jet, what a lovely idea… I haven’t made papier macho for years (probably not since school…), hadn’t thought of using it to make delicate, china-like pieces; I’d love to see what you make Thanks for taking the time to say hello!
belocchio
I entered another world today. The World of the China Wall. What a brilliant and extraordinary piece of work. Bravo!!! Bithinis
Chrissy
bravo! again, inspired!
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Genevieve
Love this idea! It makes such a great visual impact. I would be tempted to duplicate this but my wee little children tend to practice tennis, frisbee and other random outdoor sports in our house… Yikes!
Jessica@CapeofDreams
I love this! Your house is so well decorated; I’m glad Stacey told me about your site. I have asked her to help me move my blog to a new host as well. One thing I though you might like to know is that your name is cut off of your title. I’m reading on an iPad so I assume you have a responsive theme and that is why.