The Painted Apron

Tablescapes, Playing House

Posted by the Painted Apron on April 15, 2013 · 13 Comments 

I think when our children get married they should inherit all our old dishes and we should get all the new pretty ones!

Seriously, we’re the ones who have sweated and slaved to raise them, and what do we get? More bills and back to all our old stuff…Ha, just kidding…but I did realize when my daughter got married that it was okay to get some new things to replace the tired worn out ones I had had for years….  I still love my wedding china and so many of my things, but I have gradually eliminated the old chipped dishes and replaced them with bargains and buys from my favorite stores.

My darling daughter, known as DD here in blogland,  was married several years ago and received so many beautiful things.

I had so much fun helping her choose and register for china and housewares and then seeing the gifts as they arrived…she chose 2 different every day china patterns to mix and match.

The Skyros Designs “Legado” features an initial on the salad plate and the coffee mug.

The “Isabella,” also by Skyros Designs, has a raised dotted edge and comes in several colors.  She has pieces in cream, blue, green and dark brown.

When DD asked me to stay with CC, my new granddaughter, the first thing I asked her was “Can I play with some of your dishes?” When the baby is asleep of course!

Working with what she had on hand I used the white vase of tulips that was already on her great looking weathered wood table. There was another glass vase of tulips on the raised bar between the living room and the kitchen.  She said that Whole Foods had their 2 for $10 tulip special the other day and with all the baby visitors she’d been  having lately she was trying to keep fresh flowers in the house.  Sigh…that made me SO HAPPY,  fresh flowers are pretty high on my list of necessities!

With a large mercury pear shaped vase and a tall mirrored bottle, a centerpiece began to form…Now you’re probably wondering why I didn’t integrate the 2 colors a little for unity in the vases, but I didn’t want her to come home and think I didn’t approve of her arrangements, so I left them alone. She was nice enough to let me play house, I didn’t want to overstep.

Some textured orbs were borrowed from a hurricane in the kitchen and piled into Isabella chocolate ramekins, one ramekin is perched on an up ended bowl.

I decided to keep things neutral to highlight the pink tulips so I chose the chocolate chargers to use in lieu of place mats.  I also totally forgot the napkins, whoops…pretend ok? Remember we’re playing house…

The charger is topped with an off white Isabella dinner plate and that is topped with the white Legado salad plate.

A pitcher and some pretty glassware…

Everything is simple and fresh, which is exactly her style…the only thing that suggests my style over hers is the centerpiece, she would have chosen just one or 2 elements rather than the more complicated grouping.  The pink celebrates CC and the mercury glass pieces help pull the 2 very different vases together, anchored by the orbs and ramekins which match the chargers.  Her things look beautiful, the setting is elegant yet simple, warm and inviting yet special.  The table has bench seating on the interior side which opens it up to the room and living area beyond the raised breakfast bar.

CC was not at all impressed, but hey, this was her very first tablescaping experience!  She was lots of help though, no negative remarks…she tried to pay attention, but she nodded off…Maybe next time!! There are still a lot of wonderful dishes to play with here!  They are decorating slowly, with more window treatments and art work to come.

I hope you’ll join us again soon for another spring/summer table at CC’s house!    Shhhhhhhh…….don’t tell DD, she really frowns on my taking all these photos.  Mums the word….

Thanks for keeping my secret!

The table, bench and dining chairs are from World Market.

The tufted leather look counter chairs are from Overstock.com.

The china and glassware is available at high end gift stores.

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I’m joining some of these great parties this week:

the Tablescaper for SEASONAL SUNDAY

Between Naps on the Porch for METAMORPHIS MONDAY & TABLESCAPE THURSDAY

Stone Gable for ON THE MENU MONDAY and TUTORIALS, TIPS & TIDBITS THURSDAY

A Stroll Thru Life for INSPIRE ME TUESDAY

The Gunny Sack for TIME TO SPARKLE TUESDAY?

Memories by the Mile for TUESDAY TRIVIA

Savvy Southern Style for WOW US WEDNESDAY

Cuisine Kathleen for LET’S DISH

Rattlebridge Farms for FOODIE FRIDAY

Alderberry Hill for MAKE THE SCENE MONDAY

The Dedicated House for MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY and ANYTHING BLUE FRIDAY

No Minimalist Here for OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY

the Answer is Chocolate for BFF OPEN HOUSE

The Busy Bee’s for THURSDAY BLOG HOP

Crafts ala mode for WHAT TO DO WEEKENDS

check out these amazing blogs!