Peaceful Pachyderm Tablescape

 

 When it comes to tablescapes, where do you get your inspiration? For me a lot of inspiration comes from a local shop called The White Hare. They post a lot of pictures of their store online, and I often find myself, shortly thereafter, making a visit to buy much of what they have on display. Such was the case when I redid my bedroom last year (that I see I have not done a blog post on, so will remedy that in the near future). More recently I was inspired by the table below. I was feeling a bit flush, so I told myself that I was going to treat myself to a good many items on this table. Once I got to the store and eyeballed the prices, I told myself that I would only treat myself to the pair of elephants that had caught my eye.

Photo credit: The White Hare

 I decided to use this table as inspiration, dig through my stash, and set one of my own. Obviously, I’m setting a table for two rather than one for a multitude of guests like they did, but I’m happy with the outcome. If you are ever having trouble figuring out what to do with a table, you might consider finding a picture of a table that you admire, and using it as a springboard to create your own.

 I appear to have a collection of elephants. It’s not intentional, it just sort of happened. There are worse things to be drawn to, I suppose. Elephants represent many things. They are symbols of luck and prosperity, but they also represent wisdom, long life, memory, and vitality. I like that.

I chose a neutral [round tablecloth in burlap] in order to replicate the simple wood table top from my inspiration photo. While I have similar placemats to those in the inspiration photo, they are rectangular, and don’t work at all on a circular table, so I went with round black placemats.

  

In sticking with neutrals I chose tin chargers, topping them with dinner plates with a plaid border that I bought a number of years ago at Pier One. On top of those are salad plates in the Blanc Amelie pattern from Maison Versailles, on top of which I placed a black appetizer plate, separated by plaid napkins from Pottery Barn.

Earlier in the year I succumbed to an adorable set of elephant succulent planters that were the perfect addition to my plate stack. I doubt that I will ever plant anything in them, other than the silk ivy that I included here. I love these planters, and the whimsy.

 

 I chose mirrored black flatware, a black on black cappuccino cup, and Mikasa Parklane stemware to round out the place setting. 

At center I have a glazed stoneware pitcher from Creative Co-op with a bit of greenery in which a candle has been placed. 

Overall, I’m pleased with the outcome, and very happy that I could be inspired by something I saw in a shop, without spending a lot of money.

 What inspires you?

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

And to all a Good Night

These days it takes a lot to get me out of the house, and I am talking A LOT! I think it’s probably due to the fact that, when Mr. O-P was alive, we were constantly on the go (one year we lived in three different cities, but I digress). That amount of travel, over time,  just wore me out, and I am now making up for it. There is nothing I like better than being at home, surrounded by my books and plants, a fire going in the fireplace, and my trusty Stanley by my side.

Taking all of that into consideration, last week I put on pants, got in the car, and headed out in a mixture of rain and sleet to one of my favorite home decor stores, The White Hare, and bought this bedding. This photo is from their Facebook page. I saved it when it was originally posted back in February, and have pined for this stuff ever since. It took me a couple of weeks to finally convince myself that, yes, I do deserve more bedding.

I am one of those people who changes bedding with the seasons. When October hits, I put on my Edgar Allan Poe duvet cover, with matching pillows. Obviously, I take my bedding very seriously. It gets replaced with Christmas bedding that gets replaced with Paris bedding, that gets replaced with safari and travel map bedding.

 I’m not quite sure where this new stuff is going to fit in the rotation, but trust me when I tell you that it will!

What appealed to me about this set is that it’s bohemian, but neutral.  I’m very pleased to see that neutral bohemian style is starting to find its place. It’s not that I don’t love color, I do; I had lots of bold color in my former home. But there’s something about getting older, and leading a quieter life, that I find too much color to be a bit anxiety inducing.

The beauty of neutrals is that you can add any color that you want, at any time, and take it away when you’ve grown weary.

