Mixing and matching white plates for a beautiful table setting is easy.
I decided to combine Pottery Barn Cambria and Pottery Barn Napoli stoneware dishes for our everyday dinnerware set with a few other white dishes tossed in. Here's my shopping tale, my review.
And my tips for a pretty table.
A few weeks ago, my husband came into the family room to announce that it wasn't his fault.
Right away, I knew there was trouble.
Apparently, while he was grabbing for mugs, not one, but two handles just spontaneously fell off. Ok...
I was suspicious, but they were old.
This all sounded very reminiscent of the time my husband leaned on the sofa and it tore.
But then a week later, I got the same news from my daughter in a panicked phone call...something about emptying the dishwasher and handles popping off.
Maybe it wasn't just my husband.
Either way, I clearly needed new dishes.
I had purchased them about fifteen years ago, when we renovated the kitchen. I wanted something functional but attractive to place in my new glass front cabinets.
I went with Pottery Barn's Emma beaded stoneware set. In yellow
They looked beautiful, added a hint of warm color to the room and were sturdy enough for everyday family use.
Perfect.
Until now, which was great, because lately I've been toying with the idea of white dishes, a cleaner cottage style look and a more uniform color palette.
My mom's Lenox dishes, always looked so good on the table during the holidays, but I was craving that same casual elegance every day.
Like most people, I started my search online and pretty soon, I ended up at Pottery Barn. Again.
You see, I worked there in the 90s, over the summers, when I was teaching. I'm familiar with their brand and I really do like the dishes.
Plus, the set I had held up well, besides a few disappearing bowls and handle-less mugs they looked great.
Took my kids from toddlers to teens. I think that says something.
So I shopped.
There were a lot of sets, but I fell in love with the Cambria plates right away.
Rustic, simple, available in white (technically called Stone) and sturdy enough for my not so careful family. Done.
Or maybe not.
You remember those gorgeous glass cabinets that house my dishes? Yeah.
Well those cabinets are not deep enough for the Cambria dinner plate. And there weren't a lot of Pottery Barn Cambria dinnerware reviews online when I bought them.
So I didn't know this until I lugged all those plates home.
The plate measures in at a whopping twelve inches (11 3/4" to be exact) and the doors would never close. Bummer.
Update! Pottery Barn heard the complaints about their oversized dinner plates and now they come in a smaller 10 3/4" size.
So back to the drawing board I went and I found Pottery Barn's Napoli set. Gorgeous.
Unfortunately they didn't have it on display in any store near me. And believe it or not, there aren't many photos of those dishes online.
The set is very unique, as the dinner and salad plates aren't matched. (It's unfortunately out of production now)
The cereal bowl is dainty with gentle curves and I thought, this is it, but my husband, knowing my penchant for returns and how what you see online isn't always what you get, said let's see it first.
So we took a drive to the outlet with great anticipation...found one salad plate, one mug...and didn't like them at all in person.
BUT we loved the Cambria set and decided to go with our gut and get most of the pieces and worry about dinner plates later on.
We poked around some other stores and looked online again, but something kept telling me that the Pottery Barn Napoli dinner dishes would go really well with my simple Cambria pieces.
I didn't see those in person, so I rolled the dice and ordered them.
Turns out, I was right. They look fabulous together.
They are basically the same color tone, they are both stoneware and they each have a tiny bit of brown accenting.
The simple straight lines of the Cambria are set off by the gentle ruffle on the Napoli and I think it makes the entire place setting quite elegant.
There really aren't a lot of rules when it comes to mixing plates, go with what makes your eye happy.
You also want to vary sizes so that if you do layer them, they'll stack in a way that they all show a bit. And any detailing will stand out.
Most importantly, you should love each piece on its own.
Sometimes I pair them with other white plates in my collection. Dishes I've picked up at the thrift store or ones I've made...like the faux milk glass beaded ones above.
Of course, you can't eat off of them, but they sure do look lovely as decor.
Well those cabinets are not deep enough for the Cambria dinner plate. And there weren't a lot of Pottery Barn Cambria dinnerware reviews online when I bought them.
So I didn't know this until I lugged all those plates home.
The plate measures in at a whopping twelve inches (11 3/4" to be exact) and the doors would never close. Bummer.
Update! Pottery Barn heard the complaints about their oversized dinner plates and now they come in a smaller 10 3/4" size.
