March 22, 2020

Spring Comes in Shades of Violet and Lavender

All the colors of purple are lovely — lavender, lilac, violet, amethyst, iris, plum, orchid, grape, and eggplant. And perhaps a few more hues I haven't thought of! All of them are spring-like except perhaps for plum and eggplant. To welcome spring, I've set a table using lavender and violet, with white and a bit of blue for contrast.


We're working from home now, as many of you are I'm sure. With social distancing a necessary part of our lives, we find ourselves cooking more dinners and lunches than we've been accustomed to. Not having friends over for dinner is hard, but I still want to infuse our tables with a bit of joy by designing tablescapes that are special.


I started with two things — a pretty lavender tablecloth for the base, and deeply colored faux lilacs for the centerpiece.


Although I would have liked to have real flowers, I made do with the ones I had in the house.


A cute bunny pitcher will bring smiles!


A generous soup bowl sits atop the dinner plate. These are covered in pretty spring violets, with a sweet sprig in the center of both pieces. The bowls date from the late '40s, the plates from the '50s. Although they're the same pattern, from the same manufacturer, the violets on the plates are a redder purple than those on the bowls.


I placed them on gold chargers that you've seen on a number of my tables. In the light from the chandelier, the chargers appear a brighter gold than they are.


Baby bunnies masquerading as salt and pepper shakers have scampered to the other end of the table.


A punch of blue from faux lilacs brings the color of the walls to the table. The scent of lilacs on a spring breeze is one of the things I've missed since I moved from Ohio to Georgia.


On the buffet are cups and saucers for after-dinner coffee, something that Greg particularly enjoys. I've laid a sheaf of dried lavender on the tray to add a more muted shade in my color theme. A French antiques dealer had included many sheaves of lavender in a shipment to a Georgia dealer from whom we bought a lovely painting. So one of the sheaves came home with me!


Vintage glassware in a lovely amethyst joins each place setting. I've used a water goblet in place of the wine glass because antique and vintage stemware is smaller than today's patterns. But that's not to say they're dainty. After all, they've lasted 60 years or more! I was amused to find that I captured one of the bunnies through the goblet, lol.


I have a confession to make. I don't always iron my table linens when I set a table. After they're cleaned, they're pressed, then hung or folded when I put them away. Depending on how frequently they're used, they may have creases when they're put on the table. I'm generally okay with that! The only exception is when I set a very formal table. But this isn't one of those!


I'm also perfectly okay with using faux florals. Many are beautifully made and often hard to distinguish from the real thing. And they can be the perfect choice when you find you have little time to create a table or don't have real flowers readily available.


I love using vintage or antique items in a modern way, particularly those with classic lines.




Even though the table is 'just' for us, using pretty china, sparkling stemware, candles and flowers makes the dinner that much more enjoyable.


In uncertain times, that's reason enough!




Table resources
Plates, bowls, saucers, cups | Rossetti 'Spring Violets' used here
Stemware | Fostoria 'Classic' also used here
Silverware | Reed & Barton 'Eighteenth Century'
Bunnies | Fitz & Floyd 'Blackberry Rabbit'



   
 

48 comments:

  1. I love your table. I love everything purple. Those glasses are so pretty.
    Thanks for the inspiration.
    Keep safe and healthy.
    Thelma.

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    1. Thanks, Thelma. Us purple girls have to stick together! Take care

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  2. The china in purple floral is gorgeous and I love how it pops with the purple topper. The goblets are just the right ones and the centerpiece is very lovely too.
    Take care dear friend.
    Fabby

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    1. Thank you, Fabby. Shades of purple in tableware can be hard to find, so I get them whenever I stumble across the them!
      Keep you and your family safe

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  3. beautiful shades of violet and yes they help bring the theme of spring to life thanks for sharing come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks! I love how spring starts with soft colors.

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  4. Your table is absolutely gorgeous...As ever! How amazing...Blessings.

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    1. Thanks, Maristella, for your sweet comments. Take care of yourself!

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  5. Your china is beautiful and I am in love with your purple stemware.
    Very pretty table............Very Spring like......
    Blessings,
    Nellie

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    1. Thank you, Nellie! Aren't they fabulous? I found the water goblets in a consignment store and the iced tea glasses two years later in an antique mall.

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  6. Purple is my favorite color. It makes for such a relaxing table.

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    1. I'd like to see purples used more often. Thank you for visiting!

