Were you a “Queen for a Day “ winner? I have 13 sets of dishes. Grandmother’s and Mother’s sets and I was the only “girl- child”. I would have gladly shared them with my s-i-l, but she had RA and broke everything but melamine. So I bought her, her own sets of dishes. Alas, my brother is gone and she no longer considers herself part of the family. I like your ideas of mis-matched dishes or sets. I should try setting the table that way. I sometimes use the white dinner plates with the green or pink depression glass salad plates, etc. But it makes a pretty table... I do mix the sets when I have more than twelve guests.
Oh WOW 13 sets. Oh my stars the green and pink depression glass. How beautiful your table must look. One year I did the dining room all in white, even hung white balls that I sprayed and dipped in white sparkles on white ribbons from the chandelier. The table cloth was white damask overlayed with white tulle and the chargers were clear that I had slightly sprayed snow onto the underside with white dinner plates and clear salad plates resting on top. The center of the table was done with white branches and white daisies and carnations with bits of green that had been sprayed with glue and dipped in white sparkles. For dessert I sprayed the underside of clear cake saucers red, for an Italian cream cake and had some red coffee cups and saucers. It was fun. No I was never Queen for a Day, my Mom fell in love with the sets and each of us girls got a set.