Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin’, ring ting tinglin’, to…..This is the song this tablesetting brings to my mind. Set with 222 Fifth’s Andover pattern, this dinnerware features a horse and sleigh in front of an old log cabin. This dinnerware evokes a very nostalgic setting that is reminiscent of Christmas past.
The border on the outside of each plate is a rust-red shade with ivory pinecones and holly. The horse and sleigh design is gray on an ivory background. This design appears only on the supper plate. The dinner plate has a plain center which allows the food to present well on it.
The cereal/soup bowl features only the log cabin design in the bottom of the bowl.
I used an off-white tablescloth and matching napkins to connect to the background in the dinnerware. Holly-berry napkin rings make napkin preparation very easy and add, what I call, jewelry to the table.
It seemed only fitting that the centerpiece for the table should feature a sleigh.
And, of course, who should be in the sleigh but old St. Nick!
And, here is a look at the table all set for dinner!
I added a few small tree candles to draw in that feature from the dinnerware design.
This is a very pretty set of dishes and, keeping the centerpiece simple, they get to be the stars on the table.
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I’m going with a green theme for this seasonal Christmas Greens Holiday Tablesetting, drawing the color scheme from the green leaves in my Royal Albert “Lavender Rose” china.
I often like to use a three-piece floral centerpiece featuring one larger arrangement flanked by two smaller satellites.
There is no need to completely replicate the smaller satellites to match the main arrangement entirely. However, the satellites should draw one or more colors and flowers from the central arrangement so that the three arrangements all connect and tie together.
During the Christmas season, I keep buckets of various types of greenery in my garage and then use them in arrangements. I like to limit the selection of flowers to two to three colors but use different kinds of flowers in the same colors. Here I have used two different kinds of white flowers and two different green flowers.
Floral centerpieces need not cost a lot. I often buy packages of supermarket flowers and use them to build the centerpieces. Economical containers can often be found in dollar stores.
I also like to use different shapes and textures of greenery, flowers, and berries. They add interest and depth to arrangements.
Adding a pine cone or two always adds interest to Christmas arrangements.
One of the advantages of this style of centerpiece is that various juxtapositions can be used with them on the table – the arrangements can be placed in a straight line, at angles to each other, close together to make it look like one large centerpiece, or spaced apart for distinctly unique pieces.
I’m letting the wood in my table shine in this tablesetting as opposed to covering it with a tablecloth. I am using a white placemat for each setting. The gold charger plates pick up the gold rim of the china and add an air of elegance to the table.
I like the shape and colors in this china pattern. The shades of pink, lavender, and green in the pattern lend themselves to a wide variety of color options for the tablesetting.
Royal Albert “Lavender Rose” China
A simple pointed pocket fold for the napkin provides a nest for the forks. This type of fold works particularly well for napkins that, like these, have a motif on one corner.
One sure way to add sparkle to any table is to use glassware with lots of cuts. Sometimes, I mix and match my glassware but, since I am using my formal china in this setting, I decided to use all the same pattern of glassware.
This is the look when all the elements of the tablesetting are put together. The other great thing about the trio of floral arrangements is that, if the table is larger, there can be more than one larger centerpiece and/or more satellites to extend down the length of the table. It’s the type of centerpiece that is scaleable to the size of the table.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing my Christmas Greens holiday tablesetting.
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Thanksgiving brings wonderful opportunities for a variety of tablesettings. The rich colors of autumn provide an endless supply of inspiration for decorating the table. In this tablescape (which does not have to be reserved solely for the Thanksgiving holiday), I am using Victorian English Pottery “Pheasant Woodland” dinnerware that has a distinctive fall theme. It’s one that can be used throughout the entire autumn season.
Victorian English Pottery Dinnerware
Like a lot of English transferware, this pattern tells a story and has earthy colors; however, I also recognize that it is a busy pattern. In order for the dinnerware to stand out on the table, it benefits from the use of solid-colored charger plates to frame and “ground” each place setting. Busy-patterned dinnerware also looks best on solid-colored placemats or tablecloth. When I am using this type of dinnerware, I want it to stand out on the table so I ensure that other elements on the table, including the table covering, don’t compete with it for attention.
To add a punch of color, I have used my plaid napkins encased in natural-toned napkin rings. The orange in the napkins ties in with the shades on the pheasants in the dinnerware pattern. Placing the napkin on the side of the plate (as opposed to across the top of the bowl) allows the dinnerware pattern to be displayed for maximum impact.
Again, because the pattern of the dinnerware is quite busy, I have kept the centerpiece relatively simple – a traditional-styled fall-themed arrangement in the centre flanked by two pillar candles on glass candlesticks. The use of the glass candlesticks keeps the focus on the centerpiece.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece
The colors in the centerpiece correspond to the color scheme of the dinnerware. With this classic style of tablesetting, it is important to maintain the colors of the dinnerware in other elements of the table – for example, the centerpiece, candles, napkins, and charger plates.
The leaf-etched neutral-colored candles blend with the color of the centerpiece urn and the background in the dinnerware.
The candles and their placement add symmetry to a classic tabletop centerpiece. So, only three items in the centerpiece – two candles and the floral centerpiece – to keep it clutter-free. This is particularly important if the table is not large. I wanted to see some clean white space on the table.
In keeping with the style of this dinnerware, I have used some of my vintage glassware which also blends with the candlesticks. Clear glassware adds life and sparkle to a tablesetting and also gives it an airy look and feel.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse of my Thanksgiving tablesetting.
