<p>My only advice, that applies to anything you buy, is to make sure it fits easily in your dishwasher and cupboards. Bowls can be a problem in the dishwasher and plates can be too big for some cupboards.</p>
<p>I noticed some nice white dishes with lots of serving piece options at Kohls. If I was replacing my dishes I would definately consider those. I may pick up some additional serving pieces to go with our 18 year old everday dishes (Johnson Brothers Summer Chintz from our wedding. Loved them, but the scallop edges do tend to chip. I bought a bunch of extra plates at a clearance sale for cheap. so I have replacements on hand._</p>
<p>15+ years ago, DH and I replaced our chipped, scratched and broken Crate and Barrel set of dishes with winter white Corelle. I’m so tired of them but the darn dishes are indestructible. We have recently looked at BB&B, Crate and Barrel, Macys, etc. and finding the dinner plates are all huge. Our Corelle are 10.25 inches in diameter, most of the the other brands we have seen are around 11 inches. We can’t find anything the same size as Corelle. I can’t imagine loading up the dishwasher with such big plates. I also tend to fill my plate and those extra . 75 inches will pile up on me…</p>
<p>I can tell you what NOT to buy. A few years ago, I bought a set of Mikasa English Countryside:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Mikasa English Countryside 45Pc Set Service For 8, With Serving Pieces: Kitchen & Dining](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Mikasa-English-Countryside-Service-Serving/dp/B0013TV86M]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Mikasa-English-Countryside-Service-Serving/dp/B0013TV86M)</p>
<p>Very pretty, but the plates chipped like mad. (For some reason, the bowls and cups did not chip.) Also, the dinner plates were so large that they didn’t fit well in the dishwasher or the microwave. </p>
<p>I replaced them with Villeroy and Boch Audun, thinking they would be durable enough for everyday but pretty enough for more formal dinners (I don’t have a full set of good china). This is what I have:</p>
<p>[Villeroy</a> & Boch “Audun” Dinnerware - Dinnerware Villeroy & Boch - Dining & Entertaining - Macy’s](<a href=“http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=70270&CategoryID=8529]Villeroy”>http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=70270&CategoryID=8529)</p>
<p>It’s mix and match, and I have mostly the yellow pieces and relatively few of the heavily patterned black and white pieces. My problem is that the yellow pieces have a lot of marks. Maybe this is what others have referred to? I have not had time to look into how to clean them, if this is possible. I am otherwise happy with the china, it does not chip.</p>
<p>I second overstock.com. I bought a beautiful set of Reed and Barton for everyday use at a great price. </p>
<p>Definitely check measurements/depth though - my soup bowls are pretty shallow. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Well, I have the opposite dilemma. I have Corelle and I am tired of it. Does Pfaaltzgraf chip real easy? And is it real heavy? I haven’t had a chance to see it in person and have just looked on-line.</p>
<p>I’ll put in another recommendation for Corelle. It lasts forever and is very lightweight. It may not be the fanciest product around, but it is excellent. I actually brought down some 10 year old pieces to college because they work so well. Family has some plates that are nearing 30 and still are excellent except that they have a green trim.</p>
<p>I think it’s hilarious that the ad above is for Mikasa.com and yesterday it was for Replacements LTD…do they do this on purpose?</p>
<p>Re: Pfaltzgraff…we had a great set when we first got married. It was their venture into the “danish modern” look. A putty color with cobalt blue ring around the edge of the plates and blue bowls and mugs. We LOVED them…after about 14 years they had very few chips. BUT we were a little tired of them. So we got a new set of Pfaltzgraff and they chipped like crazy almost immediately. I should have returned them. I will never buy that brand again.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of all white plates. I like some pattern on my plates. I like outlet shopping, and got some dishes at the Royal Doulton outlet, which were greatly discounted since they were discontinued. I also got Lenox on sale at Macy’s with the extra discount, which I really like a lot. [Lenox</a> :: Mosaico D’Italia Dinnerware](<a href=“Autumn Dinnerware Collection – Lenox Corporation”>Autumn Dinnerware Collection – Lenox Corporation) This is one pattern, but they have so many others. It is more expensive than Corelle, but so much more elegant, and overall not so expensive like imported English, French or German china. I do not like stoneware. </p>
<p>Have fun.</p>
<p>I picked up some of the white Apilco bowls at a Williams and Sonoma outlet and love them - they were very cheap (on special sale) and are wearing very well. I’ve had Ikea bowls but they scuffed up and chipped easily. The Apilco seems indestructible. </p>
<p>We also use ancient Spode and Dansk sets. I’ve gotten replacements for the Spode on eBay and bought the Dansk at their outlet. If I were to invest in all new dishes, I’d go with the Apilco, but plain white is not for everyone.</p>
<p>My daughter bought a $1 a plate at Walmart. White color I think.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the great suggestions! I have learned a great deal and look forward to checking out all the stores and websites. The set I want to replace is a pfalzgraff stoneware set, I will definitely check out porcelain this time around. </p>
<p>My recommendation to clean off the marks is to use Bar Keepers Friend - it is a cleanser like Comet but gentler. You can find it in the cleaning supply aisle at the grocery store. It works beautifully but you have to use it constantly and as I mentioned before, I am tired of scrubbing the plates and bowls. Life is too short!</p>
<p>Our family and some friends have Dansk dinnerware, which I think you would like, HeartArt. Simple, attractive, a bit heavy, but hasn’t chipped or scratched in our use. Regrettably, the company is out of business. However, Replacements does stock it. </p>
<p>You would need to be somewhat careful about getting Dansk seconds, though. Some of the seconds stock has slight, optically detectable deviations from planarity on top. The old department-store and outlet Dansk are both great.</p>