By Design

For most, choosing dinnerware is a necessity for those setting up a first apartment or a nicety associated with getting married. Bridal registries allow the dream of the fancy, as well as aspirational everyday for Food & Wine menus or takeout, with all the coordinating elements for stellar entertaining.

But so much about tabletop has changed, particularly in the last decade. And it's not just that so many choices have made it dizzying to narrow down, but lifestyle shifts are influencing the way we set the table.

"There's a casualization," says DJ Carey, editorial director for Connecticut Cottages and Living (Connecticut, Hamptons and New York editions). "The latest research shows there is great interest in food and health. More people are enjoying preparing food at home. Kitchens, in general, are getting larger in square footage, often taking (space) from the dining room. These large open plans include areas to entertain.

"Table settings are more relaxed -- a mix of everyday china with formal pieces, fun collectibles used as a centerpiece. Glassware follows suit with crystal wine glasses sitting comfortably alongside everyday water glasses. And shapes are being mixed -- square plates stacked on circular. There is more whimsy, more fun -- and it's more comfortable and easy to create. Best yet, color is everywhere on the table."

This is a shift that is pretty consistent with what is happening in home design. Matchy-matchy is not required; in fact, it's pretty much frowned upon. Mixing it up and layering is cool, just as the hip do with their wardrobes. And even though white and off-white remain a safe and popular go-to, introducing a little color, texture and pattern is gaining momentum. These days, that might extend to glassware and flatware as well.

"The days of matching plates are gone," says Carey, "and people are enjoying adding fun pieces to their tables. It's an easy way to change the personality of any table setting."

Like home furnishings, tabletop design is getting serious impetus from couture runways as well as global and textile influences. More fashion (and interior) designers have collections that reflect their style: Isaac Mizrahi (Gibson Overseas Inc.), Kate Spade and Donna Karan (Lenox), Missoni (Richard Ginori), Charlotte Moss and Kelly Wearstler (Pickard), the house of Versace (Rosenthal). Even iconic textile designs, such as the graphic black-and-white zebra on vibrant red that graced wallpaper from Scalamandre since 1930, have been translated to dishes.

What's new in patterns covers a range of motifs that pretty much reflect those in other areas of home fashions. Florals, a mainstay of traditional, also have more modern interpretations that are stylized, more graphic and open. Animal prints and faux-bois patterns are presented in unexpected hues, such as Kelly Wearstler's edgy Marquetry design with a fuchsia or periwinkle ground. Nature is, of course, another perennially popular theme, with birds, butterflies, leaves and other organic motifs a favorite depiction.

Pop-arty polka dots, retro looks or graffiti-like calligraphy, especially intriguing in metallic gold or silver, add to the modern edge.

But even solids are distinguished, not just because of the wide selection of hues afforded by improved glazes, but also because of texture and surface decoration, some of which also echo fabric trends. West Coast designer Laurie Gates, for example, introduced a new collection called Tara at the October tabletop show at 41 Madison Avenue in New York City. Available in a neutral glazed taupe or citron, it's decorated with what looks like asymmetrically placed appliqued white lace.

Mottahedeh's new Jars collection (sold through Barneys, www.barneys.com) excels in celebrating color in fashion-forward corals and limey greens, among others, through an engaging crackled glaze. Jars Ceramistes is a pottery crafted in the south of France.

Embossed plates also raise the decorative bar, especially in monochromatic expressions. Mateus' ceramic ware, handcrafted in Portugal, features relief work such as lacey patterns or butterflies spilling over the edges of plates, which add dimension and appealing color that make the line a standout.

The desire for handmade looks is consistent with what is happening in tile design, as technology ramps up efforts to produce dimensional pieces that look as if they've been crafted and glazed by hand rather than machine. Improvements in ink-jet technology also have affected the production of plates -- and color capabilities.

A shot of color is an easy add-on to the table, especially with wide-bordered chargers in a rainbow of hues from manufacturers including Villeroy & Boch, Mottahedeh and William Yeoward. "They're a great way to add vibrancy and interest," says New York designer Tara Seawright.

