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." :-)

FALL DINING ROOM TABLE

I think I can now say FALL is here! I walked one morning over the weekend and I was actually cold. It was wonderful. Seems like the perfect time to share my fall table. I started working on it in September and finally have it presentable.

Back in August, while buying light bulbs at Lowe's, I came across these silver lanterns on a clearance table. Y'all, they were only $7. I couldn't pass them up, even though I wasn't sure how I'd used them. At the time of purchase, I pictured them on my mantel for Christmas.

The next piece of the table puzzle was the mums.

I was in Home Depot buying spray paint (imagine that!), saw these, and thought they would be the perfect size for a table. I also knew they would look good with blue and white. I remembered the lanterns and just like that, the whole plan was in my head.

The only other accessories I bought were the pumpkins from the grocery store, the cute little leaves, and a bag of moss from Michael's to cover up the rim of the plastic container on the mums.  I shopped my house and yard for everything else.

Here's how it all came together...

I started with my 4x5 drop cloth and added my burlap runner that my friend Carla made.

I had the big jar, and I borrowed the candle sticks and candles from my bathroom. I didn't put everything in a straight line. Instead, I zig-zagged the pieces.

The lanterns were added next, and then I lined up the planters that would hold the mums. I had room for it all.

Time to set the table.

I started with my Wedgewood Strawberry and Vine dinner plates, added salad plates from HomeGoods that I picked up last year for my Christmas table, and finally a blue and white saucer. I topped it off with a faux leaf that didn't look at all like it was faux. My husband even asked if I went out and bought real leaves.

I also spread some of the leaves around the table, along with pine cones from my yard, to fill in some of the space that felt and looked empty.

The cup and saucer are also Strawberry and Vine, and the cobalt glasses were my grandmother's.

And there you have it. I love walking through the room and being reminded that my favorite time of year has finally arrived.

Now, let's go enjoy the weather!
Have great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping by...

Kathryn