With Summer on the horizon, I was eager to bring some coastal living to my backyard (yes, I have a wild imagination). This table setting was inspired by a recent trip to Newport, Rhode Island. On my way home to NJ, I made a brief stop at one of my favorite home decor shops in Greenwich, CT called Hoagland’s where I found these gorgeous red coral print linens.

Hoagland’s carries these colorful sea-inspired table linens from Kim Seybert and these unique chargers in a variety of colors. Kim Seybert linens can also be found at  Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus. For contrast, I used my Lenox Opal Innocence china.

For the centerpiece I used a trio of white coral votives (also from Hoagland’s) and sea urchin candlesticks. The crystal stemware is Waterford from Think Twice Consignment in Gillette, NJ.

I love serving Veuve in this stunning champagne pitcher, which was a gift from my brother and his girlfriend (Scully & Scully).

If this inspires you to hunt for more red coral themed table decor, look no further than this gorgeous “Cristobal coral” dinner service by Raynaud. Until I win the lottery, I will be stickng to my white china and coral linens, thank you

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With Father’s Day around the corner, I challenged myself to create a more masculine table setting so I chose colors that reminded me of a golf course because that is where my Dad likes to spend Father’s Day–playing golf!

l coordinated these three patterns from Hen House Linens-”linked up ivy” for the tablecloth and fabric napkin rings, “gracious chocolate” for the table runner, and “bold stripe chocolate” for the dinner napkins. 

I love matching these bold patterns with stripes!

For the centerpiece, I chose a simple arrangement of white peonies in a green depression glass vase and Fenton Silvercrest milk glass candlesticks-all of which I found years back at Grand Bazaar Antiques in Mendham, NJ.

The china pattern is Lenox Opal Innocence and the silver belonged to my husband’s grandmother and is Wallace Windsor Rose (1942).

My favorite picture of my Dad….

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With the weather getting nicer sans cicadas, I was inspired to patioscape this weekend in some Spring hues!

Once again, I turned to Hen House Linens for inspiration (I’m totally addicted to ther linens). I selected their beautiful candy stripe pattern called “prepster stripe ocean” and coordinating ”Spot On Raspberry” sure to add sweetness and light to any setting.

For the place setting I picked up the raspberry in the linens with this beautiful set of ruby red Raynaud Limoges dessert plates, cups, and saucers. This Raynaud pattern is called “Conde” which has been described as “veritable incrustation double dorure polie a l’agate” [true inlay gilding, double polished agate, 24k encrusted gold inlay].  There are three stamps on this set: “Limoges France”, “Raynaud Limoges”, and “Magasins de L’Union/12 Avenue de L’Opera” which means these probably originally came from a union shop of Limoges porcelain in Paris’ shopping district. You can read more about this treasure I found while antiquing at Le Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt in Paris @ http://www.reddoortabledecor.com/2012/06/17/ruby-red-limoges-from-avenue-de-lopera/.

I found this antique Limoges ice cream tray at Summit Antiques Center awhile back–I just love the beautiful gold scalloped edges. The Lewis Strauss & Sons red mark dates this piece from the 1891 to 1917.

I received this beautiful limoges sugar and creamer set from a dear family friend, Linda Gioffre (http://www.reddoortabledecor.com/2012/04/30/gifts-of-limoges/)

And with Spring in the air and Summer on the horizon, we felt it was time to set up this darling bird house.

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I recently had the privilege of hosting a small baby shower for my dear friend, Nicole, who has a baby boy on the way. I turned to my favorite linen source, Hen House Linens , and paired their “latticework ocean” tablecloth with their “grand fleur gold” table runner and dinner napkins.

For the centerpiece, I started with this pretty vase hand-painted with a gold trellis pattern which I found at F. Gerald New in Harding, NJ and filled it with blue hydrangeas. The milk glass candlesticks and serving trays are vintage 1950s Fenton Silver Crest (Summit Antiques, Summit, NJ).

