Over in my Facebook Group, Thrifty Tablescapers, members post daily with photos of lovely budget-friendly tables they’ve set with thrift-store finds, handed down/inherited treasures, and Dollar Tree dishes. These “thrifty” sources are always my go-to’s!
But recently, one of the gals posted an absolutely gorgeous table using the most amazing chargers which she mentioned were available on Amazon. When I went to check them out, they were out of stock – but a couple weeks later they returned, and I decided to go ahead and splurge. At $30 for six, plus free Prime shipping and two-day delivery, they were a bit more than I would normally spend.
But guys, I’m soooo glad I did because they are gorgeous! And while I did indeed pay full retail for them, it didn’t take long to realize how many different dinner plates I have that will go with them. SO many possibilities… and that makes them thrifty – right? (Please tell me it does!)
My first choice was the light baby blue, but I might have to go back for the “ballet pink”!
Just look at those pretty details!
The chargers are by Allgala, imported, and thick plastic. The ones I purchased are in baby blue with gold details in the sculpted edges, but this style also comes in pink. They arrived with a little foam slip-sheet in between each one, so no surface scratches occurred during shipping.
The first thing I did after unpacking them was – what else – play with some dishes to see what I had that would go well with them. I found a few favorites!
Formalities “Bernadotte” by Baum Brothers dinner plate, and “Old English” salad plate by Johnson Brothers of England.
Please note that the above is an affiliate link, meaning if you click on it and make a purchase through my link, it costs you nothing additional but I do get a small commission! (So thanks for using my link if you do decide to purchase! Also note that Allgala has several different chargers to pick from if these aren’t your style – same link above!)
What’s your most recent splurge? Let me know in the comments!
In 2018 I set a summer table that was loosely inspired by the colors of Provence, in France. Which is my pseudo-sophisticated way of saying that it was primarily done in blue and yellow. (Nevermind that if you Google “colors of Provence” it brings up a wide variety of colors, including vibrant shades of red, orange, fuschia, and more…. to me Provence means blue and yellow. And lavender, but that didn’t really fit with my table plan.)
Anyway, that table has always been one of my favorites, so this year I decided to try another variation on the Provence (blue and yellow) theme, set as a table for two. I also wanted this table to have some sort of “uniquely Provencal” element, but of course had no idea what that might be. So I Googled “symbols of Provence,” and found a blog post entitled “La Cigale: Why the Cicada Became the Symbol of Provence.”
Cicadas? Ug, I HATE cicadas! They creep me out to look at them, especially their eyes and those crispy brown “shells” they leave behind when they molt!
Cicada shell, image courtesy University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Still… some French guy a long time ago adapted the story of “The Grasshopper and the Ant” to instead feature a “cigale” who produced music all summer instead of working to store up food… and you can guess how that turned out, so maybe, I thought, maybe there is something romantic and French about cicadas that I missing.
Cicada, photo courtesy West Virginia University Extension
GAAAAAA!!! Nope, still horrific.
And yet. And yet. They were long ago adopted by the good citizens of Provence as a symbol of their region so they must have some socially redeeming value… or maybe it was just that the good citizens of Provence finally realized they were never going to escape that deafening “weeer-weeer-WEEEEEERRRRrrrrrr” noise so they might as well embrace it.
In any case, who am I to argue with good citizens? “La Cigale” for the win, in the form of a beautiful cicada brooch pin found on Amazon.
Cicada brooch pin from Amazon. Now THIS is a cicada I can learn to love!
The tablecloth for this table is a flat sheet, folded to a size suitable for defining the two-person space on a four-person table.
Glassware is Whitehall by Indiana Glass in a beautiful (dare I say) French blue – thrift store finds I’ve had now for many years. They are a favorite for their size and weight, and I have them in several colors.
Sunny yellow dinner plates are marked “Hollywood Craftsmen” on the bottom, and salad plates are “Rose Bouquet” by Coventry Fine Porcelain. Also thrift store finds.
