Let’s Set the Table for a Simple Weeknight Dinner

Time to play! Which glasses, dinnerware, and flatware would you choose from to set a simple, everyday dinner table? I’ll tell you which ones I’d pick…

  1. * Marta Barware
  2. * Caterer’s Dinner Set
  3. Industrial Chic Dinnerware Collection
  4. Café Glassware
  5. * Almoco Flatware
  6. Heath Ceramic Plates
  7. Cambridge Fiesta Flatware
  8. Dimpled Drinkware
  9. Charlemagne Flatware
  10. Vaken Glasses

* I love numbers 1, 2, and 5 together (though #9 is our actual everyday flatware).

Which ones would you choose?

Comments

62 responses to “Let’s Set the Table for a Simple Weeknight Dinner”

  1. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    1, 2 and 9 – although I would really choose a different flatware altogether…..love those glasses. I just bought Williams Sonoma Pantry white dish set for my every day and I LOVE them – heavy, white, all purpose and look great.

  2. logan Avatar
    logan

    I’d choose 2, 5, and 8. Love that black flatware!

  3. samarahuel Avatar
    samarahuel

    Well, I feel pretty stylish! I picked the same as you!

  4. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Yup. 2,5,8. I love the 1 glasses, but I think they might be too delicate for everyday especially at my house :)

  5. NicoleD Avatar

    I agree with your pics. Love the matte black silverware and the simple lines on the plates and glasses.

  6. Danielle Avatar

    I like 6, 8 and 9.

    The glasses remind me of a set we had when I was a kid, except they were amber tinted glass.

  7. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    10, 9, 2. I love when you do these. :) They’re fun.

    Although I had a hard time choosing between 10 & 8.

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      I think they’re fun too!

  8. Heidi Avatar

    Ooh, I love 5, 6 and 8…I must have those dimpled glasses! I want to change my everyday dishes but am having a hard time getting rid of the PB ones we registered for when we got married. I feel like it would be wrong to sell them but we can’t possibly keep them and get new place settings. Oh, the decisions in life! ;)

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      I know. I feel the same way. Brandon and I were married in 2004, and we got our dishes and flatware as gifts. They’re nice and they’re still going strong, so I feel like I shouldn’t get rid of them just because I’m bored with them. I think it’s time to get new glasses soon though (ours are decade-old cheapies), and that will mix things up just enough to make me happy.

  9. Emily @ Awesomania Avatar

    Oh, I’ll play! Actually, I would make the same choices you did: 1, 2, 5. Simple, clean, and stylish.

  10. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    This is a fun play-a-long! I would pick 4, 6 & 7 . I love love love me some Heath Ceramics!!! Maybe one day I’ll be able to own some. ; ) Thanks!

  11. Amanda Avatar

    Oooh Fun!!! 8,2 & 9 I love the dots on the glasses!!! But the glasses (1) are so simple and lovely! I WANT THEM!!! :)

  12. bethany Avatar

    Options 1,2 and 7 – I like simplicity and clean lines. Also, I love the handles for the flatware for 7 and wish I had registered for something like them.

  13. Cait @ Hernando House Avatar

    I think I’d go with 2, 4 and probably 9. But I love 6 and 8, too.

  14. Alisa Avatar
    Alisa

    well I am going to say 2, 4 and 9 only because that is practically what I have.

    I have the great white from pottery barn that we use for both every day and then dress up for special occasions, and then a similar jelly jar type of glass from crate and barrel, and then a similar satin stainless flatware from crate and barrel as well. Has worked for us for the last 6 years, and is pretty much timeless!

  15. Tory Avatar

    Love this game! I’d pick 1, 2, and 9 but I’d want a few of 7 and 8 to mix in. Then I’d go crazy getting a variety of linens to totally change up the look depending on my mood.

  16. Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d Avatar

    I’d pick 2, 5 and 8. Love the simplicity with a little unexpected touch.

  17. Renee Smith Avatar

    1,2, and 5. I would choose different flatwear, but 5 is the closest to the lines I like.

  18. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    6,7 & 8… but they’re all wonderful!

  19. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    1,2,9
    those are my style

  20. Carrie254 Avatar

    2, 1, 9

    I agree with Tiffany. They seem to be the most like your style.

  21. Katie Avatar

    I would pick 6, 8 and 9. I like the color of the dishes and the texture of the glasses. I think it would make me happy to see them the end of the day.

  22. Sarah Hettervik @ http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/ Avatar

    That”s tough. I really like the silverware… or blackware haha.

    – Sarah

  23. rachael Avatar

    i love number ten. i love the clear, black and grey altogether. i think every room at my house is in that color scheme.

  24. Amy Ellison Avatar

    I like 5, 6, and 10 :) I love pretend shopping!

    1. Cherie Avatar
      Cherie

      I agree with Amy! 5, 6, and 10. However, the rims on those beautiful blue plates seem to call for wood-handled utensils.
      It would be so fun to actually purchase what you wanted. Thank you for letting us dream, Nicole! My husband works for property development and over our 31 years of marriage he has always supplied us with extras the tenants discarded from their businesses. So while I’m grateful I still ponder what an entire table setting from my own preferences would look like. With pretend shopping there are never regrets!

  25. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    2, 8 & 9. I love those glasses.

  26. Kimmy LaMee Avatar

    I would go with 3, 8, and 9 today… but I love to switch things up every once in a while so it might be 2,5,and 10 tomorrow…

  27. Erika Avatar
    Erika

    1, 2 & 9.

