Once upon a time, in a tower aglow with the gleam of a thousand treasures, there lived a girl whose heart danced to the clink of china and the rustle of linens. Her Dish & Decor Sanctuary, perched high above the kingdom, sparkled with her magpie hoard—plates painted with roses, goblets that caught the sun, and napkins folded into dreams. Beside her stood her patient prince, a tinkerer of wood and wonder, who had claimed a corner of the tower for his workshop. There, amid sawdust and screws, he crafted shelves and stands to cradle her ever-growing collection.
Each dawn, the girl flitted among her pretties, setting tables that sang with color and charm. With a flick of her wrist, she’d pair a teapot with a tray, drape a cloth just so, and snap a picture for the world beyond the tower—a kingdom of admirers on screens far and wide. Her tablescapes were tales of their own, whispered to friends and strangers who marveled at her magic. Meanwhile, the prince hammered and sanded, building clever contraptions—a spinning rack for her spoons, a secret drawer for her lace. The air hummed with her laughter and his whistling, a duet of delight.
By dusk, they’d sit at her latest creation, sipping from cut-to-clear crystal that sparkled like captured stars and dining on china gathered from realms far and wide. The tower, once a quiet keep, buzzed with their shared joy—her treasures gleaming, his tools gleaming brighter for her. And so, in their haven of dishes and dreams, they wove a life of beauty and craft, happily ever after—though the prince’s saws still grumbled about the garage, now a distant memory beneath the tower’s glow.
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Okay, so my reality isn’t quite that poetic—no spinning spoon rack or secret lace drawer (yet!), but I am getting a “secret” door to a back room! That’s where I stash the overflow from this obsession—permanent botanicals sorted by color (because who wouldn’t?), candles that could light a castle, vases in every shape, a handful of cups and saucers, serving dishes galore, and all the odds and ends this hobby-turned-social-media-saga-turned-blog demands. There’s a whole hidden realm behind my dish corner, and I promise to give you the grand tour of that chaos later. For now, let’s step into the heart of my sanctuary and explore its nooks and crannies!
The Dish Corner
Confession time: I’d trade my left slipper for custom built-ins with glass doors. Our living room has some we crafted ourselves—DIY royalty, that’s us!—and I’m smitten with them. But here? The budget waved a stern finger and said, “Not today, princess.” Plus, I wanted flexibility. What if this haven morphs into, say, a knitting nook (ha!) or a shrine to vintage teapots? I need options! If you’ve got the coin for built-ins, give me a shout—I’ve got ideas that’ll make your heart do a little jig!
We began with two 5×5 cabinets and two 1×4 sections, slightly modified to fit an upstairs space before being repurposed here.
Then we realized that there was still more wall space!!
We turned this corner into a Kallax Jenga masterpiece—two 5 x 5 cubes, three 1 x 4 units, and a 2 x 2 unit. The prince and I channeled our inner carpenters, adding wood glue and extra-long screws to make them dragon-proof, slapping boards on the backs for stability, and anchoring the whole shebang together (and to the wall). These shelves aren’t going anywhere—not even if a troll stomps through! I’m still gobsmacked by their strength. IKEA claims each shelf holds 29 pounds, but I’ve heard quilters swear they’ve piled on more with no sagging after a decade. Ours have stood tall for three years, not a droop in sight. The right one looks just as sturdy as the new one on the left!
I doubled down on those wire kitchen shelves—still no droop after three years. They’re the unsung heroes of this setup, and I’d knight them if I could!
This system’s had to evolve as my pattern collection ballooned (yes, even more so, again, must rescue!). The top shelves once held planters and vases—pretty little things I’d nabbed from estate sales—but they got exiled to the back room to make way for—you guessed it—more dishes. My favorite chargers had their moment here too, stacked like royal crowns, but I’ve since given them their own VIP spot with room to grow (share in a bit!). Space is a precious commodity when you’re a dish hoarder, and I guard it like a dragon with gold! Here is the most recent picture of the Dish Corner!
“Melissa, what about cups and saucers?” you ask, peering over my shoulder. Truth? I dodge them like they’re cursed goblets. Plates and bowls are my true loves—cups and saucers feel like clingy tagalongs. But when a pattern comes with them and I can’t bear to leave them behind, they sneak behind the plates like this Fitz and Floyd pattern, Camellia.
