Welcome! I hope you're enjoying beautiful fall weather — we are most definitely! Crisp mornings followed by sunny days with just a hint of fall temps. Only a few trees have begun to show a bit of color; most are solidly green except for the cherry trees which dropped their leaves a month ago in an unseemly rush.
All in all a perfect time to set a table that's quick, easy and unmistakably fall-inspired!
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Every table has a starting point, and this one began with a plaid tablecloth which has a slightly fuzzy texture and fringe along each edge. I like the grayish blue and mid-green shades on cream, with narrow strips of gold and rust. The tablecloth is square and unfortunately it's not quite large enough to drape nicely on the round table.
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In September I had styled a tray for the coffee table featuring squirrels, berries and rattan balls and shared it in Fall Decor Ideas: September's Charming Touches. I've temporarily borrowed it for this table and substituted shorter cream dahlias and vivid berry sprays for the wildflowers in the original to allow easier conversation flow.
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I was entranced by these mid-century ceramic squirrels I found on eBay. They're red squirrels in contrast to the gray squirrels that skitter through the tall oaks in our yard, but I suspect they would also delight in teasing Finn the Mischief Maker! The rattan balls and tortoise shell vase introduce late fall colors as does the burnt orange candle.
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I've slowly started to add deeper shades to my decor, including burnt orange which I also chose for the napkins. They echo the thin stripes and berry sprays.
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I then turned to my favorite fall salad plates featuring watercolor renderings of leaves in their process of changing from green to crimson, gold, tan, vermilion, saffron and many other vibrant or muted shades. One of their earliest uses was in Understated Pumpkins. They're paired with my hard-working blue dinner plates in a pretty trellis pattern that tie in with the tablecloth.
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Another favorite table item for fall are these hand-crafted copper napkin rings that bring patina to the table. I bought them at a juried craft show from the artisan who described how she made them and the method she used to achieve the patina. I've used them in several tables including Blue and Copper for Effortless Style.
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Vintage etched lead-free elegant crystal in a lovely blue is a delicate departure from the more casual table elements.
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Several years ago my sister gave me the tray that forms the base for the centerpiece. I love the beautiful mother-of-pearl mosaics individually laid in concentric circles.
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The table receives a lot of natural light throughout the day, but does not get direct sun when the large trees are fully leafed out. Even with the overhead chandelier lit, the photos turned out darker than I'd like and the burnt orange napkins more intensely colored than they appear in person.
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Using tried-and-true pairings and well-loved dinnerware, and borrowing an already styled tray from another part of the house is an easy way to pull together a fall tablescape quickly.
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Thank you for visiting today (and celebrating my ten-year blogging anniversary with me)!
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Happy Fall!!
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Dinner plates | Block 'Blue Skies'
Stemware | Fostoria 'Navarre'
Flatware | Oneida 'Juilliard'
* Table details are provided for identification/information only. Dinner at Eight does not receive any type of compensation.
Shared with these parties:
I love plaid and that tablecloth is wonderful. Your tablescape is perfect for fall! You have so many great pieces. I really love your blue glasses and the ceramic squirrels!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heather! I should use plaid designs more often lol! I think using vintage pieces like the squirrels and etched stemware make tables so personal.
DeleteI love the soft blues, amber and rusty, Sandra!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita! With all the trees so green it's hard to go with fall's deep colors.
DeleteCongratulations on 10 years and thank you for all the inspiration. I just love the addition of the blue tones to this Autumnal table. The whole table feels so cosy and relaxing, and everything works so well together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandy! Ten years sure went by in a flash. I felt the blue tones were an introduction for the more fiery autumnal colors to come.
DeleteHappy 10th Anniversary Sandra! The table is lovely with all the soft, almost water-color hues, and I love the muted colors in the tablecloth. The center tray is so pretty and the mosaic tray is gorgeous. The burnt orange napkins really don't look too bright (at least on my computer), although I know my own experience is that orange can be a tricky color to photograph. The squirrels are darling and brought a smile to my face. Glad your temps are cooling - enjoy your fall!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim! I liked how the water color treatment of the leaves felt kind of contemplative and led me to more of a subdued table. The tray is even prettier in person, with all the lovely colors in the mosaics. I was excited to find the squirrels!
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