Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Celebrate Spring's Arrival with a Pastel Tablesetting

Spring officially begins tonight at 11:06 pm, but no one has told my garden which had slowly begun to awaken in mid-February with the yellows, whites, and purples of crocuses and daffodils. So I'm more than ready to celebrate Spring's arrival today!

   
I chose a lovely light blue jacquard tablecloth striped with green and yellow as the base for my spring tablescape. I think the pastel shades perfectly embody the first stirrings of color in the season. You can just discern the flowers and a few animals in white on the cloth.


I'm especially delighted today to be joining a group of stylists for a wonderful blog hop organized by Rita of Panoply. Please join me in visiting the other stylists' tablescapes linked at the bottom of this post for a variety of ways to welcome Spring!


The place settings begin with my favorite chargers in a pretty green. Made of glass, they have a cross-hatch pattern on their undersides. I've used them lots of times, most recently in my Valentine's table.  Deeper green glass bowls hold faux eggs.


Directly on top sit vintage dinner plates with delicate scrolls of brown and turquoise on their edges. Then come the stunning luncheon plates that are unabashedly spring heralds, with nesting birds against the bluest sky! The green design on the edge of the napkins expands on the pattern of the chargers.
 

The morning sun emphasizes the colors and patterns of the plates and makes the silverware shine! Note that the luncheon plate is shallow rather than flat.

 
Exuberant flowers and berries (all faux) are blooming in a silver-plated pitcher, one of two. I love flowers, I love to decorate with flowers, and I will gladly use cut or potted flowers, well-made faux flowers, or a mixture of the two. Regardless of their form, flowers elevate any tablescape they're used on.

 
For a centerpiece I chose a beautiful tureen from the luncheon plate's pattern. I think the three-dimensional bird, butterflies, flowers and leaves are exquisite! And the handles are branches.


Unlike the other silver pitcher, this one is not footed and is shorter and round. Flaring crystal candle holders seem to serve as exclamations.  Both bring height to the table. Do you see the leaf hanging over the edge of the tureen? That's the handle of the serving spoon.

  
I like to collect interesting serving pieces but haven't added salt and pepper shakers lately. Here these birds bring more spring attitude to the table. 


Both sets of glassware have clean lines and delight me with their colors  —  a light blue stem and a darker shade of green — that repeat or enhance the pastel hues already present.

  
They're joined by a second set of birds, in white this time, nestled within a wire nest. I like the interplay of textures on the table. Even though my guests may not consciously recognize them, they will notice the subtle interest that the variety of textures brings to the tablescape.
 

In contrast to the soft mix of blues and greens with a bit of white, the unexpected appearance of pink in the tulips, peonies and inner napkins creates energy. In counterpoint, deep cobalt lines the silver salt cellar. Without these vibrant colors, the table would not reflect the spark that is Spring.

  
Opposite the cobalt and silver salt cellar is one made of a natural shell edged in silver, bought at a local crafts market from the artisan. It has such a beautiful opalescence!

  
". . . it's Spring, and everyone's in love and flowers pick themselves”
e.e. cummings
 
 

Birds flocked to the buffet, looking for places to nest.

  
I received the pretty glass vase as a gift. It has been in the living room for a while and still retains the flowers from winter.

 
 “It is so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, 
to have loved, to have thought, to have done.”
Matthew Arnold
 
 
   

 
Thanks, Rita, for organizing this blog hop. I'm sure you will find marvelous ideas for setting your Spring table in the tablescapes listed below! Which one will you find inspiration in?


                    Panoply - Spring / Easter Tablescape with Classic Blue & White
                    Hyacinths for the Soul - March into Spring
                    Home is Where the Boat Is - Easter Bunnies, Chicks, and Blooms
                    Pandora's Box - Easter Breakfast Table for 2
                    Life and Linda - Hippity Hoppity Tablescape
                    Everyday Living - Celebrating Spring's Arrival and Easter's Blessings
                    My Thrift Store Addiction - Birds and Blooms Spring Tea Party
                    The Cat's Whiskerz - Hello Spring
                    Belle Bleu Interiors - Bunnies and Blooms
                    Mantel and Table - Spring Garden Tablescape with a Beautiful Basket of Tulips
                    Thrifting Wonderland - Simple Bunny Table Setting
                    The Painted Apron - Bunnies in Bloom!
                    Dinner at Eight - Celebrate Spring's Arrival with a Pastel Tablescape   you are here!
                    Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Spring Sprouts New Life
                    Karin's Kottage - Charming Easter bunny table setting
                    Red Cottage Chronicles - Spring Fling Tablescape
                    The Bookish Dilettante - Spring Tablescape: Bookish Bunnies
                    Me and My Captain - Keepers of the Traveling Shamrock TableCloth
 
 


Table details
Tablecloth | Williams Sonoma
Dinner plate | Noritake 'Esteem'
Luncheon plate | Fitz & Floyd 'Toulouse'
Chargers | Villeroy & Boch 'Manoir'


Shared with these wonderful parties
Inspire Me Monday      
Hearth and Soul     
             
 

41 comments:

  1. Love that springtime table setting!!

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  2. Your table is so pretty, especially with the dappled sunshine! The soup tureen and dishes are stunning and your silver coffee set is precious - Enjoy the first day of spring!

