The Martha Stewart line at Macy's has a few colorful pieces and is very affordable (plus it's almost always on sale!). I've been very happy with the enameled Dutch oven that I have.

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/index.ognc?CategoryID=30193&PageID=129681462897069

If you want to build a quality collection, I would begin searching through craigslist and ebay, and check local stores for sales on Le Creuset pieces. It is not an immediate solution, but it will pay off in the long run, I think.

I have the Rachel Ray set and so far am very happy with them. You can usually find a good deal for them on ebay but sometimes shipping will sneak in and bite you. Most Kohls stores carry them and they are normally on sale.

It's a European brand so I'm not sure of the availability in the US, but Silit has cookware in bright orange, red, yellow, and green. Amazon apparently carries it, buuuut they look like they would indeed burn through your bank account :(

I have the Martha Stewart Collection (though not in fun colors) and I can attest to its quality! Not the best set, but certainly better than good!

I have a Martha Stewart enameled cast iron pot from her Kmart collection and it's fabulous; it cost about a quarter of the price of a comparable sized Le Creuset, and it's a pretty celadon color.

TJ Maxx and Marshall's often have brand-name cookware for really reasonable prices, too.

*Years* and years ago (like, 10), I bought a set of Martha Stewart SS copper-bottomed cookware from K-Mart. Although Macy's now has her name on *its* stuff, it seems the Martha Stewart people know what to put her name on. My Martha Stewart cookware is still holding up great.

For my wedding, my husband and I received a $400-500 set of cookware from Calphalon, and while it is good, I still prefer my $100 set of Martha's stuff!

I have the orange Rachel Ray ones and I adore them. Easy to clean and heavy bottomed.... I supplement my set with Le Creuset and vintage Dansk.

Try KitchenAid. I have a decent set that is red on the outside.

I am not a fan of 'sets.' When you get a set you miss out on the unique qualities of the different materials. They are usually make of the same stuff and.... well, kind of boring.

A black cast iron skillet is a joy to have. A piece or two of le Cruset will serve you a lifetime. A real wok. A big stockpot. Some decent quality non-stick that you can toss out and replace when they get funky.

Fun to collect and fun to use - that's one persons opinion.

Best,

Years ago, before I became knowledgeable about cookware, I bought a set - Chantal enamel on steel - in red. I still love the color and they've held up reasonably well. You do have to use plastic or silicone utensils, though, and the instructions say not to use high heat (although I do). I've since purchased other pieces in stainless steel and anodized aluminum, and mostly use only the soup and stock pots from the Chantal set. Knowing what I know now, if I were purchasing today, I would buy individual pieces (stainless steel fry pan, cast iron skillet, Le Creuset Dutch Oven, etc.).

You will not find an inexpensive but quality set with an exterior color to fit your needs because:

1. sets rarely fit anyone's needs and
2. quality cookware will not have any extraneous material (colored enameled or plastic) on the pot or pan, which will interfere with the balance, heat conductivity, retention, or responsiveness.

For the most part, sets aren't the best because they really don't meet any one person's needs. You ought to evaluate which pieces you really need and seek out the best materials for each type. At a minimum, this is usually a skillet or fry pan, a big pot, and a little pot.

The exception to #2 is enameled cast iron. If your budget doesn't extend to Le Creuset or Staub (and you cannot find one in a TJMaxx, etc.) then Lodge makes a decent kind, but made in China.

I'd agree, look at the Lodge enameled cast iron. There isn't much you couldn't do with just their 6qt dutch oven and their 3qt casserole and you can get the pair for about $100 if you watch the prices on Amazon (they fluctuate quite a bit). They come in red, blue, green and brown and they all look really nice IMO. Add in a couple other stainless steel pieces and your set.

Be careful - there was a recall on the cast iron cookware with Martha's name on it because it was cheap and filled with air bubbles.

We have a 6 qt. dutch oven from the MS enamel coated cast iron from Macy's and LOVE it. We have been married 10 years and gone through several cheap "sets" of cookware and have learned that all you need is a few, quality pieces. We plan on adding a few more from the same collection as they go on sale. Definitely don't pay full price, we picked up the first piece at 50% off.

Totally agree with the advice about sets. You'll end up with stuff you don't need (often lots of it). Notice how fun and "real" kitchens with open shelving feel when they have items from lots of different lines.

You don't need, for instance, an All Clad pot to boil pasta water (a cheapie will do fine), but it's wonderful to have an All Clad saute pan for browning meat. You don't need an upscale enameled casserole for making chili (I use a copper bottomed stock pot), but you will adore it for mac and cheese.

Nobody mentioned starfrit?? http://www.starfrit.com/home.aspx?sc_lang=en-CA

Inexpensive and pretty decent quality!

i ahve the set in the picture from faberware. mine is red and it's done really well so far. my mom has had her set of faberware cookware for over 25 years

Especially in a New York apartment, which tend to not have much room, I would go with just a few pieces of good quality cookware. I highly recommend All-Clad; they have a few different styles but nothing "colorful." There is an outlet in PA that sells irregular pieces for really good prices, and they even have a deal where if you buy four or more pieces you get more of a discount.