Flatware a little ... flat? Find a set that really shines.
Most often, shopping for flatware must be done in person. The right fork, knife and spoon will feel right in your hand and look right to your eye – it’s a highly personal choice.
“If you can, always go to the store,” says Mat Sanders, co-founder with Brandon Quattrone of Consort, an interiors firm with retail outposts in New York and L.A. “Hold it, feel it, make sure you connect with it kinesthetically,” he explains. If you can’t go to the store, “just order one set and make sure it’s right for you before you make a full order.”
Whether you’re registering for a first set of silverware or wanting to finally find that perfect set that complements your table and your personality, we have tips from a vintage flatware hunter, the editor of a home design magazine, interior designers and a shop owner who scours the market for the best of the best.
“Everyone thinks they have to register for the fanciest, most elegant tabletop when they’re putting together their registries,” says Darcy Miller, celebrations expert and editor for Martha Stewart Weddings.
Sanders and Quattrone are “huge on Crate & Barrel’s Emerge Mirror set for its simplicity and its weighted handle, which gives it a more elevated feel,” Sanders says ($39.95 for a five-piece place setting, crate
andbarrel.com). “Clean, simple lines with a timeless feel are our go-tos. We’re not too big on overembellished or super-decorated pieces.” Bonus tip: Don’t skimp on the forks. Make sure they have pointy ends, because cheaper forks can have disappointingly dull ends.
A longtime thrifter and self-proclaimed hoarder, New York designer Eddie Ross has a thing for flatware. He likes to hunt for his favorite vintage patterns on Replacements.com, but he doesn’t worry about getting a complete set. “I collect a ton of different patterns, materials, mother-of-pearl, bone-handled flatware, and you just have to mix them together,” he says. For something “fresh and modern” to pair new with old, try one of the favorites in his stash, Mepra’s Due cutlery in matte gold ($160 for a five-piece set, themine.com).
“If you love entertaining but hate washing dishes, be sure to look for a dishwasher-safe set,” says Amanda McClements, owner of Washington’s Salt & Sundry shops.