Tropical Summer Tablescape. Orange + turquoise = summer perfection.

 

Every now and then a piece comes along that isn’t just another addition to your collection, it tells a story. For me, that piece is the turquoise ceramic pineapple hurricane sitting at the center of this table.

 

For nearly six years, I had been searching for one. I’d admired them in magazines, on Pinterest, and in countless decorating photos, but somehow they always managed to elude me. Then one day, a friend spotted one while working in an area thrift store. She immediately thought of me, messaged to ask if it was of interest (was it ever!), and before I could even begin to get excited, she had already purchased it.

 

I cannot tell you how much that simple act of kindness meant to me. The hurricane wasn’t just another decorating accessory anymore, it became a reminder that it’s a special friend who pay attention to the little things. I knew the moment it arrived that it deserved a tablescape.

 During the warmer months I find myself constantly reaching for vibrant oranges paired with cool shades of turquoise and Caribbean blue. The combination reminds me of tropical vacations, warm sunsets, colorful flowers, and lazy evenings spent outdoors.

 

Rather than sticking with one collection, I decided to mix pieces from several manufacturers. One of my favorite things about setting a table is proving that beautiful tables don’t require matching dinnerware. In fact, I often think they become far more interesting when different patterns, textures, and colors are layered together. 

 

The foundation begins with a round Caribbean blue tablecloth from LTC Linens, topped with oversized monstera leaf placemats that immediately introduce a tropical feel. 

 

The locally purchased chargers support soft sage green Pfaltzgraff Nature’s Palette dinner plates. I almost hated covering those beautiful plates because they’re such a calming color, but they create the perfect backdrop for everything layered above them.

 

Next come the colorful Hausenware chili pepper plates bursting with playful Southwestern flair. Nestled on top are the cheerful Dario Farrucci bowls—an unbelievable TJ Maxx bargain from years ago at only one dollar each. Some purchases become favorites because they’re expensive. Others become favorites simply because they make you smile every time you use them.

 

 The centerpiece is, of course, the turquoise pineapple hurricane, surrounded with trailing ivy that soften the arrangement while reinforcing the tropical theme.

 

To one side sits my beloved tangerine Blenko pitcher, adding another rich splash of warm color, while bright turquoise Fiestaware salt and pepper shakers echo the centerpiece perfectly.

The table is finished with bamboo flatware from Crate & Barrel, colorful stemware from Trophy Toast, textured turquoise goblets, and delicate Amapola cups and saucers from Villeroy & Boch, proving once again that mixing styles often creates far more personality than perfectly matched sets.

 

What I love most about this table isn’t any individual piece. It’s the story. Every layer reminds me of a different time, a different shopping trip, or a different memory. The dollar bowls from TJ Maxx. The pitcher I’ve loved for years. The dishes collected one piece at a time. And finally, the pineapple hurricane—a thoughtful gift from a friend who knew exactly what would make me smile. 

To me, that’s what entertaining is really about. It’s never about having the newest dishes or the most expensive accessories. It’s about gathering together the things you love, surrounding yourself with memories, and creating a table that welcomes people in before a single bite of food is served. 

Sometimes the most beautiful centerpiece isn’t the object itself. It’s the friendship behind it.

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday 

Holiday Table for Two

Despite the fact that many people start decorating for Christmas after Halloween, for me, the Christmas season doesn’t officially begin until the day after Thanksgiving. As such, I have spent the past number of days going up and down the steps carting up my holiday decorations. During this month I hope to have a number of different tables to share with you, beginning with this one.

 

What I hope to convey with this table is that you do not have to have Christmas dishes, or any type of Christmas decorations in order to create a festive, seasonal table. Upon close inspection, there is nothing Christmassy on this table at all, with the exception of the Christmas colors of red and green, colors that I chose because they are the color of apples as reflected in the Franciscan “Apple” dinnerware pieces that I have used here.

A hunter green tablecloth provides the base. I manufactured a red runner out of some fabric that I had stored in the closet. I simply folded it to the size that I wanted and ran it down the center of the table.

The charger plates are Italian ceramic; I inherited these from my mother. I topped them with a bright red dinner plate from Pier One. A Bordallo Pinheiro geranium salad plate was placed on top of this, with the final piece being a bread and butter plate in the Franciscan “Apple” pattern.

The cups and saucers are also Franciscan apple. The red stemmed water glasses are by Villeroy and Boch; the wine glasses are from Rogaska in the “Gallia” pattern. 

The Milano red flatware by Ginkgo International in the Le Pris pattern seemed the perfect choice. The Apple napkin rings that I used here I have had for decades, and have no idea where I got them originally. I decided to go bold with lime green napkins, and I really like the look. 

