Dishes

[Deleted]

A lot of you are happy eating off paper plates. Ignore this thread.

Some of us want dishes that match (recent thread). But match what?

I have a ton of Corelle that worked great with my "last" kitchen incarnation. It is Calloway, which is basically a Green Ivy border. I have pretty much all of it.

When I set fire to the kitchen and we had to replace the countertops and backsplash, we moved toward Earth tones. So the green-based china doesn't match. In the china cabinet are some sacred dishes from my 99-y-o aunt that will never be eaten upon. I had to remove some rather neutral Wedgwood Queen's Plain to do that.

It is actually causing me intense pain to pack up expensive dishes to eat off cheap dishes. Lol. I got several more place setting on Craigs List the other week so we are good to go. These looked gorgeous in my china cabinet, but they are actually "everyday" Wedgwood.

Would you "force" your spouse to change? Mine is going, "Dishes? Did you want to switch to paper plates?" Lol. He didn't even have a set of cookware until he met me. But they are way heavier (being Wedgwood vs. paper thin Corelle).

What kind of dishes do you use? The ones you registered for, the ones you bought at garage sales, or what?

[midjd]

What kind of dishes do you use? The ones you registered for, the ones you bought at garage sales, or what?

Not quite garage sale stuff, but most of our dishes are the black matte $0.97 Wal-Mart specials. We've had them for 5-6 years and they've remained serviceable so I don't have the heart to get new ones. They don't really go with our kitchen colors (and they look like crap from going through the dishwasher 10000x), but we don't have a china cabinet and the only time our dishes are "out" are when we're eating from them, so it doesn't bother me too much.

Ironically your Corelle pattern would match our kitchen colors perfectly

[chiver78]

I've never married, so I have no registry (that's entirely another thread, so I won't go there...) but I do have nice plates....so I think I'm qualified to answer.

my "everyday" dishes are a blend of a discontinued Mikasa style "French Moire"- a blend of blue/green leafy edging around a white food surface, and "Winter Frost White" Corelle for all the bowls/serving plates in pretty much every shape and size. I bought my Mikasa at a Building 19 - dinner/salad/bowls/teacup for 9, for ~$80. the Corelle was all purchased at the outlets over a long time, I'm not sure of the total tally.

as far as your situation, I think my sister has the same Corelle pattern you mentioned. even if it isn't the same pattern, it's still ivy. I'm not sure how that wouldn't match with earth tones, it seems to go quite well with her brown/green/wood decor.

[Malarky]

Plain white something or other brand. There's a raised border of fruit on the border I bought 12 place settings on sale at Target when I renovated my kitchen about 10 years ago. Most of it is still intact.

I've owned several other patterns over the years but I grow quickly bored with them. I never did pick out a china pattern.

I have assorted serving pieces, mostly in clear glass.

I bring color into my kitchen in other ways.

The place I've spent the most money on is flatware. MIL gave me a partial set of a Towle pattern that has been discontinued. I love them and have tried to fill in the missing pieces. I finally caved and settled for a lighter weight modern version. Still Towle, but not nearly the weight and quality of the original pieces.

[Deleted]

What's the point of having nice stuff if you don't use it? Use your nice dishes, even if you don't use them every single day. I understand not wanting to use the expensive stuff when you have small kids in the house because it's more likely to get damaged, but I don't think you have small children. So instead of packing the expensive stuff away, use it if you really like it. It can add a nice touch to some of the dinners you and your husband share.

And now I have to laugh at myself for writing that. I have an old set of china that my Grandmother gave me when I first bought my house 12 years ago. It had been in my Grandma's attic for who knows how long. She got it from a little old lady she use to work for and it had been stored in that lady's attic for who knows how long before she gave it to my Grandma. I have no idea whether it has any monetary value or not but I've never used any of it because it looks so delicate and I had small children when I first got it. It's in a cabinet I use every day, but I don't even notice/see it anymore. lol

I've always bought cheap sets of dishes to use so I wouldn't be upset if they got broken. I currently have all white dishes. They're nothing special.

I'm going to take my own advice and start using the china sometimes.

[whoisjohngalt]

What kind of dishes I use? Unbreakable ones. Fortunately, they don't look TOO bad - thank you Wegmans

My 3.5 yr old is getting into "helping me with dishes" thing and already broke a few glass items. He informed me that I shouldn't be upset and I should just give him non-glass items next time. Who am I to argue?

