11 kitchens that prove the plate rack is a hero accessory
When designing a new kitchen, or thinking about giving your existing space a bit of a refresh, you'll need to consider several factors. What materials might you use for your countertops? What paint for the walls? Might you have an island, or butcher's block? What hardware will you choose? Yet despite it being highly impactful, the inclusion of a plate rack is often unfairly overlooked.
Plate racks are both pretty and practical, adding decorative flair and interest to kitchen walls, whilst providing a foil to closed cabinetry. They are the perfect way to show off your plate collection, doing a similar job to a kitchen dresser, but without the large footprint.
Patrick Williams of Berdoulat is a big fan of the plate rack too, employing them in various projects as well as his own house. In a 2023 episode of Design Notes, he declares that 'one of the benefits of using a rack like this is when you’ve done the washing up, it drips dry, which means you don't have to put anything away.' A handy time-saving tip for those who place theirs above the sink.
Below, we've compiled 11 ideas for plate racks that are sure to win you over.
Christopher Horwood1/11In constructing the pantry in her Yorkshire house, our editor Hatta Byng incorporated a wooden plate rack she found in the attic, flanking it with wall lights from Jamb. The patina of the plate rack forms a pleasing foil to the pillar-box-red gloss
Mark Anthony Fox2/11Plate racks don't have to be separate from the kitchen – they can be rather smart when they're built in to the cabinetry. The cabinetry in this Herefordshire kitchen was made by a local joiner to owner Phoebe Clive’s design. It has an Eastern-European-style pediment which includes a plate rack, and is painted in ‘Invisible Green’ from Edward Bulmer.
Mark Anthony Fox3/11The Spitalfields house of the owners of Jamb provides the perfect backdrop for some of their own pieces. The plate rack on the right is one such example, softening the space against the modern cooker, Irish fossil worktop and zinc cupboards.
Andrew Montgomery4/11Surely the finest example of a freestanding kitchen, Patrick Williams of Berdoulat has a plate rack that stretches the full length of his kitchen counter.
Davide Lovatti5/11Tara Craig's London flat is a masterclass in making the most of your space. To that end, she has employed a smart plate rack above the sink, stacking the plates on their sides to save room.
Michael Sinclair6/11In this Victorian house in the West Country, the plate rack, island and cabinets were all created by Luke Haughton, a bespoke joiner who also made a kitchen for the owner’s first flat in Bristol. The plate rack sits just above the sink for easy washing up.
Dean Hearne7/11In Asthall Manor, the childhood home of the Mitford sisters, the pantry features a large plate rack.
8/11In Tim Whittaker's Cumbrian farmhouse, he has combined freestanding furniture to charming effect. Whilst the focal point of the kitchen might be the early nineteenth-century cooking fireplace, the plate rack on the adjacent wall provides balance.
Tom Griffiths9/11Victoria Barker has cleverly planned her snug kitchen to maximise storage. Where possible, she has kept things open to make the space feel larger. To that end she has used a wall-hung plate rack from Rowen and Wren to display her collection of antique plates.
10/11In a shepherd's hut belonging to Aller Dorset, every trick in the book has been used to make the most of the area available. In both huts, plate racks have been used.
Christopher Horwood11/11Conceived by Peter Sheppard for Smallbone, the kitchen of 18th-century Wolterton Hall was named the joint winner of the 2020 Historic Houses Kitchen Award. In the background, just above the sink, a smart plate rack hangs.
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