Does it have to be bone? Or will porcelain do? There are lots of sets of inexpensive porcelain with matching serving pieces available. I have some in my kitchen. Do you have any objections to, erm, used? Because some antique stores buy estate services of china and you can get full suites inexpensively.

Check the department stores and catalogs for sales, as well.

Matching isn't in, however. Is there any reason not to get the ones you really like, and finding some bowls that coordinate rather than matching?

Crate & Barrel White Pearl is bone china made by Nikko in Japan. It is beautiful and sturdy. It has some translucence and is clearly the look and feel of bone china, not ironstone or porcelain. We have been using it as our everyday dishes for several years. I like knowing I can always buy additional openstock pieces if we need to. Oh, and it is very reasonable for the quality - it is as nice IMO as my Coalport Countryware and much less expensive.

I have one bone china set for "good" and it's much stronger than my non-bone "good" china. Actually, I bought it for everyday but the value of the yen changed (this anecdote will date me) and the replacement value became prohibitive so I put it away, although it is still used a lot. If you can afford bone china and it's available, it's a good thing and it's great if you're raising kids to think that there's something "out there" beyond plastic.

Who cares if you have matching bowls? This set will give you freedom to add in other ways. Glass! Colors! Mark-downs from the expensive china shops! Antiques!

If it's for everyday, just tell yourself that if and when it gets smashed up, you are fine with that. Life happens.

Thanks for the feedback and ideas! I will check out crate and barrel. I know I should get over the matching bowl thing. I almost never have them out at the same time really - maybe I will think about it. A new project to obsess on (add to my long list). The ones at home goods are really pretty and like 4 dollars each, which at that cost, I was willing to buy a set of 20 and let some meet their end at the hands of my kids.

I wanted to add another option in the fray: BedBath&Beyond has a nice bone china design. It's white and if I recall correctly, available in couple of textured patterns. It is very pretty to look at. No experience in using it though. In price, it's a little less than Crate And Barrel and with freely available 20% off coupons might come down further in price.

HTH.

If you're open to used china, I found an auction of Coalport Countryware. The bidding starts at $300 for quite a collection--11 dinner plates, but 12 of pretty much everything else, plus serving pieces, teapot, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: China auction site

After many years disliking my "good" dishes (from first marriage--Mikasa, not bone china), and wanting a set of all white dishes, we purchased a set of Villeroy and Boch Anmut bone china in May of '09.

They are not inexpensive, and apparently never go on sale (other V&B patterns do, BTW), but as with many things, timing helps! We purchased ours during an "Insiders" sale event weekend at Bloomingdale's; 15% off, plus another 15% that weekend (normally 10%???) for opening a charge acct, plus store coupons, so the opportunity to save was/is there.

The dishes are light, but strong, in a simple, classic design. We love the shape of the mugs (we purchased our set "a la carte" so chose mugs rather than cups and saucers). The dishes are NOT oversized as some tend to be these days, and the rimmed bowls are a bit shallow, just so you know, but perfectly serviceable.

HTH!

I feel like I have seen The Palm collection sold at other stores....maybe look at their website and see if they are sold in other major stores near you.
BTW - Going to Home Goods today - LOVE that store!

Amazing feedback everyone!! The crate and barrel pearl dinnerware is exactly what the one at homegoods looks like (does it ever go on sale?)- so much in fact, I am going to check and see if they in fact match for those elusive bowls! but I'm checking out those auctions and other ideas too!

THANK YOU!