"Practical items with character for your table and kitchen, for you to use and cherish."

Having opened Ceramica Blue in 1987, this pretty much sums up how I have made my selections for the shop every day since.

I was brought up in New Zealand, so my sense of colour tends to the vibrant and strong, but having lived in London for 26 years I also love the subtle hues of the English light and countryside. It fascinates me the way colours play against, and enhance one another, and each day, depending on your mood, they can look completely different.

I must admit to having very eclectic taste, so handmade English walnut cheese boards sit alongside brightly coloured silicone kitchen utensils; contemporary French stoneware dinner plates and vivid Spanish recycled glass tableware. Stemware from French glassmakers dating from the 15th century and modern English bone china mugs, Colombian ceramic cookware, Swedish linen and fantastic gifts from around the world have given us a reputation for one of London’s best destinations for unusual, beautiful gifts and home wares.

Being a bit of a sleuth I have accrued a comprehensive knowledge of designers and manufacturers of tableware, glassware, and utensils around the world. In the surprising way that your business can take an unanticipated turn, I have become an extremely busy restaurant consultant. I have relished working with Mark Hix, Yotam Ottolenghi , Brett Graham at The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms, La Petite Maison, Gordon Ramsay and many more besides. All very different in style and keen to show their own very distinctive character so I aim to provide those pieces to be resilient enough for very busy restaurant environments and also restaurant/cafe budget friendly.

I have also decided to turn my hand to designing for Ceramica Blue, so the first of our own tea towels should be with us in August. I have 3 new table ware ranges in the pipe line as well and look forward to working with those fantastic folk in Stoke on Trent.

Portobello Market is the heart of our neighbourhood; I live 3 blocks from the shop and having grown up on a fairly remote farm in New Zealand (20 miles from the nearest shop!) I am constantly amazed at how inclusive and friendly life in “the big smoke” can be. Please come along and immerse yourself in a vibrant, creative, challenging and inspiring London treasure. I am a passionate supporter of independent local shops and feel the best way they can be saved is for people to vote with their feet and celebrate the uniqueness, knowledge and personal service they offer.

We offer wedding lists, gift lists, worldwide shipping, tax free shopping and happily gift wrap, even the tricky shapes.

Designer tableware, designer ceramics, hand painted ceramics, contemporary ceramics, rustic tableware, glass plates, leaf bowls, hand-made tiles, kitchenware, cookware, glassware, hand made pottery, earthenware, stoneware, china, porcelain, handblown glass, bamboo, recycled glass, linen, napkins, aprons, ovenware, tea towels, oven gloves, spice grinders, terracotta

Plates, platters, dishes, bowls, cups, mugs, teapots, jugs, vases, votives, candlesticks, butter dishes, tiles, tea pots, coffee pots, table mats, table runners, espresso cups, tea cups, coffee cups, cups and saucers, piggy banks

Japanese Lotus designed plates, Celadon French ceramics, Columbian Black pottery oven to tableware, French ceramics, Japanese crackle glazed plates, Desimone tiles, Melamine bowls, Stone Table Mats

Dinner sets, Breakfast Sets, Espresso Sets, Tea Sets