Artistry and Romance — A Valentine's Table

With February 14 fast approaching, it's time to think about what type of table you might want to set for Valentine's Day! I know that not everyone celebrates this holiday, but I find it a welcome respite from the winter blues. It's a holiday that's very flexible — you can celebrate romantic love, love for your children, family bonds, or the strength of friendships. Or all at once!

 

I'm delighted that you're joining me today for I have a special treat in store for you! Including myself, there are eighteen stylists that have been organized by Rita of Panoply in a special tablescape hop to share our ideas for Valentine's Day tables with you. All the details are included at the bottom of this post.

    

I decided to set a table that celebrates Valentine's by focusing on romance through artistry. And what better way to do that than selecting table linens and fine china that my husband surprised me with!

Greg brought me the tablecloth and napkins from a business trip this summer to Strasbourg, France. It's a beautiful, textural cotton woven with four colors in a wonderful design of leaves, vines and flowering racemes in large blocks of color. The colors are variations of lavender, lilac, orchid and plum. The fabric reverses to its opposite colors. It's a lovely complement to the delicately patterned plates with their shades of purple in the violets edged in gold. He gave me the china for Christmas, having purchased it at the antique mall after I had regretfully passed it up (with more than one look back).

   

The china has a story of its own. The current collection (1967-present) is based on a pattern originally created for the Empress Eugénie of France, who contributed to the cultural life of France and helped create the Napoleon III style. The original design can still be seen on display at the Haviland Porcelain Museum in Limoges. I just think it's gorgeous!

For stemware, I chose vintage water glasses with a slightly fluted bowl in lavender, contemporary champagne flutes and vintage cordial glasses in lilac with a cut-to-clear design on the bowl. I think the three shapes and colors work well together.

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I added crystal candle holders in three heights to either end of the table's center, placing them in semi-circles around a vase of fresh flowers. Velvet hearts joined the centerpiece.

   

I think all the components combine for an enchanting table!

  

Artistry is in the delicate design of the plates, the lovely organic patterns of the table linens, the pretty crystal shapes of the candle holders and the interesting contours of the stemware.

  

Romance is in the language of flowers, the thoughtfulness of the gifts and the glowing light of candles.

      

    

The two types of chrysanthemums are perfect matches for the colors in the tablecloth and napkins. The blue hydrangeas are a nod to the violets in the plates. To fill out the centerpiece I added faux flowers in shades of white.

 

This is a closer view of the jacquard tablecloth and napkins, which I tied with lavender ribbons instead of using napkin rings. Note that the largest block is in the palest of lavenders, not white, as is the thread outlining the botanical motifs.

   

I couldn't set a Valentine's table without desserts! I've placed them on the buffet along with a coffee service and pitchers for water and iced tea.

   

   

      

Should we celebrate Valentine's Day at a late lunch?

 

Or embrace the romance at a dinner by candlelight?

   

    

I would like to thank Rita from Panoply for organizing this Valentine's Day tablescape blog hop. I hope that you'll visit each of my fellow stylists — you are sure to be inspired by their marvelous ideas!   

Panoply - Valentine's Day: Birds of a Feather

Home is Where the Boat Is - Galentine's Tea Party

Everyday Living - My Love, My Valentine

Celebrating Everyday Life - How to Style a Romantic French-Inspired Table for Two

Hyacinths for the Soul - Whispers of the Heart

Pandora's Box - A Valentine Tea for Two

Me and My Captain - Cupid's Arrow 2025

Life and Linda - Ooh la la! A Parisian Tablescape

The Bookish Dilettante - Conversation Hearts for Valentine's Day

My Thrift Store Addiction - Vintage Style Galentine's Gathering

The Cat's Whiskerz - A Copper Inspired Valentine's Day Tablescape

The Little Yellow Corner Store - Valentine's Day and a Snowman's Smile

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - For All the Roses in My Life

The Painted Apron - Love Talk 

Dinner at Eight - Artistry and Romance - A Valentine's Table (you are here)

Thrifting Wonderland - Creating a Romantic Thrifted Valentine's Tablescape

Belle Bleu Interiors - A Celebration of Love

Mantel and Table - A Valentine's Day Tablescape in Beautiful Blush and Peach

   

For my Valentine's tables in smaller settings, you are welcome to visit The Softer Side of Pink, Valentine Romance, and A Little Romance.                  

Table details

Table linens | Garnier-Thiebaut 'Glycines Parme'

Dinner, salad and bread plates | Haviland 'Imperatrice Eugénie'

Silverware | Reed & Barton 'Eighteenth Century'

Water/wine glassware |   Fostoria 'Wisteria' 

   

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

    

 

Shared with these parties

Talking About It Tuesday    

Tuesday Turn About    

Karins Kottage     

Wonderful Wednesday      

Vintage Charm    

Grandmas House    

Wednesdays in Studio    

Whimsy Home Wednesday   

Creatively Crafty