So back to the drawing board I went and I found Pottery Barn's Napoli set. Gorgeous.
Unfortunately they didn't have it on display in any store near me. And believe it or not, there aren't many photos of those dishes online.
The set is very unique, as the dinner and salad plates aren't matched. (It's unfortunately out of production now)
The cereal bowl is dainty with gentle curves and I thought, this is it, but my husband, knowing my penchant for returns and how what you see online isn't always what you get, said let's see it first.
So we took a drive to the outlet with great anticipation...found one salad plate, one mug...and didn't like them at all in person.
BUT we loved the Cambria set and decided to go with our gut and get most of the pieces and worry about dinner plates later on.
We poked around some other stores and looked online again, but something kept telling me that the Pottery Barn Napoli dinner dishes would go really well with my simple Cambria pieces.
I didn't see those in person, so I rolled the dice and ordered them.
Turns out, I was right. They look fabulous together.
They are basically the same color tone, they are both stoneware and they each have a tiny bit of brown accenting.
The simple straight lines of the Cambria are set off by the gentle ruffle on the Napoli and I think it makes the entire place setting quite elegant.
There really aren't a lot of rules when it comes to mixing plates, go with what makes your eye happy.
You also want to vary sizes so that if you do layer them, they'll stack in a way that they all show a bit. And any detailing will stand out.
Most importantly, you should love each piece on its own.
Sometimes I pair them with other white plates in my collection. Dishes I've picked up at the thrift store or ones I've made...like the faux milk glass beaded ones above.
Of course, you can't eat off of them, but they sure do look lovely as decor.
Let's face it, when you go into a store or check out their merchandising photos online, the table is set to the nines, with lots of white pieces overlapping one another.
Who eats like every day?
We normally just grab a bowl or a plate for a sandwich or snack and for dinner, it's a few large plates on the table.
I think finding a dinner plate that mixed well, but held its own was the biggest challenge.
I bought the cereal bowls and a large fruit bowl at the outlet for a song and picked up the rest of the pieces during a super sale, no shipping.
When I popped back in the other day to return a different group of dinner plates I tried out, I couldn't resist these tiny footed bowls.
Aren't they the sweetest?
I know there are a ton of photos today, but like I said, when I was looking for real life pictures of these particular plates, there weren't any, so I decided to share mine.
It's hard to order things online and I'm always looking for as much information as possible before I buy.
Perhaps this will help someone else in the same boat.
My plate tale ends with two glass cabinets filled with an array of white dishes that fit.
The look is clean, crisp, simple.
And all the mugs have their handles.
Of course, no one is allowed to use them yet.
But that's a story for a different day!
I've been asked a few questions about my Pottery Barn dinnerware sets, so I'm going to answer them here. If you have others, leave them in the comments and I'll be sure to answer them, as well.
I have had various sets over the past 20+ years and I would say that overall, they're pretty sturdy. Eventually the finish does wear off and the handles did pop off my mugs.
But I think that both of those issues were caused by the heat of the dishwasher over decades of use.
Yes. Sadly they do.
Every fork and knife that gets dragged across the surface leaves a mark. I have been able to remove most of them with this gentle cleaner, but it's not something I do every day.
So if grey scratch marks on your white dishes bother you, these aren't the sets for you.
I will say that in the past, I have had light colored plates and bowls, yellows and greens, from Pottery Barn and they don't mark up as easily. The white ones just seem especially prone.
The sets I have, Emma, Cambria and Napoli were all stoneware and made in Portugal.
Yes, the tones are all similar and they all coordinate well with each other. These white dinner dishes all make for a great mix and match set.
The Cambria plates are a great base, since they have such clean lines. They're great for a cottage style or farmhouse table setting.
What color are your plates?
Who eats like every day?
We normally just grab a bowl or a plate for a sandwich or snack and for dinner, it's a few large plates on the table.
I think finding a dinner plate that mixed well, but held its own was the biggest challenge.
I bought the cereal bowls and a large fruit bowl at the outlet for a song and picked up the rest of the pieces during a super sale, no shipping.
When I popped back in the other day to return a different group of dinner plates I tried out, I couldn't resist these tiny footed bowls.
Aren't they the sweetest?
I know there are a ton of photos today, but like I said, when I was looking for real life pictures of these particular plates, there weren't any, so I decided to share mine.
It's hard to order things online and I'm always looking for as much information as possible before I buy.