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    1. Thanks so much, Patti! Hope you're enjoying glorious spring weather!

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  3. I love how pale and lovely your tablescape is! The greens, pinks, and blues are so soothing. Also, your silver collection looks so pretty with the sunshine reflecting off of your pieces. The 3D tureen is so, so pretty as are your plates. Happy spring!

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    1. Thank you, Ricki! I wanted to echo the first stirrings of spring.

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  4. Hello Sandra and Happy Spring! Elegant and subtle with its pastel colorway is the Williams Sonoma’s jacquard tablecloth. How delightful are the sunlight and shadows dancing across your tabletop. The green Villeroy and Boch chargers are perfect. I have long admired the Fitz and Floyd ‘Toulouse’ pattern! Seeing its beauty on your table makes me want to order it, but I digress. . Silver plated pitchers make a delightful presentation of faux flowers. Wow, the centerpiece tureen is the piece de resistance!. I always enjoy your collection of gorgeous stemware. It is a pleasure to blog hop with you and wishing you a joy-filled spring and Easter!

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    1. Thank you so much, Pam, for your lovely comments! I was lucky to have such wonderful components to work with. I love using Toulouse in the spring and I couldn't not include the silver plated pitchers since they had recently been polished. Happy spring!

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  5. Love the bird plates and the linen tablecloth, Sandra. Your beautiful setting is subtle and calming while welcoming spring to the table. The green Villeroy and Boch chargers are a perfect background for your gorgeous plates. The beautiful green and clear stemware works perfectly with your setting. The napkins are wonderful and add some nice detail to the table. A pleasure to hop with you. Happy Spring!
    Lynne

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    1. Lynne, thanks so much! I knew I wanted to use the tablecloth with the plates and I was pleased with the way everything fell in place! Hope you're having a marvelous spring!

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  6. Sandra, your bird tureen and plates are lovely, as is your assortment of silver! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction

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    1. Thanks, Cecilia! I love using silver in table settings -- especially after I've polished it! Happy spring

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  7. Sandra I adore the way the sunlight dances around your spring table. And the Luncheon plates, Fitz & Floyd 'Toulouse', are so beautiful. I am jealous of your silver all polished and beautiful. Mine are so tarnished that it would take me forever to shine them all up. LOL. It is always fun to table hop with you. Happy Easter and Spring.

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    1. Thank you, Kari! I'm smitten with my Toulouse china and can't wait to use it each spring. Ahh, you should have seen the silver pieces before -- they only get polished every year (or two!) in a marathon spree. Great for dreary winter days LOL. Have a wonderful spring!

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  8. Happy spring Sandra, Your bird plate and tureen are so pretty. I have admired them for years. Love the sweet birds. Your silver looks so gorgeous and I adore the sweet bird who hopped over. Such happy flowers to say hello spring. Always a pleasure hopping with you.

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    1. Linda, thank you! I started buying the Toulouse pattern as soon as I saw it and love using it each spring. You can't go wrong with birds as a theme! I so enjoyed the hop -- have a happy spring.

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  9. Sandra, your spring table is gorgeous! The Fitz and Floyd plates and tureen are so pretty on your table. That tureen along with your lovely floral arrangement make the perfect centerpiece for your table. I adore the color combination of blue and green. The soft pastel blue tablecloth provides the perfect backdrop to your setting. Everything looks beautiful! I hope that you have a happy and blessed spring!

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    1. Thanks so much, Shannon! Once I saw the tablecloth with the plates I knew the direction I wanted to go. It helps that blues and greens are my favorite colors. Have a wonderful spring!

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  10. Sorry, I forgot to sign my comment Shannon@ Belle Bleu Interiors

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  11. Hi Sandra, you had me at the first sighting of the F & F luncheon plates, they are sooo pretty! And the matching tureen is a fabulous piece and looks so pretty front and center on your table! The white tablecloth is a nice background for all your spring elements. The green and blue stemmed glasses are lovely with your green and blue plate stacks . Cute bird salt and peppers and eggs in the small green bowl add to the Spring theme. I love the way you tied pink in with the beautiful flowers and napkins. The table looks wonderful in your navy dining room! Beautiful, Sandra, Happy Spring!
    Jenna

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    1. Thanks so much, Jenna! The tureen is so marvelous in person and adds so much interest wherever I place it. I'm totally smitten with blue and green combos and never tire of using them, but a pop of pink seemed a good accent! I'm glad you enjoyed my color story. Have a wonderful spring!