Or they sit right up front, like this Old Chelsea Blue by Furnivals.
or nestle into these fabric bins from Amazon or estate sale finds. They’re like the shy cousins at the family reunion—there, but not stealing the spotlight.
Here’s a twist for you: I don’t drink coffee. Don’t even know how to brew it—wouldn’t know a coffee bean from a jelly bean! The prince handles that with the Keurig while I sip my tea (half-and-half, Chick-fil-A style, because I’m fancy like that). Coffee’s smell? Nope, it’s a hard pass. Once, my teaching team dragged me to Starbucks for a meeting, and I insisted we sit outside—then bolted to Chick-fil-A for my morning tea and egg biscuit. Years ago, on a dating profile, some guy swore he’d find me a coffee I’d love. Sir, did you read my bio? That date was DOA. Big hugs to anyone braving midlife dating—it’s a quest worthy of a bard’s tale! Thank goodness my prince arrived!
The dishes are sorted by color (shocker, I know!), except the top row, where holiday patterns hold court like festive nobles. I’ve got a step stool for those rare high quests—climbing up there feels like scaling a turret!
Here’s a close-up of some of my patterns, gleaming like treasures in a chest.
The bottom shelf? No dishes there—dust bunnies and I are sworn enemies. Instead, I found these collapsible bins that fit like a glove, perfect for stashing placemats, plastic chargers, foam sheets, and melamine plates. They’re the unsung workhorses of the haven!
Originally, I displayed a few favorite chargers just above these bins, but they had to relocate—more dishes demanded more space. Obsession’s the word, though I prefer calling it a rescue mission! After friends suggested an island, I stuck with what was working and brought in this Kallax piece, plus some wire shelves for good measure. We’re topping it all off with a butcher block to finish the system in style. And guess what? There’s still room for more chargers! The big ones—over 13 ¼ inches—sit proudly atop the corner unit. Yes, I’ve got a step-stool handy—safety first, as my prince insists
Behold the Dish Corner’s grand saga in a carousel of pics—start to finish, with all the chaos and charm of my plate-hoarding fairy tale!
The Wall of Glass
Like I hinted last time, I wanted sunlight to waltz through my goblets and paint the floor with a rainbow. Mornings here are pure magic—the sunrise filters through, and the reflections make me grin like a kid who’s just found a hidden stash of candy. Naturally, I organized the glasses by ROY G BIV—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. (Fourth-grade science teachers, you’re nodding along, aren’t you?) It’s a spectrum of sparkle that could rival any wizard’s spellbook!
With wall space between the windows, I gave my cool-toned darlings—blues and purples—the prime spots in front of the glass. Two glass shelves from Amazon (paid link) hold those beauties, while Kallax units fill the gaps like loyal sentinels.
We ran out of room (shocker!), so back to IKEA we trekked for 2 x 2 cubes to stack on top. It also bothered me that my ROY G BIV was interrupted by the neutrals, so it was the perfect time to fix that! It’s like building a castle, one block at a time!
Some folks warn against storing glasses rim-down—says it might weaken them. I’m no glassmith, so I don’t know if that’s gospel, but I flipped half up, half down to cram in more. Martha Stewart’s prop room does it too, and if it’s good enough for the queen of homemaking, it’s good enough for me! This wall? It’s pure, unadulterated joy—like a stained-glass window for my soul.
Feast your eyes on the Wall of Glassware’s epic glow-up—watch it sparkle its way from humble stack to goblet glory!
Flatware Storage
Listen, a dainty little silver chest for my flatware? Please. That was never going to cut it in this dish-obsessed kingdom! I needed grandeur, I needed space—I needed an entire chest of drawers. So, we raided the family vault (aka the attic) and resurrected a dresser that once belonged to my great-grandmother on my mama’s side. A true heirloom hero, ready to cradle my precious forks and spoons!
Every set—from the gleaming silver to those rainbow-handled beauties I can’t stop gushing over—now lives in its own cushy Amazon bag. Yes, I labeled them, because even a fairy-tale tablescaper needs to find her gold spoons without a treasure hunt. The lineup? The top drawer’s a silver-only VIP club. Middle drawer’s a dazzling mash-up of silver-plate, gold, stainless, and the chic neutrals—white, black, brown, and wood handles, all mingling like the cool kids at the ball. Then the bottom drawer? Pure chaos—a glorious rainbow of every colored handle I’ve ever rescued and purchased, shining like the pot of gold at the end of my flatware obsession.