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Thanksgiving Tablesetting
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Harvesting my small lavender crop is one of my most favorite parts of summer. Working among the colorful and beautifully-scented flowers is a rite of summer for me.
Lavender Ready for Harvesting
I picked the crop this weekend and, since it was such a lovely evening, I used it for the inspiration for my al fresco dining. And, of course, my menu drew its inspiration from these edible flowers as well.
Lavender Harvesting
I wanted to keep the tablesetting simple since the table is a small square. So, I simply gathered together a lot of the flowers into a single stuke shape and tied it with a complimentary shade of wired burlap ribbon.
Lavender Bouquet
A simple trim on the ends of the stems formed an even base for the bouquet to stand upright in the center of the table.
Centerpiece
I carried the floral and color theme through by tying small bunches of the colorful stems with an airy ribbon. These gave a pop of color and definition to the white napkins.
Seasonal Tablesetting
I like the clean, crisp backdrop of a white tablecloth. I often tend to use plain white dishes because food really shows well on them. However, an all white table can be a challenge because it can sometimes look flat and lack definition. I acquired these white dishes with a double dark rim this summer. They work well in these kinds of situations because they lend some depth and definition to a table.
PlacesettingSummer Tablesetting
I used my antique stemmed water glasses to add a bit of height and nostalgia to the setting.
Al Fresco Tablesetting
This was my summery Saturday evening dining table.
Four years ago, I wrote a story on the Five Sisters of Lavender Lane in Kelly’s Cross, PEI. These ladies had a small farm and sold edible lavender. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business but, by following this link, you can get my recipe for Lavender Honey Ice Cream which was the finale for my dinner last evening.
Lavender Honey Ice Cream on a Chocolate Brownie and Drizzled with Raspberry Coulis
This springtime tablesetting has a yellow theme going on – after dreary winter months, it’s always good to see some bright and cheery colors and yellow is definitely in that category.
The three yellow floral arrangements, a tall flanked by two shorter complementary ones, add a burst of color in the center of the table. For a longer table, simply add more down the length of the table, alternating between tall and short arrangements.
The yellow tapers in glass candlesticks lend both an air of height and elegance. By keeping everything in the same color, the eye is not kept busy trying to focus on the focal point of the table. I find using all one color lends a more elegant look and feel to a tablesetting.
The yellow round placemats are an inexpensive way to pull the color down from the centerpiece into each placesetting. Good quality basic white napkins are a must! Using napkin rings is an easy and quick way to present napkins at placesettings. There are several ways napkins can be folded into the rings but this is one of the more classic. Made of pewter, these napkin rings have a daffodil design so are perfect for springtime tables.
I am a big fan of white dishes. First, food looks fabulous against a white background. And, second, white goes with anything which means a set of basic white dinnerware is a good all-round investment. With white dishes, you can go with any color scheme on the table so, although the dinnerware remains the same, the look can change dramatically simply by using different tablecloths, placemats, chargers, napkins, and/or centerpieces.
Adding lots of glassware to the table gives it a light look and feel – just what’s needed for a springtime tablesetting!
Don’t worry about mixing and matching glass candlesticks – in fact, having several different styles on the table makes it more interesting and takes away from the “matchy-matchy” look. To keep the look casual, just weave the candlesticks in at random among the flowers – they don’t have to be symmetrically placed.
No need for charger plates to frame the plates when round placemats are used.
For more tablesetting inspiration, click on the “Tablescape” tab at the top of my home page.
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New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion to bring on all the bling, glitz, and glamour …. and that includes dressing up the dining table. I thought you might be interested in taking a peek at how I transformed my dining room from Christmas into an elegant venue for a New Year’s Eve dinner. And, yes, each guest had a glittery and elegant silver or black hat to wear for the evening.
As you can see, the color theme was silver, black and white.
Each place setting was framed by a silver charger plate with a rhinestone edge.
A small glass dessert dish contained silver cola balls at each placesetting.
Silver Cola Balls
I used one of my napkin ring sets that has a lot of bling to contain the black napkin because, well, there’s no such thing as too much bling on NYE, is there!
I think the napkin looks very stylish and elegant placed diagonally over the edge of the plate and charger. For elegant and sophisticated tablesettings, always use a high quality cloth napkin.
Of course, any “blingy” tablesetting needs lots of glassware to reflect the light. Each placesetting had three glasses – a water glass, a white wine glass, and a champagne flute. When I am setting an elegant table, I try to make sure the glassware all matches. For more casual tablesettings, mix-and-match glassware may work but, for formal settings, I use matched glassware. The more cuts there are in the glassware, the more dazzling it is in different lighting situations.
I went with a very simple centerpiece. Two glittery silver pillar candles on medium-height glass candlesticks and a white and deep rose floral arrangement in a small black urn.
For the floral centerpiece, I used bright rose-colored Gerber daisies surrounded by a collar of white carnations with green berry highlights.
With all the white, silver, and glass on the table, I thought the centerpiece needed a bit of bright color to stand out.
Simple yet elegant.
And, of course, there were little Hershey kisses for midnight! It’s all about the little details!
Here’s an overhead view of the table. Once I set a table, I always take a photo as that will quickly let me see what’s out of place and needs adjustment. Amazing how a photograph will reveal what an eye does not always see!
To keep the glitz going, I hung some mirror balls, glittery snowfakes, and glass from my dining room lighting fixture.
