Cheap and Beautiful

Published on Wednesday, April 18, 2007, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

Cheap and Beautiful

Cheap and Beautiful

Great-looking Budget Tableware

By Michele Foley

If neither your budget nor your psyche is prepared for a total overhaul, you can still freshen up the table.

CHOW wanted a kitchen/dining room makeover. We’re not talking about major appliances or furniture—just the new look that flatware, stemware, plates, and table linens bring to a place. We gave ourselves a budget of $1,000 and found many surprisingly inexpensive, well-made, great-looking products. We put together a list that ranges from splurge ($$$) to steal ($), but when we say splurge, we don’t mean you’ll blow your entire budget. You can choose one item from each product category and still not spend more than $1,000. If you go with all “splurge” products, then you’ll only be able to get settings for four. However, if you mix and match or go all “steal,” then you’ll be able to afford pieces for eight to twelve people.

Flatware
Stemware
Plates
Textiles

KITCHEN DESIGN

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POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

COMMENT

  • I'm a big fan of the Soleil glassware at World Market. Thick sturdy glass with good insulation qualities and no stems to break. Great for red wine and spritzers and has a nice bistro feel.

    http://www.worldmarket.com/kitchen-tabletop/glassware/barware/Soleil-Glassware-Sets-of-4/lev/4/productId/2691/Ne/1100001/Ns/NEW_ARRIVAL_FLAG|1||CATEGORY_SEQ_3080|0/N/1100261/Nty/1/view/10000/index.pro

  • Riedel now makes a line for Target but it's no cheaper than anywhere else ($39.99 for four glasses.) You can do much, much better on name-brand stemware at Home Goods, which has an enormous selection. I've also spotted Bodum in T.J. Maxx lately.

    I found some perfect water glasses like those I had seen in Paris at Ikea -- $3 for six! Ikea is great when you need a quick cheap makeover.

  • I think I need those gothic plates.

    Maybe I would splurge on the stemware ($$$), seeing as it is the one item that will most likely survive my childs childhood...
    Glassware and plates are going to need to be replaceable and not so awesome that I would be attached to them...And want to sell the little gentetic offspring to the gypsy's...or some dirty kitchen for dishwashing duties...for breaking...+READ

    I think I need those gothic plates.

    Maybe I would splurge on the stemware ($$$), seeing as it is the one item that will most likely survive my childs childhood...
    Glassware and plates are going to need to be replaceable and not so awesome that I would be attached to them...And want to sell the little gentetic offspring to the gypsy's...or some dirty kitchen for dishwashing duties...for breaking them.-COLLAPSE

  • i am not into the stemless glasses. the reason; well when you are touching the glass your body heat will be heating the wine. although it seems the actual heat transfer may be nominal, i really believe that it makes a difference. but to me there is no pleasure in a warm glass of white wine.

  • I'm a big fan of Crate & Barrel's stemless wine glasses. They're pretty elegant looking - not too clunky and at $2 a pop, easily replaceable.