But color is not at limited to dinnerware -- flatware and glassware also are providing a lift. From resins in bright hues to wood handles, some of which are shapely as well, sculptural flatware adds still another dimension to the table.

The new diversity in flatware has inspired some to shake up conventions. Seawright loves doing the unorthodox -- like teaming high-end, ornate Christofle silver with Lucite for a kick. This goes along with grabbing fun accessories from Target or Pier I and bringing them to a glam table. It's the art of high-low, which some designers pull off brilliantly.

"It's like the J. Crew equivalent," says Seawright. "Mixing ornate costume jewelry with high heels, a T-shirt, sweater and jeans."

And to dress up the table, there's always a little bling. One manufacturer, Prouna, offers a beautiful selection of dinnerware that's embellished with Swarovski crystals. Best of all, the pieces are dishwasher-safe. To coordinate, there's a line of table linens decorated with crystals.

Flashes of gold and silver also can add a bit of glam, as singular accents or as part of the plate design. Besides banding on dishes, the metallic also can decorate the plate. Michael Wainwright's use of metal materials has become a signature. A sculptor who also has made jewelry, Wainwright's studio is in Barrington, Mass.

"I like the combination of hand made things with the elegance of precious metals," says Wainwright. "Gold and platinum are timeless, not like a color that goes out of fashion. And this is like jewelry for the table."

One of Wainwright's most popular collections, Palio, inspired by the annual ancient horse race in Siena, Italy, combines 24-karat gold, platinum and rose gold in concentric stripes around the plates. Just as in furnishings, designers are no longer sticking to one metal.

"There's a mix of metals and all types of textures," says DJ Carey, "and a big push to mix opposites -- rough with smooth, high with low, shiny with flat and all metals. These combinations add more interest to the table. I love the trend of combining textures and finishes to give your table a sophisticated look -- a great alternative to using color."

Matte and glossy finishes come together to add interest, especially in neutral palettes -- a look that's on trend in Europe. Donna Karan's collections for Lenox feature some of these looks.

Still, as sophisticated as we've become, there's one small issue.

"Many people do not know how to set a proper table -- they have never been taught," says Carey. "Many families don't sit down together, so how can we be surprised? Interior designers, event planners, caterers and tabletop shops are stepping in to educate the consumer."

But Carey feels the push back to entertaining in the home bodes well -- for the next generation. With more style and choices, some colorful and eye-catching tabletops are sure to blossom. Also, as tastes evolve, there's an "aha" moment that you don't have to be married to one style the rest of your life.

"Setting the table is about being creative," says Carey. "It's the ultimate gift you can give your guests."

Even if the placement isn't perfect.

Sources

-- Bloomingdales, 800-777-0000, www.bloomingdales.com -- for Scalamandre by Lenox, Mateus (www.mateus.se) and Versace (www.rosenthalusa.com)

-- Charlotte Moss for Pickard China, 847-395-3800, www.pickardchina.com; also Charlotte Moss, 212-308-7088, www.charlottemoss.com

-- Isaac Mizrahi at Gibson Overseas Inc., 800-281-2810, www.gibsonusa.com

Kelly Wearstler for Pickard China, 847-395-3800, www.pickardchina.com; also Kelly Wearstler, 855-295-3559, www.kellywearstler.com

Lenox, 800-223-4311, www.lenox.com (for Kate Spade, Scalamandre and Donna Karan)

-- Michael Wainwright, 413-717-4211, www.michaelwainwright.com

-- Mottahedeh, 800-443-8225, www.mottahedeh.com

-- Nikko Ceramics Inc., 201-840-5200, www.nikkoceramics.com

-- Portmeirion, 888-778-1471, www.portmeirion.co.uk

-- Vietri Inc., 919-245-4180, www.vietri.com

SIDEBAR A

BARWARE ON A ROLL

It's no longer a matter of which glass to use for white or red wine. Now, besides shape and style, color has been added to the repertoire.

