Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start...

14 years ago

Hi, I'm a lurker here and on the decorating forum. I am sooo totally overwhelmed by all your beautiful tablesettings!

I just got my dining furniture replaced after losing it in Hurricane Ike and am ready to start "decorating" it.

I have some of my Mikasa "Antique white" dishes left, but not all of them. I am wanting to start "layering" like I see yall do here, but I don't know where to start! Are white plates a good base color for layering or are plates with color better for the base layer if you're going to layer? Please get me started, I need a new addiction!!! lol

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

luvstocraft
14 years ago
Hi Imsoconfused, that's a cute forum name! I can relate! LOL Welcome out of lurkdom, and I hope you will continue to post here and join in the fun.

I'm so sorry you were a victim of hurricane Ike--I cannot even imagine what it must be like to lose so many of your treasured items so quickly like that. Thank goodness you were safe and hopefully all your family too.

I'm going to let some of these other gals advise you on doing the layering, they are much better at it than I am--but I do know you can find lots of ways to use your antique white dishes. They will look great in a white on white setting as well as over a pretty placemat or charger.

I'll come back later to see what suggestions you get, I'm always trying to learn more too. So glad you jumped on here, I'll look forward to getting to know you better.

Luvs
lynninnewmexico
14 years ago
Although I think I'm pretty good at decorating homes, I felt like a novice when I first joined this forum. These
wonderful ladies here have taught me a lot and I'm still learning!
*My best advice is to look at the photos of different tablescapes in our album and ones posted here on this forum. Find tables that you especially like and then think about why each one works and what you find appealing about it. What do you have that you can use on a similar table you set?

* Yes, white is a good base for many different tables through all seasons. You can start with your white dinner plates and then keep an eye out for salad plates in different colors and patterns to add. Once you have some, for example, red & yellow & blue patterned on white salads, think about solid colors that you might want to keep an eye out for in bowls to go with them. Same with placemats and napkins.

* Some great places to pick up all this stuff: Goodwill stores, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, consignment shops, garage sales. I've found some especially great bargains at the end of each season, too. Another place I enjoy searching for bargains is Kohls.

* For a specific event or season, shop your house first. You can use holiday decs, books, vases, statues and so many more things. A few larger items work better than small items. They make a big, instant impact and impression. Just steer away from too tall items that you and your guests will not be able to see over.

* Candles ALWAYS add atmosphere to a table in the evening. Buy them on sale and keep them close by for inspiration. Large chunky ones, tapers, votives and tea lights all work. Unscented are always best for a dinner table, though.

* Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Some of the best tablescapes I've seen, here and elsewhere, use items I NEVER would have thought of . . . but they did and it worked! One example was Old Algebra's summer table where she used a replica of a sandcastle and some other related items for the centerpiece. That was a drop-dead wonderful table! But, there have been many, many other equally good tablescapes here, as well. Take a look.

* And finally, don't be afraid to try things out at your own table. I promise, there are no Tablescape Nazis lurking around to arrest you!

