THE DINING ROOM TABLE DRESSED FOR FALL

I've been adding touches of fall here and there in my home lately since the weather finally decided to cooperate. It feels wonderful! I've even worn a sweater a few times already. I'm sure you guys are loving it, too.

You'll be shocked to find out I've created something in my home without using any blue and white. I know that's hard to believe, and it feels a bit strange, but it turned out to my liking anyway. :) It's the table in my dining room. It's all fancied up for fall. "Fancy" is probably too strong of a word--the table is actually pretty simple this year.

I was having trouble getting started because I loved last year's table so much. It had a lot going on, and this year I was going for less. But have no fear! Our Home Goods store is now here, and it helped me get the project rolling. I had to return something to TJ Maxx which means I also had to run next door and breeze through Home Goods, too. That's where I found my starting point: a gingham, fall-colored table cloth.

The only size they had left was bigger than I needed, but I bought it anyway and improvised. I tied up the corners all cute and hoped no one would talk about me for doing it.

Here are the napkins I bought to coordinate with the table cloth.

Then I found a cool basket. I knew it would be perfect for holding all sorts of pumpkins, pine cones, and candles. It has a gorgeous weave and high sides, and I love the handles.

At this point, I had the color scheme in my head. It was all starting to come together. I would use my white Strawberry and Vine dishes from Wedgewood, and white pumpkins like I have in the past.

On my next trip out and about, I picked up four of the cutest velvet-wrapped pumpkins. I also ran in Michael's and grabbed a few faux hydrangeas in an orange, light brown color.

Publix provided a few tiny real pumpkins, and I shopped my house for the final details. I put the basket in the middle of the table and began arranging everything, starting with a silver-plated champagne chiller I found last month thrifting for $10. It's not in perfect condition, but that's fine by me. I also added silver lanterns with white candles used in my last fall table.

For the centerpiece I mixed the fall-colored hydrangeas with the light green ones I already had. At the ends of the table I sprinkled a few leaves I had left over from last year.

And here is the basket and the table working hard to set the mood for Fall.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope it's a great week!
Kathryn

BLUE + WHITE SUMMER TABLE

My summer is coming to a close, but my summer table is still going strong. It's been decorated for a while, but I'm just now getting around to showing it to you. And just to clarify, I'm not having friends over any time soon, but I love having a set table! When I walk through the room, I get a little giddy. 

I had everything except the flowers set up and arranged by June. I didn't cut the flowers until July. I think they bloomed a little later than normal this year. They are from the front entrance at the high school where I teach. And thankfully, I didn't get in trouble for swiping what I needed to complete my table. (My principal is actually a blog reader, so he gave me a pass. Thanks, Mr. Hinton! I'll be starting my 23rd year of teaching next week!)

Limelight hydrangeas have to be one of the prettiest flowers to fill vases and jars. Because they are such big flowers, they really don't require a lot of arranging. Trim back the leaves and stick them in your vessel. Then, just move them around until the arrangement looks good to you. But FYI, they shed when they begin to wilt. 

To get things started, I used this square table cloth that I bought last year for my daughter's graduation party. It obviously can't cover the entire table, but I like to have some of my table showing. Is that strange? Do you need a basic white table cloth? You can see it here.

52" WHITE SQUARE TABLE CLOTH

I used these round placemats that I found at Kirklands back in May. They were part of my Mother's Day gift that I picked out for myself. Do you do that, too? I checked, and they are sold out of mine, but Target has these and Amazon has this set of four and this set of six if you're interested.

The only thing I bought specifically for the summer table was a set of gingham napkins. I absolutely love anything gingham! I found them here. 

GINGHAM NAPKINS

For everything else, I shopped my house. I almost always use my white Wedgewood Strawberry and Vine dishes and mix other dishes with them. This time I mixed the blue and white bread and butter plates from the Liberty Blue collection. 

Here are the glasses I used. You've seen them before if you remember my fall table from last year. 

It all came together like this:

The center piece of my the table this time around was the largest of my three double happiness jars. I have two that are almost identical, found on two different occasions thrifting. But this one is taller and did not have a lid with it when I found it. That didn't keep me from snatching it up. Besides, it will just about always have something pretty in it and will not need the lid. 

After the limelights wilted,  I used my faux hydrangeas that move around all over the house. I only have three stems of these and wish I had bought more of them.

I also added two other small arrangements I was using on my bookshelves. I like the look of the crisp white in contrast with all the bold blue. 

Then, for some color on the summer table, I added bright-colored fruit to my little silver bowls I've been collecting and reviving over the past few months. See how I used one other bowl here. My favorite polish for these cuties can be found here. 

To see a few other tablescapes I've created, click here and here.

Nothing too perplexing, just lots of my favorite things all in one place. Or I guess I should say, "all on one table." :-)

DECORATING WITH BOLD GREENERY: A DIY PROJECT

I really like the look of big, bold greenery. It's eye-catching and statement-making.

Philedendron leaves are an easy way to get that bold greenery look.

Ballard Designs

I'd been thinking I wanted to add some large leaves to my décor, and I came across this photo from One King's Lane back in September. Then, dear blog reading friends, I looked at the price tag. Needless to say, I was inspired to shop my house and create my own version.

One King's Lane

And that's just what I did.

Hobby Lobby sold me the two leaves. These may or may not have been 50% off when I bought them. September was a long time ago, and I can't remember. :)

I already had the glass vase (also from Hobby Lobby from years ago), and I already had the rocks. I was using them both for another arrangement that I was ready to be done with it, so it was the perfect vessel for my DIY project.

The finished look:

Not too bad!



If you'll remember I painted this room a few springs back, and I really hadn't done anything to this spot until I made this arrangement. I added the plates to finish it up the wall. Because blue and white makes every area better.

Here are a few more inspiration pictures using bold greenery in home decorating.

J K Kling

House Beautiful

via Pinterest 

via Pinterest

via Pinterest @trellishomedesign

Austin Patterson Diston Architects

I love the mix of blue, white, and green in this room. 

Caroline Gidiere

Enjoy your day,

Kathryn

SOME NEW MILK GLASS ADDITIONS

I've added a few new pieces to my milk glass collection over the last year, and since it's been a good while since we talked about thrift store finds, I thought I'd show them to you. 

I found two, teardrop compotes that belong in a set of three. Now I'm on the look out for the last one in the set.

Since I'm somewhat new to milk glass collecting, I didn't realize what the ledges inside the bowls were for. But then...

...it occurred to me, and I immediately jumped on Pinterest to see how others had used them once stacked. 

How cute did this turn out? Created by The Goodwill Gal, who has an outstanding milk glass collection herself. 

via Pinterest

Another piece I picked up matched this dish that I've had for a while. I found the smaller one over the holidays.

I see these two dishes with the embossed geometric shapes a good bit. I would think there are others out there, but I haven't come across them.

And then my friend Kim called to tell me her mom was selling her vintage milk glass pitcher with nine glasses. She's a blog reader and thought to call me first. How nice of her!!

I have some of my pieces woven into my decor on my built-in bookshelves in our living room, but most of it is displayed in my China cabinet in our dining room. This furniture was my maternal grandparent's, and even though it screams 1980 something, at the moment I'm just not moved to part with it. 

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!!

Kathryn