Coco Channel once said to take a look at yourself in the mirror before leaving home and then remove one thing. I guess she was more of a minimalist. If you've followed my tablescapes for any length of time, you've probably picked up on my philosophy that when it comes to setting an inviting table, more is more. I'm always looking to add more interest, more color, more texture. I think this table hits on all points!
After our trip to Biltmore Estate in December 2020, I set out to recreate the experience in a carefully planned tablescape. I wanted my guests (who had been on the trip with me) to see the nation's largest private home represented in each and every detail.
The brunch I hosted was in December, the same month we had visited Biltmore in all it's holiday splendor. My formal Christmas china ("Winter Holiday" by Fitz and Floyd) was the perfect stepping off point. Above is the dinner plate. White bone china with a gold and green rope design trim. I have never regretted choosing this pattern and have added to it over the years. I have at least 16 full place settings, and more in some pieces.
One of the things I love about this pattern is the variety of salad plates. This jolly Santa with woodland animals plate is my favorite.
For a while I collected the yearly plates, but they have become increasingly difficult to find.
I love the old-world look to all of their Santas.
Red basket-weave pattern with holly.
Green basket-weave pattern with holly. I used a different salad plate at each place setting to make it more interesting and to show off my collection.
So I began my table with a white damask tablecloth. I wanted the classic look of a white cloth, but the pattern definitely made it fancier and added another texture. This tablecloth, along with a couple of gold damasks ones, were Christmas clearance purchases at Walmart the year we married. The placemats, a classic red and green plaid with a gold threaded trim, came from Dollar Tree a few years ago. Aren't they pretty? You never know what you will find there! The gold beaded chargers are also from Dollar Tree. They carry these regularly.
I began layering my plates. There are seven in our tea group, so I cheated on one side and crowded things a little. Here it looks obvious. Once the table was complete, you'd never really notice there was an uneven number.
Poinsettias are the main focus of my centerpiece. Here are some neat facts I learned while we were at Biltmore. More than 1200 traditional poinsettias are used around the estate during Christmas, and they are replaced about halfway through the season as they begin to look spent.
They say necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, I found these three poinsettias stuck on a table near the garden center at my little Tallassee Walmart. It was near the end of the season, and they were literally the only three left. They were $1.99 each! They had two of the traditional red and one of the pink, so that's what I bought! I think it's more interesting with a mix.
(Side note - I've never had any luck with keeping poinsettias alive. They're actually a tropical plant and like heat and dislike drafts. Mine will last a couple of weeks. Mama has a bright kitchen and dining room and can usually keep her's the whole season. Nearly 30 years ago, an old boyfriend's mom stuck her's in the ground after Christmas. Somehow it lived outside, coming back each spring for years!)
My centerpiece was pretty full, so I stacked my cup and saucer on the plates. I actually like the height! Guests simply moved them to the side once they sat down.
See how well those pretty reds and greens play together? Especially in picking up the two shades of red poinsettias.
The poinsettias came in a green foil flash pot. I took white napkins with gold thread accents and simply tied it around the bottom. It matched the napkins I was using, and the white broke up the darker reds and greens in the centerpiece, allowing items to stand out more.
I am obsessed with colored stemware! I always wanted red stems. One day I was walking through a local thrift store and found them. I think I paid $5 a stem. These are "Perspective" in ruby by Noritake. I served ice water in these. I had already placed the cup and saucer from my china set, so we didn't need the green cut glass mugs for coffee, but they were so pretty that I wanted to use them. I served orange juice in them instead. These are called "Cristal D' Arques" by Durand. They are vintage and were gifted to me by a friend when her mother passed away. What could be more perfect for a traditional opulent Christmas table than these two glasses siting side by side?
I love the way the leaves of the pink poinsettia are edged in shades of green!
I actually originally painted my dining room red to match these dishes. I loved them that much! Red dining rooms were all the rage twenty years ago when we were planning our home. A few years ago, I decided it was time to update the color. I was so surprised with how much larger my room felt with the red gone.