These are simply inexpensive ornaments I purchased at a dollar store. They do the trick!
Glittery snowflakes!
My fireplace mantle featured winter white and black. Tick-tock as we made our way to midnight!
The black lanterns tied in with the black on the table and provided the glow of soft candle light as evening darkness settled in.
The champagne bucket was filled with ice.
And the champagne flutes stood at the ready.
Then, the beverage was poured…..
And, before long, it was the midnight hour!
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into my New Year’s Eve dining room. Best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year. Happy New Year, everyone!
To view other seasonal tablesettings, click on the links below:
Johnson Brothers’ “Twas The Night” dinnerware is classic Johnson Brothers in every way. The dinnerware features nostalgic scenes and text from the classic Christmas story “Twas the Night Before Christmas“.
Made of earthenware, this is a sturdy, durable easy-to-care for set of dinnerware that is both dishwasher and microwave safe.
This tableware has a distinctively pinkish-red and ivory color and, with text from the afore-mentioned Christmas story, it is definitely Christmas-only dinnerware. For this reason, I have chosen it for Christmas Eve dinner.
Let’s take a look at the intricate pattern on each plate and the bowl.
The dinner plate features the exterior of an old stone house.
The salad plate shows a tree by the fireplace with stockings hung.
The soup bowl shows a full moon in the winter sky over the rooftop.
Even the bottom of the plates has detail.
As those of you who follow the tablesetting part of my food blog will know, I’m a big fan of charger plates, both for their functionality and for the color and elegance they lend to a tablesetting. However, as I have discovered, not all dinnerware necessarily benefits from the use of charger plates. This Twas the Night pattern is a prime example of that. I did try pink chargers under the plates but found the dinnerware too informal and, for my taste, the chargers looked out of place. This, of course, does not mean a pretty table cannot be set with these dishes.
Glassware
Because this dinnerware is more vintage in design, I have chosen glassware in styles that complement the dishes. This is dinnerware that allows mix-and-match glassware. In fact, none of the three vintage glasses are a matched set yet they seem to work in this setting. The stem glasses with red trim give a bit of extra pop of color to the tablesetting and blend in with the red berries in the jars.
Linens and Napkins
It is not often that I set a table without either a full tablecloth, a square, or placemats. However, for this setting, I have chosen to use a short Christmas runner down the center of my oval table and let the maple wood of my table shine. I think this complements the informal casual look of this dinnerware.
When selecting napkins, I try to choose them in a color that either matches the background color of the dinnerware or, alternatively, select a color from the pattern. In this case, I have opted to go with ivory napkins and the fold I have chosen is the rose.
The Rose Napkin Fold
This is a simple-to-do napkin fold. I like to use this fold when space on the table is limited to display a napkin, when a napkin fold would substantially cover up the dinnerware pattern which is a focal point of the table, or when placement of the napkin would clutter up, or compete with, a simplistic tablescape design.
The rose fold requires either a soup bowl or a cup to contain it and hold it in place. This method of styling and presenting a napkin is unpretentious yet gives the look and feel that planning and effort have been put into the tablesetting.
Tablescape/Centerpiece
Since my goal with this setting is to keep it very simplistic, I have chosen to use standard glass canning jars of two sizes for the table decor. You may know these as Mason or Ball brand jars.
In the three larger jars, I have added a base of Epsom salt to resemble snow topped with some faux red berries to symbolize cranberries. To add a touch of seasonal greenery, I have topped each jar with a few sprigs of fresh greenery.
In each of the smaller jars, I have placed a small white votive candle on a base of Epsom salt. Just make sure you put the candle in a small votive glass inside the jar to contain the melting wax.
Using an odd number of jars is more pleasing to the eye than if an even number was used. More (or fewer) jars can be used depending on the length of the table.
Using these glass jars is remaining quite popular and trendy probably because of their versatility. I think their “home-y” look blends well with the nostalgic tableware that has a homestead, casual look to it. When I think of homestead, I think of canning fruits and vegetables which is the traditional use of these jars.
This dinnerware is sure to be a conversation piece on the dinner table for many Christmases to come.
To view other Christmas Tablesettings, click on the links below:
I am not sure why but a red plaid pattern evokes thoughts of Christmas for me. As I have discovered, red tartan dishes lend themselves well to setting a beautiful holiday table.
Red Plaid Dinnerware
Dinnerware
The dishes I have chosen for a holiday dinner are by designers Colin + Justin. Apart from the dynamic look, there are several things I like about this dinnerware pattern.
First, the dinnerware has the look and feel of fine china, complete with gold-colored trim, but is actually easier to care for since the dishes are both dishwasher and microwave safe. Second, they can work effectively either in a formal or informal tablesetting. In fact, I’d suggest they are quite contemporary in look and design and could easily transition from breakfast/brunch to lunch to dinner. And, third, they don’t scream Christmas which means they can be used throughout the fall and winter months. With their dark color, they would be a bit heavy for spring and summer, in my view, but I would certainly use them from October to March.
Red Tartan Dinnerware Placesetting
The dinner plate has a white center so food will still stand out against the plate. I’m a big fan of white plates for food presentation! This dinnerware gives the benefit of a nice plaid border against the white center.
The salad plate is a full tartan design. The dinnerware has the versatility of allowing for an exchange of a plain red, green, or white plate with the plaid salad plate for added contrast to the setting or to change it up for different occasions.
