Let’s Set the Table

January 16, 2023

Scallops are in!

Serving it up on winter whites.

Sometime ago, I took a good hard objective look at my dinnerware – especially my serving pieces.  They were all over the place in color and style. Mostly not my color and style no longer. Quite honestly, I felt like the food created and plated was not showcased in the best way it could be.

Starting anew, (With us building a new home) I needed to be savvy design-wise and dollar-wise.  I decided to go back to basics in showcasing our food in forms of white.  Let the food be the star, when it came to color, texture, and composition.  I found the perfect pieces in design, in a variety of scale and function, and price at my favorite haunts: Marshalls, Kohls, Walmart, and HomeGoods (On special occasion trips out of town.)

White dinnerware has been all the rage for the past several years – and still are.  I started with one large platter – in the shape of a chicken.  From there, I kept my eyes peeled for other platters that would work in seamlessly with my first one. The beauty of all white – all white pieces complement each other rather than fight for center stage. While shopping at Marshalls for dinnerware for my new home, I picked up sets of bowls for less than $7.00, several sets of 4 white plates from Kohls for less than $20.00 and gradually I added cups, saucers, dessert plates (all in white) made by Mikasa from Marshalls. I’ve continued to add bowls in all sizes, large serving platters, and pitchers of all sizes. Some serving pieces selling at a range of $2.99 – $14.99 (with the bulk of what I found to be well under $10) – it all was well worth it. An added bonus was to see how beautifully I could change-up the look of the all-white, by working in a few white vintage pieces with pretty detailing on the edges as well.

Setting a buffet table with all white serving platters of various sizes is quite impactful.

Platters with blue floral edges that stand out on their own.

Now contrast this vintage white and blue platter with other unique bowls and platters with scalloped edges and they’ll add so much more interest to your table.

Tip 1

My main tip in building a new collection is the importance of consistency – in some way.  My consistency was my commitment to the color white and simplicity of design. It fit my modern farmhouse style. Yet, at the same time, everything didn’t need to match exactly. I’m not a matchy -match sort of girl, and I’m okay with that! I did look for pretty details on certain pieces – like gently scalloped edges, molded dots on dessert stands – simple designs that were not on any of the other pieces.

Tip 2

I also kept functionality in the forefront of my mind. I knew I needed diversity. For example, I knew I needed a hearty bowl that would easily hold a huge batch of mashed potatoes, as well as bowls that would be more delicate in scale for salads, desserts, and serving fresh fruit. Each time I use my new pieces, I have a better idea of what works well, what I feel that I’m still missing, and what I need to look for next.

Now, almost a two years later, I’m proud to say that I’ve created a pretty comprehensive pantry, and absolutely love how efficiently we function; not to mention the more elegant, neater, and organized way my buffet tables look today. And as my pantry naturally evolves to suit our needs, I’ll continue to keep my eyes peeled for that missing piece.

Did I mention that there might be a collection of pitchers in there and a few glass pieces as well?

Now the table is set!

Thank you for stopping by Rustic and Refound!