I found this pastel blue banner on Etsy which can be found @ nestables.etsy.com. Each double-sided flag was done in alternating ticking stripe, polka dots, and gingham.  

These faux pearl napkin rings are from Once Upon a Table in Chester, NJ.

I found these 5″ x 6.5″ blue gingham organza favor bags from Belilissimo Favors.

The favor bags were filled with scented votives and a box of gourmet chocolates from Laduree NYC.

I found a terrific source for diaper cakes at an online store called Chic Mama.

My friend, Megan, did a great job decorating these homemade cupcakes with rubber duckies and frogs.

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Put your right foot forward, put your left foot out, do the bunny hop…hop, hop, hop! Oh yes, Easter is here! This is my favorite holiday to tablescape.

I started with some of my favorite pastel patterns from Hen House Linens, ‘bold striped grass’ for the table runner and ‘dahlia blush pink’ for the tablecloth and dinner napkins.

For the centerpiece, I chose a Fenton Spanish Lace milk glass vase filled with hydrangeas flanked by crystal candlesticks from Home Sweet Home in Chatham, NJ and coordinating pink and green tapers from The Dept gift shop in Morristown, NJ.

The pewter bunny napkin rings are from Williams-Sonoma. The favors are candied almonds from Laduree Paris.

The place setting is my wedding china, Lenox Opal Innocence. The silver is Wallace Windsor Rose (1942) which belonged to my husband’s grandmother. The two tier dessert tray is Fenton silver crest and the little glass bunny butter dish is from Country Antiques in Pluckemin, NJ.  For the placecards, I used antique Easter postcards from Summit Antique Center, Summit, NJ.

Gotta love these Easter collectible accents by Lori Mitchell which I found at Lord Ivy gift shop in Summit, NJ.

Table is all ready for entertaining!

I found these adorable needpoint pillows at Home Sweet Home in Chatham, NJ because one just cannot have enough bunnies!!

Happy Easter to all!

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Every year, Le Jacquard Français produces a limited edition table linen collection, especially created for the Christmas festivities. This one, called Magie d’Hiver (translated “Winter Magic”), served as the inspiration for my New Year’s Eve table setting (purchased at J&M Garden, Madison, NJ). I love the silver dreamlike winter scene featuring snowflakes and forest animals.

I carried the silver in the tablecloth throughout the table setting with a centerpiece consisting of a silver sleigh filled with pine branches embellished with beading and silver glitter, pine cones, silver snowflake ornaments, and big white faux amaryllis flower (from Seasons, Madison, NJ).

On either side of the sleigh are two double candelabras with crystal prisms (from Home Sweet Home, Chatham, NJ) with pairs of silver candles from Caspari. The centerpiece is wrapped with silver ribbon bejeweled with crystals and pearls (from Seasons, Madison, NJ).

For the place setting, I layered Lenox Opal Innocence plates on silver chargers topped with crystal dessert bowls (Shannon by Godinger). The silver is Wallace Windsor Rose (1942) and belonged to my husband’s grandmother. The crystal stemware is Waterford Maquis, Allegro pattern. The vintage embroidered linen napkins are from Summit Antiques Center, Summit, NJ.

The sideboard decor is from Seasons, Madison, NJ.

These pretty icicle chandelier ornaments are from J&M Garden in Madison, NJ.

Cheers to 2013!

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I was hosting the Italian Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve which called for some holiday flair to liven up this white tablecloth (Lenox Opal Innocence, cream, Macy’s). I found this red satin table runner a few years back at Home Goods and I love its sequined border (a girl must have a little bling, right?). Then I jazzed up my side chairs with red organza wraps (Horchow).

For the centerpiece, I purchased a mini boxwood Christmas tree embellished with pine cones, red and gold ball ornaments, red berries, and traditional plaid wired ribbon (from J&M Gardens, Madison, NJ).  Because I just could not have enough bling, I added a strand of sparkly gold decoration (from Meli Melo, Bernardsville, NJ).

