Serving Up Serenity ~ New House Design

Originally, this tablescape for alfresco dining was a post about my Valentine's soirée.

But it is quite adaptable for any season, so I'm linking it to the summer blog party.

If you recall, last week I took you on a little shopping excursion with me to one of my favorite stores—Marshalls.

Remember all those wonderful Valentine's dishes?

Well…
it just so happened that the day I was there, I didn't make a single purchase.

But, a day or so later, I decided to go back and buy several place settings and a number of serving pieces.

When I returned, there would still be plenty of pieces to choose from—right? After all, the display had been overflowing with goodies.

But...
when I got there, the entire display was missing.

Oh, no! Where did everything go?

I searched the store, thinking that perhaps they had just shuffled things around. And, indeed, they had moved those dishes—at least the handful that were left.

I went to three stores—yes, three—and could only come up with a fraction of the pieces I had intended to go home with.

Armed with those few pieces,

I scurried back to the cottage to mull over how I was going to use them.

Then inspiration hit!

I love to dine alfresco. There's just something about being out in the open air that makes food taste so much better.

But, there's a difference between just eating outdoors—at a barbeque or picnic—and having a genuine dining experience.

So…
I ventured outside the cottage
to look for that special place to create just such an "experience."

Unfortunately, it’s the dead of winter here. Consequently, things are looking rather dismal.

The only color in the landscape at present is brown, brown, and more brown—except for the lively green of the pines. Thank goodness for the pines!

As I surveyed my surroundings, I thought of how pretty, prissy, and feminine those dishes are and how rustic and primitive the landscape appears at present.

As a matter of fact, the only color anywhere, other than the pines, is the white from the blooms of my camellias—if you consider that color. And I'm sorry to say…they've been kissed one too many times by Mr. Jack Frost!

As I stood in one of the fields behind the cottage, something occurred to me. The Yankee and I have such divergent tastes that I'm constantly challenged to strike a balance between the rustic and the refined.

Hmmm! Rustic surroundings, refined tableware—I'll just blend the two...

as always!

I gathered a table and some chairs from one of the barns, gave everything a thorough cleaning, and proceeded with my plan of attack.

I chose a rather large piece of lace from my stash to cover the table, some simple lace-trimmed napkins, and several old lace curtain panels to toss over the backs of the chairs.

I knew I would have to soften things up a bit for those dishes to shine.

My goal was to create a light-reflecting, colorful table setting that would nicely contrast with the somewhat stark countryside. I decided that a splash of vibrant color would complement the dishware from Marshalls

quite well.

So, I brought my favorite vintage ruby red goblets into play.

Though I dared not use anything with a flame in this environment, I absolutely had to display the incredibly ornate candlesticks that I found at—you guessed it—Marshalls.

Their beautiful sparkling crystals are the perfect accompaniment to my assortment of vintage crystal and clear-glass accessories.

The shimmering sunlight reflecting from all those gleaming glass surfaces presents a nice alternative to the absence of candlelight.

To bring yet more color to the setting, I assembled some pink silk roses, Queen Anne's lace, and silk greenery to make floral arrangements to place atop the candlesticks.

While I was at it, I fashioned four simple napkin rings from other silk flowers I had on hand.

I really love the instant character that vintage and antique items contribute to any setting.

And, I prefer to mix and match my pieces—especially silver flatware. In this particular tablescape, I've used three different patterns of vintage silver.

I also delight in uniqueness.

For that reason, I dispensed with protocol, reversed the normal layout of the flatware, and placed the knives and spoons to barely peek from the lacy opening of the napkins—which were placed at an angle.

For a touch of whimsy, I decided to incorporate these cute, inexpensive glass votive holders from the Dollar Store—two for a dollar.

They make simply charming salt cellars, and

since they are heart-shaped, they tie in perfectly to the Valentine's theme.

Notice how sweetly they repeat the hearts splashed all over the plates and bowls?

Though the field—where I'm hosting this little Valentine's soirée—may be a bit drab and lacking in color, the serenity that envelops you there certainly makes for a wonderful dining experience.