The bowl is white inside so the soup color certainly stands out.
Linens
The dinnerware with its bright red and green plaid has a somewhat heavy look to it so it needs some bright white neutral contrast on the table for it to stand out. For this reason, I have chosen to use large plain white placemats as the base for each place setting. The white connects to the center of the dinner plates and bowls – always try to connect the linens somehow to the dinnerware pattern. If, for example, I had chosen red or green placemats or a full tablecloth in either of these heavier colors, the dinnerware pattern would have been lost and would not have stood out. And, sometimes, I just want to see the maple wood in my table and placemats allow for that. The placemats are also in keeping with the contemporary look of this setting.
Red Plaid Tablesetting
If you are not knacky with napkin folding, or simply don’t have time, using napkin rings is an easy alternative solution. I think of napkin rings as the jewelry on the table.
Poinsettia Napkin Ring
I bought these beautiful poincettia napkin rings on an after-Christmas sale last year and think they go particularly well with this dinnerware. With their deep red color, they need a bright white napkin for their color to pop. The white napkin, of course, connects to the white placemat.
Apart from the speed and ease of threading a napkin through a ring, napkin ring-folded napkins can be placed in various locations at a placesetting — to the left-hand side beside the fork, in front of the plate if space allows, or laid across the plate or atop a soupbowl (as I have done in this setting) if table space is at a premium or you simply want to add some pizzazz to the top of a placesetting.
Centerpiece/Tablescape
For the tablescape, I pulled in colors from the dinnerware.
Easy-to-construct Table Centerpiece
I have opted for a relatively simple and easy-to-construct centerpiece – two faux green kissing (or pomander) balls on high glass pillar candlesticks surrounded by greenery, holly berries from outside my front door, Christmas balls, and pinecones to fill in some empty spaces.
Since I am not a huge fan of taper candles that can easily tip with a guest’s knee jerk against the table, I have chosen to use a series of small white votives interspersed along the edges of the centerpiece. They add a lovely upward glow to the kissing balls which are the focal point of the tablescape.
One of the things I am doing this season in my tablesettings is trying to use existing product and props in my centerpieces as opposed to buying more or always opting to use fresh flowers. As lovely as fresh flowers are, they do require some work and, if I want to set my table well ahead of an event as my time allows, it’s easier if I use other options for centerpieces. Additionally, if you already have suitable props, it’s a more economical option.
Glassware
Because this dinnerware is quite modern, I am using extra-tall and very contemporary wine glasses. The height of the glasses complements the high centerpiece as well as the dinnerware.
Red Plaid Christmas Tablesetting
I hope you have enjoyed my contemporary tablesetting using red tartan dinnerware. Happy Holidays!
To view other Christmas and New Year’s Tablesettings, click on the links below:
I love setting beautiful tables any time of the year but the Christmas season lends itself so well to many creative tablesetting options. Sometimes, I have many more ideas than I have need to create new tablescapes!
Today, I am veering off the traditional color theme one might ordinarily expect to see on a Christmas table though I have incorporated some red and green into the design.
The Dishes
The dinnerware I have chosen is manufactured by Royal Stafford in England. The pattern is called “Christmas Home”.
These earthenware dishes are durable and not nearly so fragile as fine bone china. The dinnerware is both microwaveable and dishwasher safe so, for this reason, the dishes are a suitable option for everyday use during the holiday season or they can be dressed up for a Christmas dinner as I have done here.
The predominant black/gray color may not be what one would think of first for Christmas dinnerware. However, look closer and you can see the black/gray makes a lovely frame for the heartwarming scene on the dishes. It really makes the red and green pop in the pattern.
As soon as I examined the scene, I knew my tablescape would draw its inspiration from the glow of light in the windows of the dinnerware pattern and I have called this tablesetting the “Warmth of the Christmas Light“. I like how the nostalgic pattern in the dishes tells its own story.
Charger Plates
I have a wide collection of charger plates and use them frequently in my tablesettings. They are as functional as they are decorative. They are functional as they help to keep each placesetting clean. If a morsel of food escapes a plate, the charger plate (as opposed to a fine tablecloth or wood table) catches it. Charger plates also allow for the elements of each placesetting to be coralled in an orderly fashion. From a decorative point of view, chargers add a touch of class, elegance, and color to a finely set table. Charger plates are very inexpensive and I have chosen basic black to complement the black and white dishes and the black lanterns in the tablescape.
Linens
When the dinnerware pattern is busy, I recommend choosing a plain tablecloth that matches the background color in the dishes. In this case, I have selected one of my white Irish linen tablecloths because the background in the dinnerware is white. The blank white canvas of the tablecloth allows for the elements of the tablescape to stand out.
I am a big fan of cloth napkins and, in particular, plain napkins. Plain linens are very important if the dinnerware has a busy pattern so neither competes with the other. The plain napkins help to ground the patterned dinnerware. To use patterned napkins and tablecloth with this dinnerware would make it very cluttered to the eye. To add some brightness to the tablescape and to tie in with the hints of red in the dinnerware and the bow on the lantern, I have chosen red napkins.
Candlestick Napkin Fold
In keeping with my theme of the warmth of Christmas light, the napkin fold I have selected is the freestanding candlestick. This is a very easy-to-do napkin fold and a stiff napkin is required. The red napkins I have used have white trim on the edges so, when rolled into a candle shape, the white resembles candle drippings. If you find this napkin fold too tall for your liking, the napkins can always be laid across each place setting where they will appear as simple, elegantly rolled napkins.
