Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Setting a beautiful table

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The ugly truth is that I don't usually set a pretty table unless I have company coming over but I really do love getting creative with it when I do!

Sometimes I keep it really simple so you notice things like a pretty tablecloth or the beautiful flowers.

When I'm serving seafood, I like to have a beach theme table!


A dinner in the garden with lots of lace!   Who says you have to use plastic and paper plates outside? Bring out the good stuff!


Sunday brunch with the focus on the flowers!


Beach themed tables are easy to set. Just add a few shells!




A Thanksgiving table doesn't always have to be set with the traditional autumn colors.


... and a Christmas table without any green and red can still be festive!

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76 comments:

My Cottage Charm said...

I love decorating against the grain..you know, no red or green at xmas, no orange at Thanksgiving...I hardly ever go with the traditional colors on any occasion! I decorate with pinks, burgandies, purples and creams at Christmas and it's oh so beautiful!
Have a great day Cindy!
Love your tables settings!
Missy

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Breathtaking; on the verge of magical!

Sue
xo

Lynn from For Love or Funny said...

I've got to admit that I like setting the table FAR BETTER than cooking! :)

Anonymous said...

repeats? and you are advertising ad space for a repeat blog? boring

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Learning to set a prettier table is on my fall list of things to do! It will be fun to treasure hunt for table pretties!! Learning to be a better cook is an ongoing challenge!!

Shel said...

This is all so exquisite! What inspiration I have found here. Thanks for a beautiful post.
Greetings from South Africa
Shel

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Just beautiful Cindy...I love seeing your pictures anytime!

I love the beach look and the clear glass turkey!

Have a great day!
Rondell

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

All of your table settings look beautiful Cindy!!

nina@themissadventuresofnina said...

Such beautiful settings; my favorite is the Christmas one

Carol Bennett said...

Your tables look beautiful! I LOVE the one set in the garden, of course, we've all admired your roses and other flowers for a long time. Your blog is just lovely, thank you for visiting mine!
Carol in GA

Linda said...

Oh my favorite is the Christmas table! What's in the little gift box?

So very beautiful!..And Elegant!

Marlis said...

I love the tables you've set. What a great was to show that you can use what you have and make it fit the occasions. breathtaking!

Crystal said...

I so need lessons on tables!!! Tables are the one thing I can not do!!!! Thanks for the post....I'll take notes!!!

Debbiedoos said...

Your table scapes are beautiful Cindy!

Katy Noelle said...

They're just beautiful, Cindy! I just want to pause to say that!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful table settings Cindy, and I have to say...that shrimp salad looks delicious!
Your friend in Turlock, Marcia

Becky Robinson said...

Wonderful whimsy,and delicious designs, Cindy. Now I want to go shopping for dining table accessories! Becky

Anonymous said...

Oh Cindy how very beautiful! I love each and everyone but, The Christmas is my favorite. Have a beautiful day.
Blessings
Linda

Sarah said...

Cindy, each of these tables are inviting and beautiful. I'd love to be a guest at one of your tables anytime. Thanks for sharing these delightful inspiring works of art. ~ Sarah

Kelli said...

What beautiful table settings! I love the Garden table!

Kelli
xoxo
loveoursimplelife.blogspot.com

Susie Homemaker said...

Your tablescapes are always beautiful and inspiring.

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite...

Warm wishes,
Susie

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Very pretty, Cindy! I love your outdoor and beach theme tablesettings ~ very inviting!

Amy Chalmers said...

Cindy you know how to work a table setting and create a mood! I love the outdoor setting best. So pretty.

Sunnysidesue said...

All your settings are gorgeous and that shrimp salad looks so yummy! I totally agree with you about not using traditional fall colors for Thanksgiving or red & green for Christmas. My colors stay the same all year...white, white and white. Sometimes I do add a bit of pink & aqua and lots of mercury glass for bling. :)

Elsie said...

Cindy my favorite is the setting with the roses. They are beautiful.
All of your table settings are out
of this world gorgeous. You do such a good job of decorating. You
ARE good girl!!!":O)

P.S. You can repeat as many times as you want, you still have the most beautiful blog and I love it.

shannon i olson said...

every table is exquisite!

