Summer Tablescapes

Hey, there.  :-)

Thanks for bearing with me in my absence this week -- my bestest friend was in town, so I wanted to devote as much time as I could to her.  We had a great time, and I'm so glad that I got to spend as much time with her as I did!

Today we're talking summer tablescapes.  Table-setting is an art that I am still learning. Being creative while setting a functional table is something that my mom is really good at, and I remember watching her set the table for fancier occasions while I was growing up and loving all of the thought that she put into it.  We're going to take a look at summer table settings this morning, but I'm excited at the prospect of re-introducing this post idea for the other seasons of the year!  :-)

Garden Retreat

In this setting, I love the hot pink table runner mixed with the neutral element of the burlap tablecloth, and pretty flowers in mason jars.

Elegantly Nautical

White slip-covered chairs, icy blue vases, and sea creatures abound -- a perfect beachy setting.

Polished Picnic

A lovely string of lights accents this adorable table, adorned with red lanterns and a pretty quit tablecloth.

Glam Soiree

Bright poppy red mixes with gold glitz and crystal stemware in this beautiful setting.

Sophisticated Barbecue

Simple wood folding chairs, happy-colored flowers, beer and wine -- the perfect elements for a casual party, yet still keeping with adorable elements.

Eclectic Affair

I love this setting for its sweetly-dyed mason jars, vintage-inspired mismatched place mats, and cutesy, colorful pendant banner.

Ornate Escape

Funky green lanterns, flowers in repurposed cans, floral table linens -- to me, this setting screams summer!

Cottage Chic

In this setting, lovely milky white dishes, blue and white porcelain and linens, and chippy chairs create the perfect cottage table setting while still maintaining an understated elegance.

Sweet Summer Brunch

Bright yellows and delicious blues, egg cups holding sweet oranges, and a tiny bowl of berries create a brunch setting to admire.

Which setting is your favorite?

love,

maria

Table Runner of my Dreams

About nine months ago, while popping into Anthropologie to pick out some decor for my Fall wedding, I came across this table runner and instantly fell in luuuuuurve.  I mean hard.

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Isn't she pretty?  Can you blame me?  The problem was, I didn't look at the price.  I just stared at the runner, petted it, and then reluctantly tore myself away from it thinking that it was way out of my price range.

Then, about a month ago, this little beauty found its way to me again while I was perusing one of my favorite blogs, Cupcakes and Cashmere.  I swooned, and then died just a little, because that's what happens when you love something but you can't have it.

Which brings me to the other day, when I was thrifting at my local Savers (great finds for projects and more!) and I found a pretty woven table runner that was reminiscent of my beloved Anthro variety.  

Okay, so the tinsel-y sweetness isn't there; but it has tassels, and there were no stain marks, no tears -- it was a virtually perfect find.  So I walked away with it.  And when I got home, I set it up and then came up with a summery centerpiece.  When my husband came home from work, he commented on the runner (he's awesome and notices things like that), and I smiled and felt proud.  And then I asked him if he wanted to see the table runner that danced in my dreams at night.

This brought me to the Anthropologie website, to the table linens section, and - oh my gosh - there it was, in all it's shimmery glory.  My runner.

For forty-eight dollars?!  What?!

I was shocked.  I squealed and I clapped and I may have even stood up and done a little fist-pumping action.  My husband just stared at me.  ;-) 

That night, I didn't sleep.  I couldn't!  Because this table runner was keeping me up.  And so, the next day, I went and found it -- it was there alone, like it was waiting for me -- and I hugged it and it sat in the front seat with me on my way home from the shopping center.  I had birthday money from last week's happy day, so it only cost me two dollars!  Woo!

I love how reminiscent of a Moroccan wedding blanket this runner is.  Maybe that's why I fell so hard for it in the first place...

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What do you think?  And are you a person who obsesses over table linens, too?

love, maria