While Royal Copenhagen is known for their traditional patterns dating back hundreds of years, I think their modern collections are some of their most elegant offerings, especially the Blue Fluted Mega and Blue Elements collections. And perhaps better than any one of these collections is some combination of them. Playing around with the various patterns in the store (and they have a lot of collections), I've yet to see a combination I don't like. 

Somehow a beautiful breakfast table is my favorite to set. They invite a playful use of color, and it's easy to justify multiple peripherals like creamers and sugar dishes, butter blocks and side plates. While there is a lot to be said for a streamlined table, a full table is friendlier to my eye, and often more casual.

I like the clean, modern silhouette of the David Mellor Chelsea flatware next to the embellished elegance of the Royal Copenhagen. The element that sets this David Mellor collection apart from the pack (they've all got something special - I also love the Pride, English and Paris collections with Royal Copenhagen) is the subtle, unexpected thickness of the handles, which are nicely weighted.

The bright, beautiful trademark blue of Royal Copenhagen's hand painted tableware is especially appealing for a breakfast table. This extremely high quality, durable porcelain (microwave and dishwasher safe) is a stunning tableware choice without being an impractical one.

- Meghan

Didriks is an independent, locally owned tableware and home furnishings store located on Observatory Hill in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and at The Mill at Newton Lower Falls.