I love tableware! This love is something I get from my parents! Yes, believe it or not, both my mom and my dad love a great set of China. My parents have collected beautiful china for years and the fun part is that they didn’t wait for a special occasion to use it.  We used it when just sitting down to dinner with family or a few friends.  And when a special event did come up, mom pulled out all the stops with amazing centerpieces, linens, crystal, candles and all the trimmings! It doesn’t hurt that she is an amazing cook either! Some of my favorite china patterns that my parents have collected over the years include the simple “Ebony and Ivory” by Lennox, Marc Blackwell’s signature series with my dad’s name engraved on the rim and fun patterns like Jaguar Jungle by Lynn Chase.

  

My dad started my first china pattern when I was about 18 years old, before I even had a place of my own. I was so excited, I will never forget.  My very first china pattern…”White” by Wedgewood.  It is this perfect bone china, so simple and sophisticated! It goes with everything! And I have since collected several amazing sets of accents plates to make it fun an exciting. Including one of my favorites, the coral motif plate from the “Cristobal” pattern by Reynaud.  I have also added “Monkey Business” by Lynn Chase for fun occasions and Majesty Platinum by Wedgewood with the perfect platinum rim and my monogram for something a little more formal.  And for the perfect summer party, I have a fun set of lime and white cabana stripe china by Marc Blackwell. 

 

Wedgewood’s Majesty Platinum with Monogram

 

Monkey Business by Lynn Chase

And just like I love collecting shoes and plan for future additions to my shoe collection, I have a “wish list” for china too.  At the top of the list is “Balcons du Guadalquivir” by Hermes, more “Cristobal” by Reynaud, “Avington Lavendar” by William Yeoward, and “Carolina” by Marc Blackwell, which is the perfect shade of Robin’s Egg Blue.  And it even has this fabulous coffee set that matches. See all these beautiful patterns below!!

The amazing Balcons Du Guadalquivir pattern by Hermes!  Probably my most favorite!!!

 

And the Fabulous Cristobal by Raynaud

   

This is the Avington Lavendar by William Yeoward…so fresh and unique.  I can just see this set for Springtime. It would look great on a Sod-covered round table!!!

 

And Marc Blackwell’s Carolina, it is charming and sophisticated! You can not go wrong with it!

Now all this talk about China leads me to another important subject…storage! And just as I am a big fan of closet systems and organizers for my shoes, let’s talk about one of my favorite pieces of furniture…china hutches!  With a huge collection of china, it is imperative to have the perfect storage piece!  And exciting china hutches are experiencing a great resurgence lately.  They are being designed with a great deal of creativity and care by many of the nations most famous interior designers including some of my favorites like Barbara Barry and newcomers like Windsor Smith.  Some are a fresh take on traditional styles and others are new and unique!

Barbara Barry’s Glamourous Hutch by Henredon.

And Windsor Smith’s take on an old classic breakfront…I especially love this one!!!!

But like most things of quality the great ones are not inexpensive! The good news is that investing in a great china hutch is worth the money because it will last a lifetime and will protect your china collections so that they can be passed down for generations to come!!

Here are my some of my other favorites that you might consider when purchasing one for yourself! I actually have the Hickory Chair Vauxhall in cream with a custom Benjamin Moore paint finish on the interior in the perfect shade of kelly green to compliment my living room. Whatever you decide to purchase, just remember that life is too short not to use the good china! Even if it is not for an important occasion, I urge you to take the opportunity to make everyday life just a little more special!! What are you saving it for?? Bon Appetite!

The Vauxhall like I have in my own home! It holds a ton of stuff but doesn’t take up much room!!

This is a photo of my good friend, designer Amanda Nisbet’s living room. She lives in a Fabulous New York Apartment and this BEAUTIFUL William Yeoward hutch is the focal point!!!!

I think this Julian Chichester Circles cabinet is pretty swell too! I put it in a young clients home recently.  She is whimsical and energetic and I thought this was the perfect compliment to her personality!!