Category: tablescapes

By the Sea Table Setting Ideas

This decorista is feeling the by the sea table setting ideas vibe.

For those of us who look for any opportunity to show off our tablescape chops, the summer entertaining season is opportunity supreme.

There’s something about the combination of a summer day into afternoon or evening, good friends, great food, and a table set in by the sea style.

rope-wrapped-cylinder-vase

If summer entertaining in coastal style is your thing, grab a cool beverage, get comfy, and settle in.

Before we set the table, let me set the scene:

An interesting article in Better Homes & Gardens highlights findings from the book Blue Mind by author and marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols.

Blue mind is the reflective and peaceful state experienced as result of being on, in, or by a body of water.  Research backs up the author’s theory of proving how being on, in, or by a body of water as in lake, river, sea or ocean bolsters happiness.

beach-coast-evening

Replicating a day or evening at the coast, beach or seashore in the form of tablescape set with striking place settings and tablewares engages the senses of sight, touch, taste, and sound, promotes visual happiness, and gives those who love to set a gorgeous table a stylish dose of vitamin sea.

ocean-view-dining

Architectural Digest

By the sea table setting ideas, indoor or alfresco, serve as a passport to dining adventures where the dining table top becomes an inspired canvas.

al fresco

Elle

Visually interesting, unexpected, and conversation worthy pieces in colors and patterns not typically associated with the tablescape theme at hand is a fun and fresh way to approach place settings and serving pieces.

From coastal casual to elegantly formal to whatever floats your by the sea boat, well-appointed table setting options remain the best friend of the entertaining decorista.

Mary Hannah Interiors beach style dining room

Mary Hannah Interiors

Let’s by the sea table set, shall we?

tava-handwoven-rattan-round-placemats

Placemats and chargers made of natural materials such as wicker, water hyacinth, sisal and seagrass are decorating chameleons, and by that I mean they adapt beautifully to the style situation they are in.

Petal Fiber Flower-Shaped Placemat

Petal Fiber Flower-Shaped Placemat

Round Capiz Periwinkle Placemat

Round Capiz Periwinkle Placemat

Food Network™ Resin Wicker Charger PlateFood Network Resin Wicker Charger

wood-pattern-plate-charger

Faux Wood Charger Plates

faux-wood-plate-chargerFaux Wood Charger Plates

By the sea inspired, the Shell-Rimmed Charger from Pottery Barn is a shell of a good charger inspiration for a by the sea place setting accent.

shell-rimmed-rattan-charger

When “no longer available” search returns leave you empty handed, grab the glue gun and DIY.

Shell Border Natural Charger Plate

I’m thinking a knock your sandals off knockoff DIY project option may be a stylish alternative.

shell diy charger

Woven chargers as well as plastic chargers in your choice of color create the canvas.

Lay out your choice of seashells to get the pattern and sizing right.

You may prefer the look of the shells placed at the edge of the charger, in one concentrated area of the charger, or covering the entire rim in an impressive mix and pattern.

shells-charger

Once you get the placement and look to your liking, go ahead and place a dinner plate on the charger to make sure there is another clearance between the edge of the plate and the shells.

Stack a salad plate atop the dinner plate to make sure it too clears the shells.

**A hot glue gun is just that, hot.  Use caution and protect your fingers.**

Using a hot glue gun, glue each shell to the charger.

Prepare to impress.

After all, isn’t that the point?

coastal-plates-blue-white

Pier 1 stores will be closing soon, and their Going Out of Business Sale is currently underway.

There’s no time like the present to add dinnerware, placemats, napkins, and chargers from the sale to your place settings inventory.

Dainty Home Royal Woven Metallic Lace Crossweave With A Sunburst Metallic Lace Pattern

Dainty Home Metallic Lace Crossweave With A Sunburst Metallic Lace PatternBlue Embroidered PlacematBlue Embroidered Placemat

Food Network™ Solid Round Placemat 4-packFood Network™ Solid Round Placemat 4-pack

Better-Homes-Gardens-Jute-Flower-Placemat

Braided Flower Placemat

Frank Pitman Designs coastal dining room

Frank Pitman Designs

Not all residential dining rooms or outdoor areas are lucky enough to come with an authentic by the sea view, but don’t let that detail impede the by the sea details.

Lacquer Square Charger Plate, Set of 6, Silver

Lacquer Square Charger Plate, Set of 6, Silver

Seashells are brimming with by the sea color, texture and pattern inspiration.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/max-garcia/6722874869/

Flickr

The distinctive colors, textures, and pattern play of the conch shell horn.

Tales and truths of lustrous pearls found at sea.

Conch shell decorative

Amina Dinner PlateAmina Dinner Plate

I love the colors in the Amina dinner plate from Crate & Barrel as the palette is reminiscent of the colors found in seashells by the seashore.

shell palate

by the sea shell

You can spend a pretty penny on dinner plates, and understandably so in some settings, but when a stylish pattern or color is available on the shelves of the dollar store and gives a good look, why would you?

