Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Let's Dish


I have been obsessing about dishes lately. 

It started when I decided that it was time to buy some new flatware.  The silverware I have is something I bought years ago, when I got out of law school and set up my first grown-up home in Concord, New Hampshire.  That was (yikes!) over 30 years ago.  And while I still like the pattern, they're pretty thrashed. They've gone through over 30,000 meals, moves to 3 different homes, a lot of dropping and banging and scratching, and the occasional unintended tangle with the garbage disposal.  I thought it was time to get something new and shiny. 

After a whole lot of perusing of flatware and reading of reviews, I settled on something that looks simple, classic, but lovely -- and different from what I have, for sheer excitement. It's a pattern called Merlemont by Villeroy & Boch. It should be here any day and I can hardly wait.


Hey. You might not think they're exciting. But I do. And I might even go hog-wild and buy a new silverware organizer for the drawer. Be still my heart!

But, as these things go, anticipating new silverware made me look at my dishes.  Three years ago, when marital changes happened and a lot of kitchen stuff got divided, I bought some simple white plates from TJ Maxx or HomeGoods or somewhere like that.  They were from the Hotel Collection brand, and they had a pretty but not complicated scalloped edge, and they were cheap.  So Miss C and I have used them daily since then.  But wow, what a mess they are.  They are covered with gray lines and scratches from basic daily use. I've researched, I've bought special products, I've scrubbed with cleaners "guaranteed" to remove those marks, I've applied a whole lot of elbow grease -- and they're still horrid-looking.

So, to celebrate the impending final conclusion of the previously mentioned marital changes, I decided I'd get some different daily dishes. And I started looking.  There are so many gorgeous patterns out there -- and somehow, in my mind each one promises a different life if I just had those dishes to eat off of.


I love the effect of mismatched vintage dishes, I really do.  But let's get real.  I'm going to put them in the dishwasher. They're going to get banged around occasionally on the granite counter.  So for every day, that's not going to work.  (Although looking at so many beautiful vintage dishes has me thinking that I need to have a weekly tea party to use pretty pastel floral cups and saucers and dainty little plates. Care to join me?)


I love this set of dishes, Petit Fleur by Villeroy & Boch, I always have.  I even have 2 complete place settings, bought at a bargain price at a V&B outlet store back in Maine years ago. They're in perfect shape and they don't have a grey mark on them. They're fun to use when I feel springy.  But too ... well, cutesy for every day. I'm just not in that sort of mood every day.





I'm always drawn to blue and white dishes when I see them. There is something so homey and comfortable about them.


Oh dear, those swallows! I think I'm swooning. But no, not for every day.
 

And these pretty Spode fleur-de-lis dishes.  Instant transportation to a farmhouse kitchen. Perfect for a slice of blueberry pie, yes?
 

And then there's that mix and match possibility again. Aren't these bowls beautiful?  I want all of them.

But then I'd be locked into blue and white.  And what if I get tired of blue and white in a year? or in 3 days?  I like to keep my options open, you know.

I could do what a certain person I know does (I'm waiving at YOU, sister!) and have one or two or more of  a whole bunch of different patterns, so I can choose to suit my mood.  But what about when I have 12 people over for dinner?  Hey, it COULD happen, you know. 


Is it just me?  I want to LOVE the dishes I use every day.  And while I like having odds and ends of other sets, I want to have one foundation set of dishes that will allow me to mix and match other stuff in.  So, generally, that means white.  I love white dishes.  But that's a whole different online hunt. 

I *did* choose something!  But you have to stay tuned to find out what!  Meanwhile, tell me what your dishes are! Or what you'd choose if you could. I could always add a few more plates...

15 comments :

  1. OMG, Diane! What a dilemma! I grew up with mismatched dishes and my brothers and I fought over our favorites! It wasn't pretty! I have all white now, but have been thinking about hitting the secondhand stores, in search of the "just right" plates. As for you, what about a few place settings of your favorites for every season? For when you have a crowd, and you insist on matchy-matchy, just go to the dollar store and get a stack of white plates....twelve bucks for your dinner party Of a dozen of your closest friends. ( your very close friends would want your mismatched!) voila! Problem solved!
    Can't wait to hear your decision at quilting on the 13th! See you then,
    Margie

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    1. Margie! Now I'm thinking I need white china AND a collection of individual plates to use just as you describe.

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  2. when my DH and I combined households we both had sets of plain white Corelle which we use everyday; I had another set of clear glass plates w a slightly raised flower pattern on the underside, and when my Mom passed away I opted to keep one of her sets of china. it's also a simple Serenade pattern on an ivory base. I love 'em all still and will be interested in seeing what you've decided upon.

    it's the silverware that's been switched out more frequently in our household, but we recently splurged on a Cutco set and every time I pick it up I'm pleased w the heft of the pieces. I just wish they'd add iced tea spoons as an option!

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    1. Sue, I had to go look at Serenade -- very pretty. And those Corelle plates are amazing. My grandmother had them and she used to entertain us kids by occasionally throwing a plate on the floor to show that they were unbreakable!

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  3. I have a big collection of blue and white mismatched. I only hide the one very expensive exquisite plate for special occasions. the rest are from thrift stores, bargain basements, and high end stores. There are special souvineers from travelling too. Visitors like to pick out their favourites. Love love love my blue and whites.

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    1. Oh my. Now I feel that I have permission to collect blue and white plates for this very purpose! What a fun way to collect memories and use them daily!

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  4. After breaking many pieces of inexpensive white china from Crate & Barrel I splurged and started collecting pieces of Portmeirion's Botanic Garden. It has the unified look of a set but since each piece features a different flower there's a little variety. It gets used everyday... it's quite solid. The mugs have gotten the most abuse so it's no surprise they have chips but I've only broken two dishes in all the years I've had them!

    The trouble is that my taste has changed, or it could be that I just want a change. I keep eyeing the Denby Azure. Too bad the Porteirion's so sturdy!

    I can't wait to see what you've chosen!

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    1. Dana, I love those Botanic Garden dishes. A friend has them and I love using them at her house. She also has a big china dresser in her dining room where all are on display, within reach and ready to use. Very pretty! Maybe you need to get a bit of Denby to use for fall/winter and keep Portmeirion for spring/summer?!

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  5. ... and I love those swallows too!

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    1. I have been looking to see if I can find what pattern that is. Googling has brought up all sorts of pretty dishes with birds on them but still haven't found which that is.

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  6. I have the first blue and white pattern as one of my sets though it is no longer available off the shelf in the UK. i also have the same colour blue in two other sets - Old British Castles and Woodland Scene by Johnson Bros. So matched but mismatched at the same time. My kitchen china is Blue Denmark - some of those pieces date back to my first flat after College at the end of the 60's. Blue and white never gets old...

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    1. The first Blue and White pattern is called Asiatic Pheasant.

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    2. Gloria! Thanks for the tip on Asiatic Pheasants! Lucky you! Looks like here it's only available from those sellers who buy up old patterns. And thanks for naming Blue Denmark, too. It's another of my favorites. Sigh. You're right, blue and white never does get old.

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  7. For daily use, it's the Iris pattern from Corelle. When I'm hosting more than my own crew, we use plain white Corelle. I love Corelle for its durability and stackability (not a word, I guess).

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