This dresser isn’t just storage; it’s a flatware palace, and I’m its giddy queen, twirling through drawer after drawer of utensil magic!
Display Corner
I’m utterly besotted with Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Plates—all those glorious colors! I’m on a quest to snag every shade, though no one (not even BP themselves) can tell me how many exist. It’s like chasing a unicorn through a forest of china! If you’ve got a lead, I’m all ears—seriously, send a carrier pigeon!
One fateful day, scrolling Facebook Marketplace, I spotted this green gem. The seller was moving fast, and I swooped in the next morning like a hawk on a mission.
I thought I’d paint it—maybe a soft cream or a bold teal—but once it settled in, that green made the cabbage plates pop like emeralds in a crown. No paint needed—it’s perfection as is!
And with the doors open for a peek…
I’d originally dreamed of a plate wall to greet the eyes as you descended the stairs and turned into the Dish Room, layers of patterns climbing like ivy. But instead, I’m showcasing odds and ends—little treasures that deserve their moment. Back to IKEA we went for a Billy Bookcase with glass doors—it slid into place like it was born for the spot. I wanted navy, but it was out of stock, and patience? Not my strong suit. Bronze was on sale (and discontinued now, I suspect), so I snatched it up. I still pine for navy—maybe I’ll swap it out someday. For now, the doors are painted navy, and the stairs up? They’re getting a wild custom paint job I’ll unveil later. It’s a secret fit for a royal court—mum’s the word!
Napkin and Napkin Rings
Originally, I planned to stash napkins and rings in the linen closet’s bottom, with tablecloths hanging above like banners in a great hall. We hung one rod, but half my cloths filled it—cue rod number two! Napkins needed a new kingdom, and the prince offered up a second closet he’d built here, proving once again he’s my knight in shining toolbelt.
I’d loved a shoe organizer for napkins before, so we stacked them into a wall of ROY G BIV goodness. The prince built a base to lift them off the floor and linked them together—sturdy as a fortress!
For napkin rings, we hung spice racks from Amazon. Fair warning: hanging them was a royal pain—some “wirty dords” were muttered, and I may have questioned my life choices. I’d tweak the system if I could, but once up, they work like a charm—holding my rings like a jeweler’s display!
The prince added a pantry-style automatic light—door opens, light’s on; door shuts, it’s off. It’s a godsend, since I’d forget it every time and turn the closet into a beacon for moths!
Tablecloths
Fabric’s my first love, my truest muse. As a kid, I’d pore over McCall’s and Simplicity books at Hancock Fabrics (RIP, you beautiful store), dreaming up dresses and curtains while running my fingers over bolts of cotton and silk. As an adult, I’d transform rooms with a single swatch—new pillows here, a drape there. Three years ago, I had zero tablecloths—none! Now I could swap one every other day and still have spares. I stopped counting—sometimes ignorance is bliss when you’re knee-deep in an obsession like this. I’m pretty sure the prince has a tally somewhere, but he’s wise enough not to share it!
And there it is—my four corners of bliss, my haven where tablescapes are born and dreams take flight. The back storage room’s still to come—spoiler: it’s a glorious mess, a dragon’s lair of odds and ends!
Pictures can’t capture the full enchantment, so here’s a video tour. Pour a cup of tea (or coffee, if you’re into that sort of thing), and enjoy!
From My Table to Yours,
Melissa
8 Responses
Everything is so well done! I’m so proud of you. Thank you for sharing these great ideas. I’m not sure which area I would ride first. You have so many gorgeous treasures beautifully presented.! ENJOY
Thank you so much, Gigi! You’re welcome anytime!!!
Speechless…
Yes, me 😉
Joy! Joy! Joy!
I’d dig into that Center top area of the Dish Corner to inspect those tall vases! It’s perfect!
So funny that you love your Tea but not the Tea Cups! I forgo them also.
That expected Butcher Block top will make for some fun singular place settings!
Oh that room! I’m still walking around in it in my head! I’ll be back to visit. 😍
Your room is what we all dream to have. What a jewel and what a treasure your husband is to make your wishes come true!
Thank you so much, Cindy! He is a jewel!!
Thank you for sharing the great ideas you have developed for storage! I am struggling with charger storage. I see a KALLAX in my future!
You’re welcome!! Can’t wait to see your storage!