This is a lovely table that would be perfect for a holiday lunch, while employing no specialty pieces whatsoever. Start shopping at your house for items that you can use for the holidays. 

The pitcher is Fiestaware, the centerpiece is nothing more than a simple candle ring, hurricane, and pillar candle. I scattered apples of various sizes at the base of the hurricane to pull everything together.

 

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

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Hatch Chile Tablescape

I love setting a seasonal table; any season, any holiday, is reason enough for me.  I truly believe in taking joy in little things, and letting my home reflect that joy.  One season that I find particularly enjoyable is one with which you are probably unfamiliar, and that is Hatch Chile season. 

What are Hatch Chiles, you ask?  Considered to be one of the most flavorful peppers in the world (and the official state vegetable of New Mexico), this species of the genus Capsicum is grown in the Hatch Valley.  The soil and growing conditions in the area contribute to the unique flavor, enhanced during roasting.  I had my own hatch chile roast last weekend, where I scented the air (and myself) with a woodsy deliciousness.  Melissa’s Produce is a distributor of these chiles and have produced an amazing cookbook using these peppers that they were kind enough to send me, and that I cannot wait to try.  Spread the word on these tasty chiles!

Hatch Chile Powder allows for the taste of these chiles all year long.  A great enhancer in Mexican food, I pretty much use it for any dish where I want to inject a lot of taste.

I love these placemats that I bought a number of years ago at Pier One (They are still available if you love them too. Plus, napkins to match!  I don’t have those, but they are on my list.)  With all of the colors they contain, it is just impossible not to have something to match. I have used them in many a table setting over the years, but find them particularly lovely with the bold colors of Fiestaware.

This lovely napkin fold is shockingly easy to do.  It does require two napkins in two different colors, but think of the possibilities here.  Pastels for Mother’s Day, springtime, or Easter, earth tones for autumn, patriotic colors for the Fourth of July, or red and green as I have used here for Christmas, or anything boldly festive.  You can find a step-by-step tutorial here.

Plunk a pepper in each mug at the table to add a touch of whimsy, and spread the hatch chile joy.

 I use this yellow flatware in more table settings that you can possibly imagine.  I have had it for decades and never knew the pattern, but someone recently told me that it is “Radiant” by Noritake, available occasionally from Replacements.

This post is linked to:

Show and Share

Table It Monday

Inspire Me Tuesday

Tuesdays At Our Home

Tutorials & Tips

The Scoop

Centerpiece Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday
Work It Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday

Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Thursday Favorite Things

Tablescape Thursday

Create It Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Show and Tell Friday 

Friday Unfolded
Fridays Flash Blog
Simple and Sweet Fridays

Linda’s at What To Do Weekend 
Shauna’s at The Weekend re-Treat

Setting Your Thanksgiving Table

 If you're like me, you are already pondering the centerpiece and potential layout for your Thanksgiving table. Will you go with simplicity, or be over the top?  I may just opt for the simplicity of gourds, grasses, and candles this year. Then again, I may just change my mind. If you're in a quandary, here is a little eye candy from years past to help spur your creative juices. 

 A Thanksgiving table need not be fancy or make use of your best china. This table makes use of my every day Fiestaware, along with a special autumn pattern, and multicolored, fringed placemats. I just used a favorite pumpkin tureen and some berries as the centerpiece. Easy, colorful, and fun. 

 With an October birthday and a tradition of hosting the Thanksgiving meal I have acquired a lot of autumn dinnerware over the years, and I love it! This cozy house always makes a colorful splash no matter the setting. 

 Here it is shown on rustic placemats against a boldly patterned fabric used as a table covering. 

 Yellow-handled flatware and matching chalices as water glasses make this table really pop.

 A busy table cover and dinnerware calls for a simple centerpiece.  This lantern does the trick.

The same, simple pumpkin tureen from the first picture makes quite a showy centerpiece here. I arranged the flowers myself using four inexpensive bouquets from Sam's. I filled in with herbs and cuttings from both indoor and outdoor plants.

 One of the easiest ways to decorate a table is with a cornucopia. I found this one for a couple of dollars on clearance at Michael's. A trip to the produce section of my local market and the job was done. 

Tom Turkey makes an appearance every now and again, along with a harvest swag in which I intersperse gourds and little turkey candleholders. 

However you set your holiday table, whether simple, elegant, or over the top, remember to make it festive and fun. 

This post is linked to: 

Let’s Dish!

Tabletop Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays

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Tablescape Thursday

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