I had been married for 25 years and my DH suggested we get new plates because we were down to seven plates and we had to serve six people each y night. I thought of getting just new plates but it did not work. I boxed up and gave away the good pieces to a shelter in town and bought new plates etc. So everything matched and we got these new little cups with the pattern I picked and everyone loves them, especially for Ice cream! So you may have less headaches with starting new.

I'd look at the price on Replacements.com, or wherever it is you can find the plates. For me, it would come down to value. If I could replace the places inexpensively, and I loved the pattern, I'd replace. I suspect, however, that you may be able to get a whole new everyday set for a similar price, or not very much more. We replaced our everyday Pfaltzgraff after many years when it became very scratched, chipped, and worn looking. As it hadn't been our choice anyway - we were gifted it - we found a new set we liked even better and donated the stoneware.

I'd get new plates. They should match pretty well, but you can always lug a saucer to the store and compare.

I had to finally replace my old dishes because we ran out of salad plates which we seem to use the most. They were discontinued. They were better. I miss them.

I recently was going through the same dilemma. My pattern Lenox "Poppies on Blue" had been discontinued. Then my daughter accidentally dropped a stack of dinner plates while unloading the dishwasher so we had to do something. Unfortunately I am a color and pattern person and do not like the new trend of all white or solid plain color with no pattern. So while I looked at all the new patterns out there, I couldn't find anything that I liked better. I bought a few dinner plates off of ebay then hit the jackpot on craigslist. We got 8 place settings plus a boatload of serving pieces for about $75. I sold all the serving pieces and cup and saucers to Replacements for about $50, ending up with 8 dinner plates, 8 salad plates, and 8 bowls (and 5 glasses that I really didn't want) for $25.

What will work for you may depend on whether you actually like the new stuff that is out there. If you find something you really like, then it would probably be fun to start over. But if you try to replace the old pattern, there are definitely some bargains out there. By the way there may be some slight color differences, but that never bothered me.

opportunity moment: mixing it up is really in right now. I'd take the Mikasa brand-same shape and size so they stack/and the sheen is the same but switch patterns-like Arabella-something that blends but intentionally does not match. You've gotton the life out of that set-keep what is good and look for a plate that coordinates at a fair price and you've rejuvinated the look.Replacements.com sells by piece-see what crops up.You can probably get the French countryside plates individually quite easily.

I like variety. Don't have a real set except for my mom's china that never gets used. I love to buy pieces at TJ Maxx & Marshall's and interchange their use. I've bought fine china like Villeroy & Boch, Wedgwood, Johnson Bros., Royal Doulton, etc. I try to get 4 of each. Since you already have a set that's neutral it's a perfect opportunity to add a little color.

If you feel like something new go for it, or maybe just get plates in a different color to mix it up a bit.

I'm pretty sure Mikasa is still making this pattern. There's a boatload of it available on Ebay also if you decide to just replace what you have.

Thanks everyone. I thought more of my plates were banged up than actually were so that makes me lean toward just buying a few more plates. However, the thought of getting rid of them and getting something fun and colorful is nagging at me. I searched but could not find anything I thought complemented this pattern, maybe because I want something more contemporary and what seems to complement it is more traditional. I did learn that Mikasa now has this pattern in sage, mustard and brown, so maybe they will come out with something that matches my room - red or purple or something a bit more lively (I doubt that would be considered 'French Countryside' though. LOL.)

Sage, mustard, and brown? Ew! I guess you'd better stick with white until they get the red or purple (possibly a holiday edition in red?).

Do both! Get the replacement plates you need, and find a new set. You can switch back and forth as the mood strikes you ( i like sage :).

Provided you have enough space!

In my childhood, Mom had a friend who had two household sets of dishes. One went faithfully into the attic and the other went to the kitchen twice a year, I think about June and end of October. She said "even if I'm not tired of them yet, they go into storage" and when Mom told me this story she was very wistful.

My sisters and I cheered when the yellow and blue Melmac was retired at Mom's house, but it was replaced with a number of patterns of dishes that, in sequence, were "purchased "with Green Stamps, bank premiums, etc and were never very attractive because she didn't give self permission to stray from the cheapie selections. (My sister now uses the Melmac! Another cheapskate.) The remnants of those partial old crockery sets are still haunting me--at the Lake Cabin. In one closet there I've put in some new things which regrettably only get an outing when I'm in charge--why not enjoy the place royally? I love to set table. New dishes are a way of seeing foods, kitchen, recipes all differently. And new tablecloths, new flower arrangement, etc etc etc.

Get new dishes! I have a similar story to Florantha. My Mom had old dishes in the hidden storage in the soffets of our kitchen growing up. When my brother moved out, my mom went and grabbed dishes for his new place. I got some of those old dishes too and my Grandma E. had some of the same dishes I got so I had enough for 4 people. Save the old ones for your daughter and treat yourself to a brand new set! BED BATH AND BEYOND has a huge selection on line.

I haven't been around for a while (farming and gardening season, with lot of time outdoors and much less computer time) but I thought I'd look in quickly on a water break : ) .

What about Mikasa's more modern Brava line? It comes in red AND plum, and also in a modern square design, but still wavy/ruffled.

Brava red,
www.mikasa.com/Brava-Red%2C-Gourmet-Basics-by-Mikasa/brava-red,default,sc.html?fp=x

Brava plum,
www.mikasa.com/Brava-Plum%2C-Gourmet-Basics-by-Mikasa/brava-plum,default,sc.html?fp=x

I've used the same dishes for years (Spode Blue Italian, which I saved for after buying my first apartment), and love the pattern, but also alternate through the year with my mother's Wedwood Edme, and Burleigh Calico (blue and red -- the red is for holidays such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Canada Day!).

