The dishes are a lovely bright white, so they'll "pop" when you set them on a colored tablecloth or place mat.  Even though they are casual/everyday dishes, they're like the "little black dress" of dishes because you can set a casual table with them or dress up your table with tablecloths, napkins, etc.  The little bit of textured pattern--white on white--dresses them up a bit.  I'll enjoy the Cassandra dinnerware for a long time.