We turned the page and suddenly it's September! Collectively we're relieved that this year's long, hot summer will soon be in the rearview mirror, but fall's entrance is still in the (near) future. Here in North Georgia we will be experiencing warm summer temps throughout the month, but I've got my eyes set on the changeover to autumn and set a table to celebrate its arrival!
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I'm delighted to be joining a number of friends who are also welcoming the arrival of fall by styling tablescapes with different autumn themes. The
group was organized by the creative Rita of Panoply and you'll find
links to all their fabulous designs at the end of this post. Whether
you're a regular visitor or are coming from the blog hop — Welcome!
My inspiration came from the salad plates that we use every day which star fall's fruit harvest. A perfect pairing is the stunning table runner I recently discovered that showcase both fruits and leaves.
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I love the painterly rendering of the botanical elements! And the way the texture of the linen gives them depth. I also love the contrast of the glass votive candle holders in a warm amber against the cooler tones of the table runner.
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What could be a more fitting choice of a centerpiece than a beautiful bowl of fresh fruits in fall's vibrant colors?
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Early fall colors are mixed with an abundance of green, for it will be two months or so before the trees will be ablaze here.
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I selected favorite wine glasses that are one of my fall staples. Their medium green shade transitions between the bright greens of summer and the deeper forest hues of later fall and winter. Their simple lines also serve as a complement to the intricately cut and etched water glasses that I introduced in The Thrill of Finding Beautiful Glassware.
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With the table set for six, I used four of the matching linen napkins at the place settings on the sides. They bring additional color and pattern to the wood table. The napkins are held by lovely leaf-shaped gold rings that I bought for one of our first dinner parties. In contrast to their formality I chose stainless flatware with a pretty rope edge.
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For the places at either end of the table I had originally chosen plain green napkins but they didn't quite have the effect I wanted. So I wrapped them in ivory hemstitched napkins with an open border. I like mixing the patterns of napkins for the different places at a table for the unexpected twist it gives to the design.
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Cheeses join fruit as the final course of the dinner. Rather than a cheese board, I placed them on a lovely figural plate that has a woven basket design centered with leaves.
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Two charming birds perch on either side!
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Together the fruit and cheese make a colorful and delectable centerpiece!
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The bowl is a beautiful example of 'elegant glass' that my mom received as a wedding gift. Wildflowers are etched along the rim and wall of the the bowl, with partially open stylized buds placed among them.
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An added touch are the molded feet and vertical struts (for want of a better description) on the underside. Other pieces in the pattern can be seen in A Brunch for Mother's Day.
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What about the place settings? For a base I chose mottled gold scalloped chargers that I think have a French country sensibility. They appear much more reflective in photos than they actually are. The gold is compatible with the amber of the votives and in the pears in the linens. On the chargers are dinner plates in a rich green that have a woven design similar to the pattern on the cheese plate. The gold rims give the informal pattern an elevated feel. The scalloped salad plates edged in green echo the chargers, but repeat the orchard theme on centers in a pretty lemon yellow. The overall effect is informal but not casual,
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though the table is set in the dining room. In the background, the buffet sports casual ceramic candlesticks on either side of the mid-1920s silver coffee and tea set. I've often used the candlesticks, such as in Enchanting Shamrock Decor and Daffodils. The faux florals reflect the in-between status of September.
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The bowl holds apples, nectarines and plums. I had wanted to include pears but those in the grocery weren't ready for photos lol.
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Now I want to thank Rita of Panoply, Mary from Home Is Where the Boat Is, and my tablescaping friends for this wonderful Welcome Fall Blog Hop — please click on each title below to explore all their marvelous ideas. You are sure to be inspired!
Panoply - Tobacco Leaf Fall Tablescape
Everyday
Living - Welcoming Autumn, My Favorite Season!
Hyacinths for the Soul - Rocky Mountain Vibes ~ Welcome Autumn Tablescape
The Cat's Whiskerz - Transitioning into Fall with Pumpkins and Pomegranates
Me and My Captain - Autumn! Kansas Fowl And The Milo Fields!
