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4 Beautiful Holiday Place Setting Ideas
How do you set the perfect table for the holidays? Here are four ideas I dreamed up to help and inspire you. Plus, a few of my usual tips so you can create your own special table.
Traditional Christmas
Owning a set of Christmas dishes is a wonderful thing. It adds to the traditional atmosphere of the day. A special set, like Grenadiers (Bernardaud, $67.00 dinner plate) becomes a family heirloom.
For this place setting I started with a cotton place mat with holiday embroidery (C&W Imports, $7.00). To show off the dinner plate I placed a burgundy charger underneath to create contrast (Picard, $99.00). The salad plate (Decor Or from JL Coquet Limoges, $124.00) in a style that complements the plate. I’m not a master napkin folder, I made a simple fold using a matching embroidered napkin (C&W Imports, $7.00) to finish the setting.
For accents, keep things traditional with cut crystal stemware. Candles candles should match the plates. Different heights are nice.
Vintage Simplicity
Sometimes the best things in life come from garage sales. That’s where I found these napkins. They make great placemats. Because they’re not a traditional size, I’d start with a white tablecloth with the placemats on top. The dishes are vintage Lenox – the Cretin pattern from the 1960’s.
I kept this simple, with stainless flatware and a vintage, handmade wine glass I bought on a trip to Venice. The “focal point” is a handmade Christmas ornament.
A Sophisticated Table
I wrote about the nxt two place setting last week, but decided to put them all together in one post. Hope you don’t mind! I wanted to show how you can dress a place setting by creating a focal point. A small dish in the center of the dinner plate focuses the eye on the center. I added a matching glass ornament, tied with a satin ribbon to finish the look.
The dishes are a charger (Anciennes Manufacture Royale, $150) topped with one of the most beautiful dishes in the world – Herend’s Elizabeth ($250.00). The focal point dish is Gold Leaf by Bernardaud, $79.00. I used a contrasting napkin at set it above the plate just to be different. A snowflake napkin ring is a nice touch.
Casual Christmas
IF you own a nice set of everyday dishes, you can dress them up for the holidays with linens. At yet another estate sale I found this handmade lace tablecloth. That adds some nice texture. Christmas colors set the holiday mood. I used a green placemat (Bodrum, $15.00) with a country-style red and white napkin (Williamsburg, $5.50). The beautiful dishes are from Juliska. I centered the look with a cutting from the garden, tied with a red satin ribbon.
Jennifer’s Tips
- Use natural fibers. All cotton, linen and satin are the key to a perfect table setting. Synthetic fabrics don’t have the same look or feel. Satin or grosgrain ribbon are good choices because they don’t look like gift wrap.
- Create a focal point with a small dish and a napkin or Christmas ornament. A dreidel is another perfect choice.
- Buy a set of matching wine glasses. You can find stemware at the grocery store!
I’d like the thank The League Shop for lending me all the pieces for my place settings. They sell things both contemporary and traditional. If you live in Detroit, pay them a visit. We all need to buy locally. If you live elsewhere, you can still call the shop – they’ll be happy to place an order over the phone.
Do you have a favorite place setting idea?
DH Gift Ideas For A Beach Cottage
It may be cold in some parts of the world, but it’s summer in others. And as sure as day follows night, I’ll soon be shouting, “surf’s up!” at Chum Bucket. Which means that it’s always the season for a beach cottage gift.
My current favorite are these glass nests created by Heather Palmer. They come in four sizes and three colors. The small size retails for $60.00 at Maxwell Silver.
Here are a few other suggestions. First, the always wonderful Hable Construction. Check out their pillows and this photo frame ($65.00). They also make great Christmas stockings.
Next up are these glasses from Cat Studio. They make vacation-themed pillows and glasses that are lots of fun. These are from Tabula Tua. A set of four sells for $48.00.
Finally, a classic Mediterraneo bowl designed by Emma Silvestri for Alessi. Find it at Unica Home ($75.00 for the small size).
Dh Giveaway Winner!
And the winner of the handmade Christmas stocking goes to….
Iris!
Iris write a blog all about her wacky family. If I had time, I write one, too. But hers fills the bill to perfection, so we don’t need another. Dysfunctional Bungalow can be found by following this link.
Congratulations to Iris! Stay tuned for TWO giveaways starting next week.
How To Set A Beautiful Holiday Table
You don’t need a special set of holiday china to set a table that also sets the mood. Any color china can be embellished to do the job nicely.
Here some more tips (see yesterday’s post) on how to take what you have and make the most of it.
Start with your everyday china. What color is it? I’m using Herend’s spectacular Elizabeth pattern. It’s super pricey ($250 per dinner plate), but it’s too beautiful not to play with. Really, any plate will do. Work with the main color and choose colors that will match, or coordinate. Gold and silver are usually good choices for holidays. There’s no law that says you can’t use any color you like because we’re going to make it say “Holiday” with a focal point.
Since the color I’m working is raspberry with gold accents, I’ve set a matching charger underneath. This gold banded style is from Ancienne Manufacture Royale ($150.00). Ouch?! I agree. Just scoot over to Target where you’ll find a wide variety of choices for about $15.00 each. Just make sure your charger complements the plate. Gold or silver are festive choices.
