Opposites Attract
With these dynamic patterns, black and white is anything but boring. Clockwise from top right: Bronze Etched Botanical wall art, $79 for set of three motifs; West Elm, westelm.com. Crystal Aria Black bowl, $450; Kosta Boda, kostaboda.com. Black (with gold dots) crystal Celeste candleholder, $275; Orrefors, orrefors.us. Vitrelle glass Muse dinner plate, $59.99 for four four-piece place settings; Corelle Dinnerware, corelle.com.
Rise and Shine
Coffee, crossword and these witty wares are an eye-opening way to start your day. Fine china Loop soup/cereal bowl, salad plate, dinner plate and mug, $79.99 for four four-piece place settings; tumbler, $19.99 for set of four; all, Studio Nova, mikasa.com. Stainless steel and wood Bark Ebony tablespoon, $50 for five-piece place setting; Calvin Klein Home, 212-292-9000. Cotton Maidstone striped napkin, $11; The Home, James! Collection, homejameseasthampton.com. White mahogany-veneer bed tray, $29.95; CB2, cb2.com.
Conversation Starters
What's suave enough to spark any cocktail party? They're all here in black and white, with bold graphics that create a buzz. Clockwise from top right: Melamine Carnaby tray, $12.95; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Naugahyde and stainless steel ice bucket with tongs, $49.95; Arvind Group, charmingboutique.com. Dotted glass Cosmo tray, $8; The Black and White Store, theblackandwhitestore.com. Spot coaster, 95 cents; Crate & Barrel. Leather and stainless steel cocktail shaker, $75; Julia Knight, juliaknight.net. Black Swirl martini glasses, $20 each; Sasaki, 800-252-3390.
Class Act
Dashing with a black-and-platinum border and monogram, this formal china gets an update with contemporary table linens. Platinum-and-black-bordered porcelain dinner and salad plates with platinum custom-script monogram, $280 for five-piece place setting; Signature Color Collection, Pickard, pickardchina.com. Stainless steel Linea Q Noir fork and knife, $65 for five-piece place setting; Sambonet, 800-887-4863. Crystal Intermezzo Black goblet, $50; Orrefors, orrefors.us. Black linen Saddle Stitch napkin, $33, resin Ivory Dot napkin ring, $20, braided-plastic Passementerie place mat, $50; all, Daisy Hill, 502-339-9300.
Go Green
Add a green plate with etching-like flowers for a whiff of spring. Fleur dessert plate, $30 for four; Rosanna, rosannainc.com. Loop dinner plate, $79.99 for four four-piece place settings; Studio Nova, mikasa.com. Veranda dinner fork and knife, $54.99 for five-piece place setting; Oneida, oneida.com. Marimekko Unikko tumbler, $4.99; Zak Designs. Octagonal Stripe place mat, $27; Juliska, juliska.com.
Tasteful Texture
Add textured pieces to lend an artsy air to banded china. Tronada Noche salad plate, $10; Dansk, dansk.com. Laque de Chine dinner plate, $90; Haviland, haviland-limoges.com. Kongo dinner knife, $75 for five-piece place setting; Dansk. Gotham Smoke goblet, $29.99 for four; Joseph Abboud, 800-252-3390. Havana place mat, $14; The Home, James! Collection, homejameseasthampton.com
Pop Art
Add multiple prints to solid-colored plates for a table that practically pops. Ombrages dessert plate, $61; Raynaud, devinecorp.net. Laque de Chine salad plate, $70; Haviland, haviland-limoges.com. Muse dinner plate, $59.99 for four four-piece place settings; Corelle Dinnerware, corelle.com. Bamboo dinner fork and knife, $80 for five-piece place setting; Sambonet, 800-887-4863. Bellport goblet, $20; Calvin Klein Home, 212-292-9000. Polka Dot place mat, $10; ABH Design, 212-249-2276.
Seasonal Settings
Add red-and-white plates for a merry, modern holiday look. Arpege bread-and-butter plate, $25, salad plate, $40, Haussman water glass, $22; all, Philippe Deshoulieres, phd@biacordonblu.com. Loop dinner plate, $79.99 for four four-piece place settings; Studio Nova, mikasa.com. Omega dinner knife, $110 for five-piece place setting; Capdeco, phd@biacordonblu.com.
