12 Blue and White Place settings
I fell in love with blue and white! I’m sharing 12 Blue and White Place Setting that are some of my all-time favorites. I’ve always liked the color scheme, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago, when I started collecting blue and white plates, that I got the bug. Ironically, I choose the name Ivory and Noire because when it came to creating tablescapes my goto color scheme was black and white. Well, I fell in love with blue and white and I have no regrets. You can’t go wrong with this color scheme and you can highlight it with a myriad of colors to reflect either the current season or any holiday you are celebrating. I’m sharing twelve of my favorite blue and white place settings. All of the place settings except for one were created with pieces from my own collection. I’m sharing the patterns and links to where you can purchase these pieces to get you excited to start your own.
Blue and White Chinoiserie Perfection
If you were next to me when I saw this place setting at the NY Now Design Market, you would have heard an audible gasp of delight as I was taking photos of this table. If you have followed me for any bit of time, you know that I not only love the blue and white color scheme but that I also love adding a bit of an Asian influence in whatever I design. These pieces are not in my collection, but let just say they are high contenders on my Christmas list.
All of the pieces in this place setting are from Mottahedeh and the stylist that created this did a beautiful job blending pieces of their different collections to create such a cohesive look. A table looks much more interesting when it looks like it’s made up of pieces collected over time. You want your table to tell your story.
Design Tip No. 1:
If you are starting with your collection, its a lot easier to begin with pieces with the same hue of blue. Balance plates with larger more ornate patterns with plates with a plain blue or white edge or smaller patterns. The photo above is a great example of that balance. The two Mottahedeh collections used above are Blue Shou(dinner plate) and Blue Lace( soup bowl and saucer). The stylist also used their creative license to tuck a lid from a container in the Blue Canton collection in the soup bowl to add a focal point to this place setting.
Blue and White in Paris
The pattern on the dinner plate below was what drove this place setting. When I looked at the scrolling pattern, the urn filled with flowers for some reason it reminded me of Europe and specifically Paris, France. Combined with this floral Ralph Lauren fabric, I could see myself using this setting to have an idyllic picnic in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Design Tip No. 2:
I mentioned it before, but when you are combining patterns balance the one that is more ornate with one that has more negative space. Above the dinner plate’s scrolling pattern was balanced by the bread plate’s more minimal pattern.
Blue Banded Plate: Lenox-Dinner Plate Kate Spade Rutherford Circle Navy click here
Scroll Patterned Plate: J & G Meakin Forum Blue on White Dinner plate click here
Bread Plate Pattern: Royal Doulton-Yorktown click here
Water goblet in the photo below: Water Goblet|Jamestown Blue by Fostoria click here
Dinner Napkin: White Buffet Dinner Napkins click here
Navy Tassel Cord: Joannes Fabric
Bamboo Flatware: Contara 20-Piece Estelle Flatware | click here
Below, I allowed the beauty of the J & G Meakin Dinner plate shine and just accented it with a white dinner napkin wrapped with a cord with tassels. I got the cord from Joannes Fabric.
Mix and Match Modern with Antiques
I picked the pieces below and displayed them separately so that you can see the patterns and details that they individually bring to a place setting. The beauty of blue and white is its classic nature and modern plates can easily integrate with antiques. Here are three modern plates and one antique plate pattern that together are are winning combination.
Starting from the top left: Chinoiserie Toile Canapes Plate| Caskata
First-time buyers can use code IVORYANDNOIRE20 for a similar plate click here
Top right: Fairfield Melamine Salad Plate| for similar one click here
Bottom Right: Pillivuyt Bamboo Porcelain Dinner Plate| Williams Sonoma for a similar click here
Bottom Left: Devon Cottage Dinner Plate | Johnson Brothers click here
(this is an antique pattern but this pattern is still being produced on new plates from the Johnson Brothers)
Bamboo flatware: Allison 20 Piece Stainless Steel | click here
White Dinner Napkin: White Buffet Dinner Napkins click here
Your Blue and White Focal Point
Design Tip No. 3:
Even when you are mixing patterns, I always start putting a place setting together by picking the plate that will be the focal point. I think you will quickly realize, that this Caskata canape Chinoiserie plate below is one of my favorites. To ensure this plate was the focal point, I surrounded it with a sea of white. Even though the plates are white, the texture of the geranium dinner plate and the scroll patterned edges of the larger dinner plate add interest but still allow the canape plate to be the focus. The lovely floral pattern on the Ralph Lauren fabric highlights the place setting even further.
Large White Dinner Plate: Regence Large Dinner Plate (used as a charger) | similar one click here
Geranium Dinner Plate: Geranium Dinner Plate | Bordallo Pinheiro click here
Small Plate: Chinoiserie Toile Canapes Plate| Caskata First time buyers can use code IVORYANDNOIRE20 for a similar plate click here
Drinking glasses with woven sleeve: Click here for similar items
Bamboo flatware: Allison 20 Piece Stainless Steel | click here
Small white milk pitchers used as vases: Homegoods
Blue and White in the Garden
When it came to my personal collection, I selected more of the classical china patterns. One of the ways I love using my blue and white plates is on a garden-themed tablescape. Below are just a few of the place settings I’ve created incorporating some of the pieces I introduced in the photos above. For my Mother’s Day Garden Party and to see the rest of the table settings click here.
Below, is one of the many plate combinations I tried for the garden party.
Dinner Plate: Elizabeth Dinner Plate | by Johnson Bros. click here
Woven Charger: For a similar item click here
Water glass: Water Goblet|Jamestown Blue by Fostoria click here and similar here
Flatware: Antique Silver Sentiment Flatware (Stainless Steel)| click here
Dinner Napkin: Purple Orchid Buffet Napkins click here
White Ginger Jar: For a similar jars click here and here
Below, is the place setting on last year’s Mother’s Day table. Can you tell I love complimenting my blue and white with pink, fuchsia and lavender for Mother’s Day!
Design Tip No. 4
Think out of the box when it comes to what the charger will be for your place setting. Below, I used a small serving tray, whose scale and beautiful scrolling edge was perfect as a charger for this plate.
Dinner Plate: Adalaide Blue Square Dinner Plate| 222 Fifth click here for the set click here
White serving tray: One of my Homegoods Finds (Size 12″ x 12″)
Flatware: Antique Silver Sentiment Flatware (Stainless Steel)| click here
Pink Water Goblet: For similar goblets click here and here
Champagne Flute: For similar item click here
Glass Candle Sticks: For similar item click here
Dinner Napkins: Purple Orchid Buffet Napkins click here
If you are curious about the cocktail pictured below click here for the Very Berry Cocktail.
Have Fun Combining Your Pieces
Below, is the other plate combo I tried for the Mother’s Day garden party. I think by now you can see that I love a bird painted on a plate! LOL!
Small Plate: Canape Chinoiserie Plate| Caskata, First-time buyers can use code IVORYANDNOIRE20 for a similar plate click here
Dinner Plate: Forum Blue on White Dinner Plate | J & G Meakin click here
White Dinner Plate: Regence Large Dinner Plate | similar one click here
Water Goblet: Jamestown Blue Water Goblet| Fostoria click here for a similar goblet here
Flatware: Antique Silver Sentiment Flatware (Stainless Steel)| click here
Ginger Jar: For similar item click here and here
Design Tip No.5
Take the time to take your blue and white pieces out and come up with different place settings. Take photos that you keep in a file. When you are ready to have a dinner party, look through your choices, and create a great tablescape.
