Dinnerware
Tabletop Crawling with New Life and Buzzing Color
Ted Baker Portmeirion Rosie Lee Collection 5-Piece Dinner Set
Unexpected colors and patterns, along with a touch of whimsy, were some of the dominate trends emerging from the latest tabletop collections showcased this spring. You could say that tabletop is crawling with new life when you consider all the bugs and critters that could be found on pieces ranging from the traditional dinner plate to the tiered cake stand. Unexpected color trends also created a buzz for tablescapes, with new incarnations of blue providing an updated take on the classic blue and white color scheme beloved by so many for centuries.
The influence of runway fashion trickling down to housewares could be seen in Ted Baker’s Rosie Lee Collection for Portmeirion Group. The designer created a series of fine bone china dinnerware featuring a nod to vintage floral patterns, colors and shapes that drew inspiration from the Ted Baker Spring/Summer 2015 apparel collection.
Ted Baker Portmeirion Rosie Lee Collection
The formal Rosie Lee collection has a floral pattern of roses in various states of bloom with dragonflies sparsely perched here and there or coming in for a graceful landing. The pieces have either a black or white base, with select items in a pastel lemon or mint color base. The roses are assorted pastels in pink, lilac, and lemon, with leaves and stems done in a darker moody green for an overall look of a garden seen through overcast skies. All of the 41 pieces in the collection are hand gilded with 22-karat gold on the rims, or on the knobs of lidded items like the covered butter pat or teapot. The collection of varying hues and concentrations of patterns lends to mixing and matching for a modern take on table setting.
“From the beginning Portmeirion has pushed the boundaries of the tabletop category,” explains Wendy Motlaq, Corporate Vice President of Portmeirion Group USA. “When Susan Williams-Ellis launched her ground breaking Botanic Garden design in the 1970s it featured mismatched dinnerware before any other manufacturer. Ted Baker has done the same and shaken up the fashion world. The creation of Rosie Lee is a natural combination for Portmeirion and Ted Baker.”
PROUNA My Honeybee Tea Cup & Saucer
Indeed, taking a mix and match approach to a table layout is a great way of updating tabletop, asserts interior designer Jennifer McGee, of Jennifer McGee Design, Inc. based in New York City.
“Tabletop has become much more lifestyle and much more relaxed,” says McGee, who began her interior design firm 16 years ago. “I think people are mixing it, they’re not doing the traditional china sets anymore. It’s much more about modern luxury and contemporizing what is different about tabletop. It’s like what I do with my clients, they may have something from their grandmother, but we’re not putting the entire table set together … They’re mixing in many more things. Colors are a fun thing to mix into your traditional mix of patterns.”
From PROUNA’s Jewelry Collections, My Honeybee and My Ladybug are fine bone china lines that combine the namesake bugs along with distinctive colors and patterns for each set. My Honeybee features a firey orange that takes on a honeycomb pattern in honey yellow along the rim of the dinner plate and is solid orange around the rim of the charger plate. My Ladybug has a deep maroon jewel tone for the red and black ladybugs to stand out against. Patterned items from My Ladybug radiate abstract lines in gold and a lighter shade of maroon. Both collections feature their namesake critter jeweled in Swarovski crystals accents that are delicately done in moderation so as not to be overwhelming.
PROUNA My Ladybug Tea Cup & Saucer
Adding even further to the element of surprise is the fact that the dinnerware is dishwasher safe. Tests done by the Reckitt Benckiser Produktion Gmbh laboratory in Germany, have proven the Swarovski crystals on the Jewelry collections by PROUNA can endure 700 washing cycles in the dishwasher. However, PROUNA highly recommends hand washing to protect the real 24-karat gold that is hand-painted on the dishes.
Interior designer John Douglas Eason, of John Douglas Eason Interior Design in New York City, noted that such a pairing of patterns and colors along with the crystals adds up to an unexpected take on tabletop that is evidence of this larger overarching theme of colors and patterns prevalent at the moment.
“I am so not your Swarovski crystal kind of guy, but there’s all of this beautiful porcelain from PROUNA that has Swarovski crystals embedded into it and it’s all dishwasher safe,” says Eason, who has been in the interior design business for 25 years now. “That’s another thing that just blows me away. In the world I grew up in and started in the design world, if you have beautiful and precious things, they all had to be hand washed. Can you imagine having this beautiful plate with these Swarovski crystals and you can pop it in your dishwasher after a dinner party? I couldn’t believe it … And again, I am so not a crystal guy, but I look at it and it’s beautiful! And that’s a bit of what I am seeing, just these beautiful and interesting patterns.”
Richard Ginori Italian Pois Collection Rim Soup Plate
At Richard Ginori, colors and patterns definitely take on an unexpected twist with two different lines from the Italian brand. The Italian Pois collection of porcelain for everyday use has wild strawberries, vermilion ladybugs and small black polka dots embellishing iconic dish shapes from various Richard Ginori dinnerware collections, all outlined with black edging. The collection is available in a complete assortment of tableware, tea and coffee settings and is complemented with matching accessories and serving pieces, such as coffee mugs and a butter dish.
