September 06, 2022

Mums Lead the Way to Fall

September has arrived, a bridge between summer and fall. And leading the way towards fall are the glorious mums blooming in gardens and yards! I couldn’t resist following them so I set a table with a beautiful bouquet as the centerpiece.

  
Chrysanthemums come in all sizes, shapes and colors. I chose pure yellows complemented by several in a lovely amethyst color.


I am delighted to be sharing my chrysanthemum table in the Welcome Fall Tablescape Blog Hop organized by Rita of Panoply and featuring a group of talented stylists! You will find all the links to the participants at the bottom of this post.


We will not get to experience the full range of fall delights such as cooler weather and spectacular displays of leaf color until late October, so I’ve layered a leaf-patterned table runner and matching placemats and napkins in various shades of green that reflect September’s colors. I then used a round placemat of solid green leaves to help the vase of mums stand out against the runner.


Aren’t these mums cheerily vibrant! Both types are medium-sized, though the amethyst ones are slightly larger and have ray florets that are somewhat tubular in shape.


Four different salad plates introduce painted mums in darker shades along with other fall plants. I love the black backgrounds and the drama they bring to the tablescape.


I’ve also added two lidded ceramic pheasant boxes by the centerpiece to further suggest fall themes to come.


Brightly colored fall berries are clasped within the napkins by pretty satin ribbons in a green shade very nearly that of the linens. I often use ribbons this way because they come in a myriad of colors and are compatible with both casual and more formal tables.




Glassware adds the finishing touch to the place setting. I often rely on antique and vintage pieces to individualize the settings. The wine glass, crafted in topaz then etched in traditional designs, is elegant glass, which differs from depression glass in that it was made from higher quality crystal, had varying degrees of hand finishing, and was initially purchased in department stores rather than given away free as an inducement to purchase other items.

For a water glass, I used vintage barware that I found in an antique store. There was eight to the set as well as a metal caddy. I love the swirling lines of black and gold! I think they are as contemporary a design today as they were in the 50’s or 60’s!




The gold on the edge of the plates is repeated in the flatware whose floral design echoes both the salad plates and the mums in the centerpiece. I find that I use this gold flatware more frequently than I had anticipated when we found it clearing out my husband’s mother’s house.


The addition of the two ceramic pheasants changes the focus from songbirds found in my spring and summer tables. I love the details and subtle changes in color! Although they are considered “boxes” I’ve only used them for fall tables and displays.




When I style a table, I don’t like to leave the buffet bare. Here I’ve added another pheasant, this time made of raffia, feathers and sea grass. He’s joined by a rattan gourd and ceramic acorns.




I like the variety of colors and textures on the table, and the way they play off each other.


Of course there’s plenty of sparkle!


Thank you for spending time with me today! I know that you will enjoy seeing how very differently each of the stylists approach setting a fall tablescape.

        Everyday Living - Anxiously Awaiting Autumn's Arrival
        Panoply - Ready for Fall: Game On Tablescape
        My Thrift Store Addiction - Simply Elegant Velvet Pumpkin Fall Tablescape
        Me and My Captain - Shine On Harvest Moon
        Home is Where the Boat Is - Cusp of Fall with Woodland Friends
        Hyacinths for the Soul - Whoooo is Ready for Autumn?
        Debbee's Buzz - Alfresco Brunch Peacock Table & Napkin Fold
        Pandora's Box - A Yellow Table for September
        The Painted Apron - Early Fall Pumpkin Patch
        From My Carolina Home - Autumn Apples Tablescape
        Celebrate and Decorate - A Fall Tablescape in Shades of Blue
        Living With Thanksgiving - Fall Vibes
        Dinner at Eight - Mums Lead the Way to Fall    
        Thrifting Wonderland - It's Time for a Fall Tablescape
        The Bookish Dilettante - Back to (Art) School
        Life and Linda - Welcome Fall
        Bluesky at Home - How to Decorate a Table with Fall Leaves
        Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Fall Tablescape - Autumn Gnome
        Red Cottage Chronicles - Cozy Up Around an Autumn Dinner Table




     
I hope you find some mums to lead the way to fall!