Lena

[Deleted]

I guess dishes don't mean all the much to me personally. I use whatever is clean and that is good enough. We are very casual. I have corelle i use everyday. I really don't want any fine china. I do have a set of pretty Christmas dishes that i use for Christmas and Thanskgiving that is nice china. I pull it out 2x a year. Other than that, if it can't go in the dishwasher , i don't want it. But, i do appreciate a nicely set table. And, if that is something you enjoy, then use them and enjoy.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Our everyday dishes are Mikasa ... white with a blue and yellow rim/border.

For special occasions, I've got a set of Lenox Autumn as well as a set of Lenox Eternal. (I had a third set of Lenox, but I gave it to a girlfriend who wanted nice dishes and didn't have any. My mom was REALLY "into" china and all three sets had come from her ... and it was nice to share a set with a friend who I know will use and enjoy them.) I think there's another set in there, too ... maybe Wedgewood?

That being said, we use a lot of paper plates ;D

[lurkyloo]

I chimed in on the other thread, but we have Lenox Vintage Jewel (white with dark blue/gold/silver patterns on the rims) for good china and Dansk/Corelle thistle/shadow iris themed stuff for everyday.

Ironically, I was just looking at (i.e. drooling over) a friend's registry for a June wedding: Villeroy & Bosch Cottage Collection. Very pretty! (toddles off to google all the pattern names. Dish porn!)

[dancinmama]

My everyday dishes are Mikasa Chablis stoneware. The dinner plates are large round dishes with green grapes on them. The salad plates which we usually use are smaller square plates with purple grapes on them. This set replaced the Wedgwood stoneware that we registered when we got married. After many, many years, too many pieces had broken and I no longer had enough to set a table for 8.

[findingdeadbeats]

I missed the materialistic gene. Ironically, I also have the all white dishes with the raised fruit around the outside. Most have been broken over the years, but we still have some plates.

I also have remnants of a set of Correll bought at a garage sale, misc glass bowls, and some plates with Apples on them that I got for a cheap price at a discount store.

I have both my grandmother's well used china as well as a set of maroon transfer ware that I bought at the same garage sale, from the same person. I paid about $30 for a set of about 8. I plan on using that when the kids move out and I won't find it in someone's room with food stuck to it.... ah teenagers....

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 6, 2012 22:07:52 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

What kind of dishes I use? Unbreakable ones. Fortunately, they don't look TOO bad - thank you Wegmans

My 3.5 yr old is getting into "helping me with dishes" thing and already broke a few glass items. He informed me that I shouldn't be upset and I should just give him non-glass items next time. Who am I to argue?

Lena

Smart kid!! And agree with him -- you want to encourage the help, not discourage it, LOL.

[InsertCoolName]

Not a clue what they are. Glass/breakable. I did NOT register for anything anywhere, but someone did leave these unwrapped setting on the table at our wedding. They have like fruit stand stuff on them. And then because that's only 6 setting, we also have a plain off white set. I think there is 4 of them. And then I have lots of plain plastic junk. The kind that Walmart sells in a 4-pack for summer. And then our kitchen is just white cabinets with a very light green walls. There isn't any theme. Because the theme I wanted I guess no one else had ever thought of it so nothing exists.

I would guess that the most expensive thing in my kitchen, dishes wise, would be a skillet. And I think DH paid $40 for it at Walmart.

IF I had anything above water taste, I am sure I would care about every thing matching. But I am super cheap. So, I don't know, come over to the dark side? We have cookies on plates that do not match!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

We are currently using a green and white set with some floral accents that we bought from a local bakery/gift shop 10 years or so ago because it goes better with the kitchen that we bought 2 years ago. I like it, but it is taking a beating from me whacking it on the edge of the granite counters when I take it out of the dishwasher.

I also have a nearly complete set of a Crate and Barrel design that we received for wedding gifts. But, it is mostly pink, blue, and yellow and doesn't go with my kitchen as well, LOL.

I also have some of my formal china pattern (Royal Crown Derby Carlton Blue) and just found a site online that carries it. I'm psyched -- I can now provide ideas for gifts for me for DH and the kids for years, LOL.

I also have some buffet plates that were my mother's, and a set of china from my MIL.

I have a few paper and plastic plates for when the kids have friends over and order pizza.

As I type this, I am realizing that, despite all of our options, we tend to use the every day stuff...every day.

[reader79]

Well, ever since my sister and her family moved in, our favorite set has been matching Dixie plates and cups from Costco. After they broke several of my pint glasses, I packed off all but one and put the rest away. My nieces also like to argue over who gets to use my Star Wars melamine set.

