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.

Take it personal: Monogrammed China

When you want to create a table setting that’s uniquely yours, monogrammed dinnerware is the way to go. It enables you to personalize your dinnerware collections or to mix monogrammed pieces into what you already have for a unique look.

I received an email today from Joy who was nice enough to share with me her monogrammed salad plates. She writes;

Hi there,

I just found your blog and I have to say I just love it. You have given me some great ideas. I am very into monogramming also so I thought I would tell you about some fabulous salad plates I just bought by Raynaud. I had a three letter monogram put on them. I've attached a picture.

Joy

Joy, thanks so much for sharing. I think your salad plates are fabulous. The plates are made by Raynaud a renowned French porcelain manufacture who makes irresistible Limoges, know wonder they’re so gorgeous.

Upon further investigation I learned that the salad plate is part of the Raynaud’s Tropic collection which comes in 2 other chic colors - - - Green and Blue.

The Five-piece setting includes dinner plate, salad plate, bread/butter plate, cup and saucer and are available to be monogrammed with one, two, or three initials in Ruban or Vegetal fonts.

So when you’re ready to put your signature style on the table, do it with monogram pieces - - - that way you know its custom and not something everybody else has. The green has my name all over it!

Grandmother's China: Vintage is timeless

At the Oscars and other award ceremonies, leading actresses now regularly step out in vintage Valentino and Dior. In fashion magazines, the latest designer look is often set off with accessories from the 1930s-60s. In a radical departure from modernism, vintage fashion has even hit today’s table. The newest look for fine dinnerware is not white and minimalist. Giving a nod to our mother’s and grandmother’s generation, the newest look in china is old.

My Mother’s Wedgwood Jasperware china pattern, which she registered for over 40 years ago, has been discontinued; however the above accessory pieces are still available. I love Jasperware, as it is the most famous and prized of all Josiah Wedgwood's invententions, a timeless treasure.

Vintage is an eclectic style that's easy to live with – It means taking the best from past eras and mixing it with the finest of the new in a way that suits your own personality. Today, I would mix my Mother's Jasperware with my Wedgwood collection “Portobello Road”. Hand-crafted from sturdy earthenware, the Portobello Road collection from Wedgwood is inspired by antique pottery. Hand-painted in subtle hues. Pairing Jasperware and Portobello Road lends a classic country aesthetic to the tabletop.

So, if you are planning a Tea, Luncheon, Brunch or Dinner this Mother’s Day I encourage you to dress your table with some vintage dinnerware, I guarantee that it will be a great conversation starter. I would love to be sitting around either one of these tables, taken from Country Living magazine to ask a ton of questions about the tableware. How old is this China? How did you obtain it? Who's the Designer? What made you fall in love with it? ect, ect, ect. One of the greatest joys of setting your table with your vintage china is that you will using items that were loved from generation to generation.

Whether it's your grandmother's tea cups, your’s mother’s china pattern, your aunt's flatware or a set of dishes that you've painstakingly gathered piece by piece over the years, displaying those dishes on a table beautifully set for guests can be very rewarding. Let the following images from Country Living magazine inspire you to set your table with a mix and match of old and new.