I suggest that you open your search to find dishes that are "open stock", meaning that the manufacturer intends to continue the pattern. For you, this would mean that you could expand your set and buy replacements as time passes.

Yes, open stock only. And look at Crate and Barrel.

I like the mugs’ shape in the OP second photo - less prone to tipping. But I also like dishes with a rim, particularly dinner plates. The rim keeps sauces/gravies/juices from spilling off the plate. None of the ones pictured in the OP has a dinnerplate with a rim. A rim is my preference, you may not care about that.

I am a big fan of Apilco. Since you mentioned standing the test of time, Apilco porcelain has been manufactured in France since early 1800s. I have plain white Apilco dinnerware pieces that are 25 years old, and that are 2 years old, and they look about the same. Be warned that Apilco can become an addiction! Along with their dinnerware they have hundreds of matching pieces - serving bowls, casseroles, pitchers, ramekins, platters, accessories, anything you can imagine,

For low cost, I like the Ikea 365+ dinnerware. It’s astonishingly inexpensive, but it’s good porcelain. What I like is that if you break a plate, oh well, no matter cause it’s so low-cost and easily replaced. Great if you have children who might drop things, or to use at parties. I don’t want to be hosting a party and be worried about the dishes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=88&v=kVuXj7cH_2Y&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.williams-sonoma.com%2F&embeds_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fab-internal-www.williams-sonoma.com%2F&feature=emb_logo

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/ikea-365-dinnerware-49546/

Just started looking online at the Apilco. That looks nice too! I plan to go to the store and check it out. I wonder if the outlet sells it too? By "open stock", I think that the Pottery Barn dishes have been around. Would I ask that question or is there another way to know that? They sell pieces and sets. Thank you all!

Think about portion control and if that matters to you or not. I have learned that big dishes with no rim are easier to fill with more food than I actually need to eat. And, when you have guests over you have to cook and serve bigger portions because otherwise the plates look empty and like you skimped on portions.

For coffee cups in a set think about what you want to drink and when, then figure out if the cups are too large too small or just right. Also consider shape - the first ones look incredibly unstable and easy to knock over. Check them out in person too to see if they feel comfortable in your hand.

There are some places in life to save and others to splurge and I believe you can get nice dishes while not spending a lot of money. People love my dishes and assume they are quite expensive. My white porcelain, I purchased in Chinatown 22 years ago for less than a dollar each. My glass dessert set of plates are from the Crate and Barrel Outlet from 15 years ago. Many of my other pieces are from Ikea and great vintage 1980s British ceramics from my grandparents. All of these pieces magically go together as an incredible collection. I've recently become smitten with Apilco after finding two rectangular baking dishes on massive discount at TJMaxx.

uhhhh AMAZON and for a scooth over a 100 bucks, have 12! of each

No chip, scratch, break

Oven, dishwasher, no pba

6/18 pcs.........smile price 51.99

Rated best Huffington Post

• 18-piece round dinnerware set; service for 6
• AB-grade porcelain; BPA-free; lightweight yet durable
• Elegant white finish to complement existing kitchen décor
• Safe in your microwave, oven, and freezer as well as dishwasher-safe
• Includes 6 each: 10.5-inch dinner plate, 7.5-inch dessert plate, 5.5-inch bowl, porcelain, solid white
• Plates can withstand a maximum temperature of 572 degrees (Fahrenheit)
• Kindly note there is no mugs included for 18 pieces, This includes dinner set --6pcs 10.5'' dinner plate + 6pcs 7.5'' salad plates + 6pcs 5.5'' bowl.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-18-Piece-Dinnerware-Set-Service/dp/B019EEUQ2O/ref=sr_1_20_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1523545000&sr=8-20-spons&keywords=dinnerware%2Bwon%27t%2Bbreak&tag=thehuffingtop-20&ascsubtag=5acf70c6e4b0d4931c8af5b5%2C-1%2C-1%2Cd%2C0%2C0%2Chp-fil-am%3D0%2C1172%3A2%3B1205%3A2%2C0%2C0%2C0&th=1

My own everyday came from the darn grocery store 18 years ago!! Not a mark on them, not a break or chip. Buy white, durability, don't buy from the "style mavens"

As to coffee mugs? That's a feel. Height thickness, handle....

Mine? Grocery store, same thing: ) 21 years of perfect. Test in hand.

As to "special things" .......a perfect ice cream bowl, etc? I often find those in the discy! No ONE set has the perfect everything. From anyone

Here are my two cents. I am a fan of white porcelain because it is just so simple and fairly easy to find replacements for. I started with a set of plates from Target twenty years ago. They were fine and very sturdy, but of course they don’t carry them anymore. I bought the bowls from Crate and Barrel (Aspen). About ten years ago my husband bought me Apilco plates from Williams Sonoma. I have not had a great experience with the Apilco. They have chipped much more than the Crate and Barrel and even the Target porcelain. As the Apilco chips or breaks I have replaced the plates with C&B Aspen. They look very similar. I guess that’s the great thing about plain white porcelain - it is easily interchangeable. I also like to get smaller plates to help with portion control. Also easier to fit more into a cabinet or drawer. If you’re putting plates in an upper cabinet, sometimes they’re too big to fit.

