I think, just my 2c worth, in this case that I would put bowls that you have and that you like. It sounds like stoneware is something that you love and that is the unifying tie-in to your collection. From your pictures, because it looks like your cabinets aren't lit, I would avoid putting in brown ones - they seem to be getting lost. If you want brown what about looking for a shiny copper urn or bowl (maybe hammered) with interesting handles or shape. I think identical bowls, in this case, would defeat the purpose of adding a personal decorative accent to your space. Beautiful space.

Sidney, I'd go for color since it's dark inside the shelving. I think I showed you my Watt Pottery, not sure, but here it is again.

I've since moved some of it to other locations in the kitchen, but I also have other types of stoneware too.

Oh, one of my favorite bowls is a "new" one I bought online which is white and red gingham and white on the outside. It's fun and adds a lot of color!

Thanks blfenton. The brown shows up better in real life than what the pictures indicate but I do like the idea of copper.

Here is a picture of my kitchen taken with a better camera and a better photographer i.e. not me. In this picture the brown stands out more than the white.

Oakley, we seem to gravitate to the same decorating styles don't we? LOL. I do like your stone ware. It sort of fits in with the kind of bowl I have on the upper right hand shelf. I was posting while you were posting so you didn't see my last picture that shows the light background on the shelves. That may chance some thoughts on the subject.

You should use what you love best. That being said, the two looks that I like best are the brown bowls contrasting against the white cabinetry and the white-on-white look. I think either look could be beautiful.

Interesting - the brown does stand out. The copper with your pillows (at least on my monitor) would look great together.

Beautiful kitchen! I too would use what you love and have collected. I love what you have in your cubbies now. It's very warm and inviting.

I love your shelves and your bowls. Are your shelves movable? If so, have you tried just three on each side instead of four? I think with more space around each bowl they might show up better.

Thanks all for some good insights. You make a very good point. I want something that looks really great in my kitchen but I also want to use things I enjoy collecting. Honestly, I think I could love collecting the white OR the brown. So I guess the question is.. what would look best...white , dark, a common color or some combination. If I mix it up do I need to find bowls that are otherwise similar in size and shape?

Here's a couple of pictures I found online that make a nice statement. I just can't decide what would look best in my kitchen.

Cabin builder, My comments keep running one post behind. Yes, the shelves are moveable. I hadn't thought of going to three shelves. If I went to three shelves maybe pitchers would look good there. I have a couple of those also.

You could also take note from one of your inspiration photos and put darker colored dishes/platters behind your white bowls to make them stand out. You have a beautiful kitchen.

I like the way the brown bowls look. I'd use the two white bowls, and that flowered bowl on the top right, elsewhere, because they don't seem to fit in with the others. If the pitchers are in the brown/darker hues, maybe you can try incorporating them on the shelves.

To add to Jeane gallo's comment, you could add wallpaper-covered or fabric-covered poster board to the back of the shelves in a dark color or pattern and then use your white bowls in front. That could look really good and the wallpaper/fabric wouldn't be permanent if you wanted to change it out.

You're right, the brown really does show up! I do like the idea of putting a dark platter, or cover some poster board behind the white stoneware.

I think if you put the white pieces on the same level it would look better. Put both the white pieces on the bottom shelves, or in the middle shelves.

I remember getting all those new new shelves in the kitchen and how excited I was. Until it came time to actually put something on them! It's hard!

I'm still stuck on the shelves around my kitchen window. lol

I think you should buy the pieces you love. Both yellow ware and ironstone are beautiful and will look wonderful in your kitchen. I have yellow ware everywhere in my house! I use the bowls for mixing and serving.

A few pics

Prill, thank you so much for sharing pics of your collection. I have a large yellow ware bowl like yours that I "loaned" to my daughter because the blue goes with her kitchen. I loved the bowl but it really looked better in her kitchen. I think I would love to have your buff colored bowls with the white stripe. They would look good with my white cabs and NVG granite. I love your collection. Can you tell me anything about the bowls with the white stripes? Are they harder to find?

Sueb20, I think the flowered bowl is fast becoming the "odd bowl out". We have an antiques mal down the road from my house. I may slip out to find a quick replacement if I can decide which color direction to go with but I think I'm getting closer.

Here's what I am hearing from each of you. If I stick with white I need to create a dark back drop with either fabric or dishes. Otherwise go dark. Correct? Is it all white or all dark? Would a dark brown and buff colored collection look OK? What do you think? Also......I would really love to see pics from any other kitchen ware collectors.

Thanks All

Jeanne,I think I have some dark brown plates in storage. I'll try to find them and see how they look behind the white.

