Need new dinnerware advice

[Romandub]

So I woke up this morning and decided I was sick and tired of my everyday dishes. I've had them for about 15 years and it's time for something new. My dilemma is whether to stay with all white because that seems to work with so much stuff and most of my other serving pieces are white. But I sort of long for some color---in fact, have some party plates that are multi-colored. My kitchen is all white with red accents. The kitchen opens up to a relatively formal dining room with antique mahogony dinner table and china buffet. However, the dining room chairs are very colorful upholstered red and yellow and gold. I don't have formal china, so I am looking for something that can be used both every day and for more formal occasions. Any thoughts or advice? What do you all have?

[testkitchen45]

I would highly recommend Mikasa's "Maxima Super Strong Fine China." One of my everyday patterns (the other is Fiestaware) is from that Mikasa line, purchased very reasonably at a Mikasa outlet. Yes, I do handle my dishes pretty carefully, but with a whole family and guests slinging them around for about 15 years, we have zero (yes, zero!) chips on any of them! My Sorrento pattern has been discontinued, but the Maxima line has a range of patterns, and a plain white. It includes a pretty dinner plate with little ridges all around the edges (very hard to describe; you just have to see it as it's not fussy but the style keeps it from being plain old white), and a soup plate (rather than a soup bowl), which is nice for more formal entertaining. I have no regrets or problems with this line and think you'd be delighted with it, and could easily find a pattern (or white) that could go into your formal dining room. Let us know what you pick; this sounds fun (and shopping by proxy is so much easier on the wallet :D )!

[Curiosity Hears]

This is a timely thread for me. Five years ago I replaced a wonder collection of Mikasa china because I was sooooooo sick of it as we had been using it everyday for over fifteen years. Similar to Testkitchen45, we had one chip in one plate over the years and we deserved it on that one. I too longed for a multi colored more fun and casual approach because I was tired of all that matching going on. So without even thinking about the material being used I bought service for ten of hand painted multi colored very fun set. (You all know the collection they are sold in all the stores). Anyway, they chip and chip and nick and scratch easily! So I too am now shopping for a new but durable collection and think I will be going back to china because it is worth it.

Just food for thought. Good luck and please post your decision.

[Cookin4Love]

I still like plain white (not plain in design, necessarily--just color) for most uses. You're right; it goes with everything. So, in my most accessible cupboard, I have all white china that we use for every day. I also, however, have a set of cobalt blue with delicate lime-green tracings, and another cobalt with black designs. I mix and match them whenever I feel like it, along with several types of glassware, all variations of plain crystal, crystal with cobalt blue swirls, cobalt blue glassware, etc. When I do this, I use white table linens in a rich fabric, and a very simple long, silver candleholder with white candles.

So, I guess my advice is buy plain white--and something else that fills your need for color and brightness. FWIW, none of my dishware was terribly expensive. If I were spending $$$$$, I'd go for plain white, with brighter dishes at a lower price point.

[jenniferW]

About 5 years ago I got rid of all my mis-matched dinnerware and bought the Cafeware Diner collection from Crate and Barrel and love it! I bought 12 place settings. We have open shelving and I love how it looks and how easy its been to put the dishes away. We are really hard on our dishes and they have proven themselves time and again. I know what you mean about wanting some color. Everytime I go shopping I get so inspired when I see some of the new colors and designs. Instead of new dishes, I started buying fun/vibrant tableclothes, napkins and placemats. It has given me so much freedom when setting the table.

I would highly recommend Crate and Barrel for inspiration. They have a great website and excellent customer service. Good luck. I hope you'll let us know what you decide to get.

Jennifer

[Lauren]

I just replaced my everyday dishes after having the old set for 16 years or so. Plus, we recently moved into a new home. I wanted a pottery looking stoneware and took my time picking something out that I would love. I ended up getting a Noritake pattern that came in the sagey green color I was looking for.

http://www.noritakechina.com/images/Products/Close_ups/8038.zoom.jpg

I ended up finding the best deal at this site. http://www.silversuperstore.com/china.html A couple pieces arrived broken and within 10 days I had replacements. :D

Have fun picking out your new stuff!!!

[Curiosity Hears]

I ended up finding the best deal at this site. http://www.silversuperstore.com/china.html A couple pieces arrived broken and within 10 days I had replacements. :D

Have fun picking out your new stuff!!!

Love this set!

Thanks for the link, very helpful.

[testkitchen45]

Romandub, was looking at subscribed threads (need a few minutes of brain candy before company arrives!), & wondered if you ever got your dishes?

