A moody fall candlelit tablescape
October 15, 2009
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Part of my birthday gift to myself (doesn't everyone do that?) was new dishes for the dining room. I never registered for china when we got married -- if people wanted to get us something, I wanted it to be something we would really use.
Instead I bought a set of Pier 1 gold and red dishes that went perfect with the old dining room.
Obviously, they don't any more. Now, they are our everyday dishes and I have no idea why I waited so long to do that! Funny how at 34 I finally feel like an adult every day when we eat, not using the dishes from college. ;)
So last week I was on the hunt for new, luscious dinnerware that I could piece together for the dining table.
Yesterday I needed the final piece -- the placemats. I bought three items -- two chargers and a placemat (I have to see how things work!) and ended up keeping the placemat:
It's simple and the brown matches the chairs and walls perfectly. I like how simply elegant they are. (From Stein Mart.) Next up, my HomeGoods plates:
Ummm. I love them. The room is fairly simple with the colors, so I wanted to bring in some flair with the dishes.
Ummm. I love them. The room is fairly simple with the colors, so I wanted to bring in some flair with the dishes. They have a little brown accent on them:
Next up, I wanted a square salad plate, and found some at Target:
Next up, I wanted a square salad plate, and found some at Target:
Then, simple white linens, (again from Stein Mart) placed on the plate like Pottery Barn.
Cause I like how Pottery Barn sets a table:
I found PERFECT bowls at Pier 1:
With a little touch of curvy:
To finish it off for the season, I added metallic pumpkins (more on those later!) inside each bowl:
To finish off each setting, I added the water goblets I've been collecting at Goodwill (for 49 cents each!) over time:
And I absolutely ADORE how it turned out!
But it still needed just a little something. Little white votives at each setting finished it off:
GORG!!
GORG!!
You have no idea how much I wanted to eat our dinner of leftovers here tonight. ;)
We will eat here much, much more when the room is complete.
I just ordered the new dining room chandelier tonight, and in my head, it absolutely completes the room.
Once I finish up the chairs and the bench for the seating, and get that light installed...it's done!
I hope to show you the final dramatic dining room reveal next week. You won't believe the before and after. Wowzers.
Don't you all love the look of a set table? Do you keep yours set all the time? I never have because of the fear of DUST. But now I'm so tempted to leave it like this all the time. (Well, maybe without the silverware. We kinda need that.) I just love it.
talk about WOWZERS! foxnews?!
ReplyDeleteand that table truly IS gorg!
GREAT JOB!
~karin
It is set and looks fabulous! I love the way you mixed and matched pieces from so many different places. They work together perfectly!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful - as always! Love the plates with the brown showing through a bit. We just registered for every day dishes when we married, too, but I've always used them for all our meals- leftovers or Christmas dinner. I love them (Crate and Barrel)! I love your ideas for dressing them up, though. Love! I couldn't keep my table always set because we use the dishes every day, and sometimes we eat in the dining room and sometimes in the kitchen. But I do always keep a centerpiece, and I've been oggling yours like crazy. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI keep placemats and napkins on my table, but not dishes. I would love to but I'm afraid people will make fun of me for looking like I have model home! Do most people keep their dishes arranged on the table? Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteYour table is looking gorgeous! I love how every piece is from a different place but they all look so great!
That looks so good, Sarah! I love the dishes you got and the little details are really pretty. My favorite is the large white plate from Home Goods. I don't usually look at the dishes when I'm there, but I'm thinking maybe I should swing by that section next time.
ReplyDeleteI too love the way Pottery Barn sets a table! Gorgeous table scape - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI lurrrrve the white square plates! I have been a crazy square thing lately. I can't wait to see more! Congratulations on the Foxnews bit! Whoo hoo. Go you!
ReplyDeleteLooks be-a-u-tiful!! I love it all.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks beautiful! Having the table set nicely makes me feel so special...especially if I'm a guest! I feel inspired to go make my dining table this pretty!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely GORG!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, simple and elegant idea!!
Fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay so I totally love the setting-- love it. But I must ask you . . what about the chillin's? Do you have lil kids? I so worry about my the kids just ruining my dishes, thus the table goes unset.
ReplyDeletepottery barn fabulous, it's my kind of a thing i must say. i have been collecting some goodwill stuff too, and you have soooo inspired me to decorate girlfriend. a passion i had laid down for quite some time. thank you thank you thank you, really.
ReplyDeletei keep mine set all the time! i love the way yours turned out. i love mix/match dishes. looks so much better than a set!
ReplyDeleteDying.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming over to eat.