Fun2BHere, what a clever idea about the fabric. I'll test that out as well. It might be an interesting was to bring texture and pattern into a room that right now has none. I've been thinking about putting a valance on my "naked" kitchen windows. Perhaps the fabric could also be used on a table runner as well.

Oakley,putting the white bowls for now on the same level on both sides is an easy fix. I can do that right away.

BTW, I have three pitchers ,one is white, one is a gold /tan stoneware and one brown...you can see it holding utensils in the pics above.

I would put the brown bowl and the blue one from your first picture on the lower shelves-brown on bottom shelf, blue above it, large white above that, and footed white on top. I think that would anchor the space. Not sure the white ones have to be on matching shelves, but it is worth a try-if you put the white ones on the upper shelves on the left, just switch the fluted white on the right with the taller brown one and leave the other two the way they are. If you don't like the blue on the second shelf, it does sort of mimic the shape of the decorated piece on the right, so maybe it could stay on the top shelf. I would try it both ways and see which is more pleasing to you.

Very pretty kitchen!

I like the flowered bowl, but I would put it on the other side as a counterpoint to the painting.

Thanks Cyn, I'll rearrange them and share the pics. The camera distorts the colors a bit. The blue bowl is actually green and the white footed bowl is really a hand painted bowl with red stripes. After seeing everyone's comments I removed the yellow bowl with the vine design and the red striped footed bowl. The green bowl is now the only one spot of color on the shelf. Do you think I should swap it out as well? I dug around and found another white ironstone and another dark brown bowl and have used them for now to replace the two other bowls. Because the bowls are slightly different sizes I'm going to have to adjust the heights of a few of the shelves. I have to run an errand and will see if the antique mal has anything that calls out to me that I can add to the mix.

I found that my dark brown plates are too big to fit behind the white bowls. I will have to find eight inch plates instead.

Here is one of the shelves with a combination of whites, browns and tans.Should I go for a mono chromatic look , a mix of neutrals or go color?

Sidney - the bowls with the white strip are harder to find. I've gotten them all over the place... auctions, ebay, antique stores. Most of the fun is the hunt!
Those are some of my favorites. Hope you find some new pieces you love.

My preferred look would be yelloware. After that I'd say brownware. The ironstone gets lost unless you do soemthing to the back of the cabinets. Personally I'd do monochromatic and I love your inspiration pics, especially the 2nd one!

Prill - I remember pics of your place and think that it's lovely! If you'd care to share I'd love to see a thread of some pics of your place!

Oh my. I like the all dark or all white, but can't decide which. Perhaps dark in the winter and change them all to white for spring/summer?

I think you won't go wrong either way, though. Great change! Isn't it fun trying out different looks?! I keep scrolling back just to enjoy the photos!

ttodd, you were posting while I was posting. Thanks for the comments. I like your suggestions and I like the effect of monochramtic. I have seen several magazines where they have used a single color to tie a collection together. Here's one I found this morning that uses white ironstone with white cabinets. I have seen the idea in other places but as others have commented that idea may not hold up in my kitchen.

My brown bowls are yellow ware also but I am beginning to see how the yellow glazed yellow ware bowls might pack a punch.

If you want the white ones to stand out, tape a piece of nice art paper to the back of that cubby with double-stick tape.

I like the casual "this is what I have" display better than a matchy-matchy one.

Thanks Sydney - yes, I've been over in the kitchen section for years... lots of pics of my kitchen have been posted (before and during some reno) - not sure it will ever be finished. It's a very small kitchen. I took down the wall between the kitchen and DR, put in soapstone counters, new sink, painted the cabinets. Still no new floor... someday I'll decide on something.

ttodd - I love your house. Thanks for asking. I'll have to take some new LR pictures tomorrow. It's been painted and it quite a bit different than it used to be. It was dark blue, now it's off white.... Here's a bit of a preview I guess.

Here are a few pics. I'll try to get some new LR pics tomorrow when it's light.

DR

Kitchen - as you can see, I'm always changing things...

LR - partially painted (during/mid mess)

Cyn, Lazy, You are making this easy for me. I think I am suffering from a fear of commitment.....If I pick up a few more pieces of each color I can just re-accessorize with light or dark depending on my mood.....and the season. Good call , Cyn.

Lazy, if eclectic works I can just play around with combinations of what I already have which saves me going out and buying five or six more bowls right away just to complete the look.

I'm anxious to try the dark backing in the cubby just to see how that would work with white ironstone. I was looking around for fabric but art paper would be a nice ( and easier alternative). Thanks for the suggestion. What color would you use?

Prill, very very nice. You have some wonderful antiques and your counters are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

ttodd, a couple pictures of the living room for you since I painted (and rearranged the furniture - which I'm always doing) -

Oh, good heavens. I have serious Bowl Envy now.