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Shopping from a bird's eye point of view  Zlittle.com

Shopping Guide

When I came to America, I wasn’t familiar with the traditional household items etiquette. So I had to learn such things as what bedding collection items needed, dinnerware, serveware, bath, etc. This section of the site will state shopping etiquette or checklist that is obvious to most people but may be most helpful to newlywed couple, men or people who haven’t live in the US.

  • Dining
  • Bedding
  • Bath   
  • Kitchen (Bakeware, Cookware, Cutlery
  • Home Decor

Dining

-Fine China-

(8-12 each) Fine China creates a luxurious & elegant atmosphere for your dinner, no matter that you live in a small house, small condo, apartment or  a big house, fine China can always be used for elegant gourmet gathering from holiday meal to any occasion with family and friends.  These are Fine China items you may consider to have in your home.

  • 5-pc place setting
  • Accent plates
  • Soup bowl
  • Cereal bowl
  • Pasta bowl
  • Sugar bowl
  • Creamer bowl
  • Gravy boat & stand *
  • Salt & Pepper shaker
  • Serving bowl
  •  Covered casseroles
  • Medium platters
  • Large platters
  • Teapot/Coffeepot

Dictionary: *

Gravy Boat & Stand: a dish (often boat-shaped) for serving gravy or sauce

 

-Casual China-

 Casual China is usually used for non formal, less formal or casual dinner party or entertainment. Casual China are Usually sold in 4-pc place setting: dinner plate, salad plate, soup/cereal bowl and mug. These are Casual China items you may consider to  have in your home.

  • 4-pc place setting
  • Soup bowl
  • Sugar bowl
  • Creamer bowl
  • Gravy boat & stand
  • Salt & pepper shaker
  • Serving bowl
  • Covered casseroles
  • Medium platter
  • Large platter

-Everyday Dinnerware -

Dinnerware for everyday use. Everyday Dinnerware comes in many selections of fun colors, patterns and styles. And you express your ideas by mix and match them as your creativity and mood. Everyday Dinnerware is usually sold in in a set (16-20pc set) or you can buy them separate, 8-12 each of:

  • Dinner Plates
  • Salad Plates
  • Cereal Bowls
  • Cups and Saucers
  • Mugs
  • Sugar Bowl & Creamer
  • Gravy Boat & Stand
  •  Salt & Pepper Shaker
  • Serving Bowls
  • Platters
  • Butter dish

Dictionary: *

Saucer: a small shallow dish for holding a cup at the table

 

-Flatware-

Flatware is usually sold in 5pc-place setting: fork, salad fork, soup spoon, teaspoon and knife. Flatware is used to compliment of your Fine China. Flatware comes from many styles and designs, from antique look to modern, from sterling silver to stainless steel.

You can buy 8-12 each of 5-pc place setting, plus:

  • Serving set: Serving Spoon and Serving Fork
  • Hostess set: Sugar spoon, Tablespoon, Pierced Tablespoon and Gravy Ladle*, Butter Spreader
  • Entertainment set: Large Serving Spoon and Oval, Large Slotted Serving spoon , including Pastry Server

Dictionary:

* Ladle: a spoon-shaped vessel with a long handle; used to transfer liquids.

 

-Everyday Flatware-

Everyday Flatware is for everyday use and they usually sold in 45pc-set or two 20pc-set. Also their handles comes in many variations of color.

 

-Stemware-

Stemware is your finest glassware that you can use to compliment your Fine China. They often come in crystal and elegant looking.  You can buy for 8-12 each of:

  • Champagne Flutes *
  • Goblets *
  • Sherry* Glasses
  • White Wine Glasses
  • Red Wine Glasses
  • Ice Beverage

Dictionary:

*Champagne Flute: a tall narrow wineglass

*Goblets: a drinking glass with a base and stem

*Sherry: dry to sweet amber wine from the Jerez region of southern Spain or similar wines produced elsewhere; usually drunk as an aperitif

 

-Everyday Glassware-

Glassware for everyday use. You can buy 8-12 each of:

  • Ice Beverage Glasses
  • Double old fashion Glasses
  • Goblet
  • Wine Glasses( White and Red)
  • Flute
  • Martini Glasses
  • Pilsner Glasses
  • Mug

-Serveware-

It is used for serving. Serveware comes from many different style and variation, from silver sterling, glass, crystal and even wood.

