Setting the Table, Part Two: Selecting Tableware Essentials That Reflect Your Everyday Rituals
When I open the kiln and lift out a new set of plates, I often think about the homes they’ll soon live in — the first morning coffee, the midweek dinner with family, the celebration that lingers long after dessert. Each moment paired with with a thoughtfully chosen piece of tableware.
Creating your collection is about more than function or form; it’s about choosing the pieces that reflect your rituals, your gatherings, and the way you live.
As a ceramicist, I’ve had the privilege of helping countless clients curate pieces that not only elevate their homes but also tell their stories. Whether it’s a thoughtfully designed wedding registry or a custom collection for a new home, I’m continually inspired by how personal this process can be.
In my last Studio Journal entry, I shared a glimpse of my own table and the process I use to help others begin theirs. It always starts with a few grounding questions:
Who is at your table?
What do you love to eat?
Where will your ceramics live?
In this guide, I’ll share insights and recommendations to help you design a collection that’s as functional as it is beautiful — and as unique as the memories you’ll create with it.
The Core Pieces & Choosing Quantities
Every home and lifestyle are different, but there are a few foundational forms that I repeated in most tableware sets I create.
Core Pieces
10” Plates
8” Plates
9” × 2” Pasta Bowls
5” × 3” Cereal Bowls
4” × 2” Ice-Cream Bowls
Mugs
Optional Additions
Mini Bowls
6” Plates
Espresso Cups + Saucers
Water Cups
These essentials appear so often because they mirror how we eat and gather. A 10-inch plate is a timeless canvas for a full meal, while 8-inch plates serve beautifully for salads or small dishes. Bowls of varying depths become indispensable for everything from cereal to spaghetti — and a beloved mug will always find its place at the start of the day. When building your collection ask yourself what pieces could be incorporated seamlessly into your daily rituals or perhaps even elevate them.
Choosing Quantities
Most clients commission sets of eight or ten pieces, especially if they enjoy hosting or are furnishing a home for the long term. For smaller kitchens, I often design “layered” collections: everyday essentials kept within easy reach, and additional pieces stored for entertaining or special occasions.
If you’re starting small, a simple rule of thumb is to multiply the number of people in your household by two or three. You’ll have enough for daily use and a guest or two, with room to grow your collection naturally over time.
Begin with the pieces you’ll reach for most — a foundation that can evolve alongside your home and rituals.
Mix & Match: The Beauty of Variety
The most captivating tables often tell a story — and that story comes alive when pieces aren’t perfectly uniform. I love to mix and match glazes and shapes in collections I create. Start with a palette that feels cohesive rather than identical.
My own collection began with the Dalmatian and Cosmos glazes, and has since grown to include bright whites and constantly charcoals. This subtle variety makes each table feel thoughtfully composed and ensures new pieces always belong, no matter how your style evolves.
A Maker’s Note
If you prefer a more consistent look, consider purchasing one or two extra pieces when ordering a custom set. Because ceramics rely on materials from the earth, glazes and clay bodies can change or become unavailable over time.
If buying extras isn’t ideal, embrace the mix-and-match approach — it’s timeless, intentional, and forgiving. Your collection will always feel like a living expression of your story.
Serveware: Pieces That Celebrate the Art of Sharing
Serveware holds a special place in the home. These larger, sculptural forms bring both practicality and poetry to how we gather. From trays and serving bowls to carafes and teapots, serveware enriches the rhythm of shared meals and celebrations — and it can be added slowly, over time.
Because these pieces often live outside the cupboard, choose ones you’ll love seeing every day. A tray might rest gracefully on a sideboard, holding a flickering candle or a small bouquet. A serving bowl might sit on your kitchen counter, filled with fruit, adding quiet warmth even when not in use.
Start with a few key forms that balance beauty and purpose:
One large tray
One narrow tray
One serving bowl
Let your serveware be both functional and artful — pieces that invite gathering and bring sculpture into the everyday.
Curating with Intention
Your tableware doesn’t need to be extensive to feel perfect. A single, perfectly balanced mug or a beautifully thrown pasta bowl can elevate an ordinary meal into a ritual.
Like building a thoughtful wardrobe, your collection can grow slowly — guided by intention rather than impulse. Blend heirloom pieces, vintage treasures, and handcrafted ceramics to create a table that feels distinctly yours.
Each handmade piece is a quiet collaboration between artist, earth, and intention — a rhythm that turns the everyday into art.
Whether you begin with one beloved piece or commission a complete custom collection, the approach remains the same: choose with care, build with purpose.
Wishing you beautiful meals and meaningful moments,
Jessica
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