Distinctive-Decor.com Blog

Outdoor Dining with Elegant Melamine Dishes

Photo: Outdoor Kitchen, De Soto, KS

Pool and patio season is here, and with it comes opportunities for outdoor entertaining and family meals served under the shade of the backyard umbrella. Outdoor kitchens are all over the place these days, ranging from the impeccably-appointed to modular and modern. Cooking outside gives us the opportunity to bask in the gorgeous outdoors as well as helps avoid overtaxing your air conditioner and dishwasher, since the heat stays out of the indoor kitchen.  Also, more grilling usually means less cleanup.

No matter how beautifully designed and executed your outdoor dining space is, however, there's still one key element you may have overlooked: your outdoor tableware. Sure, there are lots of nice paper plates and napkins available in your local discount store, but that doesn't quite fit the bill when you're entertaining guests or hosting a special family dinner, does it? Then again, you don't want to bring your good stoneware, ceramic,  or porcelain outside; it's unwieldy, and it can get broken if dropped on a concrete patio or poolside (watch your feet!).

Enter Le Cadeaux melamine dinnerware and polycarbonate drinkware. Le Cadeaux tableware is sturdy enough to use at every meal, and beautiful enough for the most elegant outdoor feasts. This European-inspired tableware looks just like your favorite stoneware, with rustic accents and charming detail to give your outdoor entertaining the finishing touch.

And this is not your Grandma's melmac, either. In addition to being beautiful, Le Cadeaux is some of the strongest, most substantial melamine on the market today. The polycarbonate drinkware is virtually unbreakable. The entire collection is dishwasher safe and BPA-free.

You could feature a monochromatic table setting that coordinates with your chair cushions and landscaping, or a mix-and-match combo that is decidedly more bohemian (we love the Benidorm Blue for this...so chic). Le Cadeaux polycarbonate beverage service is just as elegant and resilient: with so many styles and colors to choose from, the perfect setting for your table is just a click away.

How to Decorate with Wall Plates

I've been there.  You're perusing an estate sale or clearance sale and you spot a mis-matched plate or two.  Drawn to the pattern, you just don't know what you'd do with that one plate, that intriguing-shaped platter that you love but know you won't use.  Consider showing it off!  If the idea of a plate arrangement on your wall elicits an inward groan, inspired by memories of your grandmother’s stuffy dining room, you should take a look at some fresh ideas. 

An arch of decorative botanical plates and bronze sconces over a formal mantel arrangement is one of many ideas from Denise in Bloom

We also like this eclectic scatter of fun and funky plates suggested by Running in Stilettos.

Symmetry, surrounding a kitchen window makes quite an impression in this design by Country Living.

A group of black-and-white patterned plates make a nice seasonal display when grouped with iron accessories and pumpkins on a sideboard suggested by My Sweet Savannah:

Now, imagine switching a plate or two to solid red plates, and changing a few accessories for Christmas.

Getting the look you want is easier than you think. Mapping out the arrangement beforehand is always a good idea.  You'll need to choose a plate hanger and have your plate, kraft paper, a hammer, scissors, a pencil, ruler, blue painter’s tape, and a picture hook.

HOW TO:

1. Turn each plate over onto kraft paper, trace with a pencil, and cut the shape out.  Repeat with each plate or item.
2. Tape templates to the wall in the desired arrangement.  Change your mind as often as you like.
3. Carefully attach a hanger to each plate.  Make sure metal hangers are not scratching the finish.
4. Place the plate over its template, and mark where the hook will go.  Put down the plate, pick up the hammer, and hammer the hook right through the template.  Remove the paper and hang the plate.

The good news is that once you have your plates hung, you can add more to it without rearranging or having to fill in nail holes.  Your collection can expand as large as your wall space like French Quarters has done here:

Or you can just keep layering them like in this second example from Denise in Bloom:

Note that there’s a theme to these; the travel collector plates are mixed with one solid green plate so that it’s not too overwhelming.

If you're skeptical about mixing and matching, start slow at first.  Try finding plates that have one color in common (blue and white plates are a common theme, as are botanical plates), then expand by adding more variety or solid colors. 

Inspired?  Visit the decorative wall plates section of our store to get started!

Le Cadeaux Dinnerware - Perfect for the Summer...and Yachts, of Course!

