Your Home on a Plate - How to order a Personalised Hand-painted House Plate Gift.

Karen Willis
5 days ago
3 min read

From Friend to Heirloom: The Story Behind This Hand-Painted Blue & White House Plate

A bespoke hand-painted blue and white commissioned plate with "DEVE COTTAGE" and a cottage design with botanical border on a patterned cloth. Whimsical homemade style.

There's something deeply personal about capturing someone's home on a plate. It's more than bricks and mortar, it's life where memories are made, where the kettle's always on. When I was commissioned to hand-paint Deve Cottage as a moving-in and Christmas gift, I knew it needed to feel like more than just a house portrait. It needed to feel like home.

This piece was a gift from a close friend - a personalised housewarming gift - to celebrate a new beginning, a fresh start in a beautiful countryside cottage. The brief was simple but meaningful: capture the charm of Deve Cottage, include their beloved dog, and surround it all with the wildflowers and botanicals that make the place feel alive.

Personalised Plate: The Client's Story

The client reached out before Christmas, wanting to create something truly special for their friend who had moved into Deve Cottage. They wanted something that said, "I see you, I know what this place means to you, and I want you to treasure it forever."

They selected a dessert/side plate, and I received photos of the cottage from different angles, shared stories about the garden, oh, and I spotted the dog in the photos, too. I do like to add little personal extras when I can!

The Design Process:

Step 1: Choosing the Palette

For this piece, we went with classic blue and white; it's timeless, elegant, and reminiscent of traditional English pottery. It's a colour scheme that feels both nostalgic and sophisticated, perfect for a countryside cottage. The client loved the idea of keeping it simple and letting the illustration do the talking.

Step 2: Sketching the Cottage

How lucky was I to have Deve Cottage as a subject? The pitched roof, the chimney, and the charming asymmetry of the windows. I wanted to capture its character without overcomplicating it. The goal was to make it instantly recognisable to the recipient while keeping that hand-painted, slightly whimsical feel that makes Circle of Willis pieces unique. And of course, the dog. Positioned at the front, loyal and watchful, just as they are in real life.

Step 3: The Botanical Border

Borders can be changed to order, but this time I surrounded the cottage with hand-painted wildflowers and botanicals; daisies, simple leaves, delicate stems. All painted freehand. I love a scalloped edge, which gives it that extra touch of homeliness, like something you'd find in a country antique shop, but entirely bespoke.

Step 4: The Final Touches

Once the painting was complete, the plate was glazed and fired to preserve every brushstroke. The result? A piece that's both functional and decorative. Sturdy enough to display on a shelf or hang on a wall, but also a conversation starter every time someone visits.

The Reveal:

I'm so thrilled that the gift recipient posted the image above on Instagram and tagged me, along with her excitement. The gift-giver has achieved their goal, a gift that captured not just a house, but a feeling, and a uniquely thoughtful present that will stay with them for years to come.

Why House Plates Make the Perfect Gift:

If you're looking for a truly meaningful gift—whether it's for a housewarming, a wedding, a milestone anniversary, or 'just because', a hand-painted house plate is something that will never end up in a drawer. It's a celebration of place, of home, of the life someone is building.

Here's what makes them special:

✨ Completely bespoke – No two are ever the same

✨ Timeless heirloom quality – Built to last generations

✨ Personal storytelling – Includes pets, gardens, meaningful details

✨ Display-worthy – Beautiful enough to be the centrepiece of any room