Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Party of Two, Please

Hello, readers, hello February! We are nearly halfway through winter, and that is worth celebrating. Add to that a Valentine's Day celebration, and I'd like seating for a Party of Two, Please.  
For this Valentine's Day tablescape I've set a simple yet thoughtful table for just Mr. P and me, in front of our loft's fireplace. Playing it safe throughout the pandemic, we have not been to a restaurant since early March 2020, nor have we gathered with family or friends indoors. Although we are still mostly keeping to our home base, it makes me happy to create and set tablescapes at home. We generally eat casually at our kitchen counter, side-by-side, so this face-to-face setting elevates our normal dining experience.
I am one of several stylists among a group organized by Chloe Crabtree from the blog Celebrate and Decorate, bringing you what we hope to be a visual feast of inspiration. 
My idea for this table evolved as I was planning it. I started with a plan to use my winter cardinal dinnerware and play off the tiny red cardinal perched in the birch tree design, but soon took a creative detour.  The real inspiration came from a ceramic heart dish, which is actually a trinket dish.
Always one to look at an item and envision more than its intended purpose, I decided the trinket dish would make the perfect salad plate. Offsetting the heart dish on the dinner plate gives better visibility to the tiny cardinal and tree design. The cardinal is often interpreted as a symbol of a loved one passed or vitality of the living spirit, as explained in this tablescape here, when I used the china set several years ago. 

The Quimper vase on the ledge in the background is filled with tulips and magnolia leaves, and its handpainted windswept image suggests winter is very much still present. I am using nice quality faux florals and greenery, something that can either stand alone or add volume to real arrangements.
My glass chargers are also fitting for a winter tablescape, symbolizing ice patches typical in winter. Similarly, the vintage sterling flatware and silvertone napkin rings also seemed fitting. The lighted tree in the background on the opposite side of the fireplace ledge mimics the tree motif on the plates, bare in winter. 
The textiles I'm using are a mix of cozy and crisp. A snow leopard throw and velvet placemats lend comfort like winter layers, while the white linen napkins evoke a crisp feel, like winter air.
Our setting this year may not be in a restaurant, but with just a little added attention to detail, it can feel every bit like that of one. 
Our restaurant comes with a pretty nice view, too!
 Party of Two, Please Source List
(provided for information purposes only, no affiliate sponsorship)
Snow Leopard Throw, Glass Chargers, Silver Napkin Rings - Pier 1
Winter Cardinal Dinner Plates - Kohl's
Heart Dishes - MacKenzie-Childs' Taylor Ceramic Cabbage Rose
Placemats, Napkins - Crown Linen Designs
Vintage Prelude Sterling Flatware, Pink Glassware  - Auction Finds
Vintage Quimper Vase - Antique Mall find
Faux florals - Afloral
Lighted tree - Celtic Serenity
If you enjoy tablescaping, the links below will take you directly to each of the blogs participating in this tablescaping event. Reading these posts is comparable to leafing through a wonderful special interest magazine, full of ideas! Be sure and visit each of the bloggers listed for a variety of Valentine-themed inspiration. A special thanks to Chloe for organizing us!
Panoply (you are here!)
Thank you so much for your visit today. I appreciate your readership, and invite you to return again and encourage you to leave a comment. Stay safe, and be well.

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