Life
and Linda - Cinderella - A Table Fit For A Princess
My
Thrift Store Addiction - Vintage Harvest Time - Thrifted Autumn Table Setting
The
Bookish Dilettante - Welcome Fall Tablescape: Plum Assignment
Mantel and Table - A Beautiful Fall Table Setting to Welcome the Season
Thrifting
Wonderland - Celebrate Autumn with a Cozy Fall Tablescape
Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Autumn Table in Hues of Brown
Dinner
at Eight - Colorful Orchard Tablesetting Celebrates Fall's Arrival
Pandora's
Box - Fall is for Football
Red Cottage Chronicles - Fall Tablescape Ideas: Nancy Meyers meets
English Cottage
May you have a wonderful Fall!
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Table details
Dinner plates | Williams-Sonoma 'Garden Lattice'
Salad plates | Villeroy & Boch 'French Garden'
Patterned linens | Williams-Sonoma 'Provençal Garden'
Bowl | New Martinsville 'Prelude'
Flatware | Reed & Barton 'Domain'
* Table details are provided for identification/information only. Dinner at Eight does not receive any type of compensation.
Shared with these exciting parties:
Hi Sandra! Your charming orchard-themed table setting is so pretty. The fresh fruit complements your dishes and tablecloth beautifully. Happy almost fall!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cecilia! I couldn't wait to style this table. Happy September
DeleteSandra, such a pretty table to welcome September. The plates are darling, fitting for an orchard table. Fresh fruit like apples brings fall to my mind. Your charcuterie board is calling my name. Your fruit table runner goes perfectly with your plates. Your Mother's etched bowl is so pretty and elegant. Happy September.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! As soon as I found the table runner it was meant to be. Happy Fall!
DeleteYes! Yes! Yes! Orchard indeed. I love all the fruits on the table Sandra...you have 'picked' the fruit of your labor and they are beautiful. Your mother's etched bowl is so delicate yet sturdy to hold the fruits of Fall. I hear ya on leaving some fruits at the market...such as the pears...sometimes they just are not what we want for our table. Having a lovely cheese board for desserts is perfect. The sweet little birds are adorable. I believe you said the salad plates are your everyday dishes...so pretty. How do you keep your 1920's coffee and tea set so pretty? I have mine packed away, but alas it always needs cleaning before use. It is alway fun to blog hop with you. Enjoy your summer because it is ending soon.🍁🍁🍁 Kari @ Me and My Captain
ReplyDeleteThanks for you lovely comments, Kari! The salad plates have been our everyday dishes for about 11 years. They're both pretty and sturdy. I leave the coffee and tea set on our dining room buffet year round. Polished once a year for the holidays, then dusted and buffed a bit occasionally. Happy Fall!
DeleteI like the mixture of fruit on your table even though the pears at the grocery store weren't blog worthy! The pears on your table runner certainly are. It is so pretty! It looks like a watercolor painting. I also love the etched bowl used as your centerpiece. What a lovely idea that I will steal! Your plate stacks are an inspiration, and they blend perfectly with your runner. Your table is a reminder that autumn is the time of year when harvests are brought in, and we celebrate them. Happy fall!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ricki! My heart skipped a beat when I found the table runner. Couldn't wait to use it! Have a great September!
DeleteSandra, I used fresh apples on my table. Fruit is a perfect compliment to a harvest table theme. Your pretty table checks all the boxes for a beautiful, welcoming table to gather round with friends or family. Happy Fall!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! It's been a long time since I actually picked fruit in the fall, but it's a wonderful memory. Have a great September!
DeleteThat is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne!
DeleteSandra, what a beautiful way to welcome the arrival of fall! I especially love your place settings—the layered plates, scalloped gold chargers, gorgeous greens and pretty gold accents work together so beautifully, while still feeling relaxed and inviting. And that figural plate for the after-dinner cheese course is such a pretty detail! I love the charm of the little birds and basket design. I love how you carried the orchard theme right through to the very last course.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maureen! I love how fall slowly comes into view and hoped to channel that feeling. Happy September!