Flatware was a splurge… I now have four place settings of “Napoleon Bee” by Wallace, which I’ve collected over the past year via Amazon. The pretty plaid napkins were consignment store finds.
The centerpiece features the same bunch of flowers from my 2018 Provence tablescape, just plopped down into a different container – this time a white sugar bowl by Federalist Ironstone.
Have you spotted “la cigale” yet? Here he is, perched on a hand-painted side plate that also corrals the salt and pepper shakers.
I moved him around to various spots on the table just because he looked so beautiful.
Also included for perusal before lunch is served: the May 2020 issue of Victoria Magazine, because it perfectly complements the color scheme and features “The Charm of French Style.” (It does not, however, mention cicadas. At all.)
A few more views around the table.
The put-away shot, because everything just looks so pretty waiting to go back into the cupboards.
And an image to Pin if you would like to save my Provence 2020 table for future ideas!
I’m linking this tablescape to Tablescape Thursday over at Susan’s blog, Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to click through for many more wonderful table-setting ideas!
Please note: this post contains my affiliate link to Amazon. If you click through to purchase your very own cicada brooch pin, it costs you nothing extra but I receive a small commission. Thank you for using my link if you desire!
A vintage buffet I sold a few years ago to – gasp – a KNOWN PAINTER!
If you’re ever up for a little online verbal abuse, join a decorating group on Facebook then post a picture of a piece of vintage or antique furniture and ask for people’s opinions on what color you should paint it. You might actually get a few color ideas, but mostly what you’ll get is a bunch of bullies begging, pleading, cajoling, and even aggressively discouraging you from painting the piece at all. Here are some verbatim comments on a recent group post of this nature:
“Don’t put a drop of paint on that beautiful piece.” “Surely you would not choose to ruin this beautiful piece of furniture with paint? Buy a shabby piece if you want to paint.” “Why would you want to paint such a beautiful piece?”
There are many reasons why someone would want to paint a piece of furniture – even a vintage or antique piece – and NONE of them involve getting someone else’s permission or approval to do so.
Another piece sold to a friend who intended to paint it.
I’ve done several pieces myself, and while I have my personal ideas about what I will and will not paint, I would never dream of trying to talk someone else out of their project.
Some people use the argument that painted furniture is a fad and will soon be out of style. This is because they have not studied interior decoration at all and have no concept of history beyond what they can personally recall from their Pinterest feed.
The fact is, painting furniture has been “a thing” for well over 100 years, and probably much longer if one were to do the research. Elsie de Wolfe, considered to be the first professional interior decorator in America, published her book, “The House in Good Taste,” in 1913. De Wolfe recommended painted furniture throughout her book – her favorite color was a light gray. Meanwhile, hand-painted decoration on furniture is of course an art form dating back to the Egyptians and other ancient cultures.
A weathered antique washstand that Greg repaired and I painted using Fusion Mineral Paint. This was four years ago and I’m still enjoying this piece in my home.
More recently, chalk paint and mineral paint products have emerged that caused a resurgence in the popularity of painting furniture. This is the “fad” that one opinionated commenter said “would be fading in about a year.” But again, even if one were to do only the most cursory research, one would find that Annie Sloan Chalk Paint – the brand that started the modern resurgence – was introduced in 1990. That’s THIRTY YEARS AGO. Not a fad, not something new, and not likely to just go away “in about a year”!
Others argue that you’ll destroy the value of the piece if you paint it. These are the folks who have watched a few episodes of “Antiques Roadshow” and think that every piece in Grandma’s attic is a museum treasure. Again, no – every piece is not a museum piece. Very few pieces carry any significant monetary value, and even if they did – so what? The value of antiques and antique furniture tanked in 2008 and it will again some day. Obviously, if you are keeping a piece because you hope it will go up in value and it’s part of your retirement nest egg, then no – don’t paint it. But if you are simply trying to enjoy a piece that’s come down through your family, you should be able to paint it without being judged or harassed simply because you asked for color suggestions.
