Fall Tablescape Styling Idea

Now that school is back in session, fall will be here soon. Yay! My favorite season! I don't know which I love more, the food or the decorating. So I want to give you some styling ideas for a fall inspired tablescape. This one is set up for a cocktail hour. So fun to create and very simple.

Come on in!

Looks like a lot of work, but it's a very simple menu. I picked up almost all of it at Trader Joe's. 

A small charcuterie board served on slate includes manchego cheese, chianti salami, apple slices, mango chutney, dried cranberries, and farmhouse cheddar with a honey drizzle. 

A few appetizers from the frozen dept....mushroom turnovers, chicken parm pops, pastry bites with carmelized onions and feta cheese. Yum!

I found some delicious pumpkin salsa from my local Fresh Market store, served with blue and white tortillas. 

Some dipping pretzels with stone ground mustard and a bowl of mixed nuts.

I used a box of butternut squash soup for these mini tasting bowls. I love the little spoons! I added a dollop of greek yogurt and sprinkled a little berbere spice for color and a kick!  A grey linen napkin tied with jute and a sage sprig makes the perfect cozy for a loaf of french bread. (from our line of European Linens HERE).

Some wine and pumpkin ale of course! I rimmed these small tasting glasses with a cinnamon sugar mix. So good!

So that's the food, now for the decorating. I always start with my layers...trays, platters, platforms, crates.  I lay it out keeping the flow in mind and the reach. You want it all to be easily accessible. 

You can use tablecloths too but I prefer some linen napkins here and there, I like to see the wood of the farm table (not just because my husband made it ;)  

Now for the the fun stuff! Flowers and props! Keep it simple. I have one large centerpiece down the center and I just coordinated everything else with the green/burgandy preserved hydrangeas.  These pears were the perfect color and I love decorating with produce. You can eat the decorations after! These artichokes are dried however, so no consuming.

Just a few paper mache pumpkins from the shop (because I couldn't find any real ones yet:)

I hope I gave you some ideas for your next dinner party, get together or holiday! Would love to see your tablescape photos. Please share!

and the after...Covered Porch ----> Dining Room Conversion

Last month I introduced my brother and sister-in-law's home renovation project. They had a covered porch off of the kitchen and were having it converted to a dining room.  They chose some really cool materials so I thought I would share some photos with you.

A reminder of the before:

My sister in law has a great eye for decorating. I think she should go into business. I love her taste. And was thrilled when she wanted to decorate with some of my photography. She chose a grouping of 6 photos all taken on our trip to France.

So the night we went to their home to deliver the frames and photograph the room, my brother and his wife prepared a great meal for us! Just have to share a few of the dishes.

crackers with carmelized red onions and goat cheese spread

grass fed beef crostini with gruyere

pasta with fresh tuna, arugula and lemon  

and the beautiful tablescape!

I am working on a resource list and will share in another blog post for you!  Let me know if you have any questions!

Simple fall tabletop ideas

With Thanksgiving just a few days away - here are some easy ideas for centerpieces.

A good base for your designs is some burlap fabric and some rustic wood platforms to add a little interest and height to your centerpiece.

A collection of bud vases in beautiful fall colors are simple to arrange with flowers from the market. Here I took mixed fall bouquets and just separated them creating a very pretty assortment of flowers on display.

Add some mini pumpkins and pine cones from your yard for a natural look.

A tray filled with mini pumpkins (sprayed with a little bronze paint), dried hydrangeas, votives and berries.

Pumpkins on pedestals - surrounded by moss and gilded acorns. 

Dried hydrangeas in a beautiful urn, more of my favorite white pumpkins.

You can also just fill a planter with moss and pumpkins for a quick centerpiece.

Having a buffet? Print your menu on decorative paper so your guests know what the choices are.

Candles in mason jars scattered throughout your buffet tablescape.

Cut some bouquets from your mums outside, place in mason jars tied with burlap.

More creamy white pumpkins with bittersweet.

Love using lifts (cardboard boxes or tins under cloth) for the food platters.

Your guests will love the thought and your efforts!

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Wishes

Here is a little "Idea Book of Christmas" - photos taken from around my home.
A little late?
Maybe, but they're just some pretty pics for you to enjoy or maybe to get a last minute idea from.

Fresh cut greens from the yard (my favorite Christmas decorating element). 

A metal basket filled with greens and oversized silver and gold ornaments greets our guests.

A basket filled with greens, berries and crystal stems.

Tied with a burlap ribbon and Joy ornament. 

The easiest front door decor to recreate! No glue needed!

A front entry table is fun to decorate.  

Draped greens over a mirror also creates a place to hang ornaments. Here I used glass glittered pinecones for extra sparkle which also reflects in the mirror.

Fill a tray with greens, candles, berry pics and bottlebrush trees.

Another look - 

rustic box filled with glittered pinecones and preserved greens, accented with bleached baby's breath.

Love the candle glow in mercury glass.

Silver, cream and white - a beautiful combination.

A look at last year's display.

A simple treatment for the stairs.

Simple ornaments piled up in a birdbath or a bowl.

I made one of those ornament wreaths this year - for my son's teacher - he requested one!

Made a smaller version for my Aunt. They're simple to make - I went with the coat hanger version and yes, be sure to glue down the ornament caps before threading them onto the wire.

Speaking of gifts, I love giving and receiving the home made kind. There are so many great decorative tins and boxes for cookies, candy, etc. 

Chocolate dipped peppermint sticks.

Chocolate Oreo truffles with crushed peppermint candy.

Simple wrap for me this year. 

Kraft paper with jute, seam binding and a sprig of green or baby's breath with a glitter snowflake. 

If you like more embellishments I did a post on creative gift wrap HERE.

The family room tree. 

The living room tree.

This year's Swarovski ornament.

A look at last year's mantle.

Candles and greens. 

This year's mantle.

My favorite little Christmas sign.

A simple sprig on the back of the chairs.

Or a simple sprig here, or there...

A festive table centerpiece.

Buffet table ideas.

Click HERE for more detailed photos in a previous tablescape post.

Now, I need to get back to baking, wrapping and shopping. 

Hope you all have a beautiful Christmas!

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