DeleteSandra, such a lovely combination of colors and the theme is carried out beautifully. I especially love the way the runner ties all the elements together. Your plates are lovely and really speak to the coming season. the gorgeous green under plate really allows the salad plate to shine. Love the etched plate and the apples speak to fall. It made me smile when even your cheeses carry out the color theme. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteLynne, Thrifting Wonderland
Thank you, Lynne! I wanted a centerpiece treatment that went hand-in-hand with the runner (which I swooned over lol). Have a wonderful Fall!
DeleteLove the centerpiece of fresh fruit, an edible delight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy!
DeleteSandra, you always such beautiful tables with both your dishes, and your glassware, which I always find interesting in its history. Your orchard theme plays out very nicely with the table linen, the centerpiece bowl of fruit, and those beautiful salad plates. The lattice edged dinner plates by William Sonoma are just gorgeous. I have often thought about buying a set of those, but have refrained so far. I love how you say the pears in the grocery store were not photo ready. Did they not know you were coming? Ah, the woes of tablescapers. Sandra, thank you for bringing a beautiful early fall look to the blog hop. Happy September!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Rita! It can be hard to design fall tables when the temps are in the mid/high nineties so I was so happy to find table linens that were more in keeping with early fall -- and that went well with my salad plates. And the fruit: let's just say I have better luck finding table things when I'm not looking for something in particular lol. Thank you for coordinating another wonderful blog hop. Happy Fall!
DeleteSandra, such a lovely and soft table to welcome fall. I love the orchard theme and you've played it to perfection. The table runner was a great find and wonderfully coordinates with the salad plates and beautiful etched bowl of harvest fruits. The cheeses are perfect on the green basket-weave plate which echoes the pretty lattice pattern on the dinner plates. I sometimes change out the end places too when I am setting a table for six - something unexpected that always adds a bit of interest to the table. The etched water glasses are beauties and the green wine glasses are the perfect shade for the dinner plates and cheese plate. The amber votive holders must give a wonderful glow in the evening. The leaves on our trees here have not started to turn yet, but likely will within the next two to three weeks. It was a pleasure hopping with you and wishing you a very happy September!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim! I was absolutely inspired by finding the table linens (even though I’ve had the salad plates for 11 years or so lol!). While I’m obsessed by pumpkins, I really wanted to style a table with an early fall theme. So fruit it was! Hope you have a wonderful autumn!
DeleteOooh I love your table runner too – how beautiful! And your centerpiece is brilliant – I wouldn’t have thought to use plain fruit, but it is totally perfect with your glass bowl. And how smart to use your cheese course plate as part of your centerpiece! I’m going to use that idea next time. Not only is it lovely as décor, but it will remind my guests that there’s an extra course coming and not to get too stuffed beforehand! Your plate stack colors beautifully combine with your other table elements. It’s a lovely cohesive and very satisfying design. Thanks for the great ideas – I can’t wait to try food as my centerpiece!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara! Sometimes really running with an idea results in my favorite tables. I think the wonderful colors in fresh fruit can enliven any tableware they’re paired with. Let me know how your table with last course centerpieces works out! Happy Fall!
DeleteSandra, your fall in the orchard is a wonderful theme for the upcoming season! Your table runner and salad plates compliment each other nicely. I grew up around several apple orchards and spent a lot of time in the fall picking apples and making apple cider. We used to sell it on a road side stand!! So your table and centerpiece hit some heartstrings for me. I hope you have a wonderful and cooler Autumn season!! 🍄🟫🍁🍂
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann! We used to do more berry picking, but I loved making apple sauce. But we ate ours, lol! Happy September!
DeleteSandra, I love your orchard theme with thoughts of the arrival of autumn. Fruit and cheese make a lovely and edible centerpiece. Your plate stack complements the table runner. I have always loved the ‘French Garden’ pattern by Villeroy and Boch. Your mother’s etched bowl is charming and the perfect addition to your table. You have set a delightful table to welcome fall. Happy September 🍂
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam! I liked the idea of easing into Fall and the fruit harvest seemed a wonderful way to do it. And I liked being able to use what I already had to pull it together. With any luck, we will have cooler temps in the coming weeks — happy Autumn!
Delete