[Romandub]

Testkitchen45--funny you should ask. The short answer is I have not. I spent most of last weekend and all day yesterday looking. And the problem is we are having a garage sale tomorrow and my plan was to sell my current set in the garage sale. But I have had a surprisingly hard time finding something that grabs me, so I have decided to keep looking. In the meantime, the dishes are staying in the cupboard instead of going to the garage sale!

[AKA Lisa]

Oh Lauren, I love those dishes! I've been looking around for a new set of dishes, too. I like solid color stoneware/pottery type dishes, not too dark. I haven't found the perfect ones yet but I haven't given up!

[Lauren]

AKA Lisa - what color do you like? The noritake ones come in a couple of colors. Mikasa has some stoneware patterns too.

This is a nice neutral set by Noritake.
http://www.noritakechina.com/images/Products/EveryDayPatterns/8474.gif

[AKA Lisa]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002PC7RC/ref=noref/103-9995772-9277422?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen

Thanks for the picture, I do like the Noritake a lot. I like the cream ones in the link above but I always have a problem with our silverware leaving marks on white or cream colored plates and bowls and it drives me crazy!!

[Lauren]

I like the Colorwave set. I looked at those, too. Great colors! I hear you on the silverware scratches. I hadn't realized how awful my old dishes looked, with scratches, until I bought new dishes. I was quick to show DH who didn't see the need for new dishes. :rolleyes: He always humors me by saying the food tastes so much better on nice dishes. :p

[AKA Lisa]

:) You know, he could be right!

[jmarie]

Stoneware is where the chipping and scratching occurs, in my opinion. I use Fiesta right now, but have dropped a plate and it shattered, but other that that it is still in pretty good shape.

I used my Royal Doulton everyday china for years and never broke or chipped a piece. My pattern, Vintage Grape, is discontinued now, but I put it away and am not going to sell it because I plan to go back to it when I get tired of what I am using now.

If I were you, I would look at everyday china as opposed to stoneware. I also think that the bottom of stone ware is not real good for the table surfaces as it could (in my opinion) mar the surface if someone scoots a serving dish around very much.

If you like the white, I liked the Mikasa website. I like their rain and another white pattern that they offer that were square and the other a little odd shaped. Those would be so stackable in a kitchen cabinet, as well, because they would fit right into the corner, no wasted space.

Good luck! You will have fun looking! good thing is that you don't be in a hurry, because yours is still working. Check all of the websites Mikasa, Noritake, Royal Doulton, they all have very nice everyday china. Corelle even has some square patterns now...Heck, you don't get more durable than Corelle.

[Peweh]

I have the Pottery Barn Emma dishes in white and celadon, they have nice beading detail and look simple & elegant for casual or fancy dinners. Haven't had problems with silverware scratching, and they hold up well in the DW and microwave. The celadon has been discontinued but you can still get the white and I think right now they have a light yellow version too. I love having the different colors and deciding which color the day's meal will look best 'plated' on; I think I have 8 settings of each and mix them up when I have a large crowd. I agree with everyone who said white is a nice neutral and it's easy to mix things up with colored linens depending on the season.

I hope my link posts OK!! http://ww1.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpctendnwemm%7Crshop%2Fshpcten%7Crsho p&pkey=ctendnwemm&gids=p1485

[Lauren]

Peweh,

I like your pattern. It has some interest, the beading, without being too busy. It reminds me of this set from Mikasa, which is available in the light yellow, sage or all white. One of my neighbors has it.

http://www.mikasaandcompany.com/images/catalog/category.DD910.category.jpg

[springsgourmet9]

I just love my plain white everyday dishes that I purchased from Crate & Barrel. I've had them for 6 years and never tire of them. Everything goes with white. You can change your table linens to any color and the white looks great with them.

[jimjimmerjim]

We recently bought new china and added new pieces to our everyday dishes and almost all of it was purchased on e-bay.

Our china retails for about $300.00 a place setting, but I was able, with patience, to never pay more than $100.00 per place setting, and a few times far less.

The coffee pot retails for $270.00, but I got it on e-bay for $45.00!

So once you decide on a pattern you like, and if you are in no hurry, try e-bay. If you are patient, you maybe able to get quite a good deal.

If you want to look at some more types of chinas, these two sites have pretty good prices as well:

http://www.upscalegallery.com/index.asp

http://www.parisjeweler.com/index.html

Those two links have great prices on Waterford crystal as well.