A Toile Tale: wicker

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Stripes and Plaids for Fall

My last little dinner party was sooooo bright that I thought I'd switch it up to this more subdued palate. Sorta looks like "fall-light".

I bought this stripped tablecloth at Homegoods a couple of months ago, but I forgot about it.

When these plaid napkins appeared at Pottery Barn, I held my breath that they would work with this cloth, and I loved the combination. Then, I remembered these twig, corn husk and raffia turkey napkin rings, and voila! I had a plan for this casual dinner party.

I chose these tan opalescent chargers, pumpkin colored plates from Portugal, a chocolate brown salad plate, and then these leaf-shaped plates for bread and butter. Then the big decision was whether to use this light colored wooden handled flatware or dark wooden ones. The light ones won out.

Glassware was easy.....a gold, grape etched stem for water and these short wicker-covered glasses for wine.

The centerpiece was an unfussy wicker-covered bowl of gourds, and astromeria.

This color of astromeria is called "pumpkin" and they look so good in these birch covered vases.

Here's a close-up.

I love these colors with the tablecloth.

This also seemed a good place to use these cement faux bois candleholders.

Simple. No extra details.

Just the basics, ma'am.

I've always loved stripes and plaids together.

I wanted to show you how it complemented the Soumak rug in the dining room.

This made a pleasant weeknight table.

We are enjoying picking up the entertaining pace toward the holidays.

In order to set this table, I moved the paper mache vegetables over to the sideboard.

And this arrangement was from my table I set in the woods that you can see in this post.

From the other angle, you can see the entryway. I wish you could all walk through it and join us.

Joining:

Tablescape Thursday

Between Naps on the Porch

Centerpiece Wednesday

Show and Tell Friday

The Scoop

Inspire Me Tuesday

Table It

Home Sweet Home

Sheltered Nest Friday

French Country Home

Wow Us Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style

Make It Pretty Monday

The Dedicated House

Fridays Unfold

www.nancherrow.com

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Greenbrier Look

It's no secret......I love the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. It is a truly timeless hotel that has such iconic decor that it has spawned it's own style. "Greenbrier Style" says it all. Originally decorated by Dorothy Draper, it is resort style at it's best. It's Chinioserie, it's Chippendale, it's tropical, and it's BEAUTIFUL.

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this fabric on sale for less than five dollars a yard. Yep. Less than five dollars. (Thank you Amy Barfield for this awesome source of deeply discounted designer fabric!) This is really from the Williamsburg collection, but it says "Greenbrier" to me!

Don't you agree? This green is a shade that is on trend right now. Emerald green? Maybe, but it's Greenbrier green to me. And I knew the pink would give me another fresh, preppy color to use on this table.

And here's the detail that put the table design squarely into the style I was looking for. I painted the grey metal palm tree candle holders that Target has for sale right now with white glossy spray paint. Bingo! It goes old-school tropical and is perfect for what I wanted.

Then, I remembered that I had a pair of these white Chippendale style chachepots. I used one of them for this arrangement of pink roses and alstromeria.

So here's the way the table came together. I set it up early in the day on the round white deck.

I spray painted an inexpensive plastic charger from Old Time Pottery with green paint from Home Depot, and used one of my favorite white wicker patterned plates from Portugal. The salad size plate is green Depression glass, and I topped it with a white lions-head tureen.