Royal Norfolk Turquoise Swirl Stoneware Dinner Plates

Royal Norfolk Turquoise Swirl Stoneware Dinner Plates

Affordable options such as the Royal Norfolk Turquoise Swirl Stoneware dinner plate make a solid style base to build your by the sea place setting upon.

decorative coral

 

Coastal Home Small Sea Urchin BowlCoastal Home Small Sea Urchin Bowl

Color choices need not be too matchy-matchy.

Contrast keeps things visually interesting.

Hand Painted Coral Embossed Glass Side Plate, Aqua, Set of 2Hand Painted Coral Embossed Glass Side Plate, Aqua

I like to color, texture, and pattern outside the lines of what traditionally identifies the coastal look.

shells-on-sand

VIETRI earth glass dinner plate

Vietri Earth Glass Dinner Plate

Gold Scalloped Rim Glass Plate

Gold Scalloped Rim Glass Plate

brown-white-sea-shell

Celebrate Summer Together Beaded Placemat

Celebrate Summer Together Beaded Placemat

Reactive Glaze Salad Plate, Set of 4, Celadon

Julo Blue and White Salad Plate

Julo Blue and White Salad Plate

ruffled-gold-rim-salad-plates-set-of-4-1

Ruffled Gold Rim Salad Plates, Set of 4

Place setting accents and accessories in Louisiana Gulf Coast fashion incorporate the style of home.

Cronk Duch Architecture beach style Jacksonville dining room

Cronk Duch Architecture

Blue and white with shades of gray.

Need I say more?

Royal Norfolk Classic White Round Stoneware Dinner Plates, 10.5 in.

Royal Norfolk Classic White Round Stoneware Dinner Plates, 10.5 in.

IMPULSE! Fantasy Crystal Clear Small Salad Plates - Set of 6 IMPULSE! Fantasy Crystal Clear Small Salad Plates – Set of 6

Round Deniz Flower Silver Glass Charger Plate

Round Deniz Flower Silver Glass Charger Plate

Mercer Grey Round Appetizer Plates, Set of 8Mercer Grey Round Appetizer Plates, Set of 8

Anne_Vallayer-Coster_-_Still-Life_with_Tuft_of_Marine_Plants,_Shells_and_Corals

When I was sourcing items for this post, I could not get immediately happy with the placemat selections in the coastal category.

Much to my delight, I came across this Oisin Sea Creature placemat which set into motion a sourcing session with not your average by the sea place setting options in mind.

Oisin Sea Creature 19" Cotton Placemat (Set of 4)

black-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Classic Black Stoneware Dinner Plate, 10.5 in.

Black & White Batik Printed Stoneware Bowl

Black & White Batik Printed Stoneware Bowl

Amari Ceramic PlateAmari Ceramic Plate

coastal place setting

Luxe Interiors +Design

Reef Gold Charger Plates Set of 4-1

Sea Sponge 4 Piece Charger Set

aquarium decor coral ornament

Penzo Dinner Plate Feathers with gold rimPenzo Dinner Plate Feathers with Gold Rim

Rimmed Dinner Plate

Denby Dinnerware, Halo Wide Rimmed Dinner Plate Set of 4

Julo Blue and White Dinner Plate

Julo Blue and White Dinner Plate

prosecco-gold-foil-rim-glass-bowl

Prosecco Gold Foil Rim Glass Bowl

Although a red, white, and blue palette is more closely associated with a nautical theme, it is 4th of July appropriate for a by the sea table setting.

red-white-blue-place-setting

red-coral

Dansk Belgium & Parisian Dinner Plate

Noritake® Hanabi Salad Plates (Set of 4)

Hanabi 12 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4

Blue Organic Ceramic Handle Jug Vase

clam shell salt cellar1

Gold leaf oyster shell salt and pepper cellars add a touch of unique by the sea elegance to the tabletop.

oyster-salt-cellar

Gold Leaf Oyster Shell Salt and Pepper Cellars

As far as flatware patterns go, I’ve sourced several color, texture and pattern selections in various price points and styles.

Reed & Barton® Gloucester Shell 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

Reed & Barton® Seashell 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

bamboo-flatware

20-Piece Bamboo-Style Flatware Service

Espinoza 5 Piece Flatware SetInox Copper Antique Sundance Design 5-piece Flatware Set

by the sea table setting ideasHouse Beautiful – Photo Björn Wallander

hobnail-pitchers

384 Cosmos Water Bottle

  Blenko 384 Cosmos Water Bottle

clear-beverage-glassesTarget

Libbey® Cobalt Blue Goblets 8 pc BoxLibbey® Cobalt Blue Goblets Set of 12

Vintage Glass Goblet Set of Six

Thyme & Table 4-Piece 20oz Tortoise Brown Drinking Glass Set

Thyme & Table 4-Piece 20oz Tortoise Brown Drinking Glass Set

Hive LA Home coastal beach dining roomHive LA Home

Bridgette Oval Capiz Shell bowll

Organic Teak Wood Decorative Bowl

Organic Teak Wood Decorative Bowl

Walnut Brown Mango Wood Serving Bowls

Walnut Brown Mango Wood Serving Bowls

STILL TEAK WOOD AND BLACK RESIN BOWL

Still Teak Wood and Black Resin Bowl 

2-PIECE SADYE RESIN SALAD SERVER SET2-Piece Sadye Resin Salad Server Set

Crofton Round Wood Coffee Table TrayCrofton Round Wood Tray

fish-shaped-platter

Fish Shaped Platter

 

baking-shell

Seafood Shell Baking Dish

Acacia Wood 4-Piece Calabash Bowl SetAcacia Wood 4-Piece Calabash Bowl Set

Planters and urns make super chic additions to your coastal tablescape or themed home bar.

