A Romantic Summer Table

When I needed inspiration for a romantic table for two, I didn't have to look further than the fabulously talented, Linda, of More Fun Less Laundry and her “Something Old, Something New: Borrowing from a Master” table.  She, in turn, was inspired by another terrific designer and tablescaper, Delores, of Vignette Design and her “Romantic Candlelight Dinner.”  But, oh, my!  These ladies are so talented!  Am I being too presumptuous in trying to copy their beautiful designs?

Let me show you what I mean.  Here's Delores' original design:


Vignette Design

Isn't this just beautiful?  But, wait!  Here's Linda's interpretation, inspired by Delores' design:

More Fun Less Laundry

Fabulous, isn't it?  Linda took Delores' Valentine vision and gave it a Christmas twist to celebrate her daughter's engagement and holiday homecoming.  What a lovely way to celebrate such a romantic occasion!  Ah, love!

I owe a huge debt, not only to Linda and Delores, but to so many other wonderful tablescapers who generously share their ideas and wisdom and inspire me with their amazing talent . . .

However, it's all well and good to want to copy a design, but then comes the hard work - and the challenges . . . like the red chargers . . . I'm sad to say I don't have any . . . a travesty, to be sure, one that needs to be remedied very soon!

So, if red is not going to be the inspiration, perhaps then it has to come from the beautiful salad plate . . .  I love these pink floral dishes - Chintz Rose by Johnson Brothers . . .

Also, the rattan chargers match the napkin rings, and our everyday Traditions dinner plates from Williams-Sonoma are very similar to the ones Delores used . . .

It so happens that I have some lovely linens from Horchow that have yet to be put to use . . .

I fell in love with the lacy pattern and its heart-shaped edging . . .

It looks so frothy . . . One can easily imagine Anne of Austria giving a handkerchief trimmed like this to the dashing Duke of Buckingham as a token of her love . . . although it might have been more difficult to replace (after all, lacemaking takes so long!) than the diamond necklace she gave him instead, and which almost cost young M. D'Artagnan his life . . . I'm referring, of course, to The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas . . .

If you need a good novel filled with interesting characters, handsome musketeers, a queen in distress, and plenty of court intrigue, this book is for you!  It's also a wonderful study of the manners of the court of Louis XIII . . .  I've read it in both, English . . .

and Spanish . . .

I wish I was more fluent in French to be able to read it in its original language . . .

And, just because there are many movies adapted from this novel, it doesn't mean that any of them comes close to capturing its essence, the intricacies of its plot, the sense of humor of the author, its . . . je ne sais quoi . . . 

I've digressed.  Don't ever get me started on M. Dumas!  I can become quite tedious!  So, back to the table:  Linens, check!

Napkin rings, check!  I have the same ones that Linda uses, with its charming rattan button and loop.

Linda's silverware is just beautiful, but the Monticello by Reed and Barton has a similar “feel” although it's stainless steel, not sterling.  The thread pattern delightfully forms a heart shape at the heel . . .

Delores considered roses and candlelight as being absolutely essential to her design . . . This table needed delicate pink roses to match the salad plates, and mercury glass vases, so I contacted Robert, of Robert's Floral Design Studio in Chicago - my florist and friend - I've known him since high school and he's been doing arrangements for me since Lee and I got married . . .

For a quiet dinner at home, I'd normally go to my local grocery store to buy the roses, and then spend an enjoyable half hour arranging them myself, but I've been out of town attending my son's graduation from Basic Combat Training in South Carolina . . . and the table really needed to be ready today! So Robert received an SOS - Save Our Sanity - and he came to the rescue!

Do you see the hearts in the vases?  Even the Galax Green leaves are heart-shaped!  This was totally Robert's doing, who uncannily seems to anticipate my every wish . . .

I pulled out the stash of mercury glass votives . . .

The glasses were an easy choice:  My mother's crystal . . .

The table was set with both, water goblets and champagne coupes . . .

A rose was tucked into each of the napkin rings . . .

A beautiful, delicate pink rose . . .

And now the table is set . . .

Ready for a summer romantic celebration . . . such as an anniversary, perhaps . . .

What do you think . . . ?  Does it pass muster . . . ?

When darkness arrived, we lit the candles . . .  It was important that the mood be just right . . .

Roses scented the air . . .  Candlelight cast a soft glow on the table . . .

The champagne was poured . . .

“Unchained Melody” played in the background . . . 

 And my husband and I quietly - and romantically - celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary . . .

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Stop by for inspiration!