Not only in water glasses, but wine, champagne and all manner of drinks.

"Ah the boom of barware," says DJ Carey, editorial director for Cottages & Homes (Connecticut, Hamptons and New York editions). "This is a big reaction to TV series like 'Mad Men.' In addition, the spirits industry has added lots of excitement with many exotic flavored spirits: flavored vodkas like cotton candy, fruit flavors. So where do we house our new collection of spirits? On a cool bar cart, again, a glance back to the 1950s or 1960s. These carts can be rolled into any seating area versus going to a built-in bar -- and the investment is much less."

SIDEBAR B

SHED SOME LIGHT

Tea lights and even small-scale lamps are trending on the tabletop and sideboard. There's a huge range in styles -- from casual to elegant crystal, and even the latter come in fetching colors. Some of the diminutive lights have stylish shades; some are neither electrified nor use candles, as in a DIY model that provides a fashion-forward shade; you provide the wine glasses and LED candles to set it up.

Feeling a little blue? You're not alone. From the palest chambray to inky midnight, blue is asserting itself in the home and on fashion runways.

Deep, rich shades of indigo (some with notes of violet) and an in-between cobalt, sapphire and navy hue called Monaco are dominant -- the latter identified by Pantone as the "it" color for spring. But you'll spot variants from peacock, Aegean and robin's egg to whispers of sky and dusk (another Pantone shade for spring described as "sort of Zen") -- all of which enable blue to soothe as well as excite. So cool, it's so hot now.

"The thing about blue that's so good is that it can be exotic," says Kim Shaver, vice president of marketing for Hooker Furniture. "It can go cottage or coastal. It can take on a myriad of personalities and styles. It's easy to blend with other colors in a decorating scheme -- with citrus, rich red, even orange. With crisp white, of course, it's a classic."

Monaco blue, in particular, "speaks to the practicality that we are seeing in society," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director for the Pantone Color Institute. "There is still concern out there for the economy."

But blue is elemental, the color of the sky and water, and a staple and part of a traditional palette in many countries. It conjures images of brilliant blue and white houses on Greek islands, beachy cottages, Colonial Williamsburg, tile in Mexico, Turkey or Morocco, Delftware, 19th-century Flow Blue earthenware, Chinese or English porcelains, vintage Japanese kimonos. And, of course, the ubiquitous blue jeans keep it ever present.

A favorite of many around the globe, blue never gets tired, especially when the shade is tweaked or refreshed in pattern. But the deeper shades such as indigo are being inspired by the world market, especially Asia.

"Traditionally, indigo has appeared in chinoiserie, ikat prints and Persian rugs," says New York-based designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd, who created a fabric collection for Duralee and is a frequent speaker on color trends. "The design industry is always looking back to historical references for inspiration. Clearly, indigo blue is timeless."

Some textile motifs go to ethnic roots, with batiks, tie-dyes, or designs evocative of embroidered suzanis. In addition to these classics, zigzags, large-scale florals, some of which display marvelous watery effects with digital printing, all were part of introductions at Paris Deco Off, a textile trade show held in conjunction with Maison et Objet in January.

"Ethnic patterns are soulful and handmade-looking, which is why designers are drawn to them," says Boyd. "They're rich in history, providing endless inspiration, and they never go out of style."

With the new blues, from homespun textures to silks smooth as satin to printed linens and velvets, there's a range from rustic to elegant. And furniture surfaces are equally engaging. At the High Point, N.C., furnishings market in October, Hickory Chair introduced a dramatic, marbleized fabric from Hable Construction. The graphic pattern was used as upholstery, even to clad a tall chest, something inspired by a 1940s folding screen.

At Hooker Furniture, a traditional French bombe style chest of drawers got a more streamlined silhouette and a high-gloss finish in Monaco blue. And at Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture, designer Alexander Julian translated the sartorial navy blue blazer into a chic lacquer chest (tall and short), with the piece de resistance: handmade Italian blazer buttons as door pulls, placed so that they appear to taper from top to bottom, just as on a double breasted jacket.