-Jill
GORGEOUS! I love how the dishes are all different patterns. Like the slightly off brown. BEAUTIFUL.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your blog! You are definitely inspiring!! We also didn't register for china when we got married & about a year ago finally decided we needed a real set of tableware. I love checking to see what great ideas you have each day, Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThat is one gorgeous table! I bet you walk by it like a thousand times a day just to gaze at its beauty!
ReplyDeleteYour table settings look lovely! The extra fall touches are perfect for the season. I don't leave our table set, mostly because we only have one table, and we need to use it! I love the look of a set table though.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best table setting I've seen in a long time! Those pumpkins look adorable in the bowls. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso! I just posted on some beadboard I put up AND I used your tip to finish the edges by the window...the dowel rods...that way you that suggested that, right? lol...I think it is! I would love for you to take a look if you can. :) Thank you
And it looks wonderful....You amaze me...Just out blog hopping on tonight...really should be working... Hope you will stop by my Christmas blog and leave your favorite Christmas song...and enter a great giveaway. Also, a birthday letter to my daughter on my main blog...http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletehttp://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com
How can you be in the middle of a project, still have time to set such a beautiful, creative table... and post this?!
ReplyDeleteYou seem way to organized to be so creative. I bet you even cooked dinner...
All I can say is that I have "blog envy".
I totally love what you did with your table. It turned out so beautifully....but I.can.NOT. believe you left us hanging on the cute pumpkins - how cruel. :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! Your Goodwill rocks! Mine? Not so much! I dared myself to go in there and I was so spooked, I had to turn around in leave! It smelled like dirty and there was NOTHING in "home goods" section or furniture!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll dare myself another tour de Goodwill later down the road, but I have to really prepare myself next time! LOL
I keep my dining room set all the time! I have turquoise glass chargers over silver acrylic ones (to bring the blue out) with 3 baby starfish on each and a silver napkin with pewter napkin rings in beach related icons (light house, crab, seahorse, etc.). LOVE IT!
It's our "museum room" - you can look, but you can't touch! haha!
Gorg! That table looks like its right out of a Pottery Barn catalog. Forget glitter pumpkins! I'm moving on to metallic. I'm assuming you've made those.
ReplyDeleteThat table really is beautiful! Its classy and simple. Can't wait to see your next project!
ReplyDeletewww.cupcakeskissesncrumbs.blogspot.com
I *heart* it!!! Gorgeous!!! I unfortunately don't have a formal dining set yet, my dining room is our "office".. I hope to change that soon...
ReplyDeletewow! it looks great. I love Home goods for their plates and dishes. I really LOVE those metallic pumpkins
ReplyDeleteSarah, your dining room is lovely! You are doing a beautiful job putting it all together - I can't wait to see everything!
ReplyDeleteLove those dishes and linens - what an eye you have.
Simple, sweet and complete. Will look forward to seeing the light when you get it.
ReplyDeleteDi
I LOVE the mix of whites and browns. Best of both worlds!!! It looks great!!! I can't wait to see this fixture you've got coming!
ReplyDeleteLove your Goodwill glasses! That's my kind of deal. I have a set of beautiful white dishes, found at Goodwill. I love using them. Just started doing tablescapes on my kitchen and am really enjoying it! Your table is simply GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand it. It's just too gorgeous! You know what you're doin', lady!
ReplyDeleteCan I just tell you that when I opened your post and saw that first picture, I thought it was from a Pottery Barn or some-other-she-she-poo-poo catalog? Absolutely gorgeous! You have done a SUPER job! I especially love those square white plates. Most square ones are a little too modern looking for me, but the lacy edges on those soften them up beautifully! I don't blame you...I'd want to eat every meal in there!
ReplyDeleteYour table look great! Now if I can just find the perfect table for OUR dining room! Love your plates and goblets.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE the whole table!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I would love to have dishes out all the time and have almost tried it before. But then I don't when I think about the dust and I figure all the time it will take to move it to eat and then move it back when we're done.
But it looks great!!
It looks great. I love how simple the items are, but together look just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour table looks perfect! Those pumpkins just top it off! Can't wait to see the chairs! I was so impressed that you found the dishes from here and there and everywhere and they all look so good together! I'm at 32 and still don't have any dishes either! I guess it is about time for me to grow up!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!!!!
Wow! What a beautiful tablescape! I have been known to pre set a table but then I would lightly cover it with a sheet because I too was worried about dust, cat hair, etc.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next installment!
~ Tracy
Beautiful. So serene and so gorgeous. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeletei love the look of a set table, but i too fear the dust. it totally grosses me out! yours is beautiful tho!