My friend the furniture painter bought this small dresser from me, painted it, and then – in a twist of fate – she traded it back to me for another piece!
Bottom line for me is this: just because a piece could be sanded down and re-stained doesn’t mean that’s the only way to enjoy it. In fact, re-staining an antique can also destroy the value. So if you’re going to alter it, do it in a way that lets you enjoy the piece your way!
If you have a vintage or antique piece of furniture, and painting it will help you better incorporate it into your home, then by all means paint it! Painting furniture is easier than ever with today’s products, it’s therapeutic (not to mention rewarding when you see the finished result), and it’s “re-use” at its best!
Stand up to the bullies who would tell you how to enjoy your furniture. Paint it if you wish, make it your own, and love it for another generation!
Save this post to Pinterest for the next time you need a little encouragement!
Welcome back to Tablescaping 101 and today’s hints and tips for how to choose flatware for your tablescape! Before we dive in, here’s a quick re-cap of everything we’ve covered so far:
In our last two lessons, we had a lot of leeway as far as creativity in mixing and matching dinnerware and creating a pretty and interesting centerpiece. The rules are a bit more finite for flatware, and quite honestly I am still a “work in progress” when it comes to placement. (But then, so is my favorite restaurant – apparently I’m supposed to spread the butter on my roll with the same knife I use to cut my steak!)
For me the satisfaction in this step comes from the beauty and timelessness of the pieces themselves: there is just something about placing flatware that says to me, “families have been doing this for generations.” It gives me a sense that I’m connected to a very long timeline of humans sitting down to eat together.
Here are the basic guidelines again for a formal place setting.
Forks on the left side of the plate, with the first course utensil on the far left so that we can work our way in toward the plate with subsequent courses.
Knives and spoons to the right of the plate, with the knife closest to the plate then again working our way from the outside in.
In a formal setting, a dessert fork or spoon lays horizontally at the top of the plate.
A butter knife lays across the bread plate at the upper left of the dinner plate.
Now it’s time to decide what flatware we will actually use, so let’s take a look at some options.
A typical place setting of flatware will come with four or five pieces: generally, a salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, and teaspoon. A soup spoon might be included, or substituted, or available individually as “open stock.”
Typical place setting of flatware, left to right: salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, dinner spoon, teaspoon, and soup spoon.
Common serving pieces available in the same pattern might be a slotted spoon, platter spoon, and meat fork. These pieces are larger than the individual place setting pieces. A relish spoon and butter knife, smaller than the place setting pieces, may also be available.
Serving pieces might include, left to right: slotted spoon, platter spoon, meat fork, relish spoon, and butter knife.
The above are just the most typical place setting and serving pieces. There are dozens of utensils for individual food items and serving purposes, especially in vintage flatware sets!
The flatware (or silverware) you choose for your table will depend primarily on what food you’ll be serving, what you have available, and what complements your tablescape design, theme, or color scheme. Speaking personally, my preference is for flatware to match, as opposed to the dinnerware which I love to mix. I do make an exception: I have a hard time resisting vintage silverware at flea markets because it’s usually dirt-cheap when sold by the piece. I have many pieces that I acquired for fifty cents or a dollar each, so I do mix-and-match those.
When I first started setting pretty tables, I only had one set of flatware. It was the beautiful and versatile stainless “Chandelier” by Oneida that I inherited when my great-Aunt passed away, and I’ve actually been using it daily for about 30 years.
Oneida “Chandelier” stainless steel – inherited from my Great-Aunt. I have service for 8 in this set plus many serving pieces.
As my stash of vintage dinnerware grew, though, so did my desire to own and try different types of flatware. I haven’t branched out too far in this category, but I do now have a few options that I’ve chosen very carefully for the distinct features that each brings to the table. Point being, don’t worry if you only have one set of flatware, but do know that there are many options out there if you are thinking about venturing past your everyday set!
