Tablescape Details

When it comes to designing a tablescape, it's the details that matter.

I like to think it's like designing a room.  

Just like starting with a rug for a room, the tablecloth or placemat is my foundation and starting point for a table, like the burlap placemat above.  

Texture is the key here--the burlap is rough and textural, as is the wicker placemat and majolica plate.

More majolica for the knife rest and the silver flatware is mix-match.

The inspiration for this tablesetting came from a room in an English country cottage that featured a riot of different patterns and floral chintzes that all lived cohesively together.

This placesetting features the same wicker charger, but mixing colorful patterns is the key here.

Green and yellow pottery, layered with brown transferware, followed by a vintage leaf majolica salad plate.

French mini-print Provençal tablecloth and napkin adds even more pattern.

If this placesetting was inspired by a room, it would be a Swedish country room with lace curtains at the window, pine furniture and white linen slipcovers.

The key element here is the lighter, cream color featured in the placemat, charger and light floral plate.  Of course, the mini white pumpkin adds the final touch.

This setting was not inspired by a room, but rather mother nature.

I love brown and green together, and this placesetting picks up on those colors with the brown floral napkins, echoed by the oak leaves and acorn edged plate.  A green majolica plate brings in the green and bamboo flatware complete the natural, woodsy setting.

Layering is the key here.  I love seeing how many plates I can layer on a placesetting.

This one starts with a brown leather charger, followed by an amethyst colored majolica charger and finally two layers of purple transferware--a dinner plate and soup bowl.

I love how there is a purple stripe on the burlap placemat!

Out of site is a brown and purple floral napkin.

All of these dishes would be wonderful choices for Thanksgiving or a harvest dinner for fall.

I am gearing up for my Thanksgiving table, so revisiting these tablesettings from the past gets me so excited to play with my dishes once again!

Linking to Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life.
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.

Turkey Plates To Whet Your Thanksgiving Whistle

Five years ago today, I posted about Thanksgiving plates, featuring turkeys on the front.
I thought it would be good to revisit...
So, here are a few classics to whet your Thanksgiving whistle!

Beginning with this wonderful, brown transferware plate by Wedgewood called "His Majesty."

Johnson Brothers has many turkey plate patterns to choose from.  This one is called "Woodland Wild Turkey."

Notice the detail around the rim.

Another version of the Johnson Brothers plate, called "Woodland Turkey."

I actually found these several years ago at Tuesday Morning for $5.99 each!

And my all time favorite is this plate, also by Johnson Brothers, named "Wild Turkeys."

The rim is the same as my Windsorware Harvest plates and would mix nicely.  

They are highly collectible and currently priced at $89.95 at Replacements.  

"Barnyard King," by Johnson Brothers is a really fun plate.  I'm a squirrel nut (no pun intended), so if I ever came across this in an antique store, I would definitely buy it!

Another Johnson Brothers plate, "Autumn Monarch" is splendid with the pumpkin and fall leaf border.

"Queen's Myott," by Churchill is still around.  I've seen them in the past at Marshall's

and TJ Maxx!

Spode also has quite a few patterns to choose from, both vintage and new, like this one.

Spode's "Wild Turkey" plate has a lovely dark brown, almost black rim.

The brown transferware Spode, "Celebration Turkey" plate.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I'm very traditional and love the Thanksgiving cliche elements.  The formula that works for me is paisley or plaid, turkey plates, fall flowers, leaves and gourds, stag horn flatware and jewel tone crystal. Hey, why re-invent the wheel?
Actually, I am forced to reinvent the Thanksgiving table this year in our new dining room.
New room, new beginnings.
Hmmm, wondering how I'll set the table for Thanksgiving, 2016?

I'm sharing with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.
Also, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

Be My Guest--The Tartan Room

 The Tartan Room was originally going to be my mother's room.

A tiny little room, but with its own bathroom and very private, it would have been perfect for her.

Unfortunately, she never even got to see it as she passed while it was just studs and only a vision in my head.

This room is so tiny, only a full size bed fits, so I wanted the bed to be the focal point.

I chose this blue and green tartan bed from Ballard Designs.  The fabric is a Suzanne Kasler print and I love the detail of the white grosgrain studded ribbon.

A blue and white stripe duvet cover and white shams let the plaid take center stage.

This room could also be called the "Nautical Room" with the ship paintings and anchor pillowcases. 

 

My new love of blue and white porcelain is finding a place in this room too with a pair of Ralph Lauren lamps.  They're too short, so I used books to elevate them.

 The ensuite bathroom is super tiny so I kept it clean and simple.

It also has the only bathtub in the house.  I gussied it up with a marble surround which matches the sink.

I used every bit of that marble slab!