I know that you'll get many more great suggestions from our true tablescape artists here . . . and I'll be reading and learning right along with you!
Lynn
Related Discussions
VERY lumpy lawn, sadly neglected. Where to start?
Q
Comments (1)
Well I will tell you the easiest, most effective, and in most cases the most economical way. Hire an experience tractor box blade operator to come out and re-grade the yard. It will take them two hours at most and when finished you are set to go. They can even add amendments if you wish. No need to spray any herbicides, just grade it and be done with it. Otherwise you are looking at hours and hours of back breaking work with mediocre results at best. Around here operators get $125 to $150 per hour with two hour minimum. Best money you will ever spend on your yard.
...See More
A Good Place to Start?
Q
Comments (2)
If you are going to grow tomatoes in a zone 5 winter, you're going to be a very good customer of the utility company. Clear greenhouse coverings make very poor insulators of heat, and heat is expensive. I would want some sort of an insulated blanket like a pool cover to throw over it at night or a system of insulated shutters that you can close. That's the only way to keep your expensive heat from floating up into the night sky. You have to be there every day to manage it, though, unless you spend a lot more money for an automated system. Those $20 "auto vent" openers don't take pool covers off and on. I'd also want hid lights as supplements to the winter sun. Digital 1000 watt HPS or Halide lights are about 400 bucks. Based on that crop list, you'd want one of each. You can get smaller hid lights, but they are not much cheaper. They are very hot, which is not so bad when it's cold outside, but you have to vent the air when you don't need the extra heat. Have I talked you out of it yet? It would be much easier to simply limit your winter growing to crops that tolerate cold weather.
...See More
VERY large yard... starting from scratch.
Q
Comments (6)
Cameron, thanks for replying. I have only seen one deer here since we moved in back in November of last year and that was at the back of the property. As far as rabbits go though there were quite a few around earlier this spring but I haven't seen too many lately. Either way they don't usually come up to the house because of my dog and cats. I betcha the pair of red-tailed hawks have caught a bunch of them too though. Another problem that my neighbors have been having is moles... she had planted a bunch of lilies in some beds and the moles and squirrels came along and moved/ate them. As far as the front bed is concerned I realize that it doesn't get much water (probably only the front 1 - 1.5 feet got wet during the rain we had this afternoon) so I know that I will be watering that bed on a regular basis to make up for it. That's not a problem though as I am planning to put some drought tolerant plants there just for that reason. It gets sun from sunrise until just about noon. The front part gets sun until around 1pm. Close to that anyways. I don't plan on putting too many evergreens, if any as I'm not fond of the green "balls" that most people have in the front of their homes. I don't know yet though.. I might find one that really catches my eye. :-D One thing I did notice when we were working in the front bed is that there were no earth worms. I thought that was odd. Isn't that a sign of poor soil? I guess I'll have to check after I add some compost to it to see if that brings some in. I will be taking most if not all of what I plant with us when we move... the landlord already knows that and he doesn't care as he doesn't want to have to look after everything! When I told him that I will re-seed with grass everything that I plant in perennials he said he didn't care... that weeds are green too. I will still re-seed though. I'm going to be posting the unknown shrub photos in the "Shrub" forum as I think that is a better place for ID'ing them all. Although I did find out what the one big bush is in the far back... it's a Hazelnut. The only reason I didn't know what it was is because it's a male plant and supposedly there has to be both a male and a female plant for them to produce nuts. Oh well, it needs pruning as well. If I had my way most of those BW trees would come down as they make a HUGE mess in the fall with their nuts... it gets all over the place and makes mowing a PITA! But, I think for now I'm just going to trim the one closest to the house back as I don't want it over the roof.
...See More
Feeling very low- sad start to the New Year
Q
Comments (19)
It is the love we have for them and the love they have for us, both without reservations, that make losing them so hard. A family member is missing disrupting our routine and leaving empty space. Now who will hear our secrets, comfort us and celebrate with us? I feel your loss and cry with you but I also know that you have a big heart with room for a new furkid. Let yourself cry and grieve and you will know the right time for an additional love. Missy will never be forgotten. If you find that you need a "kitty fix", visit an adoption center or shelter and just visit with some of the orphans. Hugs to you.
...See More
duckie
14 years ago
Greetings Imsoconfused. I mostly lurk here too. One thing I really enjoyed this summer was when one person took a couple pictures of a table she made. She didn't like it, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. The discussion and suggestions that followed were wonderful. In the end she had a beautiful table and all the rest of us had an exercise in what works or doesn't work and why.

Please don't hesitate to post your first tries, even if they aren't quite perfect.
Purplemoon
14 years ago
Hi and Welcome. Luvs already said everything that I would have, so am taking the easy way out and saying "ditto" to her post. LOL.

Duckie, that was neat watching how the troublesome table evolved and everyone's input! I think a lot of us learned from her table.

Lynn, great tips and I am saving them myself!!

hugs, Karen
yachter123
14 years ago
Welcome out of lurkdom! I have been here a while & still feel like a beginner at tablescapes. I think some people just have a natural knack for it, I'm what might be called a "copier"!!! LOL

I look at everyones tables, I try to learn something from each one & retain it (that is a problem, retaining & remembering)!!! LOL

Anyway, good suggestions so far, look & learn, that is about the best way.

White is a great base, you can layer with it for every occasion with colored salad plates, soup bowls, napkins etc.

I know Kathleen & Tam & DD and some others, trying to name those who do so many tables, use a lot of the same bases & just build upon them, it saves storage space too if you can do that!
hi2all
14 years ago
Hi, welcome to the forum!

I'm glad you came out of lurkdom, and I hope you join in.

I have to hand it to Lynn, she really made a great list of tips.

I am still in Tables -101, but maybe the best thing to do is just start playing with the dishes, moving them around, trying out different arrangements.

Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start...

Comments (6)

luvstocraft

lynninnewmexico

Related Discussions

duckie

Purplemoon

yachter123

hi2all

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US