For the place setting, I layered my Christmas china (Spode, Christmas Memories pattern) on top of gold Mikasa holiday chargers (Once & Again, Madison, NJ).  The gold crackers are by Walpert (The Depot, Morristown, NJ). The ruby red wine goblets are Villeroy & Boch (eBay). The red hemstitched napkins are from Sur La Table with red beaded napkin rings from One Kings Lane. The silver is Wallace Windsor Rose (1942) and belonged to my husband’s grandmother. The red, green, and gold plaid tapers were designed by Del Mar and purchased last year at Home Sweet Home, Chatham, NJ.

Some extra details include these vintage Christmas postcards from early 1900s (Summit Antiques Center, Summit, NJ) which I use as place cards in red ornament place card holders (from Seasons, Madison, NJ).

Ready for a fanciful feast, Mangia!

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Sure, a red and green-themed table setting is ‘expected’ at Christmas time, but I tend to resist departing from tradition. So instead, I freshened up the traditional red and green with these lovely bold patterned linens.

I combined two great desgins from Hen House Linens: napkins and table runner in “Devine Scarlet” set against the beautiful backdrop of “Linked Up Ivy” tablecloth.

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These snowflake napkin rings with a little bling from Pottery Barn are festive with a candy cane tucked in each napkin.

For contrast, I kept the place setting simple with Lenox Opal Innocence plates and Wallace Windsor Rose silver (1948) which belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I use antique Christmas postcards as place cards (Summit Antiques Center) in red ornament place card holders (Seasons in Madison, NJ). There are also Walpert crackers in red wrapping paper at each place setting (The Depot, Morristown, NJ). Some have asked me about the origins of these festive crackers which you can find at http://www.my-occ.net/walpert/history.html.

The centerpiece includes a vintage Fenton “Spanish Lace” milk glass vase (Summit Antiques Center) filled with fluffy white hyndrangeas, red roses, and Christmas tree greens flanked by Fenton silvercrest candlestick holders with red, green, and white swivel tapers desgined by Del Mar (Home Sweet Home, Chatham, NJ).

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This made for a festive setting for a Christmas dinner party with my girlfriends! On the menu was: Roasted pork tenderloin with homemade cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, Nan’s candied carrots, and salad-recipes can be found http://www.reddoortabledecor.com/2012/12/16/pork-tenderloin-with-cranberry-sauce/

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

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Sharing this easy and yummy holiday dinner menu and recipes. Bon Appetit!

Source: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/12/pork-loin-with-cranberry-sauce/

Ingredients

• 1 bag (12 Oz. Bag) Cranberries
• 1 cup Cranberry Juice (or Orange, Apple Or Any Ot¬her Juice Combination)
• 1 cup Pure Maple Syrup (not Pancake Syrup!)
• 3 Tablespoons Juice (you Could Also Do Orange Zest, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice – Anything Citrusy)

Preparation Instructions

Ingredients

• 1 whole Pork Tenderloin, Trimmed Of Fat
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, Divided
• 3 Tablespoons Butter, Divided
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion
• 1/2 cup Red Wine (optional)
• 3/4 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 1/2 cup (generous) Cranberry Sauce (homemade Or Canned Is Fine!)

Preparation Instructions

How about another serving of Thanksgiving before diving into Christmas? We spent Thanksgiving this year with my husband’s family. My mother-in-law loves to tablescape as much as I do, so when I set my eyes on her gorgeous table, I just had to share it with my fellow tablescapers.

Table Setting Elements:

• China – Lenox Windsong
• Top plate – Nana’s Cauldon
• Flatware – Lenox
• Glasses – Dollar Store, Newark DE
• Centerpiece – The Glass Box Gift Shop, Newark, DE
• Table cloth and runner – Ralph Lauren
• Check napkins – Kitchen & Company, Newark, DE
• Vintage Turkey butter dish & Candle holders – Nana’s
• Thanksgiving Chocolate Bar Place Card – Template from Martha Stewart Living Nov. 2008. Embellished with twine and scrapbooking paper
• Oil Painting – Great Grandmother 1957
• Ceramic turkey – Nana

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