Centerpiece
For the centerpiece on this table, I have used two black lanterns along with red pillar candles. I like to use props I already have and incorporate them into different table settings. The black lanterns blend well with the color of the dinnerware and are continuing the theme of light. I have dressed up the taller of the lanterns with a swag in colors complementary to the dinnerware along with a perky red bow. The lanterns also provide a safe place for the candles yet still allow them to add light to the tablescape. Some faux red berries and pine cones complete the look.
Glassware
To complement the nostalgic dinnerware, I have opted to use very traditional glassware of about average height for stemware.
I hope you have enjoyed my “Warmth of the Christmas Light” tablesetting that features Royal Stafford’s “Christmas Home” dinnerware.
To view other Christmas and New Years Tablesettings, click on the links below:
Late summer is a great time for alfresco dining. I have pulled this tablesetting together very easily by using a pot of lettuce I had growing and some tiny pots of herbs.
A simple plain pale yellow tablecloth makes a great summery canvas for this tablesetting. You can never go wrong with basic white dinnerware and white napkins. This is my square set of dishes and the bowls make ideal holders for the little terracotta pots of herbs that I placed at each setting. The herbs add a bright touch of green and tie in with the lettuce centerpiece. Plus, the herbs can be clipped and added to the salad!
Thyme
If you are so inclined, you can give each guest a pot of herbs to take home after your dinner party.
Basil
Floral centerpieces are not always necessary for tablesettings. In this setting, I am using a pot of lettuce and allowing each guest to cut his or her own lettuce and make individual salads. This always makes a great conversation piece and adds some fun to the event. I grow a number of these pots of lettuce over the summer and, if I am short on time or don’t have flowers for a centerpiece, I can always use the makings of the salad course as my table centerpiece!
Lettuce Centerpiece
Don’t forget to include the scissors in the centerpiece so guests can “harvest” the greens for their salads!
A simple and casual summer placesetting.
With casual alfresco dining, it’s easy to mix and match crystal pieces.
And, here’s an overhead view of the table; clean, simple lines with splashes of green for color.
I hope you have enjoyed my fresh greens and herbs tablesetting. Is alfresco dining a part of your summer?
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My color scheme for my Easter dinner table is purple and white. Of course, I am featuring the lovely spring tulips from the greenhouses of Vanco Farms in Mount Albion, PEI.
Lately, I have been using trays and baskets to “corral” the elements of my table centerpieces. I find this is an easy way to display a number of items in a centerpiece and it keeps them clustered as, otherwise, they sometimes spread aimlessly across the table without focus.
Today, I have used several pieces from my milk glass collection and added a small wire cage into which I have placed a bunny. Faux Easter eggs are a great filler to add interest to the tray. We often think that a bouquet of flowers in its entirety needs to be all in one container. However, a much more interesting collection, or vignette as I have done here, can be created if the flowers are distributed between several vessels and at different heights.
One of my favorite pieces of milk glass is the little bowl shown in the photograph below. It’s the perfect size to hold a small bird’s nest.
I have also chosen to carry the milk glass and tulip theme over to the tea cart where I have created another spring vignette in the corner of the dining room.
The napkin fold I have chosen is the Easter basket fold. This is a simple fold to do and I have used it to hold the cutlery and, what would an Easter basket be without a little chocolate tucked inside! Because the centerpiece vignette has several elements to it, I wanted to keep each placesetting as simple and uncluttered as possible. This allows the focus to be maintained on the vignette centerpiece.
I have used purple charger plates to frame each dinner plate and these coordinate perfectly with the purple tulips. I can easily change up the look of my Royal Albert “Lavender Rose” china by the use of different colored charger plates.
Purple is my favorite color so it’s an easy choice for me to work with this color scheme!
An added advantage of a “corralled” centerpiece is that it can easily be lifted off the table and replaced with a meat platter, for example, if you choose to carve the turkey or ham at the table. This way, your guests always see a centerpiece of some sort on the table throughout the entire meal, whether it be whatever was on the tray or the meat platter. The photograph below shows the table centerpiece when the guests arrive which is then removed and replaced with the turkey platter for the main course. The vignette tray is then easily returned to the table for the dessert course.
So, on the menu at my house for Easter Dinner is the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, one of my all-time favorite meals.
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Today, I am sharing a slightly different tablesetting for the Easter season. The theme is pink and black and Peter Cottontail tip toes through the tulips!
Let’s start with the dinnerware. The pink background of each plate with a black and white bunny and border make this a dramatic set of Easter holiday dinnerware.
I started with my traditional white linen tablecloth as a blank canvas. I have opted to frame each place setting with a black charger plate which really makes the plate design pop, particularly against the white background. Matching black napkins complement each place setting. The pewter napkin rings feature a springtime daffodil design.
A little Easter bunny egg cup is set at each place setting along with an Easter-themed chocolate.
And, when all the elements come together, this is what each place setting looks like.
Here is an overhead view of the placesetting which I would class as contemporary-casual.
The beautiful pink and white tulips on today’s table came from Vanco Farms in Mount Albion, PEI. Click here to read my story on this Island farm that grows, sells, and ships tulips from their large greenhouses.
I am rarely without these beautiful flowers in my house throughout the winter and spring.
The tulips from Vanco Farms come in a vast array of colors and I can match up any color scheme of tablesetting with them. The pink ones I have chosen for today’s tablesetting are very delicate and procelain-like and they pop against their neighbouring white tulips.
