What do you mean by crockery, Raggytash? To me, crockery is heavy duty earthenware. My only item of heavy duty earthenware is a big purple crock next to the kitchen sink, into which we put dirty items (rinsed) until they can be washed.

The dishes we eat off of stay in upper cabinets in the kitchen - not very convenient.

In my dream house, the wall between the kitchen and the dining room is made of cabinets which open on both sides. One puts washed dishes into them from the kitchen side and takes them out from the dining room side to be set on the table.