Blues and Blooms for a Country French Table

In recognition of Greg's French heritage today, I've set a table in a country french style for Sunday brunch. I chose today because they're celebrating la fête nationale on 14 juillet with parades, fireworks, music, performances and of course wonderful suppers! Le bleu, blanc, rouge flutters from staffs and houses and finds its echo on the table which incorporates all three colors.

 

 

There is always a beginning for setting a table, whether it's an item, a theme or a re-imagining of something seen and remembered. The beginning for this table was a set of fabulous linens that Greg brought back from a recent trip to Strasbourg, France. The tablecloth and matching napkins feature garden blooms, birds and butterflies in a lovely cornflower blue.

   

Greg and his colleagues have taken to shopping for table linens for me when they are in Europe, with each of them suggesting this tablecloth or that to Greg in the local shops. Apparently they enjoy themselves and I'm the lucky recipient! This one is made of pre-washed linen and is soft and pliable to the touch. I lightly ironed it, but only to reduce the fold marks. The cloth's design and wrinkles led me to style the table with a country French flair.

  

But then it's French, so mottled gold chargers were chosen in a shape that is repeated by the plates. The blue and white plates boast whimsical botanicals, while the salad plates are a warmer shade of white whose scalloped edges are a textural delight. Fleurs-de-lis decorate the handles of our everyday flatware and my favorite steak knives feature a classic, sinuous line.

No table is complete without a centerpiece of some kind! With Provence as inspiration, I placed a pair of bouquets awash in color on either side of a shapely tureen in the blue and white pattern. Gold dominates in the flowers, especially the spectacular chrysanthemums and bi-color roses. Smaller white mums and one huge hydrangea bring whites to the mix.

     

 

I added deep ruby lilies to the golds and whites, a color deftly repeating the red edges of the roses. All the flowers were a phenomenal find at the grocery store! I then simply placed them in a pair of oversized mason-like glass jars for a graceful bit of nonchalance.

  

Reds provide a punch of color in the wine glasses and the inner napkin layer.

  

This photo provides a glimpse of one of the birds in the linen pattern, and

A stray butterfly floats in the center.

   

I added a pair of beautiful Paden City pheasants, elegant examples of 1930-1940's crafted glassware that I bought a dozen years ago at a Cartersville, GA, glass show.

The detailing on the pheasants is exquisite as is the gorgeous blue. A nice counterpoint is provided by the antique silver salt cellar and 1960's iced tea glasses.

  

The linen birds are individualized and I like how the botanical tracings on the tablecloth mirror the scrolls on the plates.

       

Sunlight poured in through the dining room windows! 

It danced across the table and made the tea service on the buffet glow.

   

I went searching for red geraniums, but I loved these that I found instead!

  

I've done several French-inspired tables in the summertime — I invite you to visit them at A French-Inspired Tablescape, The French Table, Dreaming of Paris, and A Table for la Fete Nationale.                                

Table details

Table linens | Garnier-Thiebaut

Dinner plates, appetizer plates | Blue Danube (Blue Danube 'Japan' for Lipper International/Portmeirion)

Flatware | Oneida 'Julliard'

Knives | Jean Dubost 'Laguiole'

Iced tea glasses | Tiffin-Franciscan 'Margo'

    

 

* Table details are provided for identification/information only. Dinner at Eight is not affiliated with nor compensated by any other entity.