Something Borrowed, Something Blue

No color combination is as endlessly versatile as this dynamic duo. No matter what decade you look at in decoration, there are a few colors that have a staying power that transcends the fads and the trends. Blue and white is one of those timeless color duos that is never old and tired. Blue and white tableware is as fantastic today as much as it was years ago when our mothers and grandmothers loved it. (l to r: White Snow Blu collection, charger, $157.00, dinner plate, $30.00, saucer, $23.00, cup,$23.00, Driade Kosmo; image from Country Living Magazine).

Blue and White is a favorite decorating scheme for interior designers around the world and the color combination has inspired many tabletop designers. I have always loved Spode's blue and white willoware, it is elegant on the top of the table and also looks quite striking in any room in your home, be it contemporary or period.

(above: Sutherland, Octagonal plates, $60.00, Spode; Image from Ralph Lauren Home; below:Image from House Beautiful Magazine; Blue Canton Dinnerware, 5 pc place setting $185.00, Mottahedeh, Bloomingdale's).

So boundless is blue and white that you could decorate your table with it and make it look completely different every time. Here I've shown it change moods, going from crisp stripes to romantic flowers from the bold colors and patterns of Oscar de la Renta to the dramatic stencil-pattern from Martha Stewart:

(l to r: Venezia Essenze, dinner plates, s/4 $230.00; Venezia Essenze Blue and White Teapot $212.00, creamer $98.00, sugar bowl $114.00, Gump's San Francisco).

(l to r: Palmette, cup $30.00, plate 4 1/2" $20.00, late 5" $20.00, plate 8"$40.00, plate 12" $95.00, cup with handle $50.00, bowl 10" $95.00, bowl with lid $60.00, oval dish cresent $40.00, oval dish 14" $95.00, Royal Copenhagen, Michael C. Fina; Image from House Beautiful Magazine).

(l to r: Azul salad plate $56.00, Azul dinner plate $57.00, Oscar de la Renta, Michael C. Fina).
(l to r: Lorraine Stencil Dots salad plate $12.00; vine rim salad plate $12.00, Martha Stewart Collection, Macy*s).


(l to r: Indigo dinnerware $23.80 - $29.65, Z gallerie; "Castellana" Dinnerware 16p dinnerware set $129.00, Horchow).

Blue represents elegance, simplicity and tranquility and tables decorated in an interesting and crisp way using this color are always successful.

(clockwise: Blue Band soup cup and saucer $115.00, open vegetable bowl $200.00, dessert plate $60.00, Tiffany & Co.).

(clockwise: Blue Fluted teapot $295.00, serving bowl $275.00, dinner plate $110.00, Royal Copenhagen, Moss).

(l to r: Library Lane Navy 5 Piece Place Setting $119.00, Kate Spade, Bloomingdale's; Cote d'Azur white and blue ceramic dessert plates, Cote d'Azur blue and white ceramic charger, Ralph Lauren).

(l to r: Mandarian Dinner Service $24.99, mugs s/4 $74.99, Ralph Lauren)

From navy to cobalt to robin's egg to periwinkle, blue is a classic hue that you can turn to everytime and what differentiates blue from other colors is that blues can be mixed together without restraint and blue goes with just about anything.