Guava Outdoor Urn

Vintage fish plate sets, platters, and cutlery sets make such a pretty place setting.

fish-plate-collection

Martha Stewart

On one of our treasure hunting trips over to Houston, Dave and I lucked up on an antiques shop specializing in English smalls (china, silver, decorative accessories).

fish set

Etsy

I bought a divine service for 12 fish service with platter and a set of fish knives and forks for a phenomenal price.

We were big eBay sellers at the time, so listed they were.

Dave tried to convince me to keep the service, but I reasoned we would come across more of the same in our hunts.

We have, but not of the quality or the fabulous price.

Live and learn.

Limoges Fish Plates Vintage French Plate SetLimoges Fish Plates Set

Variegated colors.

Patterns and textures created by nature’s wonder.

Salt kissed air.

A symphony of sea waves.

Place settings, serveware, and tabletop accessories in a by the sea theme set a coastal scene and seen.

Next up in this By the Sea Table Setting Ideas series is serving pieces, table linens, a simple DIY project idea, and tabletop accessories.

Sea you then.

Darleen-signature-love

We Gather Together Holiday Table Ideas

We gather together holiday table ideas help to set an impressive Thanksgiving holiday table.

Getting the look, style, balance, and theme suited to your holiday dining and entertaining scheme requires a certain amount of planning and prep, and that’s where these we gather together holiday table ideas come in.

home-holiday-heart

Design inspiration is often the driving force of my blog content, and I’m amazed at where it comes from at times.

Yesterday, somewhere between trying to locate what bedroom the cat was hiding out in and trying not to lose my religion over the cat and mouse game he loves to play with me, I stopped in the hallway to regroup.

Looking down the hall into the foyer, dining room, and kitchen in more than a glimpse and less than a stare, it dawned on me I truly liked what I was seeing.

Isn’t that the point of the design and decorating grand scheme of things?

I sometimes forget to just stand back and take in the look.  My vantage point allowed for a comprehensive viewing from foyer to dining room.

The vintage bamboo chandelier in the foyer.

The wallpaper selection.

The yet once again painted lantern pendant.

The decision to lighten up the dining room color palette.

The placement of artwork.

I like to try new things and new looks, but the traditional personal design style choices I come back to time and time again prove to be the ones I am most satisfied with.

dining-room-table-image

Stay true to your personal style and design, decorate, and holiday table set accordingly is advice I not only give, but practice.

holiday-fall-dining-roomSouthern Living

The absolute best holiday table ideas begin with a sense of you.

What suits your style, taste, and personal preference is what best fits the occasion and sets an impressive holiday table.

Dining-Room-Inspiration-Scandinavian-Dining-Room-Ideas

Scandinavian Dining Room

Create a backdrop with touches sure to resonate with the crowd.

Sure, most of us try to emulate moms-grandmothers-aunties side dish or dessert recipe- that’s a given.

I like to use decorative accents and tabletop pieces that make a shared memories, experiences, and regional commonalities connection with my guests.

Magnolia+Foliage+in+Glass+Vase

Magnolias in glass cylinders cover the Southern aspect of our holiday table.

Fresh flowers or an heirloom bowl filled with fall leaves native to your area set a home for the holidays tone.

wooden-candlesticks

Wooden turned candlesticks instantly become I remember these conversation pieces.

Antique Blue Transferware Platter

Antique Blue Transferware Platter

A handed down from generation to generation family recipe served in a handed down from generation to generation serving piece is wow factor certified and guaranteed to tug at the home is where the holiday heart is heartstrings.

crystal-water-bottle

The heirloom crystal water bottle makes it way from the china cabinet to the Thanksgiving table.

holiday-cocktail-glasses

Vintage Etched Coupe Glasses  ||  Plymouth Birds Double Old-Fashioned Glasses

Cocktail glasses in a similar pattern as the ones my dad served holiday spirits in, and goblets in the style of the ones my grandmother used at holiday time to serve her famous orange fluff salad in become a must have addition to the we gather together holiday table.

give-thanks-napkins-embossed

I don’t give a second thought to using paper cocktail napkins.

Rest assured, the holiday table ideas police will not be hauling you off to tablescape and place setting jail.

mushroom-napkins

I go with the best of both worlds option and use a traditional and a zippy paper cocktail napkin.

Linden Street 4-pc. Napkins

velvet-ribbon

Holiday-Table-Settings-wooden-candlesticks

House & Home

Fresh pears in white bowls is a simple and elegant suggestion.

I pick up gold-rimmed white stoneware bowls from Dollar Tree and keep an eye on the produce section selection of seasonal pears.

pears-Thanksgiving

For approximately $2.00 per place setting you can add a fetching look to the Thanksgiving holiday table.

white-bowl-gold-rim

Gold-Rimmed White Stoneware Bowls, 7 in.

An impressive holiday tablescape does not have to be expensive or difficult to achieve.