A dressy yet simplistic and uncluttered tablesetting.
I hope you have a wonderful Easter!
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Easter offers so many options for tablescapes and tablesettings. Today, I am sharing a more casual, yet fun, tablescape.
My focus with this tablesetting is the “corralled” tablescape. I have used a wire tray as the base into which I have clustered the elements of the table centerpiece. Corralling keeps the elements tidy and together instead of having them spread out over the table.
This is an ideal option if you plan to bring, during the meal, a platter of roast turkey or ham, for example, to be carved at the table. It is easy to lift off the basket or tray with the centerpiece on it and replace it with the meat platter. The centerpiece can then easily be returned to the table for the dessert course so the table is never without a focal centerpiece during the meal.
I have simply used some faux grass in the bottom of the tray and added a substantial-sized bunny to give the centerpiece prominence and height. Then, I filled in the rest of the basket with a small bright pink geranium, a tiny bird’s nest, some Easter eggs, and some egg shells filled with tiny flowers and faux grass. A piece of egg carton provides a nesting spot for the egg shells.
It is not necessary to have fine china to set an attractive table. This table is set for Easter brunch so I have used everyday stoneware and, instead of formal napkins, have opted to use pastel-colored tea towels that match the color scheme of the centerpiece. Tucked underneath the charger plates, the tea towels take up no room on the table and do not compete with the tablescape or place settings.
I have dressed up each place setting with an egg cup filled with tiny flowers that connect each place setting to the centerpiece.
A few tiny Easter eggs and a small chocolate bar complete the place setting.
Throughout the holiday season, I am known to change tablesettings several times depending on number of guests and type of dining (e.g., brunch, lunch, dinner, etc.). That, however, doesn’t mean that I don’t rejig and re-use some of the same elements in more than one tablesetting.
I recently shared my tablesetting for an intimate dinner for four where I clustered three poinsettias in the center of the small round table and set a miniature poinsettia at each place setting. To view this tablesetting, click here.
Today, I have turned my table back into its oval shape, bought more miniature poinsettias for guest favours but have used the same three small poinsettias for the table centerpiece. This is a very economical way to achieve a centerpiece for more than one dinner party (and less work!). Instead of clustering the 3 poinsettias into a centerpiece, I have placed them at equal distance apart down the center line of the table.
I have decided that, this year, I want my tablesettings to show the maple wood in my table as opposed to covering it up with a full tablecloth. I bought the placemats and matching napkins on a trip to San Juan and it’s a wonderful memory of a great vacation each time I dress my table with them.
Letting the wood of the table show lends a slightly more casual look to the table than does a tablecloth.
I purchased several of the miniature poinsettias at the beginning of the season and have used them on bed trays, tea tables and, of course, at placesettings on the dinner table.
The miniature poinsettias came in little plastic terracotta pots so I simply wrapped them in gold sparkly netting and tied them with gold cord for a festive look. They make great take-away guest favours.
For those who regularly follow my tablescape segment on my food blog, you will recall that I have previously said that, if you aren’t knacky with, or don’t have time to do, fancy napkin folds, then a simple and effective way is to simply use a napkin ring and roll or fluff the napkin through the ring.
However, if you don’t have napkin rings, all you really need is a spool of pretty ribbon to tie around the napkin as I have done here with a sheer organza wire-edged ribbon that bears the words “Merry Christmas” in gold glittery print, again tying in the gold color and the red of the poinsettias.
The photo below shows the individual placesetting. You don’t need expensive formal China to set a pretty table. This one is set with basic everyday ironstone dinnerware. Again, I am using my basic gold chargers to tie in with the poinsettia gold pots.
The photo below shows an overhead view of my colorful Christmas table.
To view other Christmas and New Year’s Tablesettings, click on the links below:
Poinsettias are one of the most commonly seen plants over the Christmas season. They come in a variety of colors and shades and in various sizes. Each season I have several placed around my home — in front of fireplaces, in the entryway, and anywhere else that I think needs a pop of color and a festive touch.
Today, I am using both small and miniature poinsettias in a seasonal tablescape.
Poinsettia Tablescape
I have clustered three small poinsettias in the center of the small round dining table.
Three Poinsettias Cluster to Form a Table Centerpiece
These plants are just supermarket stock so I removed the commercial plastic wrappers from them and transplanted them into small glittery gold pots that I found at my local dollar store. I added some fresh pine and green fir along with a few twigs, scattered some Christmas balls around the trio and, voilà, I have the look of a custom-made centerpiece at a fraction of the price. By keeping each plant in its own pot, it allows me to use them as a grouping or elsewhere individually. I chose two variegated plants in red shades and one in the soft green for contrast.
Poinsettia Tablescape
I also found these little tiny miniature poinsettias at the supermarket and thought they would be ideal decorations for each place setting and would be nice take-away favours for guests to take home with them as a remembrance of the dinner.
Miniature Poinsettia
I simply covered the little terracotta pots with some gold netting and tied it with gold elastic cord.
Miniature Poinsettia
I used a floor-length round gold tablecloth for the table and opted to use my gold charger plates as the backdrop for white dinnerware which, of course, makes the red poinsettias pop in color. By keeping the gold theme going in the charger plates, it keeps the tablesetting in the same color scheme without introducing another color. This is particularly important when the table is small as is the case with this tablesetting. Keeping the same color of charger plates as the tablecloth gives the illusion that this table is bigger than it actually is. Had I used other colored charger plates (e.g., red or green), the difference would have been very noticeable.