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  12. Sandra, I've scrolled up and down delighting in all the details of your gorgeous sun kissed table. Yes, the plate stack is fabulous! Each layer complimenting the next. I delight in the way we tablescapers stack up our beautiful plates! And the tureen is spectacular! Love the napkins, too! Thanks for sharing all this beauty. Always a pleasure to see your tables. Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

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    1. Sarah, what lovely things to say! Thank you! Working with items and colors you love, you can't help but make wonderful tablescapes that resonate. Although I have to confess I can't take credit for the sunlight's effects -- but luckily I managed to photograph them. I hope you enjoy a wonderful spring!

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  13. Sandra, your tables are always so elegant and unique! I've long admired that Toulouse pattern and the salads are so lovely and the matching tureen is gorgeous. The sunshine on your table is so pretty. The napkins are perfect and I've also long admired those charger plates. I don't know that I would have known that the flowers are faux - they are so pretty in the silver pitchers. The bird S & Ps are delightful and your stemware is always fabulous. It was a pleasure hopping with you and wishing you and yours a very wonderful spring and a very happy Easter!

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    1. Kim, thank you for your sweet comments! I think the Toulouse pattern is stunning and I've enjoyed styling tables with it for several springs. I just its three-dimensional design and find I am always inspired by it. The charger plates are the perfect shade of green to make them multi-seasonal. And I have a soft spot for graceful stemware. Hoping you're enjoying a marvelous spring!

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  14. Very colorful and beautiful tablescape. Found you on Grandma's House. Thank you for sharing,

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    1. Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you return again soon!

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  15. Just gorgeous, Sandra! I love all the birds that have flocked to your table and sideboard. The salad plates stacked on those green glass chargers is so beautiful, especially with the sun filtering in through your dining room windows. The pairing of the pink napkins inside the green pattern-edged white ones are perfect and, as you mentioned, bring energy with the florals. You set such a nice table, and I would love being a guest to enjoy the space, the light, and all the pretty elements you've used to welcome spring. Thank you, Sandra, for being a part of this hop.

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    1. Thanks so much, Rita! Spring and birds are inseparably linked for me, though I confess to enjoying styling tables with birds all year long. I love green and blue combinations, but I liked the added zest of the pink. I wish I could take credit for the sunlight! At least my camera was there at the right time. Thanks again for coordinating such fun hops! Happy spring

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  16. Wow, what beautiful settings! I love those pinks and greens. Visiting from Crazy Little Lovebirds linkup.

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer! I'm so glad you stopped by!

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  17. Beautiful Sandra! I adore that gorgeous tureen and sweet bird plates, as well as the other nesting details on your table and in your dining room. I was just on Fitz and Floyd’s website admiring the Toulouse footed cake plate and English Garden teapot with birds… I’m taking it as a sign from the universe that I should indulge. 😊 Love the sunlight dancing on your table and touch of pink that your napkins add. As always it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you, Happy Spring!

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    1. Thank you, Mary! My husband gave me the cake plate and I can vouch for it being absolutely lovely! I find the whole pattern inspires lots of ideas for tablesettings. Birds and spring are definitely linked for me! I so enjoyed the spring hop and hope you have a wonderful spring.

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  18. Sandra, I had to go over your post a couple of times to see all the details!! I love your wonderful bird plates and that gorgeous tureen!!! They are perfect for bringing in the spring season. Your beautiful green glass chargers and wine glasses complement the plates nicely. I love love love the napkins!!! So cute!!❤️ I hope you have a wonderful spring and Easter🌼🐥🌷

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    1. Thank you, Ann! I was really pleased with the way the tablescape came together. I can't resist the pairing of greens and blues -- and the tablecloth and china pattern had both colors. The tureen is even more marvelous in person. Happy spring!

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  19. Oh Sandra this is gorgeous! I love the way you captured the light slanting across the table - it looks like something from a beautiful coffee table book! Love your silver too, and the bright and delicate pinks. Thanks for letting us into your design process - it's always so instructive to learn how other people do things. Hope you have a lovely spring and Easter too!

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    1. Thank you, Barbara, for such lovely comments! Since we had spent many long evenings polishing the silver that gets used fairly often or sits on display, I was really anxious to set a table with it! I love how the colors came together. I too like hearing how others approach setting tables. Enjoy a marvelous spring!

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  20. Sandra, this is beautiful! It will be a featured post tomorrow at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #31. Thank you for sharing with us. :)

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    1. Stephanie, thank you! I really appreciate it!

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  21. Sandra, I am late to the party but I love your table! It is the very essence of Spring! The colors are so soft and lovely, the birds, your tea pot...all of it combines to create a stunning and inviting setting that anyone would love to be seated at. xo Lidy

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    1. Thanks so much, Lidy! I love using blues and greens on spring tables, and the songs of birds outside my windows are a wonderful source of inspiration. Have a marvelous Spring!

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