Perhaps this will help someone else in the same boat.
My plate tale ends with two glass cabinets filled with an array of white dishes that fit.
The look is clean, crisp, simple.
And all the mugs have their handles.
Of course, no one is allowed to use them yet.
But that's a story for a different day!
Pottery Barn Stoneware Dish Set FAQs
I've been asked a few questions about my Pottery Barn dinnerware sets, so I'm going to answer them here. If you have others, leave them in the comments and I'll be sure to answer them, as well.
How Do Pottery Barn Dishes Hold Up?
I have had various sets over the past 20+ years and I would say that overall, they're pretty sturdy. Eventually the finish does wear off and the handles did pop off my mugs.
But I think that both of those issues were caused by the heat of the dishwasher over decades of use.
Do Pottery Barn Dishes Scratch Easily?
Yes. Sadly they do.
Every fork and knife that gets dragged across the surface leaves a mark. I have been able to remove most of them with this gentle cleaner, but it's not something I do every day.
So if grey scratch marks on your white dishes bother you, these aren't the sets for you.
I will say that in the past, I have had light colored plates and bowls, yellows and greens, from Pottery Barn and they don't mark up as easily. The white ones just seem especially prone.
Where are Pottery Barn Dishes Made?
The sets I have, Emma, Cambria and Napoli were all stoneware and made in Portugal.
Are all the whites similar?
Yes, the tones are all similar and they all coordinate well with each other. These white dinner dishes all make for a great mix and match set.
The Cambria plates are a great base, since they have such clean lines. They're great for a cottage style or farmhouse table setting.
What color are your plates?
Lovely dishes, you made a great choice. I agree, mix and match. You got a lot of use out of your old dishes. I wonder if putting them in the dishwasher shortens the life span a bit? I know putting your clothes in a dryer (which I don't have) shortens the life span of clothing. I love how you style photos! I never seem to have these ideas for mine.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Thank you, Brenda! You are always so kind…and yes! I think that frequent dishwasher and microwave use definitely had something to do with the dishes cracking. I don’t use the heating element on the dishwasher, but it’s hot water. I can’t imagine that repeated exposure to either of those things helps longevity.
DeleteI love white dishes! Yours are great and they play nicely together!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Deanna! I am really happy with the combination!
DeleteI am a dish junkie. Always have been. Never could turn down a set that appealed to me, mostly from rummage sales or yard sales. White dishes are my new love.Do I need another set of dishes? no. Do I want a white set???? You bet. On a tight budget, but the search is on.
ReplyDeleteI am addicted now, too. Oh boy, I am not sure this little cottage can house anymore plates, but they are sure are pretty and hard to resist! I feel exactly the way you do and my search is on as well!! Enjoy the hunt!
Delete😊
Tone on tone is always a perfect and classic setting. Beautiful especially in white!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Vel. And I agree, tone on tone is so elegant!
DeleteKim the new plates are fabulous. I love that you could marry your dishes with the new plates. Happy Friday. Have a fabulous weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Kris
Thanks Kris! I have had fun playing with them...hugs!!
DeleteI like it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a sweet cafe in my area. They use all mismatched dishes, mugs and silverware. It is the charm of the cafe.
We go for weeks with out breaking a dish. Then last week, everyday someone broke something. Sadly my French Press! My son felt so bad. It was an accident, so you just move on and buy new dishes. :-)
We have a cafe like that around here, too. It's a coffee shop where the kids sing occasionally. I love going there, for many reasons, but it's always fun to see what kind of dish I'm going to get! And oh no, the French Press? It happens...poor sweet kids.
Deleteas you already know I love simple white plates so much I never have anything else!
ReplyDeleteand I never tire of them. when I broke my left wrist and hand some years ago I switched to Corelle.
simply because they were lightweight. I couldn't handle the heavy (heavy to many broken bones anyway!) white ironstone. bought a set of white corelle and have never looked back.
I've been totally happy with them. and a nice little bonus... they don't break very easily!
and yes. the footed bowls are very sweet! xo
I knew you'd like this one, Tammy! And I had Corelle in college and growing up. You're right, it was indestructible and classic in pure white. Perfect.
