At the risk of sounding ridiculous—especially since I'm in my thirties—I want to be Ina Garten when I grow up. I mean, can you blame me? Who wouldn't want to rock chambray shirts on the regular, whip up delicious treats for friends, and bask in a coastal retreat that could rival Nancy Meyers' iconic sets? After all, Garten embraced coastal grandma style before it was even a thing. However, if a house in the Hamptons or a multi-course meal is out of reach, you can also look to her Instagram for some design inspiration.
As luck would have it, Garten just posted a few photos of an effortlessly elevated tablescape. "People think that in order to have a beautiful table setting, everything needs to match perfectly," she captioned the shot. "I actually think it’s much more interesting to mix things up, but you need to mix them up thoughtfully." While her checkered napkins and bowls of fresh citrus are eye-catching, the plates are the clear star of the setup—so much so that Garten's Instagram comments were flooded with questions about where to get them.
Well, after some thorough research, I found that ceramicist Melissa Goldstein crafted these plates. Inspired by historical illustrations and calligraphy, each of the six plates is adorned with a different number. Not only will the numbers bring a touch of whimsy to your tablescape, but they're also a stealthy way to assign seats at your next dinner party. Plus, since they're 10.5 inches in diameter, they're large enough for your entrée and plenty of sides.
The catch? At $1,320 for a set, they're not exactly within everyone's hosting budget. That said, it's worth knowing that each porcelain dish is handmade, giving them that one-of-a-kind edge. In fact, Garten has apparently had these plates for years—she's posted them before as late as 2022—which means they can withstand the test of time and drive that cost-per-use way down. However, you can browse similar alternatives below if you still have sticker shock.
Kate Aspen Tea Party Vintage Plate Table Numbers
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