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  7. Purple is my favorite color, too. Your table is beaufiful. I find tablecloth creases very helpful in centering a tablecloth on the table! As I spray starch mine, I don't iron them till I'm ready to use them; I've had some bugs knaw on them. Lilacs are NH's state flower, where I grew up so I am partial to them, too. Here in Maine, mine have not done well but my sister-in-law across the street has a huge bush so I get to smell them come spring! I have been known to burn lilac candles or rub some glass surfaces with lilac (or rose) essential oil to make people wonder if my flowers are real...but it's not cool to do it if you know company have allergies. Violets come a close second behind pink roses as my favorite; and I have collected numerous different cups, saucers, and 1 teapot--so far!

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    1. It's hard to name a flower I don't like! Something about violets though -- they're shy and unpretentious, but so pretty when they bloom with abandon. Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. I'm going downstairs today to play with my faux flowers and find some purple and blue, I already have two vases of Iris set up. Gorgeous photos and the lavender/plum table is really lovely. Seriously, I realize there will be no Easter Sunday here. Usually a day of frolic, family, and good food. Sigh!

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    1. Glad to hear that you are playing with purples and blues! They're wonderful together. Easter may not be as it usually is, but that doesn't mean it can't be special. A beautiful table works wonders!

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  9. I love your dinnerware! So pretty and springy! Beautiful!

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    1. Thanks, Christine. The dishes were definitely love at first sight!

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  10. Gorgeous table, Sandra! Your violet plates remind me of my grandmother--she loved the sweet little flowers and collected dishes featuring them. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. Pinned!

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    1. Thanks, Cecilia. My grandmother had potted African violets all over her kitchen. I thought they were so pretty -- I'm sure I overwatered more than a few when I went to visit her! Thanks for pinning.

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  11. Sandra, this table is just so lovely. I love the china and especially the amethyst stemware. I am hoping to find a set soon. Stay healthy!

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    1. Thanks, Pam! The stemware is a gorgeous clear amethyst in person and I just love how they feel when you hold them.

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  12. Such a beautiful spring table. One of my favorite colors for spring are pastels and violet and lavender. These colors were part of my childhood and I continue to love them. From eggs to baskets to little Easter dresses, such perfect spring colors Love your floral china pattern so perfectly match to lovely goblets. All your little details add so much to your table. Happy Spring, stay well......

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    1. Thanks so much! I have always loved violets, lavenders and all the other shades of purple. I'd love to see more folks discovering how versatile they can be. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. What a pretty tablesetting, Sandra! I love your bunnies and their berries... <3 Happy to feature your post this evening at Share Your Style #250. Lovely!!! <3

    Hope you are well and enjoying spring,
    Barb :)

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  14. Sandra,
    I love your table for spring. All of your violet and lavender pieces are so pretty.
    Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by.
    https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2020/04/thursday-favorite-things.html
    Hugs,
    Bev

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  15. Such a beautiful table my friend. Happy Easter and thanks for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens!

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  16. My mom had tableware with violet motifs, only used for special occasions; your spring table is so elegant, I love the splashes of blue, too!

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    1. Thanks, Irene! My mom only used her pretty dinnerware for special occasions too. Luckily we had plenty of those!

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  17. Beautiful collection and beautiful table. Love sujatha:)

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    1. Thanks so much, Crystal, for your sweet comments!

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  18. So ready for the fresh colors of Spring again and your table just celebrates them all! Thanks for visiting with us every week and sharing your beautiful tables. #HomeMattersParty

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    1. Thank you, Donna! Here in Georgia spring has definitely arrived, with daffodils, hyacinths, Eastern redbuds and cherry trees blooming like crazy!

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  19. Sandra,
    Love your table setting with lavender. So pretty. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by.
    https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2021/03/thursday-favorite-things-party_25.html
    Hugs,
    Bev

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    1. Bev, thanks so much for your comments and for featuring me on TFT! You've brightened my day! Take care

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  20. Very pretty, Sandra. Maybe one more shade is the color of a tulip that is in my garden. It is a deep purple.
    Thanks for sharing your post at the Friday with Friends Link Party.

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    1. Thanks, Rachelle! Nature comes up with many more shades than we have words for!

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  21. Purple and lavender are wonderful colors to decorate with. Using them on a table such as yours always makes me smile ;)
    Thanks for sharing at the FWF party!
    hugs,
    Rachelle

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    1. Thank you, Rachelle! I've always gravitated towards purple hues, even though they're frequently out of style. There's so many to choose from!

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  22. How elegant and so neat a color combination. Anything with lavender/purple I love.

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    1. Thanks, Nancy! I adore lavender and all the other shades of purple. I'm always surprised these colors aren't more popular.

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  23. This is just lovely Sandra! Your flower arrangement is gorgeous! I laughed when I got reading, because I re-posted a pandemic era table today too! :) SO happy we don't have to worry so much about all that anymore! Thanks as always for your beautiful inspiration!

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! I had briefly thought about revising this before I re-posted it, but then decided that I wanted to keep a record of how I thought and responded to the pandemic.

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