Pretty Poinsettia Tablescape
The small table creates a setting for very intimate dining. However, it does not leave a lot of room for extras on the table, such as napkins. For this reason, I opted to place the matching gold napkins in the wineglasses in a simple cascade napkin fold for economy of space.
Easy Napkin Fold
The photo below shows the top down view of the tablesetting.
Pretty Poinsettia Tablescape
I usually put a tree in my dining room and decorate it in shades of green, gold, and ivory. I then carry these shades into my mantle decorations this season. The gold tablecloth blends in with the color scheme and, of course, the red poinsettias give a pop of color.
Poinsettia Tablesetting
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into my seasonal poinsettia tablesetting.
To see another tablesetting where I have used the same elements as in this one for a totally different look, click here.
To view other Christmas and New Year’s Tablesettings, click on the links below:
I love Christmas China but I don’t own it. When a friend discovered my fondness for Christmas China, she graciously offered her wonderful setting for 12 of Lenox’s “Holiday” pattern for a photoshoot for my Tablescapes section here on my food blog. Needless to say, I was thrilled to set her dining room table with six placesettings of this lovely China pattern.
I started with a solid red tablecloth to make the dinnerware pop. It adds a cheerful, vibrant, yet warm look to the table, perfect for a traditional Christmas dinner.
The China pattern is mostly soft white with a pattern of green holly leaves and red berries. Here’s a close-up of the pattern which is trimmed in 24-karat gold:
Lenox “Holiday” Pattern
And, for those who would like a closer view of the pattern, here it is:
The owner has the completer set to complement the dishes and has many other pieces as well, too many to use in one photoshoot!
When I discovered she had the lovely vase and matching candlesticks in the “Holiday” pattern, I knew they had to be the centerpiece for the table.
Take a look at the beautiful cutwork in the design of the vase.
I chose red and white carnations with some fresh pine and red tapers to match the colors in the China pattern. To draw the eye to either end of the table, I simply trailed some fresh pine down the center of the table and added some pine cones and red, green, and gold balls to tie the look together.
I used the owner’s green and red plaid napkins. Plaid always gives such a nice warm feeling. Matching green napkin rings complete the look.
Plaid Christmas crackers add a fun and festive flair to the setting.
The little salt and pepper shakers also bear the “Holiday” pattern and add a touch of whimsy to the tablescape.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing the tablesetting featuring the beautiful Lenox “Holiday” pattern. My thanks to the owner for giving me the privilege of setting a holiday table with this beautiful China.
If you live on Prince Edward Island, where I live, and have beautiful China – Christmas or otherwise, vintage or formal – and would like to share and have it featured in a tablesetting here on my food blog, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to see what we could arrange. Unfortunately, I can’t commit to off-Island photoshoots of tablesettings due to travel logistics.
To view other Christmas and New Year’s Tablesettings, click on the links below:
The autumn got away from me and I did not get around to sharing my 2014 Thanksgiving tablesetting. When I realized it was too late to share it on my blog for the Canadian Thanksgiving in October, I knew I’d have a second chance in late November to share it in time for the American Thanksgiving. So, this one is for our American friends to the South who will celebrate their Thanksgiving tomorrow… if you haven’t already set your Thanksgiving table, this one is quick and easy!
I went with a fairly simplistic setting this year. I started with an ivory tablecloth topped with a piece of orange drapery sheer. As you have probably noticed with my tablesettings, I tend to go for plain table coverings which make other elements of the tablesetting stand out.
I also try, where possible, to use props that I already have like, for example, the tall wooden candlesticks. The warmth of the wood seemed to work well with the autumn props. Scattering a few brown pine cones pulled the color scheme together.
The focal point of the table is the small white pumpkin perched on a glass cake stand and surrounded by colored leaves. With a black marker, I simply wrote, round and round the pumpkin, all the things I am thankful for.
I used my standard gold charger plates topped with my everyday white stoneware dinnerware. A quick fold of the napkin placed in the soup bowl makes a colorful nest for the little white ornamental pumpkins which tie in with the white pumpkin centerpiece.
I love to decorate my fireplace mantles. A few white pumpkins, a garland of some colored leaves, a floral centerpiece, and a jar of mini orange pumpkins for a splash of color, and the look is complete.
This was a fairly easy, quick, and economical tablesetting to achieve. It’s suitable, obviously, for a more informal Thanksgiving dinner. My good China has a border of pink florals so really doesn’t blend well with the colors of autumn. That’s why white dinnerware is always a good choice as it goes with anything and food always looks so eye-popping when served on it!
Happy Thanksgiving to our American family and friends to the South!
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On this Halloween weekend, I am sharing my seasonal tablescape that has a distinctly pumpkin theme. I have chosen to use some good quality artificial decorations mixed in with some traditional ones that nature has provided.
Halloween Tablescape
In keeping with the mood of the season, I have kept the lighting low and moody to give a golden glow to the dining room.
I have a little collection of fall and Halloween decorations and, wherever possible, I try to work with I have as opposed to going out and buying more. I have had the terracotta pumpkin below for years. It’s so much easier to get a Jack-o-Lantern this way than the mess of carving a real one!!!
A glitzy pumpkin gets gussied up with a witch’s hat from the local dollar store. The headband/hat was a previous costume accessory.