Place the focus on folk, food, fresh, flavor, and fun.

My comical husband suggested I call this hosting tip “f” the holidays.

Holiday hosting humor is a fabulous stress buster. Dave is in charge of levity, and is brilliant at it.

We’ve still got the December holidays to decorate, entertain, and tablescape to and the holiday budget to manage.

Items that pull double duty justify the initial price of admission to the holiday tablescape party.

This is the exact reason I go with white plates with gold rims and serving pieces in November to December holiday friendly colors and patterns.

Holiday Table Ideas

drinking-glasses-magnolia

My Place Louisiana Appetizer Plates (Set of 4)

I’m embracing the home is where the holiday heart is theme with these Magnolia drinking glasses and Louisiana appetizer plates.

wood-pattern-plate-charger

Wood Pattern Plate Charger

white-dinner-plate-gold-rimmed

Gold-Rimmed White Stoneware Dinner Plates, 10.5 in.

The combination of a natural wood pattern plate charger gold-rimmed white dinner plates, and the look of vintage antique silver sentiment flatware makes a striking statement.

Antique Silver Sentiment Flatware

Make new serving pieces friends, but keep the old.

antler-serving-bowl

One is traditional silver, and the other, Millennial gold.

Tors Bronze Cast Aluminum Serving Bowl

Tors Bronze Cast Aluminum Serving Bowl

I love a holiday twofer, and a Merry Thanksgiving gift draw is a fun and giving family and friend activity to partake in at the end of the Thanksgiving meal.

For many years, Dave the Builder and I along with another couple and their daughter spent Thanksgiving week at Chicot State Park before the kids got to the age of I’m bored.

chicot-state-park

Three bedroom, 2 full bath lodge with fireplace, satellite television, cellphone and WiFi service second to none, scavenger hunts, hiking trails, midnight runs to spot deer, owl and raccoons, stay up and sleep in as late as you want boring.

Not exactly what I would call roughing it.

Striving to keep things new, fresh, and in the holiday spirit, I came up with the hot cocoa and hat draw holiday kick off.

The moms would make hot cocoa, and the dads would light up the fire ring late Thanksgiving day afternoon.

While we were enjoying hot cocoa and getting back to nature, we would pass a hat around with each of our names in it.

Each of us drew a name from the hat and the planning began.

When we drove into the neighboring towns to antique and Black Friday shop, each of us would buy a kick off the holidays gift for the person whose name we drew from the hat.

campfire

Flickr

We set a $5.00 limit, and the rule was the gift had to be something the recipient talked about on Thanksgiving day or night.

Part of the fun was seeing how attentive and creative we could get with our gift selections.

A quick stop at the dollar store for a small Christmas tree, gift bags, and reindeer bells to ring round the campfire completed the process.

tinsel-tree

The kids loved it, and the big kids got into it as well.

Our kick off the holidays hot cocoa and hat draw gifted each us with a great memory.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

– Dr. Seuss

I’ve tweaked the tradition a bit, and now it’s the We Wish Family and Friends a Feast of a Happy Holidays Season favor gift give.

wishbone

Brass wishbone figurines stay in theme and make a lovely We Gather Together holiday keepsake.

Thanksgiving-2018-table-accessories-2

Home is where the Holiday heart is, and ours beats strong here at Places In The Home.

Our holiday celebrations are all about honoring traditions old and new, making meaningful memories, sharing the holiday love with family, friends, and readers, and offering holiday table ideas, holiday decor finds, suggestions, stories, and sources.

Join me throughout the holiday season for all things house that make a holiday home.

Darleen-signature-love

Chinoiserie Themed Tablescape

The first four letters of the word epicurean spell epic, and epic is what this Chinoiserie themed tablescape feature has turned out to be.

Color, pattern and texture sets quite the impressive Chinoiserie themed tablescape.

Believing and adhering to the notion we eat first with our eyes, the visual appetizer is the tasteful first course of a palatable dining experience.

Chinoiserie

sheen-wah-zuh–reez

noun, plural chinoiseries

1.  a style of ornamentation current chiefly in the 18th century in Europe,
characterized by intricate patterns and an extensive use of motifs identified as Chinese.

2.  an object decorated in this style or an example of this style: The clock was an interesting chinoiserie.

Chinoiserie themed tablescape

Veranda

The lines and color palette of Chinese and East Asian influenced dinnerware and decorative accessories create beautifully Chinoiserie themed tablescapes.

The retail selections available make it easy to set your table as Chinoiserie chic casual or formal as you wish.

Rosser+1222+Charger

Rosser 12″ Charger – Set of 4

trop-charger

Bordallo Pinheiro Vista Alegre Tropical Charger Plates (Set of 2)

cabbage-charger-plate-beige

Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Dinner Plates in Beige – Set of 4

Jacqueline-dinnerware Jacqueline Salad Plate~ Set of 4

Si- Kiang-Cocktail-Plate

Si Kiang Cocktail Plate

Aveline+Double+Old+Fashioned+Glass

Aveline Double Old Fashioned Glass

Three Star Cristalleria Fratelli Fumo Wine Glasses in Amber (Set of 6)

Three Star Cristalleria Fratelli Fumo Wine Glasses in Amber (Set of 6)

Color, Pattern, Texture Options:

echo-design-tablecloth

Echo Design Parvani 52-Inch Square Tablecloth

I own this table runner and I love it!  The design is versatile and the quality is exceptional.

table-runner

Sherry Kline China Art Table Runner 

dining-room-table-runner

Options make the decorating world go round.

