Add some flair to your plain, white dinnerware

White place settings are great for a formal or an informal dinner table: It's easy to class them up or dress them down, depending on your linens, accompanying dinnerware, types of glasses and silverware.

That's exactly why we like the New Cottage collection of dinnerware from Villeroy & Boch (www.villeroy-boch.com). New Cottage features classic settings in round or oval shapes, in their "Basic" collection, plus a few dishes with some extra curves in their coordinating "Special Serve" collection. The Special Serve collection adds some organic lines — with its leaf- and flower-like shapes — to your settings, and includes platters and bowls in a variety of sizes. The serving pieces are at once modern and natural, making them versatile additions to your table.

The new collection will be available in August. You can preorder pieces, which are priced from $7 to $80, at www.dinnerwaredepot.com.

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