Table resources
Dinner plates | Royal Doulton ‘Alice’
Salad plates | Williams-Sonoma ‘Harvest Bloom’
Wine glasses | Fostoria ‘Versailles’
Water glasses | not yet identified, but similar ones can be found
   
   

    
    
  

46 comments:

  1. I adore chrysanthemums, they do say fall! I like your pheasants too! Lovely table.

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    1. Thank you, Carole! Not only are mums beautiful, but they flower dependably in my garden.

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  2. Beautiful Fall table with wonderful mums! The glasses and silvers caught my eye. Best wishes.

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    1. Thank you, Maristella, for your sweet comments! So glad you stopped by!

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  3. Lovely table! The salad plates are fabulous and your stemware is so pretty. I also like how you 'prettied up' your napkins! I would enjoy sitting here for sure!! Happy Fall

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    1. Thanks, Patti! I had such great items to work with for my table. I frequently use ribbons instead of napkin rings because they add a softer look.

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  4. Hi Sandra, I am smitten with your stunning salad plates--absolutely gorgeous! Pinned!

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    1. Thanks, Cecilia, for pinning! I wish you could see the plates in person!

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  5. I love mums. Football mums are my favorite, and that one plate of yours with the large football mum on it is making me smile! My other favorite thing about your tablescape is the set of stemware. Talk about a statement! :D
    The leaf-patterned table linens are so nice. They truly compliment the fall plant plates so well. Beautiful! This is a uniquely inspiring tablescape. LOVE it!

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    1. Thanks so much, Ricki, for your lovely comments! I just love all the forms and colors of mums. As for the stemware, I love collecting (and using!) vintage patterns.

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  6. Very nicely done, Sandra. I love, love, love those black floral plates - very Old World, stylistically speaking. I noticed the ribbons on the napkins right away, the satin a real attention-getter. How nice that you have you rmother-in-law's gold flatware, and your collections of vintage stemware is really nice. I do love seeing the mid-century still having current day appeal, and am always drawn to having new with old. The crystal most definitely is a cut above the gift with purchase kind of the Depression era. The mums are certainly a harbinger of fall. And like you, I enjoy putting a bit of fall decor in surrounding areas for the seasonal transition. Thanks so much for bringing your style tips to readers as part of this blog hop. Happy September!

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    1. Thanks, Rita, for all your lovely comments! Vintage glassware has such astounding variety that I can't resist collecting and using it. I love searching for vintage items -- and I've been blessed with having my mother's and my husband's mother's treasures.

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  7. Mums are so lovely this time of year. The yellow mums are so cheerful. Love the plates Sandra with their pretty dark background. Harvest Bloom is a perfect name. Falling leaves are all around us. The pheasant, made of raffia, feathers and sea grass is striking. A pleasure hopping along with you.

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda! Cheerful is a great word for mums! They always make me smile. The plates are even prettier in person and I can't wait to get them out in the fall.

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  8. Wow, what a stunning table! Like Rita, I adore those black plates, what a beautiful design each one has. Your entire table is such a delight, all the details are just beautiful. The vintage glasses and your mother-in-law's flatware complete a warm and inviting table. I would love to join you there! Thank you so much for the inspiration...happy Fall! xo Lidy

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    1. Thank you, Lidy, for your lovely comments! I immediately fell for the plates in the store and have excitedly gotten them out each fall since then! I love using the beautiful new and vintage items I find.

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  9. First and foremost, happy anniversary Sandra! Hope you are enjoying your time celebrating, offline. Such a great transitional tablescape to welcome fall. Love your styling and mixing of prints, textures, color, and tableware elements. Such pretty linens, beautiful floral arrangement, and to-die-for plates.

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    1. Thank you, Debbee, for all of your comments! I think I enjoy doing transitional tables the most, because you can incorporate ideas from both seasons!

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  10. So pretty Sandra! I love your leaf linens and the berries decorating your napkins! Of course, what would Fall be without colorful mums! The black floral plates are dramatic and beautiful... The pheasants are a wonderful touch and those wine glasses are gorgeous!
    Jenna

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    1. Thanks so much, Jenna! I love using mums in fall tables so finding the floral plates was extra special. And I got lucky at the recent glass show with stemware just the right color!

