Monday, March 14, 2016

Ancient Post Revival...5 Ways to use Trays in Home Decor...



I just realised that I've been blogging for nearly six years! Goodness!

Granted, it's been a bit of a half hearted attempt for much of that time, but clearly I've been trying a bit harder lately and my focus has changed significantly. I hope it shows. 

If you've been with me all that time, then thankyou. If you've only joined me recently, then I'll be reviving and updating more Ancient Posts over the coming months. Some of them are a bit funny, but blogging was in it's infancy back then! 

So please enjoy my Ancient Post Revival from October 2010...

If you've ever admired those pretty trays in Home decor stores, or even the thrift store, but thought you were not really a breakfast in bed kinda person, then here are five ways to use trays, that have nothing to do with breakfast! 

They're a beautiful way to 'frame' a vignette of candles and flowers, as you see above. This tray is actually a mirror, repurposed as a platter for my Chrysanthemums and candles. I love how they reflect prettily and that the ornate edge of the mirror acts as a way to draw your attention to the arrangement. It wouldn't be nearly as pretty without the tray!


I have a lovely Roccoco style ceramic platter with side handles that is more of a tray too. It displays my feminine accoutrements in the bathroom. If you're wondering about the teapot in the bathroom, I use it to water my ferns...isn't it gorgeous?

This vintage silver tray with sweet little feel, holds a group of vintage decanters. The contents of the decanters are used in cooking! I particularly adore the Eiffel Tower one...a special souvenir. I think the brandy inside was really awful but it did nicely for the Christmas cake...lol!


This one with it's little ornamental handles acts as a holder for glasses and placecards for the Dining Room. This makes all the pretties for my dinner setting, easy to pick up and carry to the table.


 I bought this one for it's unusual decoration. It's all inlaid mother of pearl shell and hand painted. It's quite unusual and eyecatching, and this photo doesn't really do it justice. I have it on my bedroom desk, just as a thing of beauty to admire. I found it in a thrift store, at the bottom of a pile of very ordinary stainless steel platters, so I tell you, it's good to dig around in those places! It was a whole .50c!

How alluring, to imagine sailing past the hills glowing with pearly colour, and off into the stormy twilight on that little sailboat. Who can conceive what mer-creatures and treasures may be lurking in the shallow waters edge....

 

And again...photos do not do this sweet tray, justice. It's a pretty lakeside grazing scene. The lambs are all glittered, as are the birds and the blue mountains. It's quite unique and another thrift store find for .20c.

Once upon a time, trays were quite the done thing. Breakfasts were delivered on them, tea enjoyed from them, coffee served to guests on a lavishly set tray. Whatever happened to such a lovely tradition?

Do you have any tales of thrifted or gifted trays?

I'd love to hear them...
...Mimi...

7 comments:

  1. What a lovely (re)post, Mimi! Trays really do make an eye-catching feature, and yours are beautiful xx Fiona

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  2. I love your display of trays! I have my newly re-purposed napkin holder sitting on a tray that I painted.
    Visiting from Cooking & Crafting with J&J.
    Have a blessed day!

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  3. I've been seeing more and more people decorating using trays. It's just so homey!

    Thanks for sharing your ideas with us! :-)

    Great post!

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  4. Lovely! My daughter still likes to serve food on trays to us and it is a real treat! :)

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  5. Mimi- your trays are so lovely! I love the mirror idea too.Love Maria xx

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  6. This is such a neat idea!

    I would LOVE for you join and share this at my DIY and Recipes FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  7. I love your trays and ways to display them.
    TFS this at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.

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I love hearing from you! I always respond to comments, so don't be shy! Mimi xxx