DeleteSo pretty!!! I kind of wish I bought white dishes back when I got mine, but nope - it was fall and I went with warm, fall colors. Oh well, I do love them in fall, and since I have service for 12 plus a bunch of serving pieces in a coordinating color, there's no way I'm buying a new set!! Enjoy your new dishes, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI love color, Debbie and have always had colorful dishes. As a matter of fact our last set was service for eight in a golden yellow and I bought a service for four in the same set in a deep red. I mixed and matched and it was gorgeous. Time for a change now, but I still plan to bring in the colors when fall rolls around. Enjoy your dishes, too!!
DeleteI love them! They mix and match perfectly and look nice on their own too. My plates are white, but I got them a few years ago when square plates were in. I still like them, but I like yours better!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I think while plates are classic and I bet yours are beautiful, Mari!
DeleteI love all white dishes, especially the ones with embossing on them. Good choices on your part, IMHO!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I really looked around, there are so many pretty choices. So far I am still smitten! 😉Thanks for weighing in, Mary.
DeleteI do like white dishes.
ReplyDeleteYours look great - good choice.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan! I really do like them. And one of these days, I'll let people actually use them. Just kidding... kind of.
DeleteI love white stoneware and your dishes are elegant and cottagey. They do look great together. I am embarrassed to say that I use melamine dishes from Wegmans. They hold up great, go in the cupboard where no one sees them, and they don't break against my porcelain sink!
ReplyDeleteWe were in PB and my husband saw the most beautiful dishes and said, we should get these! They were melamine. Then I did the same thing in Pier One. There really are some beautiful versions out there and you're right, they really hold up!
DeleteI love white dishes and your new ones are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kristi! Any day now, I'll let someone use them. 😉
DeleteVery nice dishes, Kim. Great choice! It is nice you were able to match the different pieces. You won't believe me, but I spent most of the month of January looking for a new set. The one I had for the last ten years, pieces were starting to break and get very hot in the microwave. My husband warned me about the 12 inch plates not fitting in the cabinets. I just bought last month a set for eight with 11 1/2 inches dinner plates in white at Ikea. They look very European and they are very sturdy, which is what we need around here. :) And they were very affordable. I just don't want to cry my heart out every time someone breaks a piece. LOL Enjoy your new beautiful set! Happy weekend. xxx
ReplyDeleteI guess it's about time, Maria Elena, for both of us! You have a house for so long, kids, etc. They really do take a beating with the microwave and dishwasher. And I feel the same way about my new dishes. I haven't really let anyone use them yet! I said use the old ones first. I want the new ones to stay in one piece as long as possible!! Enjoy your set, too!! xo
DeleteLove the plates. I like the the look of mixing the dishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Debra!!
DeleteMy plates are white!!! I love white plates, they leave the colors of the food to be speak louder. I love a set that I inherited from my mom in law which is kokura ware -snowcrest. I am missing one cup and would love to find sugar bowl, creamer and tea pot. It's hard to find it. I absolutely love your plates. I like the mixing of plates. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteOh Angela, lucky lady. I just googled them and they are beautiful. What a classic and elegant pattern! Have you tried Replacements.com or Etsy? Sometimes you can get lucky!
DeleteLove it all, especially those footed bowls! Great choices!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist! They were just too darling to leave behind.
DeleteVery pretty and I like those footed bowls the most! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb. They are my favorite.
DeleteYou chose well. White is a classic but also very practical. At some point you could add a colorful or seasonal salad plate or serving pieces for a whole new look without having to buy another whole set. I also think that food shows off best on a plain white backdrop. Very nice. I also think the footed bowl is so sweet. Good job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorri! I know that you you are a dish collector. I have to say that I really have fallen in love with white. I have a ton of patterned plates to mix with them and as a lover of bold color I didn't think I would ever appreciate the simplicity of white. I am hooked now. And as you said, I can still use all of my other plates to compliment the new white ones! Best of all worlds.
DeleteBeautiful , I love the way they look together . Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!! I do love looking at them...
DeleteSo pretty & very classic!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cecilia!! I have to agree. ☺️
DeleteThey look beautiful, Kim! Mixing different patterns of white is such a good idea and perfect no matter what the season. I have Fiestaware and no two place settings are the same color. It’s so much fun coming up with different color combos! Enjoy your new dishes!
ReplyDeleteWarm hugs, Carol
Hi Carol! Thanks so much. I love mixing patterns and colors and Fiestaware is a classic. I did consider it on my hunt. I was drawn to it in every store we went in. The best part is that I can still get pieces of it and mix it with my white. Best of both worlds!! Hugs!
