Modernizing Hammered Brass Plates

Happy Wednesday!  Today, I wanted to share with you a cool way to update dated hammered (metal) plates. Again, I DIYed this a while ...

Happy Wednesday! 


Today, I wanted to share with you a cool way to update dated hammered (metal) plates. Again, I DIYed this a while ago (on a hiatus) so I have no "personal" before shot. You can find an example of a hammered brass plates, here. These plates can literally be found at any thrift store out there. Every time I go to a thrift store I see them and they are typically priced to sell. 



I felt awkward labeling this as a DIY, since there is no full blown tutorial, just a few after photos and steps to achieve this look.  

Materials: 
Hammered brass/tin/metal plate
Spray paint
sanding block/sandpaper

Steps: 
1. Clean plate(s) off --make sure there is no dust or dirt is on the plate
2. Spray Paint and let dry--I did NOT prime my plates, I figure since they are more of a decorative piece they should not really get damaged.
3. Sand desired areas, lightly
4. Dust off any paint debris from sanding

BOOM, there you go...just as simple as that. Now...just to note, I liked them in their original state. However, they dated my rental. My rental, at the time I purchased this, had a lot of vintage pieces and the house already felt old in nature with stained wood and all that is and was going on in the home. I needed these plates to pop. I considered color blocking them, doing a pinwheel effect, but nothing sounded true to me than painting it black. Before I decided to sand some of the paint off to expose some of the brass, I kept them black for like 5 minutes before deciding that they were too stark. That decision led me to gently sand it to give it dimension. The last thing I ever want to do is to take away the charm from a vintage piece, but I had to think about me and what suited my decor style. I feel like painting it black gives it character, color, and the added oomph that I need on my bland rental walls without distracting or taking away from the other elements around it. 



Pictured above are 3 out of 7 of the plates I own and painted hanging up in my living room which at the current moment is receiving a mini makeover. Stay tune to to see what I am up to next. Living room makeover should be ready to view sometime in August. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

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39 comments

  1. Good grief, now I wish I hadn't sold the coal box that is probably the same as your plates. Why did I not think of this? The plates look great Jess! Love them!!!

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  2. It's amazing what you can transform with a little bit of spray paint. I love how they turned out!

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    1. Paint can fix so many things, it is ah-mazing!

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  3. Such a neat idea. I absolutely love it.

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  4. Love these! So pretty and elegant. I absolutely love re-touched vintage items :-)

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  5. I would never have thought about spray painting those! I usually quickly pass them by, thinking they are hideous! HA! But yours look FAB! I could totally incorporate this into my gallery wall! Thanks for sharing love! xox

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    1. Haha! Decorative plates would look awesome on your gallery wall!

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  6. I don't think I have ever seen hammered plates before -- i'll have to be on the lookout. I really enjoyed how you mixed these plates with the rest of your decor. It really fills in the space and makes it look nice!

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    1. Thanks Heather! You should be able to find them at any thrift store...or on any online vintage shops. Some stores even sell them in sets for a reasonable price.

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  7. I haven't seen those plates before but they look great.

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  8. These plates look great! What a doable diy idea. Thanks.

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  9. So, I have to have one of these lol! It is so beautiful and such a great project! Thank you for sharing this wonderful DIY!

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    1. Thanks Ashleigh! I do not know where they originate from but while you are on vacation you should totally scout the area for some cool decorative plates, they might have some there.

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  10. I actually saw some plates just like this when I was thrift shopping the other day - I need to go snatch them before they're gone. Love how these turned out!

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  11. They look really cool. Even though you don't have before pictures, the tutorial you gave was really great. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. I've never seen these type of plates before, where have I been! But these are awesome, I love that it has just the right amount of coastal/nautical feel. I'll be on the lookout for some now!

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    1. Thanks Katy! My plates came in a set and 2 of them have sail boats in them, the others have people from the old world. Love it!

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  13. Sigh... I do wish I could see a before pic... ;) But seriously, these look great and I always love what a big difference and impact some spray paint can make. Whoever invented it is my hero. :)

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    1. Thanks Justine! I love spray paint too, it is so handy in so many ways. Here is a link to how the plates looked prior to painting them via etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/166358614/vintage-embossed-brass-english-wall?ref=market

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  14. I really love how you decorate!! The hammered plates after you DIYed them really make a great pop on your white wall!

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  15. WOW I love the black! It gives them so much more texture

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    1. Yes, it does! Thanks for commenting and understanding my vision!

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  16. Ohhh my gosh, you are seriously SO creative!! I love the way the spray paint looks!

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  17. I love how the pattern shows beautifully through the black paint and on the walls. I might look into getting some for my walls too.

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    1. I love the way you put this and how detailed you were in your comment. I am happy that I got to share my vision with all of you. Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. These look amazing! What a cool idea <3

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  19. That looks so nice! that was a great way to modernize them. truly was a great idea!

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    1. Thank you so much Andrea! At first I was afraid to post this bc I was not sure what ppl would think of me spray painting a vintage piece.

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  20. These are so cool! I don't know if I've ever seen these at a thrift store, but I'll have to keep my eye out!
    xo, Caitlin
    And Possibly Dinosaurs

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    1. They are beautiful in person...some may not think so, but if you see any I would snatch it up. Thanks for stopping by!

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  21. jess, this is such a fun idea! i never would have thought to do it!

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