One Woman's China Cabinet

My mother taught me all the right things when I was growing up. 

Unfortunately, being her rebellious daughter, I did not always retain what she taught me. Actually, the only thing that I seem to have consistently retained is water.

;-)

Among the many things that Mom taught me, was that everything had a place and things should be kept there in a neat and orderly fashion.

Welcome to my china cabinet. 

While I find the way that I store my china to be somewhat orderly, I'm afraid Mom would disagree. 

Cups and saucers haphazardly sit on top of each other and plates are SO not stacked according to size. And sets? Well, there are NO sets.

And you know what?

EVERY time I open my china cabinet I LOVE what I see.

I see possibilities.  I see playful mixes of pattern and color and that makes sense to me.  My favorite kind of "order". 

I can set the table in whatever mood I choose and whatever pleases my eye at the moment. 

And when a new china treasure, which of course you and I know the new treasure is usually a VINTAGE thrifted treasure, comes home to Daisy Cottage, it is easy to introduce it to its new china family by simply popping it in the cabinet and letting them all hang out together.  :-)

I'm sorry Mom.  You tried.  You really did.  You know I love you.

But I sure do love my unorderly china cabinet too.  At least I can close the door, right?

;-)

 

Love,

Kim

Comments

[Richele Drummond]

Kim, I think it is great that you are inspired just by opening the cabinet door. I have always believed that coffee mugs are a mood and do not need to be matching, but why not take that one step further? Great post.

LOVE

Richele

[Rita]

Kim,
You are so much fun and really inspire my day. I come to your sight and I'm refreshed every time. Sure wish I lived near you and we could have a bite of lunch together. I get weary with the same ole plain stuff and the way you bring out the sunny colors really makes my day better.
Thanks!
Blessings to you...

[Kathi]

Oh my goodness! Your china collection is beautiful! Who cares if things "match?"
I'm drooling over every plate and cup right now! I would have to leave the doors open so I could see all of this loveliness!

[Daisy Cottage]

Good Morning!!

Kathi, one day I would like to store my china in an open cabinet OR on shelves! :-)

xo,
Kim

[JAN]

I will say it again..........Iam sitting here at 6:30 this morning with my cup of coffee and my peanut butter toast and when I see your bright colors it makes me smile. I would give anything to be close enough to pop over once in a while.......JAN

[Daisy Cottage]

((((Rita))))

(((Jan)))

I'm on my second cup - and am here for a few minutes before I begin my day. Thank YOU for being so sweet!

xo,
Kim

[Colleen]

You are just adorable!!! Speaking of adorable....the cup and saucer with the red geraniums are ADORABLE!

[Kathy]

There are too many beautiful dishes out there to love to settle for one set only:>) Your china cabinet looks like a treasure chest to me!

[Suzann]

Fun post. Fun Cabinet. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face this morning.

[LadyLaura]

Kim, I just loved looking at your lovely china photos this morning. Your china cabinet has such a happy, sunny feel about it. Yours is the kind of look that I always drool over in magazines but lack the courage to pull off myself in real life. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Lisa ~A Cottage to Me]

Don't we all have a cabinet arranged like that! I know I do...oh I try to be orderly, but somehow, like you, unorderly is just fine with me! Have a great day!

[Kelly~Rose Vine Cottage]

I think we all have one of those at least if your a collector like us, I know I have a couple of those china cabinets, LOL. It's one of those guilty pleasures!
Hugs~Kelly

[Mary Ann]

Wow! my kind of cabinet!!! Oh I love your question about paper towels!! See that just proves that you can never run out of things to blog about!!LOL

[Di]

Just goes to show that moms are not always right.

DI
The Blue Ridge Gal

[Sara at Be Still and Know]

collected chaos. perfect! :) i love it kim!

[Rhondi]

Hi Kim
It looks great to me! Hey, you've got china in the china cabinet, that's organized. I've got some of mine in the bedroom closet! I think it's much more fun to collect unmatched pieces. I have a couple of sets of china from my Mom and I hardly ever use them as a set.
Enjoy your day.
((hugs)) Rhondi

[Kelly Ballard]

What a beautiful collection of mismatched china! Once again you've inspired us!