Now we need a plate for our focal point. I’m continuing with my raspberry and gold color palette by using a gold butter dish ($79.00 from Bernardaud). You can use gold, silver or a color than matches your dish. A small butter dish is nice because its size focuses the eye on the center. Here is another example, using a larger plate from the same Gold Leaf pattern, which makes the point that smaller is better.
Top the small dish with an ornament of the season. Keep in mind that you want to use something that complements your color palette. Here are some ideas.
- Christmas: an ornament tied with a satin ribbon
- Thanksgiving: a leaf, pine cone, berries, gourd. Tie a satin ribbon at the stem.
- Hanukkah: A dreidel, a little box tied with ribbon
Now that we have our focal point, we’re going to round out the place setting with stainless, flatware from Waterford ($89.00 5 piece setting). A little gold accent is nice with our setting. For a less expensive option, try this one from Target.
I’m not one for fancy napkin folding, so I used a simple snowflake ring and a jewel-toned green napkin. Jewel tones go together. Blue goes with red, silver, orange. Not everything has to match.
Finally, make sure you have enough wine glasses. Drinking glasses are not allowed! If you use proper wine glasses you can buy less expensive wine and it will taste better. These are from Juliska and Simon Pearce.
My centerpiece are simple flowers in a coordinating color. Actually, these flowers were awful – sprayed! The stuff got all over everything. They look pretty, though.
Jennifer’s Tips
1. Use your regular china and choose a matching or coordinating color palette. Gold and silver are good holiday choices
2. Create a focal point by using a small plate topped with an ornament of the season.
3. Use real wine glasses
4. Linens should be natural fibers and ribbons should be satin or grosgrain – no giftwrap.
Thanks to The League Shop, Grosse Pointe’s best tabletop shop, for allowing me to borrow their beautiful dishes and tableware. They will be happy to take orders over the phone and ship the Herend china directly to my door (LOL)!
Do you have some holiday tips? Share!
Bright Color for Christmas Decoration
I enjoyed reading this trend story over at Color for Your Home. It focuses on using bright colors for Christmas decoration.
It’s nice to see choices that aren’t the typical red and green. To read the post and see all the fun images, follow this link.
How To Dress Up Every Day China For The Holidays
Do you have special dinnerware just for the holidays? They’re definitely a nice thing to have, but there are lots of ways to dress up your china to give it a holiday feel.
This is the first of a little series on holiday tables with a few tips on style and how to do it create a look without breaking the bank.
First, decide on your backdrop. Personally, I like a tablecloth. Buy a nice one – it will last for years and save you money in the long run. If the the price is too dear, at least make sure you buy a natural fiber cloth. It lays more crisply on the table. White or ivory is a good color because there are so any ways you can layer it for different occasions.
Here, I’m using a vintage lace cloth. I’ve topped it with a green placemat from Bodrum ($15.00). For a more Thanksgiving look, use an Autumn color. Or, choose a color that coordinates with your china.
Thanksgiving is more casual than other holidays. So you can use your everyday dishes. Here, I’m using a casual ceramic set from Juliska ($44.00 for a dinner plate).A white dish is great. As with the linen, you can dress it up for all occasions.
A placed the napkin in a simple way. This all cotton napkin is from Williamsburg ($5.50). Nothing beats a cloth napkin in a natural fiber! Red and green is always a color combination winner at Christmas. For Thanksgiving, mix Autumn oranges, reds, purples and green.
Set the dishes on the placemat so you can serve the dinner family style (passed around the table in serving dishes). You can leave it plain, or dress is up with some greens from the garden tied with a color coordinating ribbon. I cut these from a cherry tree in our front yard.
Set the knives and forks with the first one you’ll use on the outside and move in for the next course. I used my own things here.
Finally, buy a set of wine glasses. Make sure you have enough for everyone, plus a few extra. This simple goblet is from Juliska ($68.00).
Finally, I put the centerpiece together in about 5 minutes. The rustic, wooden leaf is from Scout, a very groovy shop in Royal Oak ($50.00). I laid a base of evergreens cut from our trees arranged some large pine cones (from JoAnn’s) mixed with smaller ones from our yard. A little greenery, cut from a cherry tree and tied with a satin ribbon, completes the look. Low candles, like votives, create a beautiful glow and allow everyone to see each other.
All the dishes, linens and glassware can be found at The League Shop, a wonderful store located right here in Grosse Pointe. They will be happy to place orders over the phone and ship them to you. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to borrow their things for a few days. Thanks to Scout as well. Thanks!
Do you have a favorite way to set your holiday table? Anyone have turkey dishes?
Enter To Win This Christmas Stocking
Yet another giveaway here at the DH. This week, in the spirit of the upcoming Christmas holiday, I’m giving away this handcrafted Christmas stocking, designed and stitched together by me!
All you have to do is leave a comment and you’re entered to win. The contest runs all week and I’ll announce the winner (drawn at random) on Saturday. I ship to the US and Canada.