We have a Corelle set, but use the bowls more than the plates. They are rimless, and since most of our eating is done on the couch, those led to accidents on the carpet. Things would just slide right off the plate onto the floor. It also seems like everyone has their favorite item for a specific type of food. I have a random beige bowl that I like for pasta, a clear glass plate that I like for sandwiches, etc.

My dad's big thing right now is forks. My mother bought a set of flatware last year, that no one except herself likes to eat with. The forks/spoons are way too hefty, and the tongs are really short. So we now fight over the odds and ends in the utensil drawer. I have a Delta fork that my grandmother liberated from a flight back when they used stainless. My dad has a favorite fork from Ikea that he uses. I bought him a box last year for his birthday, and he keeps it in the china cabinet, and replaces the one fork after each use.

I don't know what's going to happen to the china my grandmother has, with real gold accents. Clearly it would be wasted on us.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

This is sheer coincidence. I was in need of some every-day dishes very recently. I happened to be in (gag) WalMart picking up some printer ink and decided to stop by the houseware department. I found some dinnerware sets that I loved. The brand name is "Home Trends". You could probably find them at other stores too. (I think Target also carries the Home Trends dinnerware)

They have tons of different color patterens/styles. A boxed 16 pc set came with 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 4 soup/salad bowls, and 4 large mugs. The cost was somewhere around $50. if I remember - I can't find the receipt. They also sold the pieces indivdually - (If you happen to want 5 or 6 place settings). The set I bought were really nice earth tones in a square rather than round plate. They're really nice looking.

Here's some samples they had in earthtones (both round and square) in different patterns from their (Home Trends) website:



These ones below are very similar to the ones that I chose for myself - I liked the square plates:

[Happy prose]

I'm using Correlle. It's the snowflake pattern. I can't tell you how old they are. They were my mom's, and after she died, my father used them for 20 more years. When he died, I took them. At that time I was using stoneware, and it was very heavy. I love my Correlle. If it ever breaks, I'd buy another set. Now does the little blue snowflake match my kitchen? Nope!

[Deleted]

Dishes...I have at least 4 sets...and I never registered for any when we got married. LOL, that was probably a good thing.

Every day dishes are Portmeirion's Botanic Garden. Pretty and practical.

For special events I use DH's grandmother's dishes. These are Spode hand painted it's one of their Chelsea bird patterns. It's about 100 years and cannot be replaced.

The too valuable to use are his great, grandmother's dishes. The are Dresden bone china, highly ornate with her initials and a lot of gold design.

Finally at the cabin I have miss matched pieces of what's called "Brown drip". Sounds gross doesn't it? Think of those little brown pots that serve Boston Baked beans. I pick up pieces every time I go garage saling to replace the ones the visitors break. Generally I won't pay more than $1.00 a plate.

I do covet my MIL's Villaroy and Boch's Acapulco pattern though. I wanted to add to her collection and buy a European butter dish. $70 used!

[quotequeen]

I really want to use the dishes we registered for. I picked a pattern that was dishwasher safe specifically so that we could use them. But DH doesn't want to. We use a mishmosh of stuff that he had before instead.

[Deleted]

Ok, Bonn, I was officially drooling over the description of the dishes.

Finally at the cabin I have miss matched pieces of what's called "Brown drip". Sounds gross doesn't it? Think of those little brown pots that serve Boston Baked beans. I pick up pieces every time I go garage saling to replace the ones the visitors break.

Actually, this pattern is somewhat collectible. Pfaltzgraff put out a version. I have some of the serving pieces that I used to display in the china cabinet with the Wedgwood. It went so well with the plain cream color.

[resolution]

I use an old corelle set that I rescued from my mom's garage sale. It is the ivy pattern, but gold rather than green. It is service for 8 with all the assorted serving pieces. I think it started out as service for 12. It is old enough that it will shatter if dropped. I have a pretty stoneware set that I bought when I bought my house, but I don't like how heavy the dishes are, I prefer the light corelle.

This thread did remind me that I have a set of gold-plated silverware in a box that I should dust off and use. I haven't used it because it needs to be hand washed, but this house doesn't have a dishwasher anyway so I might as well enjoy.

[Deleted]

I don't have china (I don't have enough space for two sets of dishes just now), but I come from a family that used the fancy plates pretty regularly, so that may be an indulgence I go after someday.

