The Argentinian designer, Alfredo Häberli, based out of Zurich, Switzerland has designed some beautiful home and kitchen products for many companies. Most of his work is furniture, but I love his simple yet colorful dishes that he designed for Iittala. If you like bistro tableware that is plain white, but are also looking for some color, the Origo line designed by Häberli is a fun option.

Starting 2 January, The Conran Shop is having a sale on his dinnerware with pieces marked down about 30 percent. You can also purchase the Origo line from Didrik’s for comparable prices and they also offer free shipping.

And even if you don’t want to go for the whole dish set because of expense, you can always opt for a serving dish or two to add some color.

I’ve been trolling eBay lately trying to find some vintage Stig Lindberg porcelain pieces. They often fetch pretty high prices, but I love the simple Nordic design of the Bersa line (to the right).

Stig Lindberg was one of the most prominent ceramic designers in post-war Sweden, and back in 2006 the National Museum of Sweden had an exhibit showcasing his designs and work. Stig Lindberg died in 1982, but his patterns are timeless and his pieces would be a great addition if one wants some unique, classic-design tableware. Of course, the pattern isn’t so unique in Sweden, but outside of Scandinavia Lindberg pieces have a cult following of sorts. There are several interesting auctions on eBay right now, but I will have to see how outrageous the prices get.

I also love the Lindberg sets that have the simple food motif on them. To the right is one example, and I hope to see some of these on eBay in the future. Someone seriously needs to remake this style for a new dinnerware set. You can see a couple other examples of this design at the 50 Danska Kvadrat blog.

As for my eBay purchase, I won a couple of serving platters. And now that the auction is done I can safely post this entry.

Brooklyn-based artist, Sarah Cihat, has come up with a uniquely beautiful and sensible way to recycle old plates. She scours flea markets and second-hand stores to buy old dishware and then reglazes them with her own unique designs, creating a one-of-a-kind piece of plate art. The plates are often refurbished with vivid colors and quirky images, such as a squid, Abe Lincoln, pin-up girls, or a skull and cross bones, but many of the designs, such as the one to the right are simple and elegant and add just the right bit of whimsey to the table.

If you want to see some of her favorites and new designs, you can visit her website. Sarah Cihat is originally from Tennessee and she earned a degree in fine arts from the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her plates have been featured in numerous publications, including Food & Wine and Bon Appetit.

The cost for the dishes vary based upon size and you can contact her directly through her website if you wish to place a custom order or if you have questions about pricing. A good place to buy her dishware on the internet is through Rose and Radish. The cost is about $45 per plate.