Christmas Eve 2012

It wouldn't feel like Christmas unless plaid was happening somewhere in our house . . . This year, right on the Dining Room table . . .

I filled glass cylinders with pinecones and silver balls . . . Thanks for the inspiration, Alycia!  If you want to see some amazing tablescapes you HAVE to visit Alycia Nichols at Tablescapes at Table 21.  She uses those glass cylinders in so many creative ways it'll make your head spin!

I never seem to tire of white roses . . . they are so lovely . . .

I bought the green raffia ribbon on impulse, but I love how it brightens the little packages.  Sometimes, the best decisions come on the spur of the moment.  The little pinecones came from The Dollar Store.

The floral arrangement was created by my friend, Robert, who has been doing flowers for us since our wedding, 28 years ago!

I used my Lenox, Federal Platinum bone china . . . The tablecloth (Carson plaid) and the napkins (Kirkwood plaid) are both from Pottery Barn, as are the silver-plated napkin rings . . . The crystal glasses were my mother's . . .

The flatware is Woodland, by Spode . . .  Here's the detail from the knife and teaspoon . . .  I used them at Thanksgiving, too - click here for that post - but I don't think I've gotten them out of my system yet . . .

Somebody, get this camera away from me!  I can't stop shooting!

How many flower pictures are too many . . . ?

The table is set . . .  And the Christmas tree is lit . . . I love that hour before a party starts when the house looks just beautiful, and there are a few minutes to relax and enjoy it . . .

 Here's the family, in a dignified pose . . .

And here's what happened when the antlers came out . . . My son suggested that the title for this table should be “A Nutty Little Christmas.” 

After all, nuts could be found everywhere . . .

The picture of the entire dessert buffet came out blurry, unfortunately, so I'm doubly happy to at least have been able to capture some of the treats!  Here are the Snowmen cookies (from Starbucks, alas, I didn't bake them!)

Vanilla chocolate chip pudding parfaits . . . These were so delish!

Cointreau mini-cupcakes with buttercream frosting and sprinkled with sugar crystals . . .

They are looking pretty cute, considering that this is what happened a couple of hours earlier . . . What would Christmas be without a few bloopers . . . ?

 And what was inside those little red party favor boxes . . . ?

I hope your Christmas Eve was as much fun as ours!  May you have a blessed Christmas day! 

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Kathleeen at Cuisine Kathleen.  Please stop by to see too many fabulous tablescapes to count!

Thanksgiving Tablescape

This year, Thanksgiving was an intimate family dinner, with just my husband and two sons.  The youngest one had to dash off to work in the evening, so we dined early.  We prayed and broke bread over our kitchen table . . . 

The new dishes are transferware - Delamere Woodland Brown, by Spode.  Transferware was developed in England in the 18th century.  A pattern is transferred from a copper plate to a special paper, and then onto pottery.  Thousands of beautiful transferware patterns exist, and many are quite rare.

I've had a soft spot for woodland creatures since the first time I watched Bambi.  When I saw this flatware at Between Naps on the Porch, it was love at first sight.  Do we ever really grow up . . . ?

Pheasants . . . geese . . . deer . . . quail . . . hare . . .

Spode designed the flatware as a perfect compliment to the dishes . . .

A few pheasant feathers on the centerpiece to continue the theme . . .

These linen placemats, made by Sferra, were a wonderful discovery.  I loved the curry color and the generous hemstitched border. 

Marlis is entirely responsible for my having fallen in love with these napkins.  Here is the tablescape in her blog where I spotted them for the first time.  She never ceases to be a source of inspiration to me.  It's so nice that decorating rules have eased the restriction of combining checks with floral patterns.

A bird's eyeview of the table . . . I'm thankful for tall sons . . .

I used amber water goblets and my mother's crystal wine glasses.  I like how the diamond edge on the dishes is echoed in the pattern etched on the wine glasses.

Are white roses ever wrong . . . ?

I set the table early, but took more pictures as the light changed in the room . . .

I don't know that a lotus pod belongs in this traditional floral arrangement, but I liked the brown . . .

I am so thankful for our many blessings.  May God continue to watch over us all!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Dinnerware - Spode, Delamere Woodland Brown
Flatware - Woodland by Spode
Amber water goblets - French Countryside by Mikasa
Wine glasses - My mother's crystal (made in Hungary)
Linen Placemats - Made in Italy by Sferra, Curry (color), Horchow
Napkins - Pier1
Mercury Glass Pumpkin - Costco
Wreath - Crate and Barrel - Many, many years ago