While solid blues in different shades and designs can be effectively combined, the layering of patterns is especially popular in tabletops. The new Somerset Island collection at Lauren Home furthers Ralph Lauren's affinity for blue (there's also a bedding collection called Indigo). There are several mix-an-match patterns, including floral, woven and solid, on dinner plates as well as companion salad plates.

Many see indigo -- and even other blues -- as a neutral. "Indigo," says Boyd, "is a dark note that pairs well with orange, coral, yellow and kelly green." At the casual furniture market in the fall, there were even teamings of navy with hot pink, a very sophisticated, fashion-forward look.

The kind of statement you make with blue depends on how much you use, and whether it's background, as in paint or covering for walls or ceiling, or grounding the space with an area rug. One of these, says Boyd, would become a more prominent design element, as would a large sofa. "Lamps, pillows and other accessories will be more subtle."

Take cues from design magazines and manufacturers. Often vignettes and room settings are styled not only to show off the new wares, but also to launch ideas for combining fabrics, patterns and colors.

In a living room designed for Hooker, buttery yellow walls are the perfect foil for a pair of modern teal blue leather wing chairs. Other background colors share equal weight, making one or both pop. Most often, blue and white work together in a terrific tandem. To show off a new collection, French manufacturer Christian Fischbacher presented ottomans, pillows, rugs and curtains all in shades of blue against a grayed white wall. Likewise, under the header "We've got the blues, and it feels so good," retailer CB2 put the spotlight on several strong shades, from peppy peacock to a rich royal called navy, with high-gloss cabinetry, sofas, smashing graphic rugs and pillows, striped vases and even a floor lamp with an arresting peacock base.

Teaming more casual weaves like denims and tweeds with jute needn't consign a look to casual. As with many interiors today, you can add a bit of bling -- with beads, silky accents and metal, especially silver -- just as in fashion.

From soothing spa shades to signature Tiffany to inky indigo, this palette can be restful or rambunctious. One thing is certain: You won't want to chase these blues away.

Sources

-- Barclay Butera for Mirror Image Home, 323-869-1700, www.mirrorimagehome.com

-- Bradington Young, a division of Hooker Furniture, 704-435-5881, www.bradingtonyoung.com

-- Calico Corners, 800-213-6366, www.calicocorners.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Christian Fischbacher, c/o Harvey & Associates, 714-996-3344, www.fischbacher.com

-- Groundworks, a division of Lee Jofa, 888-533-5632, www.leejofa.com/groundworks_fabrics.htm

-- Hickory Chair Furniture Co., 800-349-4579, www.hickorychair.com

-- Hooker Furniture, 276-656-3335, www.hookerfurniture.com

-- Jonathan Adler for Kravet, 800-648-5728, www.kravet.com

-- Kim Salmela Atelier, 323-782-1290, www.kimsalmela.com

-- Kravet, 800-648-5728, www.kravet.com

-- Lauren Ralph Lauren's Somerset Island Collection is available through Macy's, 800-289-6229, www.macys.com

-- Le Creuset, 877-418-5547, www.lecreuset.com

-- Pierre Frey, 212-421-0534, www.pierrefrey.com

-- Restoration Hardware, 800-910-9836, www.restorationhardware.com

-- Sam Moore, a division of Hooker Furniture, 540-586-8253, www.sammoore.com

-- Surya, 212-643-9350, www.surya.com

-- Thibaut, 800-223-0704, www.thibautdesign.com

-- Wisteria, 800-320-9757, www.wisteria.com

SIDEBAR A

IS BLUE THE NEW YOU?

Anyone who wears blue jeans can attest to their go-with-everything versatility. So particular shades of blue really can act as neutrals, as some designers attest. You may already be a true blue fan. But even if blue isn't a part of your home's "wardrobe," you might consider some touches.