  • Platters
  • Trays
  • Serving bowl

-Table Linen-

Table linen is one of the important parts of making your dinner table looks great. The right linen chosen, can give more dramatic looking for your dinner table and mood.

The linens comes from many different grade of material and color.

  • Table linen (available in square, oblong, long and round, print, solid & motif)
  • Place mat
  • Napkin
  • Napkin Ring

Bedding

Bed is one of important place in our house. A place where we can put our head and release all the energy after all day works. Bedding decoration can help to make your room look fabulous and can help you sleep well. Here's some guide for your bedding collection you may consider have:

  • Fitted sheet, is a basic sheet to cover your basic mattress.
  • Flat sheet, is a second layer sheet to cover the fitted sheet
  • Blankets
  • Pillow(pair)
  • Pillowcases (pair), is pillow cover
  • Down Comforters
  • Comforters *
  • Duvet
  • Bad Skirts
  • Pillow Shams *

Dictionary:

* Pillow Shams: bed linen consisting of a decorative cover for a pillow

* Duvet: a soft quilt usually filled with the down of the eider

* Comforter: a thick bed covering made of two layers of cloth containing a filling (as down

*Thread counts

Thread Count is a number of horizontal and vertical thread in square inch of fabric. The quality of the fabric is depend on the thread counts in a fabric. The higher of the thread count the softer its feel and contrary.

Kind of bedding fabrics:

  • Cotton
  • Sateen
  • Flannel
  • Linen
  • Silk
  • Polyester
  • Nylon
  • Organdy
  • Acrylic

Bath

Another important place in a house is a bathroom. Nice, clean bathroom can give a different impact to a person who lives there. Here's some guide for your bathroom:

  • Bath Towel
  • Hand Towel
  • Washcloths
  • Bath Rug
  • Down Shower Curtain
  • Shower Curtain
  • Accessories (Tumbler*, Toothbrush Holder, Lotion Pump, Soap Dish, waste basket, tissue cover)

Dictionary

* Tumbler: a glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem; originally had a round bottom

 

Kitchen

 

-Cookware-

Cookware is available in a set or you can buy separately. Here's some tools you may consider have in your house:

  • Fry Pan

  • Skillets *

  • Saucepan

  • Stockpot *

  • Roaster

  • Griddles *

  • Grill Pan *

  • Tea Kettles

  • Saute Pans

  • Steamer *

Dictionary:

* Skillets: a pan used for frying foods

* Stockpot: a pot used for preparing soup stock

*  Griddles: cooking utensil consisting of a flat heated surface (as on top of a stove) on which food is cooked

* Steamer: a cooking utensil that can be used to cook food by steaming it

 

-Bakeware-

Available in a set or you can buy them separately

  • Cake Pan

  • Cookie Sheets

  • Loaf Pan

  • Muffin Pan

  • Pie Pan

  • Baking Pan

  • Glass Bakeware

  • Metal Bakeware

-Cutlery-

Usually sold in a set. But you can buy them separately. Here's a guide of knives you need:

  • Steak Knife

  • Paring* Knife

  • Vegetable Knife

  • Boning* Knife

  • Utility* Knife

  • Chef Knife

  • Carving* Knife

  • Bread Knife

Dictionary:

* Paring Knife: a small sharp knife used in paring fruits or vegetables .

* Boning Knife: a knife used in removing the bones.

* Carving Knife: a large knife used to carve cooked meat

 

Furniture

-Bedroom-

Furniture are used as compliment of your bedroom.

  • Dresser*

  • Nightstands*

  • Armoire*

  • Mirror

  • Futon*

Dictionary:

* Dresser: furniture with drawers for keeping clothes.

* Armoire: a large wardrobe or cabinet; originally used for storing weapons

* Futon: mattress consisting of a pad of cotton batting that is used for sleeping on the floor or on a raised frame.

 

-Kitchen-

Furniture are used as compliment  of your kitchen

  • Buffet*

  • Pantry*

  • Table

  • Chair Set

Dictionary:

*  Buffet: a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers.

* Pantry: small storeroom for storing foods or wines

* Kitchen Chart:

 

-Living Room-

Here are the furniture you may consider to have in your living room

  • Upholstered* Chairs

  • Coffee Tables

  • End Tables

  • Futon

  • Entertainment Center

  • Media Storage

  • Lighting

  • Rug

Dictionary:

* Upholstered Chairs: chairs with padding, springs, webbing, and covers.