Ms. Bake-it said...

Beautiful tablescapes Cindy. Your outdoor setting is one of my favorites. I love how you turned your patio into such a beautiful retreat. Last year when I hosted Christmas I used a blue and white color scheme. Even when it is just our typical family meal, I like to set a nice table. Nothing formal, just appealing to the eye and complimentary to the food. When I set our Sunday table I do like to dress it up a little bit. I developed that habit from my mother because no matter how simple our daily meals, she always set a nice table.

~ Tracy

AntiqueChase said...

My favorite was the seafood table with the beach theme... so clever!

Marilyn said...

Cindy,

Gorgeous tablescapes, as always! My favorite is the one on your patio that has all the white lace. It's so inviting and utterly charming.

Honestly, you could be serving peanut butter sandwichs, chips and Kool-Aid and it wouldn't matter! :-)

Marilyn (in Dallas)

Beverley said...

Hello Cindy, I love your pictures. I love your beautiful home. I too love to do things a little different. The lace at your outside table is so sweet. I am toying with painting my livingroom a soft pink colour against everyone's advice. That only makes me want to do it all the more. Hats off to your creativity. Beverley

House and Garden Boutique said...

The shell bowls are to die for! Really adds so much character to the beautiful table. What a treat it would be to attend one of your dinner parties!

Heidi said...

Goodness, we have so much in common. Gorgeous photos!

gabraj said...

Beautiful.....

Henna @ AboutCabinets Blog said...

wow, you have set the table in a really grand style, its too good, your ideas are really good about home making and sometimes i use them for a unique and different look

Annie's Online Store said...

great ideas for decoration and great crockery and cutlery, i just love your china and your silver, they are absolutely fantastic

Victoria said...

Oh my gosh, did you make that salad yourself? That looks sooo good! I'm in the process of re-doing my very ugly Golden Girls style table from the early 90's and I can't wait to do a pretty table setting!!! Thank you for the inspiration:)

mo said...

Hi Cindy,

I absolutely LOVE the roses on your Sunday Brunch table. They are so beautiful and make the room POP! Just lovely. *hugs*

http://angela-lace.blogspot.com/ said...

Your tables look so pretty, I wish my family could sit and eat without spilling tomato sauce or tipping over cups of tea over my vintage lace.
Mine stay nice and neat in the cupboard.
oxoxo Angela

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all of the tips, Cindy! Any table you set is gorgeous!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Aashildsvilla said...

beutiful..hugs from åshild

projecantasi said...

All your settings are gorgeous.
My favorit is No:7

Ginny said...

All I can say is that the seafood salad looks yummy! What kind of dressing did you use?
The table settings were beautiful!

Denise said...

Every picture is fabulous! I love them all.
Are your finches in the cage that is outside?
I put mine outside on good days when the weather is nice, they love it.
Take Care,
Denise

Olivia said...

Oh my sweets you are just oh so talented! I love it!
Hugs,
Olivia

Olivia said...

Oh my sweets you are just oh so talented! I love it!
Hugs,
Olivia

Susan said...

Cindy every table you set is beautiful. I am ashamed to admit that with me and my husband we usually eat on tray stands in front of the television.
We are not people who entertain alot and if we do its generally family on HOLIDAYS.
With working full time I just don't have the energy to get creative during the week or even on weekends with table scaping. So I really do it up Holiday season.

Flooring Companies Expert said...

Hi Cindy! I am guilty of setting up the table with all the bells and whistles, only when company is over too ;) love the beach themed settings, as well as the non-traditional holiday ones. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy, all your table settings look so beautiful.The picture on your patio should be on the front page of a magazine, that's how pretty it is....Kathy

Anonymous said...

who won your seashell wreath?

Entertaining Women said...

Lovely tablescapes. Thanks for inspiring us with all of your spectacular designs. Cherry Kay

Lori said...

You have the touch, thanks for sharing and love the non-traditional color options.

Heaven's Walk said...