East of the Moon Cinnabar

East of the Moon Cinnabar

beaded-coral-placemat

Bed Bath & Beyond Beaded Placemat in Jute/Coral

gold-square-placemat

Matte Golden Beaded Square Placemat

Chinese-bowl-on-teakwood-stand

Chinese Bowl on Teakwood Stand

Cambridge Silversmiths 20-Piece Bamboo-Style Flatware Service

Cambridge Silversmiths 20-Piece Bamboo-Style Flatware Service

Leopard love it and the Chinoiserie themed tablescape – an excellent pull from one to complement another choice.

desert-leopard-NIKKO-plates

Desert Leopard Plate (Set of 4)

martini-glass

Animal Print 8 oz Martini Glass

geometric print napkin

Geometric Design Dinner Napkin

bamboo-flatware-cabbage-charger

Traditional Home

Gien Set of 4 Jardins Canape Plates

Gien Set of 4 Jardins Canape Plates

Christian Lacroix Sol y Sombra Dessert Plate

Christian Lacroix Sol y Sombra Dessert Plate

Ricci Argentieri Bamboo 5-Piece Place Setting

Ricci Argentieri Ricci Bamboo 5-Piece Place Setting

cabbage-serving-bowlFigural Cabbage Bowl

Michael-Aram-servers

Michael Aram 2-Pc. Palm Serving Set

Petrus-Regout-Maastricht-Platter

Petrus Regout Maastricht Platter

meakin-jamaica-octagonal-plates-set-of-6

Meakin “Jamaica” Octagonal Plates – Set of 6

Thibaut-gazebo-masquerade

Thibaut Gazebo Collection ~ Masquerade

Thibaut Gazebo Masquerade marks the genesis of my decorating fascination with the colors, patterns and textures of Chinoiserie finery.




teal-Mikasa-dinner-plate

Aliza Teal Dinner Plate Set of 4

Lenox Pleated Colors Aqua Salad Plate

Lenox Pleated Colors Aqua Salad Plate

mismatched-fine-china-luncheon-plates

Vintage Mismatched Fine China Luncheon Plates – Set of 4

Hybrid Cloe Porcelain Fruit Bowl design by Seletti

Classic Touch Tumblers with 24K Gold Artwork in Assorted Colors (Set of 6)

Classic Touch Tumblers with 24K Gold Artwork in Assorted Colors (Set of 6)

Byzantine+24+Karat+5+Piece+Flatware+Set

Byzantine 24 Karat 5 Piece Flatware Set

Osaka Bamboo Trellis / Tea

Osaka Bamboo Trellis / Teal

Safavieh Lighting Serenity Teal Buddha LampSafavieh Lighting Serenity Teal Buddha Lamp

dinner-napkin

Havana Jacquard Napkins

bamboo-accent-plates

Julie Accent Plate – Set of 4

modern-Chinese-porcelain-bowl

Modern Chinese Porcelain Bowl w/Hand Painted Iris

rose-medallion-bowl

Rose Medallion Bowl

vintage-chinoiserie-foo-dog-dragon-ceramic-platter-hand-paintedVintage Chinoiserie Foo Dog Ceramic Platter

Foo-Dogs-Lion-Statues

Foo Dog Lion Statues

Mix patterns and textures while incorporating whimsical details.

Selecting pieces and accents in complementary colors creates visual flow and ensures continuity.

Chinoiserie-place-setting

Apple Green Monogrammed Check Chinoiserie Napkins

pink-charger-plate

Vietri Pastel Glass Collection Pink Salad Plate

red-dinner-plate

Lenox® Pleated Colors Dinner Plate in Red

Pip Studio - Spring To Life Side Plate - Pink

Pip Studio – Spring To Life Side Plate – Pink

Elephant Theme Thai Celadon Ceramic Plate

Elephant Theme Celadon Salad Plate

gold+10+Stainless+Steel+Flatware+Set

Resler 5 Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set

floral_vine_napkin_pink

Pretty In Pink Napkin

staffordshire-poodles

English Staffordshire Style Poodles

succulent-bowl

covered-vegetable-bowl

Elegant Covered Vegetable Server

flowers-bouquet-1

bamboo-chinoiserie-lattice-in-pink-bubblegum-pink-serving-trays

Bamboo Chinoiserie Lattice in Pink + Bubblegum Pink Serving Tray

 

pagoda-card-1

kate-aspen-place-card-holder

pagoda-card-monkey

Chinoiserie chic meets On the Lanai.