[Jo]

Oh, my! You have a beautiful china cabinet. I would love to spend some time looking at the various patterns! Like you, I don't care for everything to be "matchy, matchy". Variety is the spice of life and all... :)

Your pictures put a smile on my face!

Hugs!

[Mary Anne at Todaystimelesstreasures.blogspot.com]

Kim,
You remind me of my motto..Just buy what you love! Somehow it all comes together to create a beautiful tapestry.

[Madai]

Happy, Happy Day to you Kim!!
You made my morning! So nice to see I'm not the only one that can't pass up a pretty piece of china ;)
Love your collection!! Smiles!
Have a beautiful weekend!
xo Madai

[Mary Lou]

How fun! All those pretty patterns! Makes me want a china cabinet. I never got one for the very reason you mention - I didn't want to keep it neat (especially those with glass doors). Hummm..maybe now

[Pam]

You are my hero. I have an addiction to pretty china and used to think how sad it was that I was stuck with wedding china I picked 23 years ago. Now because of your inspiration I go with whatever mood strikes at the time in my settings. Plus I can indulge my china love.

[Carolyn Bertram]

I'm drooling here in TN! (Your site is the first one I check on my Google Reader,btw) Will you share the name/pattern of the floral plate w/the black rim in your sixth photo so I can start searching? Love love love it! Love love love everything, actually! :)

[Dena]

Kim, you have just provided proof that stacked cups are entirely acceptable. I am showing these to my hubby ;) Happy Friday!

Hugs,
Dena

[missy]

So much eye candy I don;t know where to look first!!!

[rue]

Oh sweet Kim.... Your collection is beautiful and I love the way it's displayed in your beautiful hutch. As for me... I'm afraid I'm more like my mom than I want to admit ;)

love you,
rue

[cityfarmer]

some of these same treausres lurk in my china cabinet.

I, too love what I see as I peek into yours.

You've captured my heart again.

[Jackie]

I love your china cabinet just as is!
Sometimes it's cool being a rebel!!
Signed,
Jackie
My family's blacksheep. lol

[Cass at That Old House]

Ah, but Kim, you DID absorb your Mama's lesson -- your beloved china HAS its place, and you put it there -- in the china cabinet, right where it belongs! Neat and orderly? Those are subjective judgments. Looks perfectly neat and orderly to me. (Oh dear. . . )
Cass

[Lavender Dreams]

Your cupboard is full of treasures...you always give me such good ideas! Thank you!

[sarita]

love the pics! on our recent trip to ashland oregon we had breakfast at a lovely little restaurant named Morning Glory. It's former life was a house.Now it's this yummy place to eat. one of the things i love about it is, nothing matches!! the tables don't match each other. The chairs don't match each other. The silverware,glasses and best of all the dishes don't match each other! It makes for such a casual homey feel. So you see, things don't have to match! Your china looks like a "match" to me! ;^)

[Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio & The Comforts of Home]

I love all of your beautiful vintage china...I would be a kid in a candy store looking in your cabinet!
xo
Penny

[Kimberly C.]

I love your china cabinet. I wish it was mine. Mine is orderly and not quite so much fun. I love your ruffly pear dish too!

[Janey]

oh, how I do love looking in other people's cabinets!!! Cute post, kim.

and I know you're SO sick of telling me paint colors, but could you tell me one more? Looks like a chandelier on top of your china cabinet? Love that color~please? Pretty please??? thanky!!

[Christine Drevo]

You have such a beautiful collection of china and the way you store it is fun and looks like it's being used. : )

When you have time perhaps you can do a question and answer session? What do you think?

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Oh no! Don't close the door. Please, open it and let us see the whole thing. I am so orderly. Everything is placed in rows and I am never happy with it. Your peeks look so much more interesting than my cabinet!

[Stella]

Hi Kim

Glad to see I am not the only one who thinks all the poor orphan dishes need to live in my china cabinet. Love your collection. Thank you so much for visiting me and leaving a comment. It warms my soul. Stella

[Florence Muma]

I agree it is nice to go to the cabinet and get what ever calls to us that day. I seemed to have an addiction to pretty dishes. Thanks for sharing.

[Jenny]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I can see why you love what you see - such beauty!

[Beverly]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While she might not think your china cabinet looks beautiful, I just know that she thinks you are beautiful.