Hey Cindy - what a breathtaking table! It looks like something right out of a design mag! I bet that everyone wants to come to your house for the holidays! :)

xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

Pamela said...

Cindy, Your tables are lovely and that shrimp and avocado salad looks mouth watering. Would you be willing to share the recipe?

Rhianna said...

Gorgeous table settings. I have a few questions, how many sets of dishes do you own? The sets we see on the tables, do you just have 4 of each or are they part of larger sets? And where do you store them all? I'm asking because I've been wanting to add to my dish collection but hesitate to buy sets of only 4 dishes. I would like the seafood salad recipe as well, it looks mouthwatering!

Brenda Pruitt said...

No one does pretty quite like you do, Cindy!
Brenda

Tara said...

Hi , I've just become a follower and I adore your pictures..Just beautiful...very inspiring..

Debbie said...

Hi Cindy...I enjoyed looking at all of your table settings. Every one is beautiful! LOVE all of the soft colors..even for the holidays.
Debbie@houseatthelake

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Cindy, Each table is a work of art! So beautifully done and great attention to detail.
Oh my! I love each one. The table for 2 outdoors with the big wicker chairs is like a fariytale!!!!
And the christmas table should be in a magazine.
Your white scapes are the best I've seen!
So lovely to stop and visit!
Yvonne

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tablescaping ideas Cindy-thank you so much!

I particularly love the Christmas table!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

HoosierHomemade said...

I just wanted to say Thanks for being a Top Referrer for the month of August!
~Liz

Burlap Luxe said...

Ooooh, oh, oh, oh oh oh!!!
winters whites bringing in the next seasons journey.

Beautiful!
xoxo
Dore

Dolo said...

al so very beautiful! Can I come over sometime. If the table looks like that I can´t imagine the food!

Curtis said...

Beautiful tablescapes Cindy, I am the tablescape person in our house. My daughter in laws think I am crazy because every time they come to the house for a dinner there is yet another tablescape. I love being able to create a beautiful table. I keep our table in the dining room set most of the time, I just like the way it looks. We are fortunate to have a breakfast room and we keep that table open for what ever but the dining room table is always set , because you never know when you will have a impromtu dinner!!! Thank you for your great blog and beautiful pictures.
Blessings to you and yours
Curtis & Sherrie
Ps -- how is the online dating going???

Katty's cosy cove said...

Hi Cindy!
Your table settings are beautiful. You really inspiring me. I love your clear glass turkey, where you found it?

Anonymous said...

Cindy, what color white and brand do use when painting your furniture? I think the color is a little on the yellow side. I also just refinished a piece and did use the paste wax. What a difference that made. Looks so finished now.

Linda

Anonymous said...

Oops, Cindy, I misspoke on my last comment. I meant to say that the color of paint I am using is a little on the yellow side. What do you recommend?

Linda

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Cindy did you do a tutorial on how to clean up your blog and get all the links and such at the top?
I'd love to do some dusting n cleaning on my blog!

Thank you sweets!
Hugz, Dolly

Through My Red Door said...

Your house makes me want to change mine completely!
Sheila

Lizabeth said...

Your kitchen is so beautiful.... I love all the crisp linens... and you are right you don't have to have certain colors to decorate for the holidays.. although I do myself! Lovely job on your decorating throughout! Liz

The Tablescaper said...

So pretty. It's great too take a step into the past and review some of your glorious shots.

- The Tablescaper

Bardot in Blue said...

wow these tables are TO DIE FOR! I love the seafood one...

Also I would love to be part of your Friday Show and Tell! Let me know how I can join in...

xoxo Bardot in Blue

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Annie's Online Furniture said...

wow, you have done it soo good, i cant believe we can do it ourselves, the crokery and the linen is too good, i saw a table cloth like this at Annie's Furniture Shop the other day and it was just too good

Benna @ AboutDivorce Blog said...

i love the tips you give for setting up house, they are too handy and easy to do, thanks a lot

Unknown said...

Uma mais linda que a outra!...

RHurst said...

Thanks so much for sharing! Those are some really beautiful settings! I am hoping to get some new carpet installed this weekend. I would love to throw a dinner party after and try some of these table settings out!