  28. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    5+6+8 = nice!

  29. Courtney Avatar
    Courtney

    2, 4, and 9. Pretty similar to the items we received when we got married last year. We registered at Crate and Barrel but bought our glasses at Williams-Sonoma.

    I guessed your picks correctly, yay!

  30. Andrea @ Strawberry-Chic Avatar

    I’m so glad you posted those lovely white plates, I have been searching for a set for months!

  31. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    2, 8 and 9!

  32. findingmagnolia Avatar

    I’d choose 2, 4, and 9. We have Denby dishes right now in the Juice colors, so what we actually have is more similar to 6. I need to get some more classic drinking glasses; we have some from Crate and Barrel that are attractive but have very thin rims, and for some reason I just feel nervous about drinking out of them, as if I could accidentally take a bite out of the rim while taking a drink. Instead, I set the table with vintage glasses of all shapes and designs, including one Care Bear glass. Embarrassing but true.

  33. Julie Avatar

    1, 2, and 9 for sure! As much as I love pretty designs, I really don’t think you can go wrong with simple and clean.

  34. Dianne Avatar
    Dianne

    OMG!!! I dream someday of owning a full set of dishes from Heath Ceramics. Though for now, I am quite happy with my pasta bowls and serving dishes. Please tell me I am not alone.

    So since I am dream shopping (and we need to do this more often, hint hint), I would choose #1, #5, and #6.

  35. young cm Avatar
    young cm

    2, 7 and 8, for a summer casual look!

  36. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    I picked 3, 7 and 10…I might have gone with 1 on the glassware, too. I’m thinking bold here!

  37. brooke Avatar
    brooke

    6, 8, and 9!

  38. Amanda B. Avatar

    Fiestaware everytime! Made in WV and can handle everyday! Plus comes in beautiful colors. I need color on my table. :P

  39. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    We have the Marta barware and I LOVE it! Super thin, but durable, and it keeps everything really cold. Plus, it holds up well in the dishwasher.

    Nicole, could you maybe feature some stylish every day dinnerwear for a slightly lower budget? Like, just married and right out of college? I’d love to replace our yard sale mismatch with something stylish and versatile, i.e. plain but not TOO plain, just stylish—but haven’t found anything in our price range. You are so good at finding stuff!!

  40. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    2, 9, and 10.

    Love the choices. I really don’t think there’s a bad combination.

  41. Laura Avatar

    I have 6! In different colors, tho. Love them. 8 and 9 are perfect partners.

  42. Jova Avatar

    i’d do 6,7,8 or 2, 5, 4. and i see this outside in the fresh air on a harvest table sort of thing, al fresco!

  43. ArticulateArt Avatar

    1, 6 and 9! 2 is good too though.

  44. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    I’d set my table with 2,4, and 9. Classic looks imho.

  45. Jeen-Marie Avatar
    Jeen-Marie

    I thought the same thing! 6,7,8- Great for summer.
    I have had the dimpled glasses for about 10 years- they have served me very well. I love the weight!
    Thanks Nicole for the great choices/ideas.

  46. Jeen-Marie Avatar
    Jeen-Marie

    BTW- has anyone owned or used the black flatware? I am curious how it wears. Does the black finish wear off or scratch with dishwasher use?

  47. Jessika Avatar

    I love 2, 5, and 8. The stainless (shiny, not brushed) shows so many everyday spots, so I’d like to see how the black holds up. Those bubble glasses are fabulous! I’m going to have to check them out (our current everyday glasses don’t fit into the new house’s dishwasher well… note to self on things to check when purchasing future servingware and glasses).

  48. kate blue Avatar

    I do love white plates…but I picked straight in a row…I choose 6, 7 and 8 !

  49. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    1, 2 & 9 is pretty much how I set the table every night. We have Crate & Barrel’s Room Service dishes and cylindrical glasses found at all bog box stores (I also have kids, glasses need to be easily replaced without replacing the whole set). Makes it easy to have fun linens.

  50. annie Avatar

    I’d love 6 and 8 together. I think that I’d need different flatware, though, I guess 7 would work best from those listed. Love those Heath plates. Beautiful stuff.

  51. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    The black silverware is AMAZING. It would be awesome with white plates and the pretty anthropologie bowls I have been dreaming about for the past 2 years!

  52. Sarah W Avatar
    Sarah W

    I actually chose exactly what you did! Great minds think alike. ;)

  53. Christy Avatar
    Christy

    All pretty but I think for everyday, every season, I’d go with 2, 8 & 9.

  54. Emily W Avatar
    Emily W

    I would choose 8, 3, & 9. :)

  55. Becky Clark Avatar
    Becky Clark

    I love 6, but if you get those beware. There glaze is soft so every time you cut your meat, you leave a mark on the plate. There is a really nice restaurant in my town (Olympic Provisions) that has this set. They look a little worn for wear.

  56. Judith Avatar
    Judith

    I think I’d what you did, but I’d be boring and go for the silver finish on those. That black looks like it would come off. I wish you had posted this before I got married. I received various shades of blue in Fiesta for wedding presents and now find myself drooling for just plain white plates. And those glasses…

  57. katrina Avatar

    I <3 those dishes! The color is awesome

  58. trisha Avatar

    i’d choose 4,6 & 9!