Further pushing the boundaries of unexpected colors and patterns is the Insetti Collection from Richard Ginori. Insetti is a range of critters done in porcelain with some of Richard Ginori’s most popular dinnerware patterns hand-painted on. The collection features symbolic insects like the butterfly, scarab, stag beetle, cicada, and grasshopper in white with colorful designs painted on in a single color, some with gold accents. The collection of critters could be used for stylish place settings, napkin paperweights, or to create a unique centerpiece. The whimsy ante is upped even further with the Insetti pieces that go meta and have insect designs painted on them featuring ants or different winged bugs.
Insetti Collection from Richard Ginori
“I saw a little bit of whimsy that I thought was really fun,” says McGee, recalling the recent New York Table Top Show and High Point Market that she attended. “I always love to add whimsy to any table. There was a bug theme going on that I saw with a couple different lines that were done artistically and that I thought was fun.”
Villeroy & Boch Floreana Collection
In a different direction, but still playing on the unexpected, dinnerware done in shades of blue stood out for the unconventional patterns it took on as well as the fresh approach to colorization. Floreana from Villeroy & Boch is premium porcelain with a blue floral pattern that is contemporary because of the watercolor technique used to give it a vintage yet modern look. The blue and white dinnerware is perfect for mixing and matching with a plain white set or with the other Floreana colors that are also available in green or red.
The Floreana platter features a tight floral pattern done intricately across the entire dish in all blue with white outlines. Smaller dishes, like the espresso plate, reverse this and reserve the pattern for only the rim of the dish done in white with blue outlines. The effect is one that is mesmerizing when the collection is viewed in entirety along with the dinner plates and mugs that feature a much larger and more willowy floral that is still complementary but different.
Q Squared Cambridge Rose (top) and Hampton Toile (bottom)
Q Squared has also delved into the blues for two different lines of melamine dinnerware. Cambridge Rose adds a touch of vintage English art and romance in the traditional blue china color. Hampton Toile has a delicate feeling thanks to the hand-drawn light blue design that showcases peacocks and florals while recalling a vintage exoticism. The fact that the collections are done in melamine that is nearly unidentifiable as such, until you read the fine print or go to grab them, adds another modern twist to the collections.
This story was originally published in the June 2015 issue of Kitchenware News, a publication of Oser Communications Group.
Introducing Ted Baker Casual Collection from Portmeirion Group
Four Piece Set (10.5″ Dinner, 8″ Salad, 6″ Cereal Bowl and 12 oz. Mug) in Langdon Blue
Fashion takes a seat at the table with the introduction of Ted Baker Casual Collection from Portmeirion Group. Never one to save the “best” for special occasions, Ted Baker has threaded his signature prints with iconic Portmeirion silhouettes to create this stylish casual collection of handcrafted ceramics.
“The Ted Baker Casual Collection is a modern highly functional range which takes its design inspiration from Ted Baker’s men’s shirt fabrics. The various blue, black and yellow colors make for a striking table presentation,” states Wendy Motlaq, Corporate Vice President of Portmeirion Group USA. “They complement each other and coordinate perfectly.”
Inspired by the Ted Baker Spring/Summer 2015 apparel collection, the collection of plates, bowls, mugs, snack plates, coasters and placemats are decorated with detailed motifs from menswear. Global in its appeal, the pieces are named from old and new streets and locations in London.
Microwave and dishwasher safe, Ted Baker Casual Collection dinnerware and serveware items come in a lidded gift box. Items in the collection include:
Langdon Black Four Piece Set
Four Piece Set (10.5″ Dinner, 8″ Salad, 6″ Cereal Bowl and 12 oz. Mug). Available in Langdon Blue and Langdon Black sets. Sale priced at $49.99.
12-Ounce Mug and Coaster Set. Available in four patterns: Malton I, Malton II, Malton III and Malton IV. Sale priced at $19.99.
Set of two 3-Ounce Espresso Cups and Saucers. Available in two blue and teal blue patterns: Ancona I and Ancona II. Sale priced at $24.99.
Set of two 10-Ounce Stacking Mugs. Available in four patterns: Balfour I & II, Balfour III & IV, Balfour V & VI, and Balfour VII & VIII. Sale priced at $24.99.
Egg Cup and Snack Plate. Available in Blanchard Blue and Blanchard Black. Sale priced at $29.99.
To complete the table, placemats (set of four) and coasters (set of six) in the Langdon design are also available. For a formal look, consider the 41-piece bone china dinnerware range, Ted Baker Portmeirion Rosie Lee. For more information, visit www.portmeirion.com.