Imagine this stocking snuggled up by your fire. Santa is sure to fill it with good things.
DH Giveaway! Handmade Christmas Stocking
This week’s giveaway is a beautiful, handmade Christmas stocking, designed, machine embroidered, and sewn together by me! Say nice things about it!
This giveaway is like the others. It last all week and I’ll draw the winner at random on Saturday. Leave a comment under any of the posts and you’re in. I ship to the US and Canada.
I’ll run reminder posts, with the final one on Wednesday. Then I’m off for Thanksgiving. But you’ll hear from me on Saturday when I announce the winner. And don’t forget that starting next week I’ll be running two giveaways each week until Christmas.
Friday Favorite: One King’s Lane
I am totally addicted to this shopping site. One King’s Lane sells luxury home goods and discounted prices. I stop by almost every day to see what’s up for grabs. If I ever get my Christmas list act together I’m going to do some serious damage there – probably just for myself!
Here are a few things that were up for sale as of yesterday.
Trays, place mats and bowls from Pearl Dragon, pillows by Monya, and throws from Pur Cashmere (were $356, now $179). You have to act fast or the best stuff is gone. Great shopping site.
Lettepress from Paper Source
This letterpress kit from Paper Source is something I could really get into. I’m a fan of the dying art of letter writing. Never underestimate the power of a hand-written thank-you note.
Now you can make your own handprinted stationary with this letterpress kit from Paper Source. Make your own monogrammed stationary, Christmas cards, thank-you notes – a thousand and one uses. Yay! Become the most popular craftster on your block – everyone will want to be your best friend in exchange for their own stationary made by you. Better than a pork chop any day.
The letterpress kit (comes with a bunch of stuff) sells for $149.99. The wedding, alphabet (not shown) Christmas kits sell for $24.99 each.
I’d like to see more kits and Paper Source should add a link to extra paper. Other than that, I love it. How about you?
DH Gift Guide: 5 Great Gifts For Guitar Players
My gift guides this year aren’t just about interior design. I thought I’d spread the subject out. After all, we like interior design. But it’s not necessarily the thing for those we love. Plus, it gives me a chance to visit life outside the box for a bit and work on my own shopping list. wink, wink.
Do you know a guitar player? How about a wanna-be guitar player? Here are some ideas from my favorite musician, misterarthur.
1. Personalized Picks
All the big rock stars have them. Here, for example, a front and back of one of Eric Clapton’s picks: There’s no reason you can’t do the same for the guitar player in your life. Lots of places sell them, but Pickworld (100 picks for $30) is a good place to start.
Before you buy, check your player’s preferences. Picks are made of various materials and thicknesses. Your guitarist may prefer one over another. Even if you don’t get them exactly right, your player will be thrilled.
2. Vintage Rock Poster
How about a ‘vintage’ rock poster? Real antique posters are pricey pricey pricey. Consider getting one from one of the originators of “psychedelic art”, Detroit’s own Gary Grimshaw. He’s re-printed some faves we can all afford. Here’s Jimi Hendrix at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Auditorium ($15.00)
If you’re into more modern music, here’s one for the White Stripes ($30.00)
3. Guitar Strings
You can never have enough of ‘em, and getting a whole bunch at once would be very cool. They also make a great small gift at around $12.00 a pack. Musician’s Friend sells all kinds of strings – separately and in bulk sets, which are fun. Be sure to look through his or her guitar case to see what brand he or she likes. (And remember, electric and acoustic guitars use different kinds of strings). Ok, so they don’t have swanky packaging – you’ll think of something to make them look more attractive.
4. Guitar Case
Lugging a hard case around gets to be kind of a drag. But most soft cases don’t do a real good job protecting the instrument. This one does. It’s made by Mono ($189.99).
5. A Guitar!
If you have a tween-ager or an older daughter who’d like to play the guitar, there are a bunch of great choices. Daisy Rock makes guitars just for girls. The acoustic Wildwood model ($419) comes in funky colors.
If your daughter is more of an electric rocker chick, try one of these. The Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster ($199.99) is sized for a younger girl. So is the Daisy Rock Debutante series. The pink guitar on the left is sells for $169.00.
Finding the groupies are up to you!
6 Weeks Of Giveaways! Domino’s Decorating Book
We’ve got only six weeks before Christmas and just five before the first night of Hanukkah arrives on December 11th. Better get those lists started! Make your first stop Design Hole. I’ve rustled up a pile of fantastic gifts and I’m giving them away – starting today.
First up is Domino’s Book of Decorating. This giveaway runs all week through Friday. I’ll announce the winner, chosen at random, on Saturday.
We were all so sad to see such a great magazine shut its doors. This book offers the best of their decorating how-to’s.
To enter, simply leave a comment under any of the Domino giveaway posts. I’d like to know what interior design subject you’d like to know more about. Is it color palettes? How to choose different fabric patterns that work together? More DIY projects? I’d love to know what you’re interested in.
Let me know your thoughts – long or short. The giveaway is open to anyone living in the contiguous United States and Canada. To avoid paying duty, I’ll ship it as a gift, because that’s what it is!