[sondra]

What a fun cabinet! Reminds me of the first time I saw a table set with mismatched china - Annie's Tea Room in Big Sandy, TX. I LOVED it!

[Kathy]

I LOVE the way you think sweet girlfriend! Do things YOUR way and you'll always be happy.

Happy weekend.
Hugs!
Kat

[PattiW]

It is my first visit to your site. Your cottage is beautiful and it makes my heart happy that you share it with us all.
Thank you.
Patti

[DeniseLynn]

Love this post!! YOu always make me smile so every visit is a joy to me. My cabinet is much the same as yours, mixed together and happy. I have to say your colors are so bright and cheery - mine a little more rustic and autumnish ... I need to go shopping and get out of this michigan color zone and buy me some color! thanks for inspiring me.

[Cyndi]

Kim, I truly wished I had your whimsical nature to creature true beauty! How fun your china cabinet is. The more I visit your cottage, the more I'm hooked. Keep your imagination running, look how much fun it is for all of us.

[Lori]

Kim, LOVE IT!!!
Lori ;0)

[Kathy]

Kim, you have given me such a good idea!

I currently only have one set of "every day "dishes, vintage Melmac in the Normandy Rose pattern. So after seeing your China Closet, I want to collect china in different patterns like you....for my "good" dishes.

I find you can collect alot of different patterns in a small space. Right now I have a tea-cup collection. I also have a collection of vintage tablecloths, but if you are short on space you could collect vintage hankies instead. Very similiar patterns.

Thank you for keeping your blog current. It's a treat for me at the end of the week, to go into your blog. I know I'll find something interesting each time.

[Diane]

It's so fun and interesting. I'd love to go through your china cabinet. Those are the best kind of dishes.

[SentimentsbyDenise]

Your china cabinet is pure eye candy! Thanks for sharing!

[Allison]

Aw I love your china cabinet. I think that when I have my own one day it will look like yours :)

All the best,
Allison

[laurie]

I think looking in your china cabinet is inspiring for me! I love all of those patterns getting along so well together behind those closed doors. laurie

[elyse]

no! keep it open! i love the myriad mix you have put together. it is all so pretty and fun. just like daisy cottage!

xo

[Marie]

Love your fabulous dishes - and the cabinet! Just beautiful.

Blessings,
Marie

[Patty Boyd]

What wonderful treasures you have tucked away in there. I keep scrolling back and forth looking at all the different pieces. Love it.
Patty

[Elaine L.]

Wow! I love your mix of patterns and colors.

Now, I have a mission to start grabbing up those single plates and cups that I like, but think I have to have at least four of.

~elaine~

[frenchgardenhouse]

Your Mom and mine. Raised daughters with all the "right advice" got daughters with twin {messy}china cabinets. Oh well. Atleast the china doesn't fall out when we open the doors, right? And my Mom doesn't complain when she is eating an eclair and sipping tea, I'm sure yours doesn't, either.
xo moi

[Hannah]

I love your china cabinet...can I borrow it...pleeeeease? x

[Nancy]

I just love it Kim, a very inspiring way to start the day! I have been on a mission for a couple years now, I entertain 20 couples for Xmas day dinner with a complete matched set of Holiday China. My mission is to one day have a complete unmatched set of Xmas dishes to use for that day. I think it would add to the great fun we all have.

Huggs, Nancy
www.coeurdalenegifts.com

[Alison Gibbs]

Kim are you sure that is not a photo of MY china cabinet!! It looks like mine! LOL
Alison

[Jean]

One year for Christmas my Mom gave us a set of china for eight people. She had been scouring the garage sales and collecting them for a while. Nothing matched! It was wonderful, just like your china cabinet. I still have all that china.

[Valarie@wwwglimpseofmyworld.blogspot.com]

I'm sure your Mama will forgive you!! Beautiful dishes... have a great day!

[Brenda Kula]

It's beautiful, Kim! I just got one today and am having trouble figuring out how to utilize it best. Thanks for the ideas!
Brenda

[Daisy Cottage]

Oh you did Brenda??
That's so exciting.. have fun!!
I know you will!

xo,
Me

[Michele]

Kim,

Your blog is like visiting a candy store when a child, truly. Thanks for always bringing a smile to my heart every time I visit!

~Michele

[mary]

I love your china cabinet too. and my heart does a little flutter when I stop by the china in the flea markets.