 This area went through the biggest change in the house.  Originally, there was a door to the outside where one of the windows are now and the only entrance to the room was from the family room.

Not an ideal set up. 

 

The doors to the outside and family room were closed up.

 Now the entrance to the room is at the bottom of the stairs, creating a private suite.
 The architect wanted a closet on the right side of the little hallway, but I opted to put an armoire here instead. 

There's no room for a dresser, so the bedside tables stand in with four drawers of storage available.

Our granddaughters love sleeping here when they visit because they get to watch cartoons in bed when they wake up!

I repurposed a sofa table to anchor the television and provide more storage. 

The botanical prints on either wide of the bed were my grandmother's.

 I kept the walls white, but am so tempted to paint or wallpaper one wall!

I think instead of wallpaper or paint though, I may end up with drapes on either side of the windows in the matching Suzanne Kastler plaid. 

 That same fabric could also replace the toile fabric in the armoire.

There will be no question then about this being the Tartan Room!

Oscar definitely likes the Tartan Room, and sometimes when I can't find the kitty, she is in here curled up on the blanket, asleep.

I have a confession.

I love sleeping in here too!

Sources:

Upholstered bed:  Ballard Designs 

Bedside tables:  Pottery Barn

Sheets and shams:  Pottery Barn

Duvet cover:  Ikea

Pillow cases:  Ralph Lauren

Blanket:  Ralph Lauren

Lamps:  Ralph Lauren

Window coverings:  Presidio Classics

I'm linking up to Savvy Southern Style

The Sunroom Reveal and the New Grain Sack Chairs

Remember these chairs in the window of this store in Santa Fe?

Well, Mr. A bought them for me!

They were finally delivered last week. I had no idea where they would go, but Mr. A insisted that I would find a place. That's his philosophy: if you love something, you will find a place for it. Hmmmm, let's just see....

He really liked the vintage fabric upholstery and original embroidery on these chairs. So did I, but I knew that something would have to go if we bought them. I had a feeling it would be my favorite chair.

So, after the chairs spent a week in the garage while I contemplated their fate, I finally decided to try them in the sunroom.

It meant moving things around and retiring my favorite chair. This corner is where the red gingham checked chair lived. Since it had a matching ottoman, I'm trying to make it work with the new chairs.

I moved the gingham chair to the corner where my oldest and favorite chair lived. It's a tight squeeze, but as you can see, there is no room for that matching ottoman.

The new seagrass rug replaces the black floral one. Eventually, I would like to get wall to wall seagrass in this room, but water comes in under the old French doors...

From the sunroom, looking in to the dining room.

The console table sits between the chairs. Although it doesn't relate to the chairs, it is what it is, because there is no where else for this table!

This is the vintage tole chandelier that hangs in the room.

I found it at an estate sale years ago and still love it!

So now this is where my "blogspot" is! My old chair has been moved upstairs and retired to a bedroom.

Goodbye my old friend that has followed me from house to house since 1976!

I remember when I bought you in Eugene, Oregon at a thrift store for $50. I remember every fabric I upholstered you in and slipcovered you in!

R.I.P.

The sunroom may be a little crowded, however, it is my favorite room in the house.

I'm really liking the changes!

I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for "Wow Us Wednesday."

I'm also joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for her Open House party.

On Friday, I'm linking up to Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Plants That Thrive in a Mediterranean Climate

The garden and landscape in Asti is a little trickier than most to keep looking good, mostly because we aren't there all the time, but also because of the Mediterranean climate.

The front lawn is a perfect example. It was once an area that I couldn't get much to grow. Even my attempt at a lavender field failed.

Now with the lush lawn and fire pit, we love to sit here in the evening and watch the sun set.

With temperatures soaring in the 100's in the summer, the green grass is a nice respite.

There is also a grass area across the driveway with olive trees.

They thrive in this hot, dry climate.

When I planted the front lawn, I also planted more olive trees. Olive trees, white roses and rosemary. The tried and true plants that love the sun and also our well water.

When we bought the house, we were told that our well had significant amounts of boron, a natural occurring element that is toxic to most plants.

No problem, we'll just plant the few plants that don't care about boron!

Boron is supposed to be toxic to grapes, but our Concord table grapes are thriving!

The kitchen garden is a little trickier! Tomatoes grow, but zucchini, not so much.

Herbs also are growing. The boron doesn't seem to be toxic to them.

So far, by process of elimination, I have narrowed down a handful of plants that will grow in Asti's Mediterranean climate:

Olives, figs, Italian cypress, rosemary, lavender, roses, and a few veggies.

Tomorrow, I'll feature our garden at home, so stay tuned!

I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

I'm also joining Kim for her WUW party at Savvy Southern Style.

On Friday, I'm joining Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

Be sure to visit these blogs for lots of indoor and outdoor inspiration!