Breakin' tradition

Bob Steiner ceramic plate, $34 from Texas Art Schools. Photo / Babiche Martens

When it comes to serving up food, the trend for using plain white plates isn't going to go away. They work to show off the colour and texture of the food - like a blank canvas for the culinary artist.

For those of us, however, who like to surprise our guests and enjoy the unpredictable, there are a growing number of eclectic plates taking pride of place in design stores across the country.

The idea is to seek out the unusual and use them to add interest to any table setting or afternoon tea party.

Aim to mix up plates from different eras and don't shy away from different shapes and designs. Look for handmade plates crafted by local artists, scour opshops for vintage pieces or dig deep in the back of the cupboard and dust off those old plates you inherited from a great aunt. After all, it's tres chic to recycle and this is the perfect way to breathe new life into old favourites.

When it comes to putting together a setting, aim to have an underlying theme - be it a similar hue or pattern - to avoid your table looking like a display in an opshop.

Or mix the patterned with the plain to balance things out - but don't be afraid to experiment.

The result will not only be intriguing it will also, no doubt, inspire conversation among your guests.

1. Blue pattern dinner plate by Antonia Astori, $135, from Indice.

2. Fornasetti Le Oceaniali plates, $1975 for set of six, from Design 55.

3. Fornasetti Architettura plate, $POA, from Design 55.

4. "Fiori" flower pattern dessert plate by Antonia Astori, $75, from Indice.

5. "Kinyo" Koi fish dessert plate by Antonia Astori, $90, from Indice.

6. Trixie Delicious handpainted moth vintage plate, from $30.

7. Bob Steiner ceramic plate, $34, from Texas Art Schools.

8. Swan orange glass plate, $31, from Design Denmark.

9. Porcelain patterned plate, $11, from Bo Concept.

10. La Marelle Editions fox plate, $98.50, from Corso de Fiori.

11. Assiette "soleil" plate, $126, from Cavit & Co.

12. Trixie Delicious handpainted Lowlife vintage plate, from $30.

STOCKISTS

Bo Concept (09) 630 0557 Cavit & Co. (09) 358 3771 Corso de Fiori (09) 307 9166 Design 55 (09) 308 9455 Design Denmark (09) 361 3333 Indice (09) 376 9167 Texas Art Schools (09) 376 6064 Trixie Delicious.