Becky

I also have French Countryside. My set is now 37 years old. I bought a different set along the way and now only use the French Countryside occasionally. I used them for the 4th with a blue table cloth and red goblets. I like that the white goes with any color table cloth. I learned long ago from a Mikasa sales rep. that if the dishes get gray marks on them from your silverware you can scrub the dishes with a cleanser called Zud. It takes all the marks or discoloration off. If you can' t find Zud try Barkeepers Friend. Comet and Soft Scrub does not really work.

i have a problem with dinnerware. i think i have seven sets although i'm not sure any more. i just placed an emergency phone call to my niece insisting she come over and take a full set i had purchased last year and forgot about. it's that out of control.
i don't do very decorative or colorful plates but instead focus on shape. recently i decided to buy yet another set for "every day" even though i already have other dishes i use every day. but that's beside the point.

i just wanted to come out of the china closet and admit my hoarding tendencies.
and to say, buy a new set. don't think twice about it.

Kateskouros, you're not even close to hoarding. I've seen women who have racks set up in their basements just for dishes. It's a real obsession with some of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: take a look at this (scroll down a bit)

While the bright colors of Mikasa Brava are nice, it's stoneware rather than porcelain/china. The stoneware that I've owned chips a lot more easily than the china. Now, though there are some very nice patterns in it, I avoid stoneware now.

Some of the companies change patterns pretty often. Sometimes when I've looked I can't find anything I like so I make do with what I have and look again a few months later. When I do find what I like, I try to buy a big enough set because its hard to get extras later.

The left overs of our last stoneware set went to a friend who had the same pattern.

Mostly, I've bought a whole set for replacement, but some sets have limited bowl shapes. For one of our everyday sets, I've bought some plain white bowls in shapes I like to fill it out. I also like to use some serving bowls that aren't matched to the pattern.

We keep kosher so we have milk and meat everyday sets and milk and meat for Passover. Our original Passover meat set is Noritake Adagio that we got when we married over 30 years ago. I still really like it except we didn't have a microwave back then. I got tired of having China with a metal rim that can't go in the microwave. When we wanted more dishes so we could have a large crowd without using disposables, I lucked out and found some casual china that had the same colors and went well with it. Now we use that most of Passover because it doesn't have the metal. It looks fine when they are both out on the table at the same time. Sometimes you can pull off a coordinating set.

Thanks for the link, natal--it gives me the willies. Proves what will happen if I don't get my own habit under control! Clearly, compared to that woman I'm not that far gone, yet. [I do admit I have 4 plates in Thomas Jefferson's White House china pattern close at hand, just in case I need to wax historical. Plus I have 3 other sets of china and lots and lots of odd little items besides. But I'm not as bad as that woman!]

Agree that it's nice to have microwavable everyday plates. We have more than a dozen red glass plates--love them. I also use them as lids for casseroles--allows me to stack items in refrig and then put the casserole into microwave for reheat.

FWIW, I've come to understand that you don't need a whole new SET of dishes, you only need a new look to give a change. Having matching plates and cereal bowls is usually sufficient for most of my needs. Oh, and a number of the second size of plates. Skip the cups saucers mugs servingpieces etc. Now that we're retired, having 4 matching plates is often sufficient.

We put in one drawer in new kitchen that I designated as "deck" stuff. All winter it holds my deck tablesetting dishes, tray, salt&pepper, etc. Now in summer, I've put some of my regular plates into it and put my deck plates into the everyday stack of dishes. Works for me! I've got two complimentary sets of 4 plates in happy colors that allow me 8 plates at picnic table if I need that many. Plus a few tablecloths. Finite--if it doesn't fit, I can't have it. My idea of fun. End of summer, back they go for winter slumber. Meanwhile, the everyday ones are not far away if I want them and I have plenty for parties. We do not use disposables. If we're informally serving coffee at a party, i just put out my collection of everyday mugs. No big deal. And we mix our china, glass dishes, odd plates, who cares. People who know us say we live our values.

cloud swift, the original poster's Mikasa pattern, French Countryside, is stoneware as well. And at the current prices for the Brava ($2.99 a plate), one could afford a few extras in case of dings over the years : ) . $2.99 for 23 years is a pretty good deal!

Becky

I love bowls, dishes, bowls, mugs, bowls . . . did I mention I love bowls. We still use the set I got when we were married 28 years ago (Johnson & Johnson Hearts & Flowers . . . Dutch pattern). But I also have white sturdy ware from Fishs Eddy, an antique "breakfast set", and miscellaneous odd pieces of antique china that I bought along the way. I also have lots of bowls in various sizes and patterns/colors.

Natal that lady needs to go for therapy! I can't imagine eating enough meals in a lifetime to be able to use all of those dishes, etc.

Whenicit, what's in your heart? And how much storage do you have?

Judy, there are a few people on the Holidays forum who have rather extensive collections too. Probably not to that extent. I know some love to set a tablescape every day. Not something that ever interested me. I enjoy having a small selection of plates and bowls and always cloth napkins, but no rings or any of that other stuff.

When we remodeled last time, I when with all white dishes, I love the white. I ordered mine through Bryan China Co. They make restaurant quality dishes. They were inexpensive and they are nearly indestructible. Six years later, I haven't broken one yet!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bryan China

What's in my heart? I'm sort of lazy and I prefer eating out over setting my own table. (Confession!) LOL.

I agree that I probably need to find another set with some fun color. (I did go to a restaurant supply store a few years back and bought another set of white plates and bowls that have been used less than 10 times when we have overflow - problem is they are very heavy.)

I think I will keep looking for that thing that catches my eye and I just have to have!