On the home front
This year, une femme plans to focus a bit more on sprucing up la maison. There has been talk of doing some major kitchen renovations, replacing blinds in our bedroom, some repainting and possibly recarpeting (some or all of which may remain only talk), but I’ve taken one small and very satisfying first step by replacing our stainless flatware.
The flatware we registered for when we married 15 years ago was never my first choice. We kept picking out patterns that were in process of being discontinued. Mon mari had very definite opinions about all of our registry items, and after a while it felt easier to just let him pick what he liked when our tastes diverged. Most of it has been fine, except for the flatware which I’ve hated from day one. The handles are bulky and the pieces poorly balanced. I’ve been grumbling about replacing it the last couple of years, and had started to look at some patterns. As we’re hoping to replace the entire set at once rather then piecemeal, price is an issue and the one pattern I’d loved for years was (we thought) way outside of our affordability range. So we’ve been looking at other lower-priced styles from a variety of sources, but none of them clicked. I’ve lived long enough with something I don’t like to know not to settle again.
As luck would have it, while idly googling my first choice pattern over the weekend, I discovered that the Oneida.com website is offering many of their most popular patterns for up to 70% off! I was able to get what I *really* wanted at a price we could afford. [insert Happy Dance here.] If you’re looking to replenish or replace any flatware right now, check out their prices first.
Picture from here.
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I’m starting to think about replacing flatware instead (why is it that spoons are subject to such high attrition rates?!), but Pater pre-empted me and we’re awaiting delivery of a fancy new . . . . woodstove!
Oh well, I’ll be happy next time the power’s out and I’m warm by the fire, I suppose. Meanwhile, I can at least peruse all these choices (I’m going to look at Metscan’s suggestions as well).
Maybe this is flatware replacement season? I’ve been thinking about doing the same and thanks for the Oneida tip. Meanwhile I have undertaken some major changes in my kitchen so I’m living with a kind of mess around the house that’s driving me mad. How does anyone survive renovation?
The only efforts that I’m making on the home front is a thorough clean up and reorganization…unless of course our office buys a set of pre-owned Cristofle flatwear in sterling which is the only thing household upgrade that is on my list.
I had to look up flatware – it was a foreign word to my British ears! Now I know it is cutlery.
I love cutlery and we have a French make called Laguiole which I think is perfection!
http://www.laguiole-france.com/handmade_cutlery.html (if you fancy a peek!)
Nice chateau, Pseu! Happy to hear you can get your desired pattern; as you hold it every meal, it’s worth having something that pleases. Goodlife in Virginia, take your silver out for a spin and see if you like it!
Interesting to Miss J how many folks she has encounterd who disliked items that they registered for. Miss J’s late MIL, had a buttinsky aunt who changed a number of her items- without even asking!
Good luck finding new and pleasing stuff, Miss Pseu.
Bonne chance on the renovations and a fabulous eye for catching the flatware you really love this time.
I have been enjoying all your interesting posts and look forward to another year.
Interior decoration is a passion for me. How I regret not having made a career of it for me in my younger age. Now it only is a hobby for me and I eagerly share my opinions, when required. My house is never really done. The basics are there, but I change details. I won´t settle for good. I desire the best. Alessi has great selections of stainless flatware. I have been collecting a set called Dry. Naturally I could not afford everything at once, but the good thing is, that this series is in production all the time, so if I loose a spoon, I can get one replaced immediately. I really recommend Alessi. I know that the price is rather high, but you get what you pay for, yes?
happy to hear you were able to find something that you liked rather than settling. nice flatware does not come cheap.
i have a very large set of the most beautiful set sterling flatware i threaten to use…they just are wasting away in the buffet. i inherited them from someone years and years ago. maybe it is time to pull them out?
our huge project coming late winter is replacing all the windows in our home. i am not looking forward to this as it will involve removing my interior plantation shutters (already thinking they will ruin them) and reinstalling them once windows in place. but, it is a needed thing.
have a wonderful monday
As much as I would love to get new flatware, methinks that I need to wait just a little longer (3 years and 8 months to be exact, but who’s counting?) until the step-kids are off at college. I swear their idea of doing dishes involves depositing the flatware in to the trash.
I just keep telling myself…Not my gene pool, didn’t raise them!
metscan – I haven’t heard of Alessi before, but will have a look at their designs. I think when it comes to stainless, you do tend to get what you pay for. Good stainless should last for decades.
materfamilias – well, I suppose warmth counts for something. 😉 Yes, what is it with the spoons? I also ordered extra teaspoons, as they seem to be what get used most as well.
SylviaB – it’s that fear of disruption and being without a kitchen for any length of time that keeps me from persuing the larger scale project with more fervor….I don’t know how people do it either, especially with kids in the house!
Good Life in Virginia – oh you should *use* that silver! Silver gets better with use. We have two sets, both inherited from grandparents, and I’ll jump on any excuse to pull them out. We need to replace windows too, not urgent but does need to be added to the list.
Belle – Oh, wouldn’t that be nice?
Make Do Style – “cutlery” is actually a much more descriptive word! I couldn’t get your link to work but will google it to see the lovely cutlery.
Lisa – glad to be of service! I’m always happy to help someone save money.
Duchesse – thanks! Our chateau isn’t quite as quaint or large, but we like it.
Miss Janey – wow, that’s a buttinsky alright! You know, I think it’s easy to get caught up in the “what you *should* get” mentality, without really thinking about usage. Of course it’s hard to know just from handling pieces in the store that your knives and forks will always want to fall off the plate because the handles are so heavy….
Daffodil Planter – oh, it’s this one, “Satin Easton”.
http://www.oneida.com/go/satineaston
A friend had the shiny version which I loved, but we wanted something with a matte finish that wouldn’t show scratches as much.
Bonjour Romance – thank you so much!
La Belette Rouge – I knew that peripherally, but it was fascinating to read about it. Thanks for the link!
Couture Allure – it’s the “Satin Easton.” I posted the link above if you want to have a look. I love this pattern because it’s simple but elegant.
Style Artisan – LOL! Better the trash than the garbage disposal though, eh? Kids!
Thanks for letting us know about the sale. I just went to the Oneida site and ordered some forks and spoons to replace those that have sprouted legs and run away. Your tip saved me a lot a of money!
But you left out the most important fact–what’s your pattern?
I used to work in the SF Financial District and cruised the tabletop department of Gumps about once a week. It really is hard to find flatware that looks and feels good. Moi? Towle Boston Antique.
I have long been fascinated by Oneida’s history. Did you know they started out as a commune? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_Community
I love flatware that has a past.;-)
I agree with Daffodil? Which pattern did you choose?
Congratulations to you on being able to purchase exactly what you like. When DH and I married, 22 years ago, there was nothing in the china, flatwear, crystal lines that I liked and was in the parental approved price range. So I just didn’t register. At ten years in on a shopping trip to Gumps in San Francisco I finally found the right pieces. Spode, Cristofle and Waterford. We started buying one or two pieces each pay day and a few more at birthdays and major holidays. I only have a full set of six place settings but I love it all.
I could not afford everything at once, but the good thing is, that this series is in production all the time, so if I loose a spoon,
Work from home India
alas, even at the discount my coveted set (i still have the sample spoon which is *my* teaspoon) is far beyond my means. reviewing my monthly budget, with a determination to save money or at least not get into a financial hole, has revealed a large shortfall in my ability to meet expectations. so… no flatwear for me for now. but i’m glad you were able to get what you really wanted at last.