I found the little 3-tier server below at a local thrift store and it forms a nice tower for three mini pumpkins. It will also serve other purposes throughout the year.
When I am creating a tablescape like this, I try to vary the heights of the components as it adds interest and appeal to the eye.
The color theme for the tablescape is orange, gold, ivory, and black. A piece of sheer orange curtain fabric over an ivory tablecloth makes an economical table covering without overtly screaming Halloween or competing with the focal point of the tablescape. A piece of black net fabric forms the base for the centerpiece display. The gold charger plates frame the white tableware, a good backdrop for the black napkins which are simply rolled and tied with glittery orange ribbon and accessorized with some colorful leaves.
Little orange votives tucked in through the tablescape add some extra drama to the scene. A number of years ago, I was able to get some good quality garlands of orange and black berries so they have been casually threaded in through the components of the centerpiece. The garlands are wired, making them easy to mold into areas needing some filler.
My fireplace mantle is decorated to compliment the table.
Framed behind garlands of orange berries and colored leaves, a white pumpkin dons a fancy witch’s hat.
The white pumpkin below is simply wrapped and tied in black organza, giving it a dramatic look by the simple folds in the fabric.
And, the orange pumpkin below is dressed in black spider web lace!
And, here is what the tablescape looked like in daylight…
Not nearly so dramatic but still colorful, nonetheless.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into my Halloween festivities.
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Grindley’s Creampetal “Apple Blossom” China Pattern
Both my mother and grandmother had the Grindley Creampetal “Apple Blossom” gold-gilded pattern of china. It was a fairly common pattern, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s.
With its cream colored background and small pink and blue flowers with green leaves, it looked very stylish on the table for special occasions. When this china came out, I knew it was for something very special!
Today, this would be considered to be vintage tableware. I still like to use this dinnerware on occasion.
I think vintage tableware such as this calls for a romantic centerpiece. To find just the right flowers, I visited Island Meadow Farms in York, just minutes outside of Charlottetown. I am totally amazed at the array of beautiful flowers grown at Island Meadow Farms.
Owner and floral designer, Barb Jewell, prepares dozens of stunning and romantic wedding bouquets over the summer and fall seasons. It’s not hard to understand why she is the choice of many Island brides for their wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. In addition, Island Meadow Farms also sells bouquets of cut flowers and makes floral arrangements for all occasions.
I was looking for a romantic-style centerpiece that would compliment the dishes. In particular, I wanted old-fashioned flowers like the ones that would have been grown in flower gardens many years ago. So, with one of my plates in hand for color-matching, I traveled to York and met with Barb Jewell to pick out the flowers and I was not disappointed in her recommendations.
Home I came with a couple of buckets of fresh flowers.
And, then the floral arranging began.
And, here is my finished product….
There are a number of flowers in this arrangement that include Estoma Lisianthia, Forget-me-Nots, Canterbury Bells, Campanula, Scabiosa, Sweet Peas, Yarrow, Cress, Boston Fern, and Scented Geranium.
With an arrangement this bountiful and beautiful, there is little need for anything else to adorn the center of the table. I used a couple of little crystal votives on either side of the arrangement and that was it. Doesn’t it look summery and romantic!
As you can see from the photo below, I started with a soft ivory tablecloth and matching napkins. Tableware is presented in the order in which the meal will be served starting with the soup course.
This was followed by the salad course.
And, the plate for the entrée.
When using vintage dinnerware, I recommend keeping the glasswear of similar or complimentary style (as opposed to using contemporary water and wine glasses). This means the glasses can have lots of cuts and design in them.
I used a very basic, simple fold for the napkin so it would not compete with, or detract from, both the dinnerware and the floral centerpiece.
And, the table is set, ready for dinner guests.
For more information on Island Meadow Farms, visit their website at http://www.islandmeadowfarms.ca/.
It has been awhile since I have shared a tablesetting so I thought Easter would be a good opportunity to show you how I have designed my Easter tablescape this year.
I have opted to use my formal china for this setting. The pink and lavender floral design fits in with the traditional shades of Easter. I have charger plates in various colors for different seasons and events. This year, I am using a soft shade of pink that compliments the china well. This, of course, sets the color scheme for the tablescape.
For the tablescape, I am using a couple of squares of faux grass as the base. I have added a few small Easter ornaments and sprinkled some decorative Easter eggs here and there.
A number of years ago, I did a lot of decorative painting and painted designs on these wooden eggs.
I like to bring these eggs out every year and incorporate them into my Easter decorating.
At the head of the tablescape, I took a china bunny from my collection and presented her on a pedestal cake plate surrounded by Easter eggs. She commands the table, don’t you think! An easy-peasy tablescape.
Because the tablescape itself is somewhat busy, I have kept each place setting relatively simple so as not to compete with the table’s focal point.
This tablescape was quick and easy to pull together and, best of all, cost nothing since it was constructed using materials I already had. I am a big proponent of repurposing decorations from my existing seasonal collections of ornaments.
The other great thing about this tablescape is that, with no real flowers involved, it can be prepared several days in advance and enjoyed in the lead-up to Easter instead of for just a day or two. While I do love my floral arrangements, it’s not always necessary that they be in every tablescape. Also, this tablescape works well if any guests have scent allergies that can be worsened by the presence of scented floral arrangements.
So, there we have it….my Easter dinner table for 2014.
What are the elements you usually incorporate into an Easter tablesetting?
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