I like the first and third. I think I’d pick the Joshua because they have no rim. Simple is classic. I bought white dishes at Bed, Bath & Beyond over 25 years ago and still use them everyday. Good call.

i am a fan of going with dishes that will still be around in five+ years when i need to replace/add some pieces

FWIW we got our dishes from crate and barrel in 1995 and they still have the collection so i have been able to add new bowls, plates etc over the years which i appreciate

White dishes in general stand the test of time. If possible, look/feel/hold pieces in person. Size/shape of bowls and mugs should be a criteria as well.

One other thing to consider is how much storage space you have. I always check to see how well the various plates and bowls stack - especially coffee mugs.

And if you have a dishwasher how well will they fit. Obviously deep bowls tend to be tricky to load but we recently bought a new Bosch dishwasher and I have to be extra careful to make sure the rims of my dinner plates don't bump. I have Dansk Allegro and they're not over sized.

All very helpful info. Replacing our Wedgewood Midwinter stoneware that we've had for 40 years! I will take a look at the Dansk and CB options too.

I have William Sonoma Pantry Essentials in white…love them. Price was right-they have a small lip, they don’t chip, mark up or scratch and the coffee cups are the perfect size. They may not seem fancy, but they look like the day I bought them.

I have had the C&B Roulette dinnerware for 20+years and they look great. They have held up very well to kids and everyday use. I

Another vote for Apilco! It really does hold up beautifully. Mine is all plain white.

I LOVE my dishes from W-S - the Pillivuyt - we have the dinner plates, app plates, chargers, and pasta bowls.

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/tabletop-glassware-bar/tabletop-pillivuyt/

I'm another who likes white dishes and I've had a set of Block Ionia from C&B for going on 30 years. I'd see if you can get a few single pieces of the styles you like, and see if the cups and bowls stack nicely, and whether they fit well in your DW. (I have some deep bowls from another set that we like to use, but it takes some creativity to fit several in the DW.)

ETA: I now see that @maire_cate said the same thing... so "ditto"!

@Sally T - I like the Pillivuyt too. I think they are made by the same company as Apilco, with the Pillivuyt having more varied designs, but they all go together. I have some accessory pieces to my Apilco dinnerware from Pillivuyt. And the cow creamer on the table in the morning makes me happy.

Just looked at the coupe in Pillivat and like that style.

Coupe style

The Pillivuyt Coupe is nice, but like my comment above, I don't like the Coupe's mug shape. I like a mug shape where the diameter is the same top and bottom so that it is less likely to tip and spill. You can mix and match with Apilco and Pillivuyt if you want.

Pillivuyt Coupe Mug

Apilco mug

I agree @M Miller - you have great taste! Agree with Apilco mugs. We have so many random mugs that we didn't get any from WS, but the Apilco mugs are pretty.

FYI, my plates get marks from knives etc. but if you want them gone, you can use barkeeper's friend and remove them. I did this last year before hosting something and they looked brand new.

I have the Apilco bowls for cereal and everyday stuff, and love them, but I just love the Pillivuyt pasta bowls too - they feel ceremonial and special.

Crate and Barrel Aspen. Classic. Simple. Will not mark. I think you need to check the weight of these plates. And their size. Too big? To small? What is a portion size to you? I have a few sets of china. My favorite for size is the Aspen. They go with everything.

Patricia Colwell Consulting, to your point then is there enough difference between the WS Pillivuyt Coupe and the CB Aspen to warrant the cost difference? No kids at home for us now.

Have you gone and just tested them in person. I am a real on line shopper but some things I need to see and test in person. I do not like cups with any type od rolled edge , I like to see how pieces feel in my hand like the cups . It is also nice to go and really compare the different choices for your life. The advantage to porcelain over china is that the porcealin os a brighter white for sure. I think the cost os only one part but I for sure would want the one with the biggest choices of open stock since I nevr buy sets for the simple reason I often do not like the cups for instance. Kind of like buying cookware I never buy sets only open stock. So much depends on how you use anything. We entertain a lot often 12 people at a time . We also do alot of outdoor entertaining in the summer and I have a whole ton of dishware I use outside too. Usually a lot more kids and I love colorful table setting outside .

I like white dishes from Crate and Barrel (I think I have the Aspen) and Java mugs from Fiestaware. I am kind of particular about the feel, weight, sip, and grip of a mug and I think Java mugs are perfect. I do a lot of casual entertaining, so this works well for me.

All three sets are classic design. Any of them should work well,