ReplyDeleteB-E-A-U-TIFUL!!!! I am trying to re-create your centerpice for my table at home! You always have the best ideas!
ReplyDeleteI've been collecting things so I can set my table like that too. Like you, we didn't register for china when we got married either.
ReplyDeleteI would be too scared of dust.. however I love just looking at a set table even if we dont eat there often.
That does look totally awesome AND you took really nice pictures of it all! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGirrrl - My jaw is on the floor. I am so stinkin' impressed! Thanks for the amazing inspiration!
ReplyDeleteB-E-A-U-T-FUL!!!!! Wow that is NICE! Exactly where I am at right now, I need fall plates, have every season and holiday but not ma favorite time of year. Loved the lighst! Loved the post! Now time to go shopping!
ReplyDeleteLove your mix of dishes, great job!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Fox News feature. Love the Fox News! :)
ReplyDeleteYour table is lovely...very Fally. I adore those plates. I listened to my mother, who told me not to register for china, and now I wish I had. I didn't think about going to Marshalls or TJ Maxx to look.
And I totally give myself a bday gift. You mean not everyone does that?! ;)
It's lovely, it looks so cosy, and so very posh! I was also thinking, a red napkin and place mat and a vintage bauble in each bowl would look fab at Crimble time!
ReplyDeleteOur table isn't set, as we had our livingroom and kitchen in a small room, and the table is used as prep space, a sewing point and a desk as well as a dining table. In our old flat, it alway at least had a cloth, runner and centrepiece, and in our next home, we will have a dining room, so I will leave it set!
I am a new follower of your blog and I just LOVE it! I am totally envious of your new gorgeous dining room dinner set. You have such great taste and I love seeing all your projects.
ReplyDeleteWOW.....absolutely beautiful!!!! I need to know more about those pumpkins....those are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThose bowls ARE perfect!! I love how you drew items from so many different sources - well done! What are the candles in the middle?
ReplyDelete--Vicki K
Looks AWESOME! I soooo lurve Pottery Barn (much to my sweet hubby's chagrin! LOL) You crack me up...you have as many projects going as I do! Must say though...I just finished distressing the entertainment center and am ready to accessorize...the paint FINALLY dried. Can't wait to see the chairs!!
ReplyDeletei love your table. and i, too, love the look of a set table! i just cant do it because of my 3 year old and 9 month old twins. i think i would have broken dishes!
ReplyDeleteLovin' it, Sarah! This makes me want to go out and buy new everyday dishes (only I need everyday dishes).
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I would keep my table beautifully set all the time if it weren't for my crazy male cat who likes to run across the tabletop and pull everything off. I would make him into a steeringwheel cover if he pulled my china off the table and broke it. Just kidding (sort of, lol!).
SIMPLY STUNNING.....
ReplyDeleteI have a 3 year old and 9 month old... no, I don't keep my table set all the time... for very obvious sanity reasons...
But I'd love to!
Hugs,
Traci
So beautiful, simple, and cozy. I am absolutely in awe. I want to LIVE in your dining room! Great work. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Great job!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so lovely. I like how you did the centerpiece.
ReplyDeleteWillow
Im voting for leaving it that way! I have a friend that leaves hers decorated all the time and I just drool over it. I wish I could but I have teenagers that spread homework all over the table from time to time. I say go for it! I love goblets from goodwill. Most of mine come from there!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I used to keep our dining room table set (switched out based on season) all the time. Now, I end up using it to sew on and my three year old drives hotwheels on it, so dishes had to go. :) We don't eat in there very often, but when we do my son always asks if we're having a special drink (I usually buy sparkling cider when we have special dinners in there). Guess I need to get back to setting it all pretty-like and using it so he doesn't just associate the dining room with sparkling cider!
ReplyDeleteOUTSTANDING!
ReplyDeleteoooohhhh la la that is uh-mazing!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the white Home Goods plates. Oh, how I wish we had one here because I want those plates. Beautiful dining room, love the centerpiece too.
ReplyDeleteVery chic! Love the table, and there is nothing nicer than a "real" dining room, especially one you plan to USE. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see the era of "no dining rooms" seems to be waning.
Cass
Stunning! I would never want to eat there--just stare at its beauty! Great job!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Even though it's mix-matched it looks so well put together. I went stalking those plates at Home Goods, no dice for me. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, Sarah. It looks absolutely fabulous. Straight from a magazine, fabulous.
ReplyDelete♥ it all. ♥ you too.
