6 Must-Have Sets of Dishes

I love dishes!  I love setting the table with different plates and bowls, I love matching the dishes to the type of food we are serving, I love coordinating the linens and plates - I really love dishes!  Recently though, I've been thinking about how many sets of dishes are the right number to own.  At what point do you step over the edge and move from dish lover and dish collector to dish addict.  I've been getting some flak from Kate, who has talked me down from the edge when I've wanted to buy more dishes at the thrift store, and my friend (you know who you are) who thinks I have too many dishes.  So I've been pondering how many sets of dishes are optimal.

While I love all dishes, for me the thing that makes the biggest impact on a table is the plates so I don't buy all the side plates and bowls that go with every set.  Plus I love the mismatched look so I'm happy to pair bowls and plates from different sets.  I'm a bit cheap so I only buy plates that are from the thrift store or on a great sale somewhere.  Until now I have only bought dishes when I could get eight or ten plates or bowls so that there were enough to set a complete table when we had guests.  It has recently dawned on me that soon there will only be two of us at home (tear, tear) and I have started to look out for sets of four plates. 

I do realize that all we really need is one set of basic white or cream dishes, but where's the fun in that.  So here is my list of the six sets of dishes that I see as being just the right number - not too many to store, but enough variety that you can have fun setting the table.  There is definitely overlap between the categories so you may or may not need all six types.

Here's my list of the six must-have sets of dishes.

1) WHITE (or CREAM) DISHES

I think a set of plain white or cream dishes are a basic minimum and always look classic and pretty.  

 Pottery Barn

White dishes can look modern or traditional depending on their shape and style and on what type of cutlery, drinking glasses, linens, and centrepiece you put with them.

Canadian House and Home

You can add other colourful dishes to change the look and add some interest,

Sarah Richardson's table via House of Turquoise

or change the linens on the table to take the same dishes from casual to formal.

Style at Home

2) FORMAL FINE CHINA DISHES

I love the look of a table set with porcelain dishes that have some silver or gold trim and maybe a thin decorative line around the edge or some pretty flowers on them.  They make such a lovely table setting for a more formal meal.  Many people have some fine china that they received as wedding presents or inherited from family.  If your formal china is sitting in a cabinet not being used, then I say it is time to get it out and enjoy it.  Nothing elevates an occasion like setting a pretty table with cloth napkins, fresh flowers, and fine china.

House of Turquoise

 Country Living

 Canadian House and Home

 Seattle Times

3) CHRISTMAS DISHES

By Christmas dishes I really mean ones that look good on your table at Christmas.  While some of the dishes that are specifically meant for Christmas are lovely, I think it is a pity to have to store something that is only used for one month of the year.  In my opinion it would be so much better to find some cute red and white patterned plates (like the ones in the first photo below, which I adore), or green plates, or white with gold trim - whatever makes a Christmas table special to you and can be used again at other times.

Martha Stewart

PennyAnnPoundwise

Country Living

4) POTTERY DISHES

When you are having a hearty stew or a home-style dinner, these are the dishes you need.  They make the table seem warm and comfortable with a down-to-earth charm.

House of Turquoise
 

 Country Living

5) ASIAN DISHES

When it's stir fry or sushi that's being served, then some Asian-inspired dishes are just the thing.  There are a variety of styles of Asian dishes from rustic glazed dishes to white ones with stylized flowers, birds, and dragons on them.  Asian dishes are also sometimes square-shaped.  

Canadian House and Home

Fine Cooking

Misha Cuisine

Source

6) JUST FOR FUN DISHES

To add a little variety, you need a few dishes in the just for fun category.  They might be some nice bright dishes like these sunny yellow plates,

 Southern Accents

or some lovely pastels ones,

Country Living

or some blue ones like these pretty transferware plates,

Southern Accents

or these gorgeous navy floral ones,

BHG

or some charmingly quirky ones that speak to you.

TrueWestHome

Etsy

To me those six types of dishes cover most seasons, events, and meals, but aren't too many to store.  What about you?  How many sets of dishes do you think is the perfect number?

Later this week I'll show you which ones I have.

Linked to Inspiration Friday at Southern in My Heart

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Timeless Treasures

Over the years, many of my home décor items have come and gone–as I've moved from one style house to another.

Others–those with a more timeless appeal–have remained and have found their special places in each new dwelling.

For instance, I've had this French buffet and hutch for almost twenty years. 

It has worked beautifully in my last four homes–an English Tudor, an English Cottage, a 50s ranch, and, at present, my tiny cottage farmhouse. 

Though the piece itself has looked the same over the years, the items displayed upon it have been in a constant state of flux.

These are the treasures it currently holds.

This vintage bakelite flatware is known as Butterscotch to collectors.

I've placed it in a large, vintage pressed glass piece–set atop an old restaurant china dessert plate, with an even older pie pan underneath.

Displayed in this old platter is part of my vintage silverplate creamer collection.

When I started collecting these beauties some years ago, I set a ceiling purchase price of five dollars per piece.

The most expensive one here is the one in the back–$2.99, from a thrift store.  The least expensive, of the four, was only ninety-nine cents–the one on the right.

I love vintage buttons and have been collecting them for many, many years. 

I think the soft, creamy tones, of those displayed here, create a romantic look when coupled with the various shades of gray of the silverplate.

Behind the platter, I placed an ornate, vintage English ironstone lid.  It's an orphan I adopted, because I admired its sculptural quality.

The unique, octagonal framed print, beside the lid, was another thrift store score from long ago.  At only ninety-nine cents, it was a bargain I couldn't resist.

