Our July 4th Tablescape

Never one to stick to traditional themes and colors, Pat set our 4th of July tablescape this week using J. & G. Meakin's "Americana Brown" ironstone dinnerware and mixed it with a brown Fiesta(ware) bread and butter plate. (We have been searching literally years for the matching elusive bread and butter plates to this set of dishes but it has proven to be a fruitless task.) 

Ceramic handle flatware is "Iron Brown" by Noritake

We found the chargers at Pier 1 years ago

Stemmed glassware is "Espresso" by Lenox

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Burlap Place Mats - from Tuesday Morning several years ago

Dark Brown Charger - from Pier 1 eight or nine years ago

Dinnerware - "Americana Brown" by J. & G. Meakin from where ever we could find it (eBay, Replacements, Ltd., antique stores, etc.)

Bread and Butter Plate - Brown "Fiesta(ware)" by Homer Laughlin from Replacements, Ltd.

Flatware - "Iron Brown" by Noritake from Walsh's (a local wedding and dinnerware store long out of business)

Glassware - "Espresso" by Lenox from Pat's daughter

Beige and Brown Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com

Napkin Rings - from Pier 1 several years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Silver and Green Tablescape and Philosophy

Tablescaping (or better yet, table design) embodies the personality of the creator. Recently, Pat and I have been talking about the trends in tablescaping. I've seen dozens of tables that use a huge variety of patterns for each place setting - it seems the more the merrier. The higher the stack of dishes, the better. The only thing that ties them together is.....well, I am not always sure what does tie them together. But table decorating and design have definitely changed over the years. Mixing plaids, stripes, florals and colorful linens with unmatched flatware (even the dreaded mix of silver with stainless steel), widely diverse patterns, square with round dinnerware or, my arch nemesis, plastic dishes,  It's all fair game. The trend seems to be fun, stylish (that depends on your definition), and hip. 

I guess it is old age or maybe an unwillingness to change, but when I look back at our tables, most are simple designs with matching plates, flatware, and linen, uncomplicated centerpieces, and always quite serviceable. Indeed, Pat's first rule of tablescaping is:  the table must be "usable" - you must be able to serve a meal on it just as it stands or by removing only an accent plate. It is harder than you think.....

This week's table features "Crestwood Platinum" by Noritake and a metallic silver accent plate from Pier 1. Pat toned down the setting somewhat by adding just greenery for the centerpiece. Once again, not a super busy table but one that can be easily used. 

Another thing I noticed about today's modern tablescape is the "busy" table top - lots of accessories and decorations with hardly any table showing. It does make for a very interesting table and keeps your eyes busy.....quite different from the subdued table above. 

Another thing that Pat does frequently is use a bread and butter plate that many tablescapers have eliminated from the tabletop.

Flatware is ultra modern "Fluence" by Oneida

The glass textured charger is from Pier 1

One of our "go-to" glassware patterns, these are from the Dollar Tree

The twisted green and white milk glass candle holders are by Westmoreland Glass Co.

One last look

Where it came from:

Green Glass Chargers - from Pier 1 years ago

Dinner and Bread/Butter Plates - "Crestwood Platinum" by Noritake from Wayfair

Accent Plate - from Pier 1 years ago

Flatware - "Fluence" stainless steel by Oneida from Replacements.Ltd.

Glassware - from the Dollar Tree (currently available)

Hemstitch Napkins - from Pier 1 four or five years ago

Twisted Candle Holders - by Westmoreland Glass Company from our collection

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

 

Hard Boiled Detective Tablescape

Once again, for this week's table, Pat combined two of her passions: tablescaping and reading....more specifically, reading detective novels. This time she chose the "hard-boiled" detective - you know the kind - Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, Lew Archer. Never heard of them? Then you aren't reading Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, or John MacDonald or even some of the more contemporary authors like James Ellroy, Walter Mosley or Sara Paretsky [credited with creating the first hard-boiled female detective, V. I. Warshawski]. Their detectives were usually hard drinking, chain smoking, cynical, unkempt private investigators who were tough and street-wise. Even the way they spoke was rough and unpolished. But they were smart and always got their man (or woman) - one way or another.

Pat chose Spode's "Blue Italian" because the pattern has been around for over 100 years. It has been copied and reproduced by many manufacturers and comes in all price ranges. Blue transferware was quite popular in the 1930's and 1940's so it seemed like the right choice.

No wine here at this table - just coffee and booze.....

Once again, the rustic, tough place mat seems to fit the hard-boiled stereotype.

Flatware is "April" silverplate....OK, not very "hard boiled" but definitely looks nice.

No flashy napkin or napkin ring - simple and sturdy

The centerpiece is what the hard-boiled detective author might have had on his desk (along with an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts and a half-smoked unfiltered cigarette)

Pat had to borrow the bottle of whiskey from a friend at the gym she goes to - no one in the family drinks it

The table wouldn't be complete with some books: The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy, I, the Jury by Mickey Spillane, The Moving Target by Ross MacDonald, The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain, Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald, Laura by Vera Caspary, Double Indemnity by James M. Cain, and my personal favorite, The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

One last look

Where it came from:

Rustic Place Mats - from Pier 1 many years ago

Dinnerware - "Blue Italian" by Spode from wherever we can find it

Flatware - "April" silverplate by Wm Rogers & Son from Pat's collection

Glasses - from the Dollar Tree

Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com

Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath and Beyond several years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Formal Gold Tablescape

This week's table makes use of dinnerware that we haven't had on the table in awhile. Pat pulled together Bernardaud "Granite Green" chargers, Lenox "Westchester" dinner and bread/butter plates, and Pier 1 antique gold "Delicious" accent/salad plates to set the table in a more formal style.

The rolled aqua blue napkin adds more color to the table

Flatware is "Byzantine" by Yamazaki

I don't usually like a coupe plate but this one is gorgeous

"Westchester" by Lenox has been produced for almost 100 years

The charger is actually more of a blue-green color but it is labelled as "Granite Green"

Glassware is "Optic Twist" from Pier 1 

Pat used one of our Mother's Armani figurines for the centerpiece

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Chargers - "Granite Green" by Bernardaud from eBay and Replacements, Ltd.com

Dinner Plate and Bread and Butter Plates - "Westchester" by Lenox from Macy's, Lenox online, Wayfair, and eBay.

Accent/Salad Plates - "Delicious" from Pier 1 seven or eight years ago

Flatware - "Byzantine" by Yamazaki from Horchow six years ago

Glassware - "Optic Twist" by Pier 1 purchased about ten years ago

Gold Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond years ago

Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com last year

Armani Figurine - from our Mother's collection

10" Candles - from Tuesday Morning 

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/