Another thing I liked about the bedding was the bed it was on. Get a look at that headboard! Not only does it provide a shelf for books, bits, and bobs, but it also has built-in lights with switches on either side of the bed. See that bench at the end of the bed? That is not a bench…it is the footboard! I am swooning here! I was proud of myself for passing this up.

What do you think? Do you like bedding as much as I do, or can you take it or leave it?

 

Decorating for Spring!

While I am most definitely NOT a fan of summer, and I cannot emphasize this enough, I am a fan of spring. It is the season of hope — hoping that I’ll find the right fruits, vegetables, and herbs for my garden, hoping they won’t succumb to insects or disease, hoping that I’ll break even in what I harvest versus what I’ve spent trying to grow them.

I find that my table settings and decor tend to reflect my gardening interests at this time of the year. If you feel the same, then you may enjoy seeing the lazy Susan that I have on my dining table. It’s a new acquisition, thanks to Pottery Barn rewards points. This is the first time, believe it or not, that I have ever owned a Lazy Susan, and I have to say that I am really enjoying it.

It pleases me every time I look at it because it is whimsical and fun. The bespectacled bunny poking his head out of the plant pot is from local favorite home decor store, The White Hare. The “Nibble” plates are Rae Dunn (Available on Amazon, but cheaper elsewhere.), the leafy-handled ladle and upright cabbage plate are by Fitz and Floyd, and serve as the base and serving ladle for a bunny gravy boat that I inherited from my mother. Seeds, that will no doubt be viable this year despite their purchase last year, are only a portion of what I expect to plant this year and are from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

The cylinder vase holds two leaves from two different varieties of sansevieria that have finally rooted after two months in water – yay!

The green salt and pepper shakers once adorned the dinner table of my mom and dad and now adorn mine.

 How do you celebrate spring in your decor?

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Tablescape Fun

Here is a little eye candy to inspire your holiday table this season. These photos were taken at one of my favorite local shops, The White Hare. They always have such beautiful things, cleverly displayed, and so inviting, that I routinely leave that place with a bag in my hand whether I need anything or not.

One time when I went solely to look at the decorated tables. I took a friend along, and she commented on how impractical these tables were, adding that it would be impossible to actually dine at one of them. That’s true, but that’s not the point. For me, my decorated table is as much a part of my holiday decor as is the lighted garland, figures of Santa, rows of holiday cards, and Christmas tree.

When it comes time to serve a meal, a number of these things are removed. I just like having a pretty table to look at all season long because it cheers me and puts me in the holiday spirit.

Perhaps one of these table settings will do the same for you. If nothing else, they are certainly holiday eye candy. 

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Let's Go Shopping!

Autumn!  It's here!  Do you know what I like best about autumn? If you guessed the cooler temperatures, the crispness in the air, the changing leaves, the frost on the pumpkin, well, you're close. Yes, I do love all of these things, but what I really like is the shopping.  Not to confuse shopping with actually buying (although I did pick up an item or two), I just love seeing how the shops are transformed into fall both inside and out. Today I visited a number of my favorite places: Oma's Barn, The White Hare, and Pier One. 

I found something inviting at each place. Photography was a bit of a challenge considering how dark and atmospheric some of the rooms were, but I did my best to get a usable shot or two.  So, come along and join me.

First stop, Oma’s Barn.

Isn’t this a lovely display?  There are a number of ways in which to turn upon entering Oma’s; this is what you see if you head to the left.

Pumpkins and holiday décor were both inside and out. This whimsical little guy really got to me.  Too cute!

I saw this Western-style, half Christmas tree hanging on the wall as soon as I walked in the door.  It has little spurs and saddles, and sheriff stars all over it.  I’m not a western person, per se, but I am still smarting from the cancellation of Longmire, and thought it might be fun to have a Longmire tree this year.

Next stop, Pier One.

I thought it was time to put the wreath of white dogwood flowers away, so bought this one.  I wasn’t sure how it would look against the brown paint, but it has lots of sparkle and I really like it.

