‘Isabelle von Boch, an 8th generation descendant of the internationally renowned Villeroy & Boch tableware family, is set to tour the country this August, offering tableware tips and tricks when she hosts a series of interactive talks. Designed to inspire home entertainers to create their own ultimate dining setting, each session will include special offers along with fresh ideas and a preview of Villeroy & Boch’s new spring collections.’ Established for 265 years, this iconic brand is as relevant today as when it was founded, with its values rooted in European tradition but moving with the times with fresh new innovation and design. Isabelle is an expert in pairing colours and patterns that complement each other, and is eager to share her passion with us. Check out her tour schedule below, go along and prepare to be inspired!
Welcome to Australia. You are touring Australia in August. What are you hoping to achieve/inspire with your interactive talks?
This is my third trip to Australia in as many years and I never tire of its beauty and energy. This year there are more dates than ever before on my tour. I love getting into stores, meeting people and offering tips from my own experience of what works well together. There are no rules when it comes to creating your ultimate dining setting. For spring brides, it’s an opportunity to get tips on choosing the right combination of pieces for their wedding register, including listing for how you like to entertain and not forgetting all those wonderful accessories, including crystal, cutlery, vases and serving pieces. I also encourage young brides to throw away ideas around being too conservative. Let your choices reflect your personality and don’t be afraid of colour.
‘Lina’ tableware
Which is your all-time favourite pattern in your dinnerware? Is there a classic pattern that is popular and bought time and again?
Good quality, white tableware will always be popular. However, more and more we are seeing a trend towards a mix and match approach to colours and patterns. People are using the white tableware as the base and adding bold and bright pieces to give the table an added dimension. It means you can change the look of the table every time you eat, rather than looking at the same pattern every day. For a more subtle look, the Mariefleur collection is an elegant and youthful floral that I absolutely love and combines beautifully with white and block colours.
Is there a new trend in colour or pattern in your new Spring collection?
The trends for spring and summer are very bright and bold, anything goes. Our new collections, like Lina and Mariefleur Gris, feature a mix of contemporary florals and modern vintage designs that encourage a more playful and creative approach to home decor.
‘Mariefleur Gris’ tableware
How do you mix and match colours and patterns on a table to make it look cohesive?
Don’t be limited to just one pattern. In tableware, not everything has to match. When adding colour to patterned dinnerware, try to pick up on a colour from the design to use as an accent for glassware, napery or feature pieces. Choose a range of pieces you can mix together and build on them over time. If you buy what you love, you’ll find a way to make it work.
What are your favourite colour combinations?
My favourite look changes regularly depending on the season and my mood. For spring, I like bold and bright colours and patterns that add a pop of colour to the table. Monochrome always looks stylish and you can add a subtle third colour to liven up the look. It’s important not to follow any strict rules though and go with a look that suits your lifestyle and tastes.
‘Lina’ tableware
There are trends in food – here in Australia, we all love Mexican at present. Is this aspect a part of your research when designing a new range of tableware?
Yes! It’s so important to tailor your tableware to how you like to eat and entertain. Villeroy & Boch tableware is sold as individual pieces rather than sets, which is exactly how it should be. A combination of larger serving pieces and share plates are the perfect way to serve communal foods such as Mexican and Spanish tapas. Our contemporary NewWave collection was inspired by changing cuisines, enabling different shapes to be combined to suit the foods being served. When selecting tableware, you may not want cereal bowls – rather opting for deep plates which are ideal for soup, pasta and even dessert. Perhaps 20 entrée plates will suit your casual entertaining needs better than a six piece place setting with bread and butter plates. Food trends are certainly something our designers consider when conceiving each new collection, with flexibility the key to customising your perfect tableware combination.
Are tableware patterns available for a number of years, so that a broken item can be readily replaced?
It’s possible to register at the time of purchase so that we can keep you up to date on pattern availability, including advising when a range will be discontinued. A number of our current designs, including the popular NewWave collection, have been available for more than 10 years.
Meet Isabelle von Boch this August at one of a series of interactive talks, designed to help home entertainers create their own ultimate dining setting. Each session will include special offers along with fresh ideas and a preview of Villeroy & Boch’s new spring collections.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Adelaide:
Wednesday 31st July, 1pm – 4pm – The House of Villeroy & Boch, Glenside
Thursday 1st August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm – The House of Villeroy & Boch, Glenside
Friday 2nd August, 12 noon – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Nunawading
Saturday 3rd August, 11am – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Nunawading
Sunday 4th August, 11.30am – Myer, Chadstone
Thursday 8th August, 11am – The House of Villeroy & Boch, Chatswood
Friday 9th August, 10am – 4pm – The House of Villeroy & Boch, Chatswood
Saturday 10th August, 1pm – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Birkenhead Point
Sunday 11th August, 1pm – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Birkenhead Point
Tuesday 13th August, 12 noon – David Jones, Kotara
Wednesday 14th August, 12 noon – David Jones, Castle Hill
Thursday 15th August, 12 noon – David Jones, Bondi
Brisbane / Gold Coast:
Friday 16th August, 12 noon – Myer, Brisbane
Saturday 17th August, 11am – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Harbour Town (Biggera Waters)
Sunday 18th August, 11am – Villeroy & Boch outlet store, Harbour Town (Biggera Waters)
Thank you Isabelle for sharing your thoughts with us today. To find out more about the products Villeroy and Boch offer – from stunning table settings to tiles to bathroom and kitchen ware, please visit the website.
For more on Isabelle’s tour – villeroyandboch-blog.com/category/out-and-about/isabelle-von-boch/
Images courtesy of Villeroy and Boch
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