Whether or not you are planning on having two sets of dinnerware for formal or everyday will influence your decision. For everyday, or duel purpose dinnerware, stick with something simple. I always am an advocate of letting the food and presentation be what stands out, not the pattern on the plates. Make sure that you have enough place settings for your family and guests, and then, really let your personality shine through. If your plates are visible from a dining hutch or open shelves, your dinnerware will really become a part of your kitchen decor. Consider colors, textures, and prints that will complement not only the decor of your dining room and kitchen, but also your whole home.

You can't go wrong with solid white. It's extremely versatile for both everyday and holidays. For special occasions & interesting place settings, add in patterned or salad/dessert plates. Now-a-days the trend is to mix it up which is easy & fun to do through thrifting. I have white - solid & textured plates, but I also have solid black. Food looks dee-lish on both, but white rice & beans with yellow corn REALLY pop off the black! Hope this helps!

I really like the idea of mixing plate textures in the same color. I love doing that with the rest of my decor and I never would have thought of that for plates. What a great idea nyclq!

Is there a showroom or place where I can see this in person in the U.S.? We are interested in driftwood table bases but can't seem to find a showroom or manufacturer with them on display. We do not want to order from a catalog since the actual item is so frequently different from the catalog glossies or online pictures.