Let’s turn our attention away from pretty kitchens for a minute (hard, I know), and look to something that you inevitably find in those rooms: tableware. Available in a mind-boggling array of materials, styles, sizes and colours, choosing it can be almost as taxing as choosing a backsplash or cabinets. One question will always pop up, though.
White or coloured?
Traditional wisdom says that white is the only way to go. It’s clean, minimalist and shows off food to its best advantage. It certainly can be beautiful, as in the Sophie Conran for Portmeiron collection, used by my own stylish sister:
But white tableware can also scuff, scratch and stain easily. Luckily there are alternatives if colour (or practicality) is your thing. A beautiful neutral, as in this Vera Wang for Wedgewood Naturals range, can look lovely:
As can a fun or bold print. I like the graphic-yet-natural feeling of Rachel Barker’s range:
So, where do you fall on this debate? What do you look for in a set of tableware?
(All images in this post from John Lewis)
you know, I just had this conversation with a friend this past weekend. I’m a white-only kind of person. I think if I were more established in my home’s decor I could be more comfortable choosing an appropriate pattern, but since we’re always in flux (or so it seems), having all white gives me greater flexibility in what linens I use, flowers I buy to decorate the table, etc.
I wanted to make a cute set of table linens for my sister, but she has a very contemporary home w/an open floor plan, and everyday dishes with a classic floral pattern. For the life of me, I could not readily find a fabric that would complement both her dinnerware AND her room’s decor!
I’ve found myself agonizing over this issue recently. My very favourite is a darker neutral (like my Wedgwood Drabware) but I’ve been second guessing my decision to go with the sage green Sophie Conran set for everyday. I worry about getting sick of it or starting to look dated, whereas with white, it will always look classic. I think I’m still a coloured girl, but I can appreciate the upside of an all white set.
Wow, I’m lovin’ Sophie Conran’s Collection but I just came across Rachel Barker’s Collection at John Lewis and LOVED it too. Due to storage space in the kitchen I went with the Thomas Loft Collection and I’m glad that I did. The TLC is white with a modern design which is perfect for my husband who loves ‘modern’ and my love of all things ‘classic’.