My everyday (only) dishes are Mikasa. I had a mismatched set of stoneware I bought ages ago on clearance, but I wanted a set that matched. I also wanted plates that were a sensible size. Dinner plates used to be <10 inches, with a big old decorative rim. Now, a lot of stores are selling 10-12 inch rimless plates. I like the visual cue of "hey tubby, the food should only take up this much space" on my current plates. Even then, I didn't like the standard place setting because the bowls were too big. I had to go buy a set of "hey tubby, this is plenty of cereal" bowls.

[Deleted]

"Actually, this pattern is somewhat collectible. Pfaltzgraff put out a version. I have some of the serving pieces that I used to display in the china cabinet with the Wedgwood. It went so well with the plain cream color."

Yes it does. That's exactly how I got suckered into buying it in the first place. The owner of one of the local collectible stores had it paired with some cream colored plates. Since we inherited the cabin with some off-white plates I thought they would complement each other and they do.

I think the most famous manufacturer is Hull but I have seen the Pfaltzgraft version too. The last time I checked on e-bay though, it still cost more to ship the dishes than what they sell for. Therefore I limit my shopping to thrift stores and garage sales. Oh and I go back and curse my "friend" the collectible dealer for getting me hooked.

[Gardening Grandma]

The dishes we use every day are Pfaltzgraff. They were a gift from my late MIL (I selected the pattern). Unfortunately, the plates and bowls most used are showing marks and I haven't figured out how much it bothers me. I don't want more than one set of dishes, so may look for something else in the next year or two.

In the basement is a complete set of Limoges DH inherited when MIL passed. It belonged toDH's grandmother. I plan to give them to his cousin because I want them kept in his family and he has no children. (He has no interest in them)

[chiver78]

for those of you with incomplete sets, I found this site awhile back when I broke a couple of my discontinued pattern pieces. I'd bought 9 of everything so I could still be okay breaking one. I've broken a couple more along the way though.

www.replacements.com/

[973beachbum]

I have two sets of everday dinnerware. I have a regular set and a Christmas one.

The Christmas one is by Pfaltzgraff and is Holly berry or something like that name. It is nice but not too "christmassy" so I use it starting with Thanksgiving and put it away about Feb.

The regular set is by Johnson Bros and is called Summer chintz. ;D It is mostly whate with a green ivy kind of vine on the outside with pink and yello and blue flowers on it with a pink border. I don't have anything remotely like those colors in my kitchen but it is such a cheerful pattern that it never fails to make me smile when I see it.

The dishes are now most of 20 years old and showing it. Most of the dishes have chips in them. I would be hard pressed to have 8 places for dinner with no chipped pieces. I have been eyeing the Butterfly pattern by Lenox though.

[Deleted]

for everyday I have a hodgepodge of stuff but have been wanting a new, matching set for a while now. I really like the square, all-white they have at kohls (I think it is Food Network brand) but am having trouble spending that much. I also have 4 place settings of black octagonal dishes (dinner, salad, bowl, plus wine glasses, and did have silverware) that I received as a shower gift. My china is Noritake Halifax and I use it for special occasions, as well as sometimes Bunco and Book Club.

[Gardening Grandma]

beachbum,
I'm familiar with that Christmas set and have admired it for a long time... It actually coordinates with my regular set (Filigree), but I haven't purchased any because I just don't want anything I can't use all the time....

[lynnerself]

Corelle with thin blue stripes on the rims.
Redecorated kitchen to black, red and gold. But haven't thought about replacing the dishes yet.
My policy, get something cheap so you can afford to change every once in awhile. Also so you can afford lots of settings. Sell or give away the old cheap dishes.

[973beachbum]

May 7, 2012 10:11:01 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

beachbum,
I'm familiar with that Christmas set and have admired it for a long time... It actually coordinates with my regular set (Filigree), but I haven't purchased any because I just don't want anything I can't use all the time....

GG it is a type of pattern that I feel comfortable using for all 4 months during the holidays right through Feb. If it had been one with a Christmas tree or something I wouldn't have gotten it. But we really use it everyday for the 4 months and by then I am missing my summer chintz set,which starts to get old in Oct and I am missing the Pfalgratz set. ;D I guess I am a little kids looking for something shiny!

The Pf dinner dishes are HUGE though! It is not good for my waistline. I have a bunch of "lunch" dishes with the set that we use for most dinners and save the ones that are "dinner" plates for the holiday dinners. If we didn't we would all be in serious need of a diet!