This chest of drawers that looks like a stack of suitcases really blew me away.  You know my penchant for suitcases, right?  And you know the trouble I have been having working on the coastal guest room.  The chest in that room would lend itself quite nicely to this type of treatment, and the whole suitcase thing would be fitting for a guest room.  Now to decide what colors to use considering the room is in sea tones. 

Here’s a close-up view of the hardware.

Last stop, The White Hare. 

Lots of darling Halloween displays, and some beautifully decorated rooms, some I could move right into.

 See the curved key napkin rings in this picture?  I fell in love with them and bought a set to go with some pumpkin colored napkins from Pier One.  I think I’ll be able to use these in a lot of table settings.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many beautiful lamps in one place as I have here.

I love the old world map look.

Speaking of which, I have no idea what these are, but I love them.  I can only imagine what Mr. O-P would say if I came home with this set and mounted them on the wall. 

Aside from the wreath, I ended up with these placemats and napkin rings from White Hare, and the napkins from Pier One.  Can’t wait to show you how I use them.  Happy shopping!

This post is linked to: 

Mosaic Monday

Tabletop Tuesday

Inspiration Gallery Thursday
Wow Us Wednesdays

Show and Tell Friday 

Friday Unfolded
Fridays Flash Blog

Simple and Sweet Fridays

What To Do Weekend 
The Weekend re-Treat

A Visit to The White Hare

It’s been a while since I last shared a tablescape with you, and this post isn’t quite that either, but I hope that I can at least share some ideas with you that I discovered when visiting a fabulous local, home decor shop called The White Hare.

One of the great things about moving to a new city (even if it is only about 15 miles from the old) is the discovery of new and wonderful places.  Other than seeing a small ad for this shop I really knew nothing about it, so decided, friends in tow, to take a look this past week.  What a place!  The four of us had a marvelous time getting lost in all of the rooms, each of us coming away with a lengthy list of what we'd like to buy.  I wanted absolutely EVERYTHING!

The exterior is very plain, giving no hint as to what lies just beyond the floral bedecked double doors.  Let me tell you, though, that when I walked into this shop, I felt as if I was stepping into Oz.  It is that wonderful.  The pictures can’t begin to do it justice plus, even though they gave me permission to take photographs, I still felt a bit inhibited and didn’t get nearly as many as I would have liked, nor from the most advantageous angles.  Nonetheless, here they are, I hope that you enjoy them.

 Not that I need any more dishes, accessories, or linens, but I wanted everything on this table.  I loved the little crates that sat beneath the plates.  How clever and how wonderfully rustic.

 I am not much of a wine drinker, unless I’m eating Italian food, but I fell in love with these plates.

 Aren’t these gorgeous?!

 And look at this display! Is it any wonder that I needed oxygen before I left the place? 

 I loved the idea of resting plates on old books.  Think of the opportunities you’d have to employ this idea.  Perfect for book club or a great idea for Halloween using old books of horror stories, and then letting the guests take them home.

 I love travel themes.  This was certainly eye catching.

 Who doesn’t have an old pair of binoculars lying around?  Did you ever think about using them in a table setting?  Neither did I.

 I am crazy about these owl plates.  I want them…

 I want them, I want them!

  I also want those leafy napkin rings.

 I love this rusty looking candelabra.

 If you are ever in the St. Louis area, cross the bridge that spans the Missouri River into the fabulous county of Saint Charles and visit this shop.  Chances are, whenever you come, I’ll be there.  You can find it here:

The White Hare Home Decor

6119 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. 

 St Peters, MO 63304
(636) 441-1111

 You can find more amazing photos here, and they teach classes on mantle decorating and tablescaping!  Read about the classes here.

This post is linked to:
Show and Share
Inspiration Gallery Thursday
Transformation Thursday
Open House Party

Let’s Dish!

Tabletop Tuesday

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits

Wow Us Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursday

“Oh, the PLACES I’ve been!”

Be Inspired Friday