Home decor pieces and fabrics and Dual purpose similar aesthetic characteristics

Bamboo-lattice-fabric-peach

Bamboo Lattice in Peach Fizz

vintage-chopsticks-holders

Gladys Glover Vintage Bamboo-Style Chopstick Rests, S/5

Juliette-pink-wine-glass

cranberry-high-ball-glassesQ Squared Aurora Ruby Double Old-Fashioned Tumblers, Set of 4

Coordinates+19+oz.+Drinkware+Set+with+Cherry+Blossom+Design

Coordinates Drinkware Set with Cherry Blossom Design

Jusalpha-fine-china-tea-cup-saucer-set

Jusalpha Fine China Tea Cup and Saucer Set

Pip Studio - Spring To Life Teapot - Pink

Pip Studio – Spring To Life Teapot

cocktail-memo

ming-tray-table

Dana Gibson Ming Tray Table 

Art & Artifact Buddha Drinking Glasses - Set of 4Art & Artifact Buddha Drinking Glasses – Set of 4

Chinoiserie-bar-decor

Madcap-Cottage-Windy-Corner-Rhubarb

Madcap Cottage Windy Corner Rhubarb

vintage-hollywood-regency-chinoiserie-ginger-jarsVintage Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Ginger Jars – A Pair

chinoiserie-porcelain-foyer-table

Veranda

blue-Placemat

La Gallina Matta Parentesi Placemat

vintage-asian-dinner-plates

Staffordshire Red Old Willow Chinoiserie Dinner Plates

Siam-salad-plate

Juliska Siam Dessert/Salad Plate

Loveramics - Willow Love Story Salad Plates - Set of 4

Loveramics – Willow Love Story Salad Plates – Set of 4

 

blue-white-flower-dinner-napkins

Classic Blue and White Dinner Napkins

blue-pagoda-embroidered-cocktail-napkins-1

Chinese Pagoda Embroidered Linen Hemstitched Cocktail Napkins

Argent Orfevres Orava 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

Argent Orfevres Orava 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

blue-white-chinoiserie-glasses-set-of-3

Blue & White Chinoiserie Glasses

VIETRI Accordion Tall Tumbler

VIETRI Accordion Marine Tall Tumbler

Churchill Blue Willow Round Vegetable Serving Bowl

Churchill Blue Willow Round Vegetable Serving Bowl

NORITAKE BLEUFLEUR OVAL VEGETABLE SERVING BOWL

Noritake Bleufleur Oval Vegetable Serving Bowl

indigol-serving-bowl

Indigold 13″ Serving Bowl

Chinese-five-claw-dragon-bowl

Chinese Five-Claw Dragon Bowl

vintage-blue-willow-steak-knifes-set-of-6

Vintage Blue Willow Steak Knifes – Set of 6

willow-serving-trays

Handled Willow Platter   –    Willow Platter

Vivid colors, rococo styling, and sumptuous patterns are the hallmarks of the Chinoiserie themed tablescape.

tobacco-leaf-plates

Tobacco Leaf Tin Plate 10″ Set (4)

Portmeirion-Sara-Miller-Gold-Plated-Assorted-Plates

Portmeirion Sara Miller Gold Plated Assorted Plates

jewel-tone-salt-pepper-shaker-set

Thirstystone Jewel-Tone Salt & Pepper Shaker Set

blue-white-Chinoiserie-fabric

East of the Moon Porcelain

Williamsburg OD Dunmore Dragons Cobalt

Williamsburg Dunmore Dragons Cobalt

table-lamps-dinner-party

Ralph Lauren Home

Atmosphere is an important aspect of the memorable dining experience.  A table lamp(s) on the dining table promotes soft lighting beneficial to mood and tone.  The height of the  East Enterprises LPBFW088N Table Lamp, Multicolored  is dining tabletop friendly at 19.5 inches tall.

blue-white-table-lamps

East Enterprises LPBFW088N Table Lamp, Multicolored

Classic blue and white porcelain accessories instill the all important touch of elegance.  Use decorative picture frames and easels with a bamboo motif for displaying a printable menu or place card.

blue-white-pagoda

Charlotte-Moss-tablescape

Charlotte Moss ~ Architectural Digest

Charlotte-Moss-Mougin-Linen-Coral-fabric

Charlotte Moss Mougin Linen Coral

pagoda-lanterns

Benzara 57519 Pagoda Lanterns

orchids

Accessories

Shepardson 2 Piece Sitting Foo Dog Statue SetShepardson 2 Piece Sitting Foo Dog Statue Set

oriental-base

Oriental Furniture Rosewood Carved Pedestal Stand 

sandalwood-fan

Sandalwood Fan

Italian-Ceramic-tureen

White Ceramic Tureen

Decorative Picture This Chinoiserie

Decorative Picture This Chinoiserie Decorative Wall Art

Chinoiserie-place-setting

demitasse-cups

newport-mansions-chelsea-bird-mug

Newport Mansions Chelsea Bird Mug

foo-dogs-salt-pepper-set

Foo Dog Salt and Pepper Shakers

As previously stated, destination decorating creates a passport to dining adventures, where the dining table top becomes an inspired canvas.

From place setting to ambiance to gracious detail, a Chinoiserie themed tablescape travels well.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links

Summer Entertaining Suggestions

Summer entertaining suggestions and information is always worthy of repeating- exactly the reason I’m featuring these suggestions new to the Places In The Home summer entertaining repertoire.

Summer is in our sights, arriving with the summer solstice gift of extra daylight.

Talk about the ultimate summer entertaining hostess gift!