Le Cadeaux dinnerware is different, but you will not notice what makes it unique simply by looking at it. The first time you see Le Cadeaux it looks like elegant and classy Italian pottery or French porcelain.  You would never believe us if we told you it is made of triple-weight melamine, but it is.  The first time we saw it in a showroom we were convinced we were looking at a large collection of pottery or earthenware dishes, but to our amazement we picked up one of the plates and tapped on it and learned that the entire collection on display was made of melamine. In this case, seeing was not believing!  Le Cadeaux melamine dishes soon made it into our warehouse and we haven't looked back since taking on the line. 

Le Cadeaux melamine dishes are a perennial favorite and top selling  line, especially during the Summer.  Our customers love the strength, the stylish looks and the versaitility of this large collection of melamine dishes. To our surprise, we have learned from our customers that Le Cadeaux makes the perfect dishes for yachts and cabin cruisers.  A number of Yacht manufacturers and yacht decorators buy the durable melamine dishes for use on yachts because they resist breaking and look fabulous.  The dishes offer the luxurious style and look yacht owners want, but without the breakage that often happens on rough seas that toss dishes to the floor of the boat breaking them.

Of course, we know that most of our customers do not own yachts.  Most customers are purchasing melamine plates, bowls, platters and more for outdoor barbecues, parties, picnics, for their children and for vacation homes or the RV.  Le Cadeaux works.  The entire collection is dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable. While many may use paper or plastic disposable plates when entertaining their guests, we have found that many of our customers want something more. They want substantial melamine plates with current designs and styling that are very difficult to break. On a personal note, we use Le Cadeaux in my home for everyday use.  The kids have not broken a piece yet and all pieces are dishwasher safe.  The only drawback is that melamine is not microwave safe.

Le Cadeaux offers around 25 patterns from which to choose.  From solids to French Chic chinoiserie to the look of rustic Italian dinnerware, Le Cadeaux has a pattern that you will be thrilled to own and use.  If you like to entertain, if you are a designer or if you want solid and virtually unbreakable dinnerware for your kids or barbecuing, we suggest you look at Le Cadeaux.  It is stronger than almost all other melamine dishes on the market and offers elegant patterns that aren't over the top with cheeky or cheesy designs and outrageous colors. Also, Le Cadeaux melamine is completely safe.

 


 

Juliska Dinnerware and Glassware: Absolutely Beautiful!

If you are looking for a new dinnerware set this year that offers taste, elegance, durability and beautiful Portuguese craftsmanship, you would do well to take a glance at the chic and classy collections of Juliska dinnerware.  Juliska offers unique styles and shaping that create interest and an unbelievably cool tablescape.  Also, Juliska is adaptable - you can make it look as formal or as casual as you like.  All pieces will mix-and-match effortlessly, making you look like a fabulous table top designer.  Juliska even offers a collection of Christmas dinnerware accents in the Boxwood & Bow collection that you can add piece-by-piece to give your table a holiday feel.

Juliska was founded by Capucine and David Gooding with the aim of creating an upper-end line of dinnerware and glassware uniquely "European" in design and look.  The dinnerware had to be incredibly beautiful and durable at the same time.  In our opinion, they have achieved their goals and then some.  You can see for yourself how beautiful it is.  The dinnerware is made of vitrified ceramic that is chip resistant and thermal shock resistant.  You can take it from the freezer and put it directly in the oven with no side-effects. Juliska dinnerware is dishwasher, oven, microwave and freezer safe.

Juliska glassware is the creme de la creme in the glassware market.  Each piece is mouth-blown in Prague and is thin and light-weight. These two characteristics are made possible by the proprietary glass recipe used. Juliska glass is a joy to drink from and to hold; it actually feels good to drink from - if that makes sense.  The beautiful glass roping designs are exquisite and each piece of glass is signed by the glass maker.

Juliska offerings that should be seen: the ever-popular Berry and Thread collection, Classic Bamboo, which melds organically-shaped bamboo rims into the dinnerware , Jardins du Monde (inspired by the most beautiful gardens in Europe), Petit Singe Monkey dinnerware, Pewter Stoneware (which features a metallic glaze that makes the stoneware look like hammered pewter), Juliska flatware, Juliska linens made of high quality Italian linen and Juliska lighting, lamps and accessories. 

 

A twist jar opener for use as a camera focus aid?

The Trudeau silicone Twist jar opener is a great little gadget for opening jars, but it has caught the attention of at least one photography blogger who uses the Twist jar opener as a focus puller for his camera.  This just goes to show you that inventive minds can find an alternate use for almost everything.  We are not in the photography business, but if you need one of these we have them!