In Search of Dishes

I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about how there is no use crying over broken dishes. When David and I got married, we didn't register for any China, every day or otherwise. I was "too practical" for that, and I already had a collection of dishes that I used every day (which I loved) that I had purchased from Anthropologie. I liked to mix-and-match, and had different dinner plates, platters, salad plates, bowls, etc, all in a blue and white color scheme. I had an 8-place setting, and a few extras of every day pieces.

Fast forward two years, and inevitably, bowls have been dropped, plates have chipped really badly, and Dmitri definitely hasn't helped much. We have been left with a set of misfit toys plates. We are down to something like 5 salad plates, 4 bowls, and 9 mixed dinner plates.

I have decided that I want a set of matching dishes. I want something that is:

Solid white, durable (won't chip), classic, and decently priced. I have been scouting out a few styles.


I had someone recommend Fiestaware to me. They definitely meet the criteria:

White, classic, very reasonably priced, and pretty durable. My two concerns are: 1) I saw some on eBay that were scratched really badly. I'm not sure if this is common or from misuse, but I don't want my dishes covered in grey scratches. 2) Since these will be used for everday and entertaining, I wonder if they are too "everday".

You can buy them new at about $26 a place setting, but they can be found on eBay and Etsy for much cheaper. 

A second option is this Martha Stewart Whiteware collection, available at Macys.

I like the smooth simple lines and feel that these would be a perfect cross between everyday and entertaining dish ware.. However, I am concerned about their durability.

 They are just slightly more than Fiestaware at $28 a place setting, but it might be more difficult to find them used or discounted, which isn't a plus. 

Now, if I could buy almost anything, I am really loving these Kate Spade Wickford dishes!

How simply gorgeous are these? But, at almost $80 a place setting, this is just unrealistic. Sigh.

A lot more boring simple, but realistic option, would be these white dishes from Ikea (Ikea 365+). 

While they don't have quite the same charm as Kate Spade, at $24.99 for a 6 place-set, it's hard to say no. They are also available in open stock, so if a plate breaks, it's pretty easy to just pick up another at $3.99 a piece. They are white, classic, and simple, and the most likely option.

So there is an analysis of my dishes search. We haven't made a decision, because we really want to think about the investment, what we want out of the dishes, how long we expect to have them, etc. 

Do you have any dishes that you love? Do you use separate dishes for every day and entertaining? What do you think is a reasonable amount to invest in dishware?