DeleteSuch a great idea to mix and match like that, Kim. You just can't go wrong with white. I had read reports that the Cambria dishes are too large for most cabinets so I walk on by. I do love the look of them though. Our dishes are from about 2000 and we are down to 4 saucers. I don't even worry about it usually but when we have friends over for dinner or something, the problem comes back to me and I have to scramble.
ReplyDeleteI remember looking at Cambria years ago, loving them then, but settling on Emma, because Cambria was too big. I guess I have steady taste, because they still caught my eye. Honestly if I didn't have the glass to contend with, I would've purchased them and placed them in a corner cabinet. Of course, then I wouldn't have this pretty combination!!
DeleteYour dishes coordinate well. I especially like the footed bowls. I’ve had two sets of dishes where everything matched, but I eventually tired of them. Now I, too, have embraced the white look.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Those footed bowls are just too darling. I had to have them.
DeleteKim, you are about at the age of your life where all the junk starts happening to your dishes. One day you have a full set and the next day, you don't even have enough to leave them in the dishwasher! I remember those days well! Even at a fancy restaurant you only get one dish at a time. Nobody really eats from a table set with layers! Even though pictures may tell a different story! Um, I wonder who does that?!!(not, moi). I love a beautifully set table but the most important part is the eating and that usually involves a plate and a chair in front of the TV! Your dishes are really pretty and I love nothing better than mixing them up..Happy Week to you.xxoJudy, BTW, the bowls look like old ironstone to me. I got a large serving bowl from Target that looks pretty much like them. Love it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Judy! I was so caught up in the pretty table settings at the store that I forgot to look at the dinner plates on their own. I actually came home with a very basic dish because it looked fabulous layered with my new ones. Of course, on my table, they just looked boring...like the ones at the pizza shop. I needed something fabulous on their own...and now I have them! Until someone breaks one of these. Ha! And don't you love those footed bowls? I bought a big one to match it also. I got it at the outlet for $20. I will have to peek at Target...I'm sure I could use two!! 😉
DeleteI love white dishes. I used to have red dishes for the longest, but one day I just got tired of them and I went for all white. I love it so much better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanessa! I really do love the white…and I still have my colors to mix in if I please.
DeleteGreat choices! I especially love the Napoli. That's funny that one design didn't fit properly into the cabinet. Future cabinets are going to have to get deeper. :) I only buy approximately 9 to ten inch plates, because plates are so big these days, and I tend to love whimsical designs, but only need six or four! Have you seen that photo about how much our plate size has changed!? Since I have several vintage china sets, to get fancier I place the smaller ones on the large plate, though the large vintage plate is not as large as todays. A happy, festive week ahead to you and your family. xoxo Su
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Su! I am really happy with them. I agree with you, the dishes of today are so large! Who eats that much food? Honestly, we could use the salad plates from the oversized set as our dinner plates. They are about 9 inches and they are perfect. Enjoy your pretty holiday table and your weekend, as well! xoxo
DeleteHave I mentioned how lately I've been straying towards the whites? I certainly can understand their appeal they go with everything and can stand on their own. Kim, you tell them no more handles are allowed to drop off, they are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! And yes, great advice!! I will tell them no more...gee, I hope they listen. ☺️
DeleteVery pretty! I like your footed bowls - so many uses for them. I have clear glass dinnerware for every day. I've had them for at least a year now and haven't broken anything and scratching is minimal but maybe that's because we are on a vegan diet and use knives minimally.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ronda! I love glass dishes. I found a roughed up set not too long ago and while I couldn't clean them, they are still stuck in my head. I really would like to find a set. Something about the glass was so elegant...and that's so funny about the knives. I have vegans here. Maybe my new dishes won't scratch!! Here's hoping!
DeleteYes, I have white Fiestaware and I really like it except for the marks silverware makes on it. Barkeepers Friend does take it off, but would be nice not having to do that. Like your new set a lot....enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWe just bough some Barkeepers Friend for this exact reason. I haven't had an marks yet...but I have a feeling they're coming. Thanks for the tip and the kind comment!!
DeleteHi, I've been looking at the Napoli pattern. Now that you have had them a year + how have they held up? Did they get marks?
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, I absolutely love the Napoli plates, but yes, they do have marks. There are fewer marks on the dinner plates, but the salad plates seem to be especially susceptible. I updated the post with a photo so you could get a clearer idea. Hope that helps!
Delete