Tag Archives: dishes

Mixing and Matching Dishes

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Julie

The other day I was running errands and I stopped in at one of my favorite discount stores on a whim. As I was looking through all of the fall decorations, I stumbled across a couple of orange pumpkin plates. They were the identical plates I bought last year, however, I was only able to find 4 plates at that time. I was excited to find these twins and I happily snatched up the new ones to add to my collection.

My husband would roll his eyes wondering what use I couldpossibly have for two more plates, but to me, these were a great find and a fantastic addition!

When I entertain, I like to mix and match my dishes. I think it adds a lot of visual interest, warmth and color. Plus, the more I have to mix and match, the more it enables me to serve a crowd in style. (I’m a big believer in using real dishes for special occasions.)

I have always been a believer in mixing and matching but I put more emphasis on it a few years ago when I decided it was time to update my dishes. (I didn’t register for china when I got married, instead I just mixed and matched my every day with some fancier salad plates and pretty bowls when I entertained.) My every day dishes, although still fine for every day, weren’t looking so nice for guests after several years of daily use. So, I bought myself some inexpensive white dishes from IKEA to get started and to serve as a “base layer” from which I could build.

Although they were very inexpensive and simple, they have served me well. But, I knew I needed something that were serve me for many years and for many occasions. (more…)

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POSTED IN: dishes, Fall, fall decor, Tablescapes

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Fall Decorating

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Julie

I don’t know about you, but we are trying to soak up all the last bits of summer that we can around here.

We just arrived back home from a family vacation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and now the start of school is looming.

Fall is definitely nipping at our heels. While shopping yesterday, we noticed that it’s not just school supplies that are filling store shelves. Yes, fall décor is already here!

While I don’t want to rush things along, it’s clear that many of you are already pinning fall ideas, so I thought I would give you a quick look at some of my past fall décor if you’re ready to get those autumn wheels turning. And, for those of you that are following my marble story, I will finish that up later this week.

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I love usually natural elements in my fall décor and last year, I found a way to do it while using some thrifty finds.

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POSTED IN: Dining Room, dishes, Fall, fall decor, fall home tour, home tour, thrift store

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Collecting Beautiful Dishes Affordably

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Julie

I have a slight obsession for dishes. I do own a few sets, but I am secretly wishing I could add a few more to my home.

Can you relate?

Because I’m not independently wealthy and I don’t have several china cabinets, I’m collecting dishes on Pinterest right now. Do you do that too?

My current focus is on brown transferware:

via Design Sponge

via My Sweet Savannah

via Driven by Decor

If you’re dreaming of owning some more dishes like I am, remember you don’t have to be wealthy to have them! Yes, collecting them on Pinterest is free, but if you are serious about adding something new to your collection at home you can do it affordably.

A few years ago I started collecting my beloved Spode Delamere china. You’ve seen it a lot in my tablescapes:

It’s not in my budget to buy an entire set of dishes at one time so instead, I collect mine over time. The concept may not be new, but I think it deserves repeating. In today’s world, we seem to love instant gratification but you don’t have to go in to credit card debt to own some of the things you love.

When I first discovered my beloved Spode Delamere pattern, I decided to begin first by buying an inexpensive set of plain white dishes from IKEA. They were about $70 for a set of 12 dinner plates, 12 salad plates and 12 soup bowls. They are the perfect back drop for mixing and matching and they didn’t break the bank. I actually bought them for myself as a Mother’s Day present!

A few months down the road I began adding the Spode dishes starting with just 4 salad plates to dress up my white plates.

After I acquired the 12 salad plates I wanted, I started buying dinner plates. I currently have 8 dinner plates and am hoping to get 4 more to make a set of 12.

It’s so easy to mix and match them and it doesn’t matter that I don’t have a complete set!

Collecting things you love takes time and it’s totally worth the wait. It’s not always affordable to buy things all at once, and that’s totally okay!

I received two square serving bowls in my Spode pattern as a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law. One of them is tucked inside the basket in the picture below.

You can see I also have some other brown transferware plates hanging on my wall. The pattern is Bow Bells by Mason’s.

I would love to continue collecting little bits and pieces of vintage transferware to go with my new Spode dishes and, again, it will take time. But isn’t that the fun of collecting? Watching, waiting and hunting for just the right thing at just the right price?

By the way, if you’re curious about the origins of transferware, you might enjoy reading this post I discovered. It’s interesting to learn that some of the names we hear all the time when talking about dishes — Spode, Staffordshire and Wedgewood — were actually the names of people who helped invent the process of transferring images on to porcelain, ironstone and bone china and earthenware!

What do you love collecting? Are you a “dish” person like me?

If so, you may like my Brown Transferware Pinterest board or you can browse my other boards here.

Wishing you a great day,