Gorg, gorg, gorgeous!! I love it, you did such a great job! I saw those plates in Home Goods and thought how pretty they were. :)
ReplyDeletei love it ALL!!!! Can't wait to see the final review... interesting about the dust on the plates, b/c I was wondering the same thing. I love the look of a set dining room table, but we do eat dinner at ours almost every night... i worry about the dust...
ReplyDeletei meant final reveal... :)
ReplyDeleteI want to just sit in your dining room all day.
ReplyDeleteSarah, your dining room table turned out just beautiful! I love it! the white dishes are so pretty. And the pumpkins just finish it off. Gorg!
ReplyDeleteI love it! It's beautiful! If I had a table setting that looked like that my table would be set all the time!
ReplyDeleteI'll be your dinner guest. Love the ambiance you've created. Beautiful white dishes and the pop of brown is stunning. Can't wait to see the chandelier as well! Thank you Thrifty Chick! Congrats on being on Fox News!
ReplyDeleteAH-MAZING...seriously.. well done..
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Very creative.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteDid I (choke) hear you say (gasp, choke) that you ORDERED!!!!! a new light? What? You call yourself a "DIY"-er! Oh the shame, the shame. Now, don't let me hear you talkin that foolishness again! Hit the pavement and find the ugliest light fixture out there, bring it home, paint it, MAKE IT AWESOME, then write about it-ya hear me!
Oh well, I guess you should treat yourself once in a while.
Beth
Beautiful. I love the brown and white. Those white plates are fabulous, I can't wait to see the lighting you've been dreaming up!
ReplyDeleteOh -- the metalic pumpkins are so so perfect. Well done!!! I need to get my butt in gear with my table. this is a feast for the eyes!!
ReplyDeleteLove it all! Especially the pumpkins. Can't wait to read how you did them. I've got a bag waiting for something magical to happen to them!
ReplyDeleteLove the table!!! It looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteB.E.A.UTIFUL! You constantly inspire me. You're my favorite favorite favorite blogger! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, elegant and uncomplicated. That is the type of style I crave and go for when decorating. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI'm considering doing a mirror table runner. I have a long mirror my son cracked (accidentally) so it would be good repurposing....
ReplyDeletewww.cheapchichome.blogspot.com
Love this! Tell us more about the pumpkins! Tell us! Tell us!
ReplyDeleteReally elegant looking. And the centerpiece is just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhew! I feel like I just ran a half marathon getting to the bottom of all your 86 comments! (Puff, Puff, Huff, Wheeze) Anyway... I had to tell you that I, too , love your table. Where did you get that fabulous centerpiece? Do you have it on another post? It is incredible. Love the colors you chose. You have a wonderful decorator's eye. I really enjoyed the exercise and your blog.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Love the square plates you added. Nice backdrop to the white bowl. Crisp and clean, elegant and simple!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your talent.
I love the contrast and simplicity of your table. Beautiful:)
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, Beautiful tablescape! Stunning centerpiece! I love your new china...Happy Late Birthday, btw!
ReplyDeleteI may have missed it...forgive if I did, appreciate very much if you would link back to BNOTP in your post...and would really appreciate it if you'd add the MM logo to your post. Just trying to spread the word about MM. So glad you joined in today! :-)
Ooops, sorry, meant to say trying to spread the word about TT (Tablescape Thursday.):-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, simple but oh, so elegant.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah! :-) You're the best!
ReplyDeleteGreat table and Happy Birthday! I know you are LOVING your new dishes...they are so neat and PERFECT for your room. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful table! I love it -
ReplyDeletewell, even though you have over a hundred comments!! I had to add that I love what you have done!! so simple and elegant!! I surely am wondering about the beautiful centerpiece too, but alas you said nothing!!!
ReplyDeleteI was also dying to know about the centerpiece. I read your post about 3 times thinking I missed it. Please tell us! It looks like you used a long rectangular frame????? Your tablescape is one of the most beautiful, simple and elegant ones I've ever seen. Love the colors.
ReplyDeleteLove the shapes and texture!
ReplyDeleteColors very simple and elegant.
Seriously? ANOTHER absolutely adorable centerpiece. Where you get the ideas for creative design and thrifty is beyond me. Hopefully by me following your blog I'll be able to aquire a few skills of my own. I also love how you can take the general place centers and jazz them up for different holidays to make the [plates, cups, etc] look like an entire new set. Absolutely fabulous. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi. I'm not a fellow Blogger on blogspot but I do use tumblr :]
ReplyDeleteI was reading your blog and I really enjoyed seeing your table set, you're very artistic. I like your center piece, do you mind telling me the contents of it?
Congratulations for being featured on Foxnews!