Cheeky Pairs with French Bull for New Collection
Cheeky™, the lifestyle brand redefining the boring paper plate and giving back to those in need, today announces its first designer collaboration in partnership with French Bull™. French Bull for Cheeky is a limited-time collection of paper and plastic tableware featuring French Bull’s signature designs. The line launches exclusively at Target® stores nationwide and on Target.com, just in time for Memorial Day. For every French Bull for Cheeky item purchased, Cheeky helps donate a meal to Feeding America®, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization. Since Cheeky launched in November 2014, the company has already donated close to 3 million meals.
French Bull is a global lifestyle brand known for making people happy with their iconic look and signature designs. The brand can be found on a broad range of fashionable products including home goods, tech, and travel accessories. Together with Cheeky, they are putting a modern twist on everyday tableware.
After discovering how dull disposable tableware options were, CEO and founder of Cheeky, PJ Brice, decided to redefine the antiquated category by incorporating cause and design. From this point forward, Brice not only committed to making a positive impact in the world, but also to using the paper plate category as a canvas through collaborations like this one with French Bull.
“Over the course of Cheeky’s launch, I’ve not only become more aware of the problem of hunger in America but also of the way Cheeky can raise awareness through our products,” said Brice. “Everyone loves French Bull’s recognizable prints. Joining forces we introduce more people to the brand and recruit more people to the cause.”
“I’m excited to be working with Cheeky and bringing attention to their amazing cause,” said designer Jackie Shapiro, Founder of French Bull. “With our mutual passion for vivid color, along with our desire to create accessible products for design-conscious consumers, I knew this partnership was a perfect fit from day one.”
With bold visions for this collaboration, Cheeky and French Bull hope to inspire customers with a variety of vibrant prints for summer they can mix and match to compliment any and every occasion.
The Cheeky and French Bull collaboration starts appearing May 17 in Target stores. For further information, visit www.cheekyhome.com.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Brings Hollywood to Haviland, a Contemporary Dinnerware Collection
Based in Los Angeles, celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard channels the movie capital’s eclectic design spirit for Hollywood, his inaugural collaboration with renowned luxury porcelain atelier Haviland. Acting like a film art director, Bullard has taken his favorite design influences from around the globe and across history and seamlessly blended them into a fresh, contemporary pattern that is sure to be an instant classic.
“I wanted to incorporate geometric shapes from the 1960s and ’70s, as well as tribal patterns from Africa and the Pacific Islands, which are often seen as tattoos today,” says the British-born designer. “I then thought of Sir John Soane’s iconic use of repeated pattern in the early 19th century, and of the glamorous interiors from Hollywood’s golden era.”
Set on a timeless white porcelain background, Hollywood combines these influences onto a boldly graphic pattern of pale gray hexagons, lozenges, and circles outlined in rich graphite. Hand-applied matte and polished platinum further animates the elegant design. Consisting of a charger, large dinner plate, soup bowl, dessert plate, bread-and-butter plate, mug, and tea and coffee cups and saucers, Hollywood’s playful sophistication makes it suitable for everyday use or special occasions.
As with all Haviland porcelain, Hollywood is made entirely in Limoges, France where the company was founded in 1842. Every stage of production takes place in a state-of-the-art factory where Haviland’s exceptional manufacturing skills and handed-down savoir-fair are used to create the finest contemporary porcelain designs whether inspired by the past or pointing to the future.
French Brand Gien to Develop Growth in the U.S.
Gien Rocaille Pastel Collection Cup & Saucer in powdered pink
French ceramic brand Faiencerie de Gien has announced its intention to significantly develop its international sales in the next few years. While the brand already has an international presence, with some 40 percent of its revenue generated via exports, the company – under the leadership of CEO Pascal D’halluin – would like to increase its sales in North America, in particular.
“As we are expanding Gien internationally, we have identified the United States as a market crucial to the company’s overall growth,” states D’halluin. “There is an appreciation and demand for affordable French elegance in the tabletop space, and Gien fits perfectly in that space.”
To achieve the desired growth, Gien recruited a national sales manager in January 2015 to coordinate the sales team in the U.S. and to run and develop the brand’s distribution network. To provide the best possible services to its clientele, the company also set up a Customer Service Department and selected a new logistics partner based in the outskirts of Atlanta.
Gien Grands Crustacés Collection Oval Platter
Adding to its retail presence in over 300 stores nationwide, Gien recently opened new accounts at French Quarter in Portland, Oregon, Salutations Home in Passadena, California and Ampersand in Edina, Minnesota. This month, a new stop-in-shop opened at its New York showroom, Richard Cohen Collection. Other international expansions include doors in Japan, China and the Middle East.
Faiencerie de Gien is now offering more products for the U.S. and is developing tableware, gifts and interior decoration. New patterns and designs have been created specifically to meet the American consumer expectations. To support this new initiative and to promote the brand and its expertise, Gien has also recruited a press agency based in New York.
For more information, visit www.gien.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.