Here are some of the options, and my personal thoughts on when to use them:
Silverware (or silverplate) is the stuff you polish. It has a beautiful and traditional heirloom quality about it. For me, real silverware is for tables that need a true vintage feel. It looks positively magical in candlelight.
Beautiful vintage silverware is generally inexpensive at flea markets, and adds a true vintage feel to any table – even one with lots of gold edges 😉
Stainless steel (“stainless”) is a more modern alternative to silverware and doesn’t need polishing. I use my Oneida if an elaborate pattern fits the theme or if I need special pieces like a soup spoon, because that is my largest set.
I also used my Oneida last year for my Halloween tablescape, because once I put it with the other table elements it seemed to take on a very “Gothic” vibe – perfect for that particular table!
A spooky, Gothic Halloween tablescape… Oneida “Chandelier” acquired a different personality when set with these elements!
Also in the stainless category, I love to use Wallace Napoleon Bee for a table that has a nature or garden theme.
Gold electroplate adds extra opulence and sparkle to a table where the dinnerware has those beautiful gold edges or where gold is part of the theme. It also looks great at Christmas. I have a small set of “Americana Golden Heritage” by International Silver, acquired at a vintage mall, that I use whenever I need to go “over the top” on gold accents. This set has a few serving pieces, too. It’s also beautiful in candlelight.
“Americana Golden Heritage” by International Silver, used in a gold-themed Christmas table.Can you tell which rule I broke when setting this table three years ago? 😀
“Americana Golden Heritage” by International Silver.
Plastic/acrylic, primarily in the handles. There are lots of choices in composite flatware where the utility end of the piece is stainless, but the handle is encased in another material. A style with a riveted handle has been popular – and available in many colors – for decades. And, this style – in every available color! (LOL) is on my list for someday. I do think you have to be cautious with plastic-handled choices – read directions carefully regarding suitability for the dishwasher.
Most of my personal choices have a vintage feel to them, because “vintage” is my style. There are also a gazillion options with a much more modern vibe: Colorized stainless is a very modern choice, and so are highly stylized looks such as this twig-handled design.
Flatware is really a challenge for me – I don’t have a wide selection of large sets. Also, in daily practice, I tend to set the table with one fork because I don’t use a lot of salad plates so it is easy for me to neglect the “fork side” of the plate if I’m setting purely for creative purposes. If I were having actual invited guests, I would set more formally or perhaps have the wares for an entire course (such as dessert) set out on the sideboard to bring to the table after it’s cleared.
“Farm Animals” by Williams-Sonoma set aside for dessert with “Chandelier” forks by Oneida. Time for apple crisp!
In this post we’ll take a look at how to create a centerpiece for your tablescape – some guidelines for creating them, and some ideas for what to use.
The centerpiece is primarily for visual effect, so it may seem superfluous to an everyday dining table or weeknight family meal. But I think that’s actually its primary benefit, too: it dresses up an everyday event, and makes the ordinary feel special!
A large oven-safe serving bowl makes a great container for silk or fresh flowers. Yellow all-in-one vintage planters are used to hold tea packets on this pastel-themed Spring table.
It’s my belief that you don’t have to spend a lot of money – or even any money – to make a great centerpiece! You can use inexpensive silk flowers, vases and other containers found in thrift stores, and items found around your home to create memorable centerpieces that enhance your tablescape theme and contribute to the intended ambiance.
The only “rule” for centerpieces is that they should not obstruct conversation across the table. If guests have to peer around to speak to someone on the other side, your centerpiece is at an improper height. Beyond that, Creativity is the name of the game!
Here are some guidelines and tips for creating pretty, budget-friendly centerpieces!
1. Flowers always make a wonderful centerpiece, and in fact the easiest way to make a centerpiece at all is just to plop some flowers (fresh or faux) down into a container and set it in the middle of the table. You can easily do this any time you set the table, but to really elevate the use of flowers, try to use colors or flower types that contribute to your table’s theme or color scheme.