Invite vibrant color, easy entertaining tips, and fun home decor touches to the party, and prepare to impress.

lantern luminaries

John Jacob Interiors

Summer nights frame the art of entertaining with a canvas of color and hosting ease.

Retro-Outdoor-Camping-Kerosene-Lamp-Oil-Light-Lantern

Creating an evening under the stars atmosphere begins with bringing down the house lights and illuminating the summer night with soft accent lighting.

candles-in-wrapped-jars-outside-living

Casual elegance is easily achieved by strategically placing kerosene lanterns or glass jar luminaries along a walkway.

lights-in-trees

House Beautiful

For extra ambiance wrap, hang, drape or string white twinkle string lights from trees, in shrubs and around columns.

Stunning!

yellow paper lanterns

Maze Yellow 8″ Paper Lanterns

Tiki torches, table lamps on loan for the evening from your interior home decor, garden chandeliers, and decorative paper lanterns also make great options in the quest to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

outdoor-lanterns

Outdoor Lanterns

summer entertaining tip

Invite the wow factor to your summer soiree- the consummate guest.

DIY party ice buckets and ice cubes serve a gorgeous and delicious purpose.

DIY-ice-bucket

DIY Ice Buckets

Ice ice baby too cold, too cute!

Ball Jars prove a versatile party decor darling.

ball-jar

Light them up, fill them up, or chill them down.

Ball 4pk 32oz Regular Mouth Quart Canning Jars Rose Vintage

A midsummer night’s entertaining dream becomes a reality with these quaint and stunning homemade hurricanes.  I discovered this simple how to supply list for colorful jar lanterns from Joann Stores and promptly pinned it to my Pinterest account.

outdoor-hanging-jar-lights

Joann Stores

Simple and affordable combine decorating forces to add subtle yet palpable charm to a perfect summer evening scene.

DIY summer citronella candles how to video from Southern Living show us how to make a DIY bug-be-gone candle that is not only visually impressive, but an essential must for comfortable summer soiree nights.

clay-pot

Give me a reason to turn a flower pot into a serving piece and it is summer soiree party on.

I’ll never forget the look I got the first time I announced we were having pot brownies at our pot party to a co-hostess.  I don’t believe I have ever clarified something so quickly before or since.

Vidalia-onion

Anywho, clay flower pots are an inexpensive and summer appropriate alternative to traditional serving pieces.

Baked beans, barbecued wings, Creole seasoned French fries, baked Vidalia onions, summer sausage- all great “pot” options.

House Beautiful

Elevate an otherwise average patio table to party perfection by topping it with a stylish outdoor tablecloth. Layer the look with chairs, cushions and outdoor pillows decked out in bright summer colors.

Decoristas have long had a trusty trick up their sleeve. Home decor and furnishings that work gorgeously inside the house will rock an outdoor living space like a Led Zeppelin concert!

Domaine

Love your inside dining chairs and know they will be the key to pulling the entire outdoor tablescape together, but don’t want the chair legs to get dirty?

outdoor-table-setting

Architectural Digest

Wrap the bottom of each chair leg with clear plastic wrap.

Perhaps a tad time-consuming, but it will save time on the clean up end of the party.

Be as pre-party proactive as possible with certain tasks.  It’s a summer entertaining essential skill for the host and/or hostess to hone.

Hello-my-name-is-summer-name-card

With the very, very good points of summer outdoor living and summer entertaining comes the very real concern over controlling mosquitoes.

Burning sage or rosemary repels is said to kill mosquitoes. The mosquito killing power is in the smoke so I’m thinking summer fire pit or campfire plays into being a natural necessity.

mosquito_sage

Pure Wow

At the point in the party when the food and drink has hit the spot, the music is summer smooth, the outdoor party life is kicking up a notch, and the company and the conversation is hitting all the right notes it’s time to hand out summer relaxation party pails.

fresh-rose-petals

Fill plastic beach pails from the dollar store with his or hers flip-flops, individual aluminum spray bottles filled with chilled homemade rose water (the guys love this stuff almost as much as the gals), cold cucumber slices in freezer bags and Burt’s Bees Cucumber & Sage facial cleansing towelettes (love the scent).

Assemble party pails beforehand adding chilled and cold items to pails right before handing them out.

Cucumber_Cleansing_Towelettes

Enjoy the colors and celebrations of the season.

What better excuse for throwing a stylish summer entertaining soiree!

Darleen-signature-love

Company’s Coming! This Year’s Thanksgiving Table

This years Thanksgiving table planning is in full swing.

Decorative accents and accessories are going into place and company’s coming.

Clearance sales making room for Black Friday deals and steals makes anticipating the decorative needs of this year’s Thanksgiving table and hitting the place order button a gobble gobble gotta have it a no-brainer.

woodland-turkey

Traditional is the flavor of the Places In The Home Thanksgiving month, and the preparation begins at the first hint of the harvest moon.

dishes

Colors and natural decor that intermingle well with fall through to Christmas decorations and tablescapes keeps costs in check.

turkey-centerpiece1

Shades of blue, green, red and creamy white are as stunning on a harvest themed table as well as the Holiday table.

ironstone-plates-etsy Etsy

Dave the Builder worked on the dining room redo this past weekend with success in the major improvement department!