[Karen]

Are we twins??? I have the same Mom as you!! Are you a middle child, too?? How did you get the same cupboard as me? I have a clean house, usually, but...my motto is, (and at my age, it's too late to change!) if the door stays shut, no worries lol. Karen

[Daisy Cottage]

Hi Karen!
I'm a first born! ;-)
xo,
Me

[Karen W]

I love it!! A girl after my own heart! Thanks for sharing!! =]

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

I love your china cabinet, every single mismatched piece! Especially that plate with the little red flowers! To me, yours is so much prettier than one with a matched set in it. This cabinet is just another glimpse into your creativity and artistic eye, and I love it!

[Betty Jo]

I love the way you store your china. It's beautiful just like that. I'd give anything to get into it. If I did, about half of that would go missing!! ♥

[Amanda]

Love it! What a great collection of china! :-)

[m]

Looks like heaven to me!!!

m ^..^

[Donna]

Oh my, you have some lovely china! What fun to mix and match it all. The cabinet is beautiful too.

Hugs,
Donna

[Renae Moore]

I love the way you have stacked your china! All of the colors are fabulous and I know each could tell a story. I'll bet you have some fun tea parties!
Blessings...

[Jo]

My china means a lot to me as a lot of it was my grandmothers. I have loved this peek inside your cupboard. x

[Laurie A.E.]

I am positively gobsmacked by these photos!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like a little kid who's just been let out of school for the summer! I feel like I've been given free rides on the carousel all day long! This is absolute HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, I have goosebumps and little tears in my eyes. Tears of happiniess.

This.Is.Perfect.

Thank you for sharing ...

:)

[Laurie A.E.]

I have to ask: what is the manufacturer/pattern for the red/white dishes?

Both the ones with red trim/red daisy-shaped pattern and the one with greenery/red flowers border. I am in love with these and must seek out some of my own!

L.

[MimiG]

Love, love, love all the stacks of dishes. I too would love to know the information about the teacup/saucer (red flowers, maybe geraniums)red stripe around lip.
Mother may NOT always know best!!
MimiG

[Hena Tayeb]

wow you have quite a collection of fabulously mismatched plates and cups.. i love the character and personality that oozes out of your china cabinet.

[Leslie]

I don't think I could close the door to that beautiful montage!

[Adrienne]

Oh, you and I think alike! My mother doesn't think my 'arrangements' of things are done exactly the way she taught me. But she is glad at least I put things away. Your cups and saucers and pretties are just wonderful the way they are. Thank you for sharing them with us. I want to go play with mine now!
~Adrienne~

[nancy]

Oh Miss Kim, This is all so beautiful! The way every dish is layered with color and one on top of the other! Nancy

[georgiapeachez]

I am so on your page right now. I have a service for 15 for my everyday dishes of "new" fiesta. It's about 12 years old now so the colors are retired but I am just tired of the mix so I am working on replacing some of the colors (the 80's peach) with thrifted plates, specifically vintage Mikasa from the 70's. I love that I can find these plates for so cheap, usually less than $1 per plate at the thrift. I love your collection!! xo, suzy

[Lallee]

You make me want to throw my dishes away and start all over again.....one at a time ;-)

[Devilish Southern Belle]

Question: do you happen to know the manufacturer of the cup in the middle, in the 12th photo down (after "welcome to my china cabinet")? And the pattern name? I LOVE this pattern and have a few pieces, but nothing is marked.

[Devilish Southern Belle]

Or...maybe the item is a creamer. I can't really tell.....

[Cheryl Bass]

I love that you don't feel like you have to stick to a complete "set". I love that you're confident with choosing the colors and design patterns that you LIKE. It helps build confidence in me to do and choose the things I LIKE...not just what "everyone else is doing." I often see muted tones and refined elegance in the vintage altered artwork I regularly deal with. Unfortunately, my artist's eye just doesn't "go that way." I often feel like a square peg amongst my fellow artists because of this. But you inspire me to believe in MY way...to live aloud in the colors and patterns and designs that make sense to ME, and in doing so, my work will be beautiful and elegant and refined. Thanks so much for this treasured gift you consistently share!

[mahek]

BEAUTIFUL!!!
you have a great collection of vintage chinaware !!!!
I would love to have a long shot of the china in the cupboard...