Inexpensive Dollar Tree stems in an amazing yellow soup tureen were the focal point of my blue and yellow “Colors of Provence” table.
Fresh flowers don’t have to be expensive. Check your local grocery store or Walmart to see if they have a flower market – inexpensive “grocery store bunches” are often seasonal in color, and the humble, inexpensive carnation always makes a pretty bouquet perhaps with some gypsophila (“baby’s breath”) for filler. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I’ve found that they usually have great prices on fresh flowers!
It’s important to remember that flowers on the table don’t have to be fresh. The vast majority of my centerpieces are made with silk flowers – either high-quality realistic-looking stems or ready-made bunches found in thrift stores, or even arrangements thrown together with fanciful stems from Dollar Tree.
3. Shop second-hand for interesting containers. Vases are the go-to for fresh flowers, of course, but only if they are the right height. The thrift stores are usually full of high quality vases that originated with floral delivery services. You can also use a wide variety of glass, ceramic, or even plastic containers. I’ve used soup tureens, teapots, serving bowls, sugar bowls, mason jars, vintage planters, antique biscuit jars, and all manner of glassware for centerpiece containers!
This amazing hand-painted antique Lefton pitcher held a collection of large blooms on my Summer Garden table. Click through to see the full centerpiece.
One of the advantages of using silk flowers is that they don’t have to be in a waterproof container. This broadens your options considerably to include baskets and wooden containers like dough bowls or antique sewing machine drawers.
A wooden dough bowl filled with pip berry wreath, natural elements, and a cleverly re-purposed bun-foot from a piece of furniture make a perfect Fall centerpiece!
This thrift-store basket-on-a-pedestal is going to be SO versatile! Here it’s styled for Fall, but the contents of the basket can be easily changed out for any reason or season!
A simple wooden box hand-built by my handyman sweetie holds pretty silks (the pink and yellow roses are napkin rings!) and a scented candle.
4. Skip the container altogether. Sometimes I like to just design what I call a “runner” – an arrangement of objects that runs a portion of the length of the table. I usually use a piece of fabric or some type of silk floral wreath or garland as a base, and just arrange objects along the length. You can build this type of arrangement with the tallest/largest object in the center, then shorter items eminating out from there. Or, have pieces at either end that “anchor” the arrangement.
Patriotic tablescape: An eight-foot fabric garland sits atop a blue sheer with silver stars. Other interesting patriotic bits are scattered throughout including tin stars and hearts, glass star-shaped candles, and small hand-painted wood chunks proclaiming “USA.”
Another runner-style centerpiece – this one features an autumn door swag of wooden cut-out leaves, silk blooms and leaves in Fall colors, and tiny real gourds.
5. Accessories in your centerpiece might include candlesticks or votive holders (with candles of course) and “table scatter” such as faux jewels, half-round glass marbles, nuts and acorns gathered on a nature hike, or foil confetti in holiday shapes. I often incorporate my salt and pepper shakers into the centerpiece, as well, instead of just “setting them out.”
A gold-painted deer on a nest of shimmery silk ivy was the star of this centerpiece for a jewel-toned Christmas table.
Some of the elements we’ve seen before combined in different ways. Silk flowers are accompanied by real goose feathers, and a glimmering gold saucer is nestled in for its harvest theme and Fall colors.
6. Include some conversation starters! I love to use unexpected objects in my centerpieces that encourage guests to ask questions or share personal anecdotes. Examples of this include my great-Aunt’s antique wildflower field guide, my handmade velvet pumpkins, a china saucer nestled into a flower arrangement, small hand-painted wooden signs, jewelry, small figurines, even a garden hat!
A “Gal-entines table” featured this amazing thrift store score: a resin tic-tac-toe board with hearts and Cupids for the playing pieces!
Designing a centerpiece can be one of the most creative aspects of making a tablescape. Have fun gathering a few elements from around the house that support a particular theme or color scheme, and see what you come up with. And when in doubt, remember that flowers – whether fresh or faux – always brighten a table!
