High or Low
High/low: Open shelf displays
High/low: Open shelf displays
High or Low
High/low: Open shelf displays
Open shelving not only offers quick access to your favourite dishware but also allows for a dashing display. Here, we’ve brought all the hostess essentials together for a striking look that keeps everything within easy reach for any event, be it Jamie Oliver casual or Julia Child formal.
High of low: Can you tell the difference?
High $1,965
- BOWLS Jasper white bone china bowls. The Bay, $94 ($47 each).
- DESSERT PLATE Wedgwood White bone china plate. William Ashley, $30.
- CASSEROLE DISH Black ceramic dish. William Ashley, $155.
- BUTTER DISH Pillivuyt porcelain covered dish. Williams-Sonoma, $75.
- RAMEKIN Apilico porcelain Short Soufflé ramekin. Williams-Sonoma, $26.
- PITCHER Jasper Conran for Wedgwood white bone china. William Ashley, $94.
- DESSERT PLATE Wedgwood White bone china plate. William Ashley, $30.
- SOUP/CEREAL BOWLS Kate Spade for Lenox bone china Pinneys Beach bowls. William Ashley, $120 ($40 each).
- SAUCEBOAT Narumi bone china Classic White sauceboat. William Ashley, $62.
- DRAPERY FABRIC Beacon Hill linen solid fabric. Robert Allen, $172 per yard.
- RAMEKINS Revol porcelain Soufflé. William Ashley, $30 ($15 each).
- SUGAR BOWL Jasper Conran for Wedgwood white bone china plain covered bowl. William Ashley, $61.
- DINNER PLATE Noritake stoneware Colorwave Rim in Graphite. William Ashley, $24.
- WALLPAPER Designers Guild Watelet in Chartreuse P540/06. Primavera, $182 per roll.
- PLATTER Wedgwood White oval bone china 15". William Ashley, $184.
- RAMEKINS Apilco porcelain ramekin. Williams-Sonoma, $44 ($22 each).
- TUREEN Apilco porcelain Lion’s Head. Williams-Sonoma, $214.
- PITCHER Pillivuyt porcelain Queen Anne pitcher. Williams-Sonoma, $142.
- BOWLS Apilco porcelain Café au Lait bowls. Williams-Sonoma, $112 ($28 each).
- TUREEN Ceramic Great White Soup tureen. Pottery Barn, $65.
- MUG Noritake stoneware Colorwave in Graphite. William Ashley, $14.
- CAKE STAND Small Ceramic White stand. Williams-Sonoma, $35.
Low $505
- FRUIT BOWLS Denby White bone china rice. The Bay, $62$ ($31 each).
- DESSERT PLATE White Tie plate. HomeSense, $4.
- BUTTER DISH Covered dish. HomeSense, $5.
- CASSEROLE DISH Ceramic with lid in Black. West Elm, $39.
- PITCHER Ceramic Terrain Serveware in Ivory Gloss. West Elm, $24.
- RAMEKIN Danesco white porcelain soufflé 300ml. William Ashley, $3.
- BOWLS Ceramic Fusion Dinnerware. West Elm, $24 ($6 each).
- DESSERT PLATE White Tie plate. HomeSense, $4.
- DRAPERY FABRIC Linen fabric. Designer Fabrics, $30 per yard.
- RAMEKINS White ceramic porcelain. Pier 1 Imports, $6 ($3 each).
- SUGAR BOWL GlucksteinHome stoneware Suede Glacee bowl. The Bay, $20.
- SAUCEBOAT White sauceboat. HomeSense, $6.
- WALLPAPER Kensington wallpaper in Chartreuse 30-755. Graham & Brown, $60 per roll.
- DINNER PLATE IKEA 365+ plate with dark grey rim. IKEA, $8.
- RAMEKINS Revol porcelain Flan ramekins in White, 6". William Ashley, $26 ($13 each).
- PLATTER Luminous oval 16" platter. Pier 1 Imports, $30.
- PITCHER White Portugal pitcher. HomeSense, $10.
- TUREEN PC Home Soup tureen with ladle. Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, $24.
- BOWLS Latte bowls in parchment. Anthropologie, $24 ($6 each).
- TUREEN Progetti Lions Head Soup tureen. William Ashley, $70.
- PEDESTAL White stoneware small Sweets Pedestal. Crate and Barrel, $23.
- MUG IKEA 365+ mug in Dark Grey. IKEA, $3.
Floral dinnerware
So you want to take a step in the bold direction but don’t want to head into the proverbial jungle of wild wallpaper patterns just yet? Achieve a similar high-contrast effect with a solid chartreuse shelf backing and layer in some floral dinnerware for a punch of pattern. Whether you select a heavy-handed dose of black, a light outline on white or a hint of chartreuse, these floral patterns bring a touch of daring design to your kitchen cabinetry – even better if they’re on display!
(1) LOW Atelier dish set. Urban Barn, $39.
(2) HIGH Kate Spade for Lenox Dogwood Point dinner plate, lunch plate and cup. William Ashley, $39 - $45.
Casserole dishes
A few flavourful ingredients plus one pot equals a tasty meal with virtually no mess, so ceramic casseroles should grace the cupboards of every home. The high is dishwasher- and microwave-safe (as is the low) but is additionally safe for the barbecue, offers an induction dish option (sold separately) and is footed for easy heat diffusion.
(1) HIGH Emile Henry black ceramic Round casserole. William Ashley, $155.
(2) LOW Ceramic casserole with lid in Black. West Elm, $39.
Floral wallpaper
With detail that looks more like an artist’s intricate pencil sketch than a wallpaper pattern, the high wallpaper, though only three-toned, offers ample depth. The low paper boasts linear striations for texture and is, by nature, super-easy to apply to walls – yay!
(1) HIGH Designers Guild Watelet wallpaper in Chartreuse P540/06. Primavera, $182 per 11-yard.
(2) LOW Kensington wallpaper in Chartreuse 30-755. Graham & Brown, $60 per 10-yard roll.
Ramekins
You simply can’t call yourself the “hostess with the mostest” without at least one set of ramekins stocked in your kitchen interior. Whether you use them for displaying (their ribbed siding adds texture), making (they’re great for sorting pre-measured ingredients), baking (they’re all oven-safe), serving (the portion size dishes can go straight from oven to table) or all of the above, they’re an essential for easy entertaining.
(1) Revol white porcelain soufflé ramekins. William Ashley, $15 each.
(2) Danesco white porcelain soufflé ramekins. William Ashley, $3 each.
(3) White ceramic porcelain ramekin. Pier 1 Imports, $3.
(4) White ceramic porcelain remekins. Pier 1 Imports, $4 each.
(5) Apilco porcelain short soufflé ramekins. Williams-Sonoma, $26.
Window linens
When it comes to window coverings, linen provides privacy but still lets in the light. The high is a heavier weight (meaning it’s more opaque), while the low is a lighter weight and comes in a double width (meaning double the savings). A strip of ribbon in natural silk (high) or polyester (low) completes the look.
(1) HIGH Beacon Hill Linen Solid drapery fabric in White. Robert Allen, $172 per yard.
(2) LOW Linen double-width drapery fabric in White. Designer Fabrics, $30 per yard.
Shades of chartreuse
A colour that almost vibrates with energy, chartreuse provides bold backing for a black and white display, engaging the eye and amplifying the graphic details. Below, we introduce our four favourite shades of chartreuse.
(1) Behr Pear 400A-3, homedepot.ca.
(2) Glimmer of Lime 16-8, prattandlambert.com.
(3) Limelight 2025-40, benjaminmoore.ca.
(4) Ready 2K1-6, beauti-tone.ca.
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