I actually have a project planned for it...that I hope to get to someday.  ;)

In this image, you can see another of my pretty orphaned English ironstone lids.

It's a complete mystery to the Yankee why I like to collect just lids.  

But then, much of what we women like is a mystery to men.  Am I right?

The thick coffee cups stacked on the shelf above are Buffalo restaurant china.  You just can't beat restaurant dinnerware for its durability.

On this part of the same shelf is another vintage platter, a William Adams and Sons English ironstone teapot, a vintage doily, the base to a miniature, antique oil lamp, a square ironstone dish, and a vintage tin–blackened with age.

This shot gives you a glimpse of all the wonderful vintage and antique items displayed on the two uppermost shelves.

I used the soup tureen–that you see on the upper shelf of this shot–in one of my tablescape posts.

The clear glass piece to the right of it is an old creamer.

On the shelf below is another vintage platter, two more pieces of English ironstone–a William Adams and Sons water pitcher and a Johnson Brothers gravy boat–another vintage doily, and an antique cruet.

Years ago, the Yankee and I actually stood in frigid cold snow–in the mountains of Tennessee–to garner that cruet at auction. 

On the opposite side of the shelf are two other Johnson Brothers ironstone pieces–a plate and a small pitcher holding silverplate flatware–a French creamer, and a vintage bird print. 

The gorgeous, vintage transferware gravy boat is one of my favorites.  It's displayed atop an old doily, set on a vintage cake plate, atop a restaurant china dessert plate.

As you can see above, I'm fortunate to have two of those wonderful old French creamers.

And in this image, you get a better look at the clear glass one.

Behind it–against, yet another, vintage platter–is a chippy old applique.

The bird prints were framed when I found them.   But I removed them from their frames and placed them in the hutch like vintage cabinet cards.

The loving cup trophy was a fortuitous flea market find at only $12.00.

Now, if, after all this, you want to know what vintage goodness I have sitting on the top and tucked away at the very bottom of my buffet and hutch, you can take a look over here.

Linking to these fun parties:

Kathleen's White Wednesday

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday

Leigh's Thrifty Thursday

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Fourteen Days of Love - Day 4 - Straight to the Heart

What is Valentine's Day without hearts? By far, this one symbol outshines them all as a representation of love and devotion.

As I planned out this party–months ago–I thought of all the symbols one associates with Valentine's Day. I listed as many as I could think of and, from that list, chose fourteen to be the topics of the

Fourteen Days of Love.

I didn't give a great deal of thought to the fact that as the hostess of this little affair, I would have to have things to share for each day's topic.

Now, don't misunderstand. I knew I would be publishing a post

each day–hopefully, one filled with fun and creativity. I just had not taken stock of how many things I actually had around the cottage, or in my personal photo files, that would actually match those topics.

So…bear with me as I share what I could find related to hearts!

The day I was in Marshalls, I was a camera-clicking machine. After all, I figured I was already there–and they had lots of pretties–so, why not take lots of pictures.

I really liked this heart-shaped wire basket filled with roses. I even contemplated purchasing it and using the roses in my tablescape here.

They also had the basket in a different finish with solid pink roses. I liked the silver basket better, but preferred the other roses…so, I just passed on both of them.

I did think seriously about that cute serving set though. Then I decided that I wanted to go in a different direction with the look of my tablescape, so I nixed it as well. Hey, a girl can change her mind–right?!

But, I was very happy with the Valentine's dishes I was able to get–with all their pretty hearts and sweet pinkness! ; )

Though these ramekins were terribly cute additions to the dishes Marshalls had on display, I wanted something that would play well with all the crystal and glass that I would be using on my Valentine's table.

When I found these sweet little votive holders, I knew they would be perfect! I used them as salt cellars in the tablescape, and will later use them for their intended purpose.

After reading a lot of blogs, I've made a discovery.  Many of you love, love, love red! So…you should really shine tomorrow for the day's topic–Seeing Red.

I use very little red in my decorating–even at Christmas–but, Marshalls dedicated as much space to red Valentine items as they did pink.

Want to know why I'm such a fan of that chain of retail stores? They have a fabulous selection–at least in my area–at phenomenal prices. Their original prices are great, but their clearance section is awesome!

Honestly, that's the first place I check in each department. And they always have great bargains there!

These crystal napkin rings were reduced to $7.00. Can you make out the shape? Yep, hearts!

And this sweet little teapot was only $5.00–because it had blown its lid.

These whimsical Annalee mice would have been something I would have snapped up for my children when they were younger. Since our darling little granddaughter, Lana Lexie, is a bit too young for them right now,  I just took in all their cuteness and passed on by.

When I think of this holiday dedicated to love, I think of all those near and dear to me who have captured my heart.

This little blessing is at the top of the list!

OK...your turn to show your heart(s)!

Do you recall my tale of woe here, over those wonderful Valentine's dishes,

and how I was only able to find a few

when I returned to make my purchase?

I really wanted a number

of those cute heart-shaped ones. Alas, I could find but one!

Guess what the prize of the day is

that will be added to this week's giveaway?

You guessed right! 

Reminder:  Please be sure to publish your

Valentine's post, before you link to the party. And

don't forget to mention the Brambleberry Cottage

in your post.

Remember to leave a comment to be entered in this

week's drawing for the giveaway!

1. Marilyn 2. Jenn Raley 3. http://tinandsparkle.blogspot.com/

4. http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-love-this-time-of-year.html 5. Tammy 6. Debbie

7. http://donna-sugarspicesouthernlife.blogspot.com/ 8. barbara jean

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