I always suggest getting an aerial picture of your table to check for balance and bare spots.
I found the red and green runner at my favorite thrift shop a couple of years ago. It is the perfect length for my dining room table and really grounded the tablescape. I believe it was $6!
I know you probably get tired of seeing my gold votive candle holders, but I love them and use them ALL the time! These came from Dollar Tree years ago. I use a tea light holder in the bottom so I don't end up with a yucky melted candle in the bottom.
My flatware is "American Chippendale" by FB Rogers. It was a gift to myself several years ago. I highly recommend handwashing any flatware with gold accents. Be sure to dry them immediately, as well. The napkins came from Hobby Lobby several years ago. They were for Jewell's 16th birthday party. I use them a lot! The subtle gold threading picks up on the gold accents throughout the table.
Note - I also hand wash this china pattern. NEVER put formal china, especially if it has gold trim, in the dishwasher. No matter what the manufacturer says. I love a good deal at the thrift store, trust me. But this china is an investment, and I treat it that way. Every day dishes in the dishwasher? Of course. But not these!
We don't have a mantle, so I hang our stockings on the dining room chairs. Santa removes them, fills them, and places them on the hearth when he stops in on Christmas Eve! These match my Christmas tree skirt and are so classic Victorian Christmas to me. I found them at a pop-up Christmas store in the Oxford mall years ago when visiting my in-laws. The gold ribbon adds a little extra pop of elegance. I save my ribbon year to year. It's expensive! I simply wrap it around an old paper towel roll and slip them inside a gallon bag.
I was standing in line at Dollar Tree one day and saw tubes of small plastic Christmas ornaments. What's more traditional than "Silver and Gold" on Christmas? And the white ones really stand out against the darker red and green. It's all about balance. I think this is two tubes, so $2!
They happened to be changing out all the greenery inside the mansion the first day we were at Biltmore. At first we were very disappointed, but then I was fascinated at the speed with which they made the changes. Of course they had a team of several florists working on it, but still! When we walked into the dining room, we were immediately aware of the scent of oranges. There were literally dozens and dozens in baskets around the room, as well as in decorations like strings of orange slices. Oranges were a Victorian staple during the holidays. I bought a bag and added clove spikes. They smelled AMAZING and lasted a couple of weeks. Be sure to have something under them as the oranges weep once you pierce them with the cloves. The orange oil will damage your wood table.
I love using candles for a table setting, even during the day. I have three of these footed votive holders, and I scattered them down the table. I got these probably 15 years ago at Caffco in Wetumpka.
Here's a look at the length of the table. The center is nice and full. No skimpy tablescapes here! When I go back and look at my earlier tablescapes, I can see how I've grown. I'm no longer timid about adding more!
I have a couple of smaller wooden chairs in my kitchen that fit nicely when I need to seat more than six in my dining room.
I love candle glow!
I was going for a formal Vanderbilt-approved tablescape, so I placed the dessert forks above the plate.
I'm so pleased with the warm opulence this table gives off!
My goal is always for my guests to feel both special and honored, but comfortable and at home. I think this table design did just that!
The subtle print on the table runner added yet another layer, as did the cloves in the oranges. The ornaments are all different. There's lots of color. Take a chance. Be bold! More layers equal more interest!
Look at all the patterns and textures above. There is a lot going on, yet it works, don't you think?
A final aerial view.
Now for the comparison!
This is the formal breakfast room in the mansion where guests would be offered a hot breakfast bar.
This is the private breakfast/tea table between Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedrooms. They would often meet here to plan their day.
Even the servant's dining area was beautifully decorated!
This is the main formal dining hall as they were setting it back up again. When we first went through on day one, they had moved the table and chairs so that a new tree could be moved in. You can see this home is styled at the height of the Victorian era.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I think the Vanderbilts would be pleased with my tribute to their beautiful home!
I'm so glad you stopped by my neck of the woods!
Please take a moment to sign up on my homepage to receive new posts by email.
I wouldn't want you to miss one crazy thing...
No comments:
Post a Comment