Pasta Night Tablescape

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If you are as passionate about dinnerware as I am, it would serve you well to let this be widely known. The reason being is that there is always someone who is about to move, or downsize, or otherwise have a need to part with some of their tableware, serving pieces, flatware, or all of the above. Such was the case with these gorgeous pasta bowls and the large serving bowl.

Technically, these belong to my aunt who recently moved from a rowhouse style condo into an apartment. She couldn’t bear to part with these, but because she cut her living space in half, a lot of things had to go (Don’t ask me about the roll top desk and matching chair that I’m storing for her in the belly of the beast. I mean it, don’t.). 

The understanding here is that I’m storing these for her, I am encouraged to use them, but if and when she ever wants them back, they’re hers. I agreed to that, but truth be told, she’s going to have to wrestle me to the ground to get these back. Honestly, I think she could do it, she’s pretty wiry.

 Seriously, aren’t these lovely? They are from Certified International and the art is by Susan Winget. I couldn’t find this exact set, but I did find two equally lovely and very similar sets here and here.

Once these were in my possession, I knew that I had to do a table called “Pasta Night.” Don’t these just make the table? The color theme gives a nod to the Italian flag lots of red and green.

The pasta bowls are layered with Bordallo Pinhiero geranium leaf chargers on top of which I put a simple red plate (also from my aunt, but she tells me I can keep these), and then a bowl. Each pasta bowl has its own unique design, not always in keeping with the Italian flag color theme, but I did not let that deter me.

The salad bowls are Bordallo Pinhiero as well. They may be used for salad, they may be used to hold a dinner roll or hunk of crusty bread.

The centerpiece is typically Italian with my mother’s soup deep green soup pot that perches on its own candle powered burner to keep the soup warm, flight with bright red bowls, add a Chianti bottle that can be used for actually holding wine, or as a unique vessel for water.

 

The red and white napkins are tied in a simple nut and placed by the plate. There is some thing about this display of napkins that always seems so festive.

Fruit topped tarts add to the color, whimsy, and festiveness of the party.

 

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

 

Jungle Nights Tablescape

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This table setting came about quite by accident. I was folding clothes and pieces of yardage that I had laundered for storage. I had turned the right sides together on a large piece of black denim, and found the wrong side to be quite interesting. I spread it out on top of the table, and it gave me a kind of a jungle feel. Does this, or does this not remind you of snakeskin? It did me, and I could just see that snake dangling out of a tropical tree. A jungle theme, I thought, and here is the result.

The conservatory that was completed in the spring (for those of you who have followed me for sometime let me just say that the lanai is no more) definitely has a jungle vibe. I pulled the monkey bookends off of the bookshelves, grabbed some books, a pair of Amiri fans, plants, and piled it up in the center. A few plates later and the table was done.

 The centerpiece is really the star of this show. Nearly all of it I inherited from my mother. The delightful monkeys were hers as well as the trio of Moroccan lanterns (A good selection of these can be found on Amazon, beginning here.).

 Plants are straight from the conservatory.

 The chargers are Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf plates; the square dinner plates are on old offering from Rachael Ray. They are no longer available, but you can get something similar here.

  The bamboo-handled flatware is always fun to use and works perfectly in an exotic setting.

 I wanted to mix things up a bit and add some sparkle, so I used my mother’s crystal knife rests. It’s not often that you see these, I can tell you! Hers are vintage, but you can find something similar here.

 The stemware was my mother’s as were the napkins. The stemware is Fostoria, and was discontinued years ago, but a similar version can be found here.

 The wonderful bamboo bordered palm and banana tree salad plates are by Fitz and Floyd. Two different tree designs are on these plates, the design is called “Cape Town.”

 I hope that you enjoyed viewing this table as I did creating it.

  This post is linked to:

Tablescape Thursday

 

 

 

Let It Snow Tablescape

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During the last year or so your enjoyment of candlelit romantic dinners has probably been few and far between considering the shut down of restaurants worldwide. It’s times like these when we need to get creative and enjoy our own candlelit romantic setting at home.

The shorter days of winter seem to provide the perfect opportunity for dinners such as these. After all, what is more cozy and enjoyable than being inside enjoying warmth and delicious food while outside snow is falling?

This is my second winter tablescape for this year, and I had great fun putting it together. It began with the centerpiece featuring two faux pine trees covered with a sparkling crystal “ice.”

My favorite oil-rubbed bronze metal houses, illuminated from within, give the feeling of a romantic night in the woods. A project that I was working on requiring polyester fiberfill caused me to put some in place to represent snow.

An abundance of candlelight was a must so I used both my little reindeer candleholders as well as snowflake candleholders. I always hate putting these away after Christmas, so try to get as much mileage out of them as possible.

Three twig reindeer round out the cozy scene, dappled with little snowflake plaques.

I wanted to keep the colors as neutral as possible to represent winter. I used a repeat of my favorite checked tablecloth, topped with a macramé table runner from Anthropologie.

White metal chargers from Pier 1 are topped with nubby-edged, chestnut brown dinner plates are also from Pier 1. The salad plate features a wonderful pheasant.

Flatware in this table setting is from Cabela’s as it was in the last table setting, this set featuring a cozy cabin.

Pure white cups and saucers are a further reminder of white blankets of snow; the crystal stemware represents ice.

If you’re trying to create a romantic setting nothing beats candlelight, the more the better. Even the simplest place setting can look quite elegant in candlelight.

This post is linked to:

Tablescape Thursday