Depending on the shade you choose, blue can be edgy or calming. You can add high-voltage electricity to a neutral scheme or a relaxed vibe that's also elegant. A simple addition like a bold blue framed mirror can create surprising energy, commanding attention in a foyer. You might add a floor runner in blue and white -- even weatherproof outdoor rugs are available in this palette.

Introduce a little blue into the kitchen with enameled cookware, or on a smaller scale try a spatula or whisk in marine blue. Add a blue plate special to your table. You might try a new service for four, or simply opt for salad or dessert plates in a perky pattern, modern floral or geometric. Pillows easily change up looks, and you'll have plenty of choices from nuanced solids to patterns. Paint the interior of a white bookshelf in a marine blue for richness or create your own lacquered look on the walls of a powder room.

Check out the Wisteria catalog for some ideas for blending blues and adding fabulous natural accents, such as pears or Granny Smith apples, lemons, as well as luscious blue hydrangeas. It just might make you hungry for a bowl of blueberries.

SIDEBAR B

FAMILIAR, ELEMENTAL AND EVOCATIVE

Fabric, of course, allows you to customize your furnishings, to create your own look, whether it's re-upholstering a chair, creating a new window treatment, sewing a duvet cover or popping in some new pillows.

You'll find a lot of blue at fabric shops, such as Calico Corners, and through textile manufacturers that have ramped up all shades of the palette, especially indigo. And patterns are plentiful, from vintage paisleys and toiles to contemporary geometrics and stripes.

Restoration Hardware launched a House of Blues collection last year, its first foray into color (and currently sells yummy garment-dyed linen bedding and Turkish bath towels as well as washed linen throws and pillows in indigo). Indigo is showing up in many spring fashion collections as well. No surprise -- from denim to pale chambray, these blues are more than familiar, part of the fabric of our lives.

Bookshelves tend to live quietly in the backgrounds of interiors, really coming alive with their contents. There are, of course, the beautiful built-ins that shine in upscale design magazines -- notable with their exquisite crowns or fluting, elegant trims, exotic wood or paint finishes.

But in recent years, freestanding bookshelves are turning heads. They've been elevated from mundane brown boxes to centerpieces with dynamic design elements in a range of styles, finishes and occasionally bold colors -- all of which spell modern, even with traditional roots. While edgy contemporary pieces have been available in Europe for decades, they now are making much more of a splash at retail here.

Modular, architectural or sculptural, these bookcases are no wallflowers. They lean, they anchor, they float, they divide space. And some do it in most unconventional ways -- in circular frames, organic shapes, cubes that create engaging compositions on the wall, shelves that are asymmetrical or slant sideways. Even wall systems designed to house flat-screen TVs offer relief from the convention of the grid.

One catalyst for rethinking the look of bookshelves is the shrinking of space. Downsizing -- which may include shedding huge collections of books, as well as the advent of the Nook and other e-readers that are slowing the acquiring of hard copies -- means that less dedicated storage may be necessary.

So especially appropriate to apartments, condos and homes with smaller interiors is the etagere. Once considered a dust catcher for tchotchkes, the etagere has emerged as the new, improved "bookcase light."

"There's not a place you can't put one," says Bob Williams, creative director for Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams Home. "It can go into hallways and more public rooms. I've got one in my bath for towels. They're quite versatile.

"What I like about etageres," says Williams, "is that they have a smaller footprint. They give a room some height. They're not dominant like armoires that were so popular 10 to 15 years ago. They can fit in narrow spaces. They can be used as room dividers. They're almost sculptural but functional, depending on how you decorate them, with books in various color and shapes or small objects."

The slim shape also is a natural for grouping. "You can use an etagere singly or in multiples -- two or three together," says Williams. "That creates a nice rhythm with the style. And they nicely balance other pieces."

From slender frames of polished stainless steel combined with white oak, as in a 1970s-inspired Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams piece called Caffrey, which is distinguished by its asymmetrical shelving, to more traditional painted wood cabinetry embellished with fretwork, as in the Babette etageres from the HB Home collection for Kindel Furniture, there's a considerable diversity of style.