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  11. Sandra, those mums are fabulous and I love how they accent those gorgeous salad plates! Love the green with the table too as the color is still very prominent - even here in Calgary the leaves have barely started to change. What a great transitional tablescape! Thanks for sharing and I hope you are having a wonderful fall!

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    1. Thank you, Kim! I'm in north Georgia at the start of the Appalachian Mountains so we get beautiful displays of fall foliage -- eventually. In the meantime, I like to focus on transitional tables and decor to be somewhat in sync with nature. Have a great week!

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  12. Sandra, I love the use of mums as your centerpiece and the addition of the pheasants adds more autumnal color. The WS harvest blooms plates are stunning and I always look forward to your vintage stemware. The Fostoria wine glasses are lovely. Happy Anniversary and I hope you and husband are having a wonderful trip!

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    1. Thanks, Pam, for your comments and your well wishes! I have really developed quite a love for vintage stemware -- their colors, shapes and designs are so much more interesting to me than the contemporary selections. (Though I have those too!) We had an absolutely delightful and relaxing get-away!

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  13. Sandra, your table is a lovely welcome to fall. The colors and textures are perfect with those gorgeous salad plates. Mums say fall to me. I used some on my table too! Thanks for sharing this special tablescape. Happy Fall!

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    1. Thanks so much, Sarah! I always have mums on at least one of my fall tables. Hope you're having a wonderful fall week!

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  14. The china plates you're using are really lovely and bring in all the colors of Fall. I was especially drawn to your vintage wine glasses. The tall stems pared with the etched glass are a wonderful look. Spectacular mums set a beautiful tone for the table. The leaf placemats and runner bring nature right to the table. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Happy Fall!

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    1. Thank you, Lynne! I liked that these linens display leaves just as they're about to turn colors as a nice contrast to the flowers which are definitely "Fall". I was so glad I found the wine glasses at this year's glass show.

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  15. Sandra, I adore your WS Harvest Blooms plates! The dramatic black background and old world feeling they evoke is such a pretty contrast to the bright yellow and lavender mums in your centerpiece. Love the addition of your pheasants at your table and buffet too. As always, it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you. Happy September!

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    1. Thanks so much, Mary! The Harvest Bloom plates were simply irresistible! My pheasants often join me at the table in fall. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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  16. Oooh, those mum plates sure are pretty!!! Such a beautiful table with all of the gold accents, Sandra! I hope you have a wonderful fall season🍁🍂🍁

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    1. Thanks, Ann! I love using gold on fall tables. It feels cozy for fall -- but in a few months it will feel glitzy for the holidays! Happy September

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  17. Sandra, I'm waiting for my mums to bloom. Your table with its beautiful plates of botanical flowers on black will hold me over until then. The napkins at each place setting tied with a soft green ribbon made me feel like the start of unwrapping a fall dinner gift :)
    I saw you and your hubby are celebrating your anniversary. Hope you have a wonderful trip filled with beautiful memories.
    Hugs,
    Rachelle

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    1. Thanks so much, Rachelle! I loved your comment about unwrapping a fall dinner gift! Our anniversary trip was beautiful, relaxing, delightful -- sorry to see it end . . .

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  18. Sandra. Hope your anniversary trip is wonderful!
    Your mums are so pretty and look so pretty on the fall runner. I love the matching placemats and napkins. The WS mum plates are very elegant.
    Happy September !

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    1. Thank you, Bonnie! I loved making the table all about mums! It was fun to use (relatively) new things. Have a great week!

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  19. Love the happy yellow mums paired with the leafy placemats.

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  20. Love your yellow mums paired with the leafy green placemats.

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  21. Oh this is so lovely. The mum plates are gorgeous and so are the flowers. You create such lovely work.
    Visiting today from Inspire Me Monday #25&26

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    1. Thank you, Paula, for your sweet comments! I hope you visit again soon!

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  22. Your plates are just beautiful and certainly suggest the coming fall season. With their beautiful pattern they are a wonderful topper for your gold rimmed dinner plates. There is no doubt this is a fall table, but your birds want to make sure we know this is no early spring table with songbirds. Happy September!

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    1. Thanks so much, Chloe! I seem to have collected a fair number of bird accents, mostly unplanned, lol. So it's really fun to use them in different ways. Have a wonderful weekend!

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