Thursday, June 26, 2014

Come for Pasta!

Sometimes I get stale. I admit it. Sometimes, I take a look at what I have and wonder how I can spend another moment looking at the same stuff. This is particularly the case where table linens are concerned. I mean how many times can I use the same tablecloth?  I do try to mix things up a bit. I'll use glass chargers, or colorful placemats, or top the table with an afghan. But there are days when I just completely run out of ideas, and think that I have thrown absolutely everything but myself on top of the table and now have come up completely dry. 
So when my cousin asked if I wanted a tablecloth and napkin set that was too small to fit her new, larger dining room table, I jumped at it. Sight unseen, I said yes. And then I saw it and I thought, huh, this looks vaguely familiar. The napkins, I think, were a gift from me. It was also something totally out of my comfort zone. 
Colors in a combination that I'd not used before, and stripes! Never in my life have I used a tablecloth that was striped. I do love a challenge though, and this got my creative juices flowing.  It also sent me to rummage through several closets looking for what might work, and mixing up and layering things that I would have never considered before. 
The end result is this table set for a pasta dinner. I like it!  The Fitz and Floyd salmon chargers I have only used with the similarly colored Coquilles set of dinnerware. What a nice backdrop it provides here for the painted pasta bowls. 
The multiple colors in the stripes also allowed me to use a trio of glasses in a variety of colors and styles. 
Water will fill the clear glasses, red wine will be served with the pasta in the cranberry colored glasses, champagne will fill the cobalt blue flutes and be served with the tiramisu. 
My favorite round placemats tone down the stripes, pressed glass crescent bowls will hold Italian salad. 
The Pottery Barn flatware, heavy antique replicas, are the perfect touch for this comfort food meal.
The centerpiece, a favorite that I use again and again, has been adorned with empty cheese boxes with a nod to antipasto.
I used no coffee cups in this setting, opting to serve espresso in cups purchased in Europe years ago to finish the meal. 
Buono Appetito!

Tablecloth and Napkins - Crate and Barrel
Water glasses - Mikasa Marquis
Wine glasses - Crate and Barrel
Placemats - Pier 1
Flatware - Pottery Barn
Chargers - Fitz and Floyd

7 comments:

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Afternoon Pattie, Your table looks fabulous and I love the different coloured glasses you have used.
The table is so inviting..... now all I have to say is, "Where is the pasta?"
Best wishes
Daphne

Christine @ Rustic-Refined said...

Wow....for someone who gets stale at making tables you certainly weren't when you did this table. Great job! I am glad you got your "gift" back...the stripes work well. and I admit I too get stale when it comes to making a table so I have to scour old pictures, pinterest or my old posts for some spark. i'll share a secret that I do when I see a tablecloth I dont wanna use again, but have to....I fold it up and use it as a runner or throw it on cross wise. For some silly reason that makes me feel like I found something new!

Loved your tablescape!

Unknown said...

This is a lovely table for someone getting stale! LOL!!!!
I love it! I like the way you took crescent shaped dishes and used them for salad! All the colored glasses are beautiful! I bet you will come up with a lot of tablescapes with your new linens. I am not a striped person either but they give a you lot of colors to choose to change up your tables.
I have been away from blogging for awhile and I am just getting back into it. My husband had a quad bypass and I just didn't have time. Hope you stop by to say hello!

Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley said...

I'm glad you went out of your comfort zone, because your table looks fabulous! You worked those stripes well. I am suddenly in the mood for some pasta!

Alycia Nichols said...

Sometimes stepping out of our comfort zone means that we get a chance to do something spectacular of which we would otherwise be unable to conceive. This, Pattie, is one of those times. You did an amazing job with this table!!! Absolutely amazing. I might have been a little thrown by the very narrow stripes, too, but you came to the rescue with the perfect foil in those dishes. They work so well with the tablecloth! And to think...you GAVE this all to your cousin!!! Subconsciously you KNEW what a great setting this would anchor!

I have had my eye on the PB flatware for some time. Not on my "What I Can Afford Right Now" list (in fact, that list is EMPTY!!!), but I hope to get there someday! :-)

Really, really well done, Pattie. I hope you have a great holiday weekend. Stay safe...I hope the storms didn't hit you guys last night!

Sarah said...

I'd say you aced this one. Beautiful table! When's dinner?

The Charm of Home said...

What a beautiful table. Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home.
Sherry