Renowned interior designer Barbara Barry recently turned her attention to the table, creating a stunning tableware collection for Canadian retailer Waterford Wedgwood. “Beauty and practicality make perfect partners at the dining table,” believes Barry, whose functional settings and stunning designs are proof of her belief. Weddingbells recently caught up with the designer extraordinaire to talk about her new collection, her artistic inspirations, and the one thing every bride needs on her registry.
Weddingbells: What trends do you foresee for the fall and winter?
Barbara Barry: “I am not a trends designer and don’t believe in buying for the season. I want to build my wardrobe of choices by constantly buying less but better, and that’s why I strive to design classic pieces that you can dress up or down and mix with old and new pieces for each season.”
WB: What are some registry must-haves?
BB: “I think every bride must have a basic white pattern, which is why I designed Top Note because you can use it every day. Unlike your basic white, my Top Note design has a little thin black rim that distinguishes it from the boring plain white. This little distinction allows you to mix it with more formal and fun pieces as it helps it hang together. I also think you need to have a good basic flatware pattern that can move seamlessly with all your looks.”
WB: How many sets of China should you have?
BB: “I think after your basic white it is nice to have a formal pattern for dinner parties. Also, I believe it is great to have a simple little pattern to use on the weekends for a Sunday brunch or teatime. This is why I designed Boxwood with my little watercolors of topiaries and Musical Chairs for tea with friends.”
WB: How do you differentiate between formal and casual dinnerware?
BB: “The difference between formal and casual is all in how you put it together. Again like clothing, it is in the mix, and you would be surprised how the casual can mix with the more formal if it is just a charger or a glass. I like to think that the overall effect is one of thoughtfulness and taste, which is why it is so great to bring a designer to tableware as the consumer can get a lot of value from the thinking that goes into this.”
WB: How many patterns should you initially register for?
BB: “I would register for one pattern and pieces of another pattern so that you can immediately have some versatility and fun!”
WB: Where do you get your inspiration from?
BB: “My inspiration is nature and that extends to food. I love the color of eggs, the color of chardonnay in a crystal glass, the leaves in the garden and the still life one makes on the table. Living well and playing house are endless sources of inspiration, as are my travels around the world where I see in other cultures that it is not about how much one has but how one serves them.”
WB: Why did you go into tableware?
BB: “Tableware is an extension of all that I do which is making a home feel wonderful. It is where the house comes alive and is the means to living well. It was a natural move for me that came out of years of experience and I am bringing that experience to Wedgwood. I have known what works in the long run and so can speak to a young homemaker who is looking to invest in value and beauty and function all at the same time. You never will tire of a simple black dress, or these classic patterns.”
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