Fine China

Hi everyone, thanks for your lovely comments on my last couple of posts!

I'm having a break today and letting someone else do the hard work! 

A while ago I was asked whether my readers might be interested in reading a guest post about fine china, and knowing how discerning you all are, and how you all enjoy making the most of your homes, I thought it would be nice to share this guest post with you, written by Julie Shuford, Marketing Manager at Bering's, Houston Texas.

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Fine China Must-Haves to Truly Unique Pieces


Paper plates and plastic containers might be great for a picnic, but when you are the host make your guests feel truly welcome with some beautiful fine china. Hosting friends and family, and even professional gatherings, provides a great time to share your style and eye for detail. From your choice of home décor and fashion, to your tabletop- it is all a reflection of you. While you might already own plates and serving pieces you really like, it is still nice to consider incorporating other pieces into the mix. From the must-have, to the nice-to-have and even the truly unique fine china pieces, we will share some options to ensure your next get-together is one your guests will be talking about!


To begin, we will briefly review some must-have fine china pieces. I always say the essential for dining is your 5 piece fine china set (dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, cup and saucer). But please, do not write-off this article if your initial take-away is that you have to spend an incredible amount in order to properly host a get-together. While it is nice to have your 5 piece fine china set, even having a few full settings, or even some pieces, is a great foundation to start with. For example, if you are hosting a baby or wedding shower it would be lovely to use your salad or dessert plates for the hors d'oeuvres and/or cake. You might also opt to use your tea cups and saucers. It will make the friend you are hosting the shower for feel even more special. And you don't even have to set out your full 5 pieces!


Included below are some of our favorite must-have fine china settings:


Indigo Wave by Mottahedeh:

Arcades, by Philippe Deshoulieres

Here is a truly classic, but a bit more casual fine china option - Spode's Blue Italian.

You might be relieved to hear the heavy lifting is over! Yes, deciding on a formal 5 piece place setting can be quiet daunting, but so helpful in laying the foundation. Now that you have your formal china selected, we can move on to the nice-to-have fine china pieces.


As you are probably well aware, every fine china pattern includes equally beautiful serving pieces adorned with the same pattern. From china teapots to lustrous serving platters, they always add that little extra touch to your tabletop. Fine china serving pieces also make exquisite pieces to decorate with from mantle pieces to wall décor. Make the most out of your fine china by seeing it and enjoying it every day.


Here are some of our favorite nice-to-have serving pieces.


Spode Woodlands platter:

Yes, even pets have serving pieces! Here is the Spode Woodlands dog bowl:

Here are some serving pieces that go with the china set pictured above. Spode's Blue Italian:

I think most would agree that it is "nice to have" your must-have as well as your nice-to-have fine china pieces. However, some of the most expressive and fun pieces are the truly unique fine china pieces. These are the fine china pieces that might not serve a purpose other than looking nice, but add character and color.


The picture below includes all three examples from the must-have dinner plates to the nice-to-have serving bowls, and the truly unique fine china pieces. Rothschild Bird by Herend is such a timeless pattern!

Now that you have your fine china bases covered, maybe you should start inviting friends and family over to share in the pretty pieces! And in the meantime, it never hurts to admire and take notes on how your friends and family decorate and entertain with their fine china.


About the Author


Julie Shuford is the Marketing Manager for Bering's Hardware in Houston, TX.   Julie is a girl's girl who loves a good sale, a long run, and time with her husband and new baby boy. Bering's Hardware is a unique retail store that provides everything from hardware to fine china and housekeeping products to grilling products.

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Many Thanks Julie for such an interesting  guest post - there are some great ideas here for beautiful china, some lovely photos of various different designs, and I just love the idea of fine china for dogs!

what a good boy!

 I'm sure Logan thinks he's a Prince anyway, the way we spoil him, and if I were to serve up his dinner in such a smart bowl instead of his plastic one then I'm sure he would be wondering why it's taken me so long to give him what he deserves!!!

What do you think your dog would think?
Or maybe he/she already dines off the finest china???

Wishing you all a Happy Weekend!

NB:     Don't forget!  My Giveaway ends Sunday May 27th, so still plenty of time to leave your comment here on the Diamond Jubilee Giveaway post!

Something a little different - A Guest Post!

Hi everyone!

 

Some one else has done all the hard work today!

I was asked a little while ago if I would like to host a guest post from Arcadian Lighting, a company that focuses on lighting for the home, and so today I am very pleased to welcome Susi from Arcadian Lighting with her guest post which has some fabulous interiors with lots of lighting ideas!

Taylor Wilson who asked me if I would like to host this guest post tells me that "Arcadian Lighting is the best source for lighting fixtures and accessories at discount prices. Arcadian Lighting has been in the lighting industry for over 15 years selling decorative home lighting fixtures and lamps online, and has become one of the top Internet retailers for home lighting products."

Why not pop over to their site and have a look!

I hope you enjoy Susi's post!

Hi, I'm Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a blog that focuses on lighting fixture ideas and trends. I'm so happy to be guest blogging here at Gillyflower today. My guest post is a collection of eight inspirational living rooms. These living rooms are full of great design ideas and are beautiful. Hope you enjoy!

This monochrome living room is an inspiring example of how layers of pale color and texture can create a sophisticated room in the absence of bold color and pattern.

I love the beautiful wall color and pattern on the chairs in this living room. Think outside of traditional colors for a unique look. Pattern adds color and interest so don't forget to add patterned textiles and accessories.

The floating seating arrangement in this living room is inspiring. Pulling the sofa away from the wall, then placing a sofa table and lamps behind it changes the flow of the room.

The dark moody living room in the London home of Abigail Ahern is an inspiring example of a dark and dramatic living room done right. Layers of texture with floor lamp add interest.

Mixing strong patterns can be daunting. This living room is a great example of how to do it successfully. A medium pattern on the walls and a bold pattern as an accent keep the room from feeling too busy. The orange against the brown and cream is beautiful.

Despite having navy on the walls, this living room feels light and open. Loads of white trim and stylish wall sconces give the room a fresh, crisp feeling. Don't be afraid of dark walls.

Simple, classic furniture like a tailored sofa and wingback chair are timeless pieces for a living room. But what is really inspiring in this living room is the floor to ceiling gallery wall filled with interesting art work.

Contrast between light and dark, solid and pattern, traditional and casual make this living room full of decorating inspiration. Tailored but not stuffy, this space is an elegant example of neo-traditional style.

What do you think of these inspirational living rooms? Comments are welcome! Don't forget to check out Arcadian Lighting for more lighting fixtures for your home!

Image credits: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |



Thankyou Susi!!!

Well, there are some brilliant interior and lighting ideas here which I shall certainly take on board - I especially like the idea of the floating seating arrangement, pulling away the sofas from the wall and having lighting behind.

I hope you enjoyed reading this guest post, please visit again very soon as I will be announcing my 150th follower giveaway, and then shortly after that I have another surprise giveaway to announce!

Here's a sneak peek at what's to come!

Hope you all have a great weekend!