At French Heritage, the four-shelf Evry bookcase actually stretches to 62 1/2 inches wide. Part of the Avenue collection, the oversized etagere is architecturally elegant, with turned columns bisected by shelves with black edges and accents across the pediment top -- a pleasant contrast to its light blonde cherry.

Wall-mounted shelving with open backs, some with ladder-style shelves like the Helix from CB2 have a modern edge, especially with the teaming of oak with carbon steel in a graphic contrast.

Other wall-mounted shelving has graduated from the decorative ledges that have been popular for some time. Modular is back, but many of the cubes we're seeing are different from those popular in this country in the 1970s. Options allow you to configure in pleasing arrangements, sometimes in contrasting colors or finishes, with some systems, such as those from Ligne Roset, that complete the look with consoles -- i.e., cabinets with doors.

In addition, there are intriguing unorthodox shapes, such as the flexible design from Kartell called Bookworm. It, too, can be arranged as you like, from a snail-like spiral to an undulating curve stretched across a wall, nearly 27 feet in the largest size.

Circular frames also are adding to the mix. One called Bulls Eye from cFc, crafted from metal, houses conventional shelves. Lines, a bookshelf from Ligne Roset, is defined by what resembles a fat picture frame. Further distinguishing it are shelves that sit at angles, which sets up dynamic displays.

On the AllModern website, you'll find hexagon shapes that can be stacked (the Brant from Hokku designs), and one bookcase called Cloud from Cappellini that looks like conjoined bubbles.

Dimensional play also adds movement to some bookcases. Boogie Woogie, which comes in black and white as well as an arresting red, has an undulating surface that's reflective as well because of its high-gloss finish.

Some wall-mounted 3-D shelves read more like sculpture on the wall.

Curiously, a pair of low bookshelves from the manufacturer Julian Chichester, use flat shapes for the suggestion of sculpture. Inspired by classical, mid-century designs, the one sports simple quarter-sawn oak shelves that are divided by busts made out of gesso. The silhouettes depict Athena, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Another version has pineapples with scored surfaces that pop against black limed oak shelves. Both seem whimsical and sophisticated at the same time.

You can always shake things up a bit with color. With more and more hues showing up in home design, it's no surprise that there are options for bookshelves as well. At Room and Board, there's Slim, delicately scaled powder-coated steel bookshelves available in 10 colors, including blossom (pink), ocean, green, navy, yellow and orange (five weeks by special order). The powder-coated natural steel bookshelf measures 24 inches wide by 15 inches deep and 72 inches tall.

Huppe offers color options (like bright yellow) to team with American walnut veneer for its Lyrics modules, which include open and closed storage, both wall-mounted and base pieces, making a variety of layouts possible.

Even larger entertainment systems are mixing up materials or finishes, as well as configuration, for more interest. At French Heritage, combinations of wood and metal can be rustic or modern in a Belgian industrial or loft look. The newest entertainment system at Habersham has a graceful arched pediment in the center, good proportions and cross-shaped boxes that create central focal points, and contrasting picture molding on the back panels.

Whether you prefer something streamlined or wall-mounted, symmetrical or off-balance, there are plenty of styles, materials, finishes and colors for bookshelves -- whether you have books or not.

Sources

-- All Modern, a division of Wayfair, 800-615-9703, www.allmodern.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Chiasso, 877-244-2776, www.chiasso.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- French Heritage, 800-245-0899, www.frenchheritage.com

-- Julian Chichester, 336-886-2454, www.julianchichester.com

-- Huppe, 819-758-1529, www.huppe.net

-- Kindel Furniture Company, 877-546-3351, www.kindelfurniture.com

-- Ligne Roset, 212-375-1036 in New York; check website for other locations, www.ligne-roset-usa.com

-- Noir Furniture, 310-527-5501, www.noirfurniturela.com

-- Room & Board, 800-301-9720, www.roomandboard.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

-- Y Living, 800-236-9100, www.yliving.com