Lighter paint colors and natural light will open up a space, guaranteed.

We’re hoping to have it all pulled together by next week in order to get the Thanksgiving tablescape ball rolling.

Thanksgiving-corn-centerpieceNew England Home Magazine

thanksgiving-table

I’m depending on traditional simplicity to make an elegant statement for this year’s Thanksgiving table.

Love your style!

A Most Fetching Friday 9: October

This week’s Fetching Friday features impressions and inspirations associated with the star of the moment, October.

fetching-definiton

fetching Friday 9

Hello, October.

I’ve been anxiously waiting your arrival.

ff-tureen-and-apple

Berthe Morisot Tureen and Apple

Cucurbita_pepo_small_edible_White_Pumpkins_9.16via

ff-blanketsStyle Me Pretty – Photography by Judy Pak Photography

Seatings and settings.  

Crisp evenings set the tone and texture for seasonal tablescapes with attention to cozy details.

rolling-pinRustic Olive Wood Rolling Pin

Currently craving.

ff-apple-pancakeApple Pancake

I hope you have a most Fetching Friday.

Love your style!

Holiday Prep and Decorative Detail

Holiday prep and decorative detail time is upon us here at Places in the Home. All is merry and bright with the help of caffeine, precision planning, patience (lots of merry patience), swift kitchen detail and keeping a cool and relaxed tude to guarantee a cool yule.

holiday-china-crystal

I tapped into the decorations closet of Christmas past for inspiration and holiday show this year.   Everything is new again is the holiday decorations running theme.  It’s a great way to reacquaint yourself with treasured favorites and to fall back in love with them all over again.

Christmas-centerpiece-light

I had more fun pulling vintage, antique and new accents from here and there and grouping them together in holiday harmony.

table-accents-light

Items that immediately identify with and tell the story of  individual tastes, collections and personality are always in the best of style, your style.

John 3:16

The centerpiece is one of those “it all just came together” accents, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.  A big thank you to the florist at Kroger for her well timed and generous markdown on the roses, and to my brother who showed a magnolia tree and juniper bush who was boss with his mad clipping and cutting skills.

fresh flowers

No shrubs or trees were harmed in the making of this Christmas centerpiece, just pruned and picked.

centerpiece

From all of us here at Places In The Home, we wish you a Places In The Home for the Holidays very Merry Christmas filled with peace, joy, fond memories old and new, blessings, love, relaxing times with family and friends and a joyous celebration of the beauty of the season in your places in the home.

 

Love your style!

 

Travel Times: Summer Vacation Memories

Deep in the soul of summer travel times with family and friends lurks the shadows of summer vacation memories.

A rise in temperatures signaled the rise in my travel anticipation, even if our holiday road only lead to a local pool, creek, or lake.

summer vacation memories at the lakePinterest

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”

– George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Hancock Springs poolThe Road Trip Destination Guide

For those times when the holiday road lead to East Tennessee or anywhere in the great state of Texas the party was on!

Summer, family reunions, cousins, and swimming pools go naturally together.

Lampasas, Texas set the scene for our annual summer family reunion. While the parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles told tall tales, prepared epic picnic fare, and played 42,  my cousins and I clocked hours in the Hancock Springs Pool.

I’m not sure,  but I believe my love and fascination with swimming pools began there and then.

Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the memories!

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkThe Great Smokies

Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the  Great Smoky Mountains National Park will forever be considered my home away from home.

Every summer of my childhood my parents, brother, and I made our annual trek to East Tennessee.  It’s a travel tradition that has carried through to my family.

Memories from the past blend in with new memories we are making. I like a little past served with the present, and summer vacations tend to deliver on that front.

Remember these?

aluminum tumblersLeaf tv

A picnic in the Smokies is a must do for our gang of merry travelers.

As much as convenience tempts me, Solo cups need not apply.

I pack a mean vintage picnic basket complete with aluminum tumblers circa 19ihavenoidea.

Ever the colorista, these darlings make a summer tablescape pop with their blast from the past retro fashion colors.

Holiday Inn signFast Company

Dave the Builder and I were both raised in the era of larger than life hotel and motel swimming pools.

How many of you were too?

Big haul road trips came with the extra added bonus of at least one overnight stay in a hotel or motel.

The mid trip overnighter existed in order to break the “are we there yet?” monotony.

This is where things had the power to get summer splash zone interesting.

The first indication of how good or how bad things were to come was based on the size, style, and neon quotient of the hotel or motel sign.

Didn’t your heart drop at first glimpse of a beloved Holiday Inn sign?

The parents may have measured the quality of the overnight accommodations by the luxury offerings, but the kids knew what really mattered- the swimming pool.

In order for a property to receive the kid approved five star rating there better be a whole lotta pool time on the schedule.

Twin Islands Best WesternGatlinburg, Tennessee

I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.

We’ve clocked many sun screened soaked hours at many a swimming pool with our son.

Whenever I see the swimming pool in the image above my mind and heart immediately take me back to a late July afternoon twelve years ago when our son learned to swim.

It’s those kind of summer vacation memories that become the priceless souvenirs of a lifetime.  

Where will you be making summer vacation memories this year?