Inspiration for blog posts can come when I least expect it. The other day I was having lunch at Native Foods in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. While I was waiting for my order, I decided to peruse the products for sale in their market. I was pleasantly surprised by their collection of brightly colored rice bowls. My lunch reminded me that I have been on the hunt for a brightly colored bowl or salad/dessert plate to add to my all-white tableware. In fact, I had the same thought the last time I was at China Live in San Francisco and photographed some beautiful rice bowls there as well.
Obviously, not everyone has access to Native Foods or China Live, but I know that I have noticed similar options in widely-accessible shops. So, I got inspired to look in earnest for something that would add a little color to my monochromatic tableware. As it turns out, there are many choices at a variety of price points. Here are some of my favorites and, if you follow this blog, it should come as no surprise that they are all blue.
Rigato Plate, $200 – While these might be my favorite of the bunch, the $200 per plate price tag makes them unattainable for most of us. But, if you can afford it, each plate is painted with hand-mixed paints, and they are truly stunning.
Striped Salad/Dessert Plate, $38.00 – While not inexpensive, these salad/dessert plates create the same effect as the more expensive plates above at a much more palatable price point. I think they are a great option for those of use without a money-printing machine in the basement.
Sea Blue Floral Plate, $51.95 for four – If you are looking for a more classic look,the floral side plate above would be a beautiful way to add color into an all-white color palate.
Japanese Garden Salad Plates, $49.95 for four – I like the Asian floral motif on the plates above and I especially like that the set of four includes a mixture of white and blue backgrounds.
Ikea Stunsig Side Plate, $4.99 – You absolutely cannot beat the price on these plates. And, the marble swirl is perfectly on trend.
Kim Westad Bowls, $36 – I love the simplicity of these bowls. The turquoise interior is an unexpected touch on what appears to be a simple white bowl.
Kiso Blue Rice Bowls, $8.95 – These bowls have the same look as the Native Foods bowls that inspired this post. I really like that the interior patterns are different from the patterns on the outside.
Folk Printed Bowls, $8 – These bowls have a similar look as the rice bowls above with slightly more modern patterns. They are another great option for someone looking to add more than one color to their tableware.
Textured White Bowls, $32 for four – If you are not ready to add a little color, you can still add a little interest with texture. Each of the bowls in this set has a different pattern but the scale and color unify the look.
To be honest, I really love all of the options above. The hard part will be choosing just one.
