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

 

White Hot Summer Table for Two

Is it hot where you are, because good gravy, Marie, it is hot here! I am talking dog days of August hot, and it’s only June. I keep looking at the weather forecast, hoping for a reprieve, but we are going to be in the upper 90°s/100°s for the next 10 days to two weeks. It’s not often that the weather provides fodder for a table setting, but this heat sure did.

 

 This is the first time that I have ever decorated a table in all white, and I really love it! It started with a bouquet of white lilies that I picked up at the grocery store. I love lilies and their fragrance (I know that not everyone does), and the entire house smells wonderful! I trimmed them down to fit this white vase, and put it at the center of my table on top of a round tablecloth in burlap that I have used previously.

Chippy white chargers, as everyone knows, are from Pier 1. They are topped with dinner plates and salad plates in the Blanc Amelie pattern from Maison Versailles.

 On top of that I have put one of my absolutely favorite pieces, a Mottahedda pots de creme.

Because of all the white, I felt it needed sparkle, so yet again, used Mikasa Parklane stemware. 

I also decided to get out my crescent-shaped salad plates that I don’t use nearly as often enough.

Because I was looking for a lot of sparkle, I thought it was time to get out my mother’s crystal knife rests. She bought these in her brother’s gift shop in Las Vegas back in the ‘70s. Aren’t they beautiful! And such a good idea to keep the tablecloth from getting soiled. Honestly, I don’t know why there aren’t more of these around.

 If you look closely you will see little mini salt and pepper shakers at each place setting. These are small, but always hold enough to get the diner quite easily through a dinner.  I find that guests really appreciate these so that they don’t have to ask to have salt and pepper shakers passed. The flatware is by Wallace and it is in their Napoleon Bee pattern.

The candlestick holders were an anniversary gift from the late Mr. OP years ago. I found them in a local antique shop, fell in love, and he gifted them to me shortly there after.

Stay cool this summer with an all white table setting.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday