Your CartIt’s that time of the year! I can’t tell you all how excited I am about everything FALL. Are you breaking out the fancy flatware, cleaning up your harvest colored drinking glasses and adding a few antiques to bring flair and personality to dress up your table? I am! Today I’m sharing this fun, non-traditional Chinoiserie Harvest Table Setting. So you know that fall table settings don’t all have to be pumpkin everything – although I’m a big pumpkin fan.
This Chinoiserie Harvest Table Setting features Chinoiserie looking plates, an antique embroidered table cloth and napkins along with flowers in rich fall colors to create a table that is both beautiful and inspired. I believe that using antique and quite unique pieces on your table create a fun and fabulous experience for guests.
WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS!
Pam, Mary and I are all featuring our own personal take on Harvest today, I know you will love visiting both of my friends for their inspiring ideas! I’ll put their links at the bottom of this post so you don’t have to miss even one!
Creating unique table settings and centerpieces, mixing together antiques and contemporary pieces in playful ways bring so much joy to the table. I know a lovely table isn’t the most important thing about hosting a meal for people you love, but it does make it an occasion. The fact that you take the time to create something beautiful for your guests or your family makes everyone feel loved. Whether you cook all day {that’s not me, as you know!} or take special care in creating an exciting table setting or both, it shows your invited guests that you really care and want your time together to be meaningful.
Just because you want your table to be special for the harvest season doesn’t mean you have to invest in “harvest” dishes or linens. I hope that this table, which I set in the colors of fall but none of the usual pumpkins, wheat sheafs etc. will inspire you to create a gorgeous harvest table of your own with your favorite linens and dishes. These antique plates by Minton from 1878 were my inspiration, antique plates are something you can keep forever and I hope they will inspire you to set a beautiful table for fall.
SIDE NOTE: The plates are called Denmark, so obviously the inspiration for this design was Scandinavian. But to me, their octagonal shape, color and design felt more like Chinoiserie designs. I hope Mr. Minton forgives me for this new interpretation!
For this Chinoiserie Harvest Table Setting, I used things that don’t necessarily make anyone think of “harvest” right away. It’s to encourage YOU to set a seasonal table with some of the beautiful things you might already have. Just a few simple touches will make your table look like autumn. Do you have dishes in the closet that you almost never use? Why NOT?? Creating a special table setting for this season of harvest is great fun, and not too difficult at all. I use antiques because that’s what I have, but on other occasions I’ve shown you simple and casual tables. Honestly, use what you have and play around with that and play up the seasonal aspect. You can set a gorgeous table to enjoy this season!
Today I’ll begin with the flowers. Often I write about the setting first, but I know that this is supposed to be about F L O W E R S. For this arrangement, I actually bought more flowers than I needed. Not on purpose, but when I chose the vase for the table, I had half of the flowers left over so created a second arrangement. I’ll show both on the table and then you can let me know which one you like better!
Before you ask, “wait, isn’t this setting in your master bedroom?” I’ll just let you know, yes, it is! Our house isn’t huge, and we don’t actually have a dining room. {shocking, I know!} Our master bedroom actually has a fairly large sitting area that is also connected to the back garden with big doors. On occasion, I’ll have a little lunch or dinner inside in late fall or winter there. There is a fireplace, and the bed is really fairly far away.
Needs must. There is an outdoor sitting area right outside the bedroom doors and a large fire table too…so if it’s not too cold we can have drinks and appetizers out there and then come in and have a cozy sit down dinner in the sitting room of our master suite. I’m sharing this with you to let you know that you don’t have to follow the rules! {No dining room? Host a dinner in another room!}
I was thrilled to find the most beautiful Orange Crush roses, little spray roses in coral, mini carnations in peach, Burgundy Beau scabiosa {pincushion flower} , and I fell in love with these chartreuse green ball dianthus fluffy flowers. For the first arrangement, I cut large glossy green ivy leaves from the back garden, and sandwiched those between the larger and smaller glass vase so you wouldn’t see the stems of the arrangement. The dark green set off the jeweled harvest colors of all the flowers.
After arranging, I went back to the garden and cut a few bright green maidenhair fern fronds to soften the line between the vase and the flowers. With the left over flowers I made an arrangement in a gold Pickard low tulip bowl and set that on the mantel, along with a gold Pickard coffee service. Somehow with all my photo taking, I totally missed showing the Pickard Gold Compote that was on this table!
The heirloom antique table cloth is a wonderful find, it is linen with hand embroidered Chinois figures, I’ve never seen another one! Each napkin has a different figure embroidered on it too, I believe was a custom ordered set, there are monograms and exceptional hand embroidery work either from Italy or Switzerland. It is the perfect backdrop for these dishes. They are not Asian, but the color is such a gorgeous orange, and their shape is quite unusual.
My pressed glass goblets,the antique sterling and gilt salt cellars, and these small milk glass coupes along with the vintage French silver-plated flatware from Ercuis complete each setting. The French flatware is always just as beautiful on the back, because that is how it is correctly placed on French tables, with the tines of the fork facing down. I placed a few small treats {cookies and dried orange slices} in each one of the small antique milk glass coupes at each setting.
Underneath the napkins, little acorn place cards threaded with vintage orange velvet ribbon had a special fortune cookie saying. {You can google those or make up your own!}
I hope you love this Chinoiserie Harvest Table Setting look and are inspired to see how you can make your dream table come together in your own home! Use the colors and pieces you love, it all works if you love it. A table setting like this makes a seamless transition from autumn to Thanksgiving with just a few additions! This table would be just as appropriate for Thanksgiving, I might add some fruit and nuts to the setting, or perhaps some small turkeys down the center.
Thank you so much for your visit. If you don’t subscribe to our blog posts, you can do so by filling in your email in the little box on the top right of this page under KEEP IN TOUCH. I’d love to welcome you to our inner circle of friends and antique lovers!
Please visit my friends below for their Harvest inspiration.
and me, Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
A BIENTOT
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Elegant and beautiful.
Thank you so much Denise! Happy October!
Double the beauty and blooms from you this morning Lidy in such gorgeous corals and orange hues! The compote is a beauty, I had to click over to see it and how wonderful your bedroom allows room for a table for dining! Love the octagonal bordered Minton plates and what an exquisite heirloom linen set. I’d be terrified of spilling anything on it. ? As always, it’s a treat to share blooms with you. Happy October <3
Thank you! All those colors are so pretty for this time of year, aren’t they? ?the beauty of white is that it washes up better than most linens , you can use non-chlorine bleach or a linen soak. And dump salt on any spill right way, that works wonders! As always, a joy to spend our special Monday together, dearest Mary!
Looks great with a slight preference on my part fort the first arrangement
Thank you! I always love the taller ones too. Happy week ahead, Anja.
Just gorgeous, Lidy, I’m glad you detailed the cloth embroidery, otherwise those special features may have been overlooked. Simple, elegant, and that floral arrangement elevates it all to a grand harvest look!
Thanks, Rita! This was such a fun table to do, and the flowers always do themselves! Happy October!
Absolutely stunning! I’m obsessed with those napkins. I love that you included ideas for alternative rooms for dining. What a great idea.
Thank you Lorraine! The linens are absolutely amazing, each small figure is breathtaking. Happy October!
So lovely Lidy!! Blessings for a fabulous fall! Edie Marie
Thank you Edie Marie! Happy October to you, too!
Good morning, Lidy. The arrangement is stunning in all its autumnal splendor. The orange and coral palette is perfect for the season. The Minton plates are just gorgeous as are the exquisite linens. I love your bedroom sitting area and fireplace, I think it is a lovely place to dine with doors leading out to your garden.
It is always a joy to share blooms with you, my friend. Have a beautiful day!
Good morning Pam, it’s my favorite Monday of the month! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
Lovely Lidy, I didn’t even miss the pumpkins 🙂 Your flower arrangement are elegant and effortless, your signature style~ Your linens are gorgeous, and I love the vintage plates, so pretty. This sitting area in your bedroom is so cozy, such a nice place to relax and linger enjoying your beautiful things. Happy October!
Happy October, Jenna. It’s my favorite time of year, I hope you are enjoying this season in your pretty area.
Absolutely beautiful Lidy. Your linens are so beautiful and the arrangements are perfect. You certainly make your guests feel loved with such elegance and beauty. I always love the French touch. Beautiful silverware with fork placed face down. Je t’aime Lidy
Thank you so much Dianne. It was a very fun table to plan this table with the oranges!
Lidy, this all so breathtaking! The orange and coral flowers make such a gorgeous floral arrangement. The antique linens provide the perfect backdrop for those pretty Minton plates. This entire setting is a feast for the eyes! Happy October, sweet friend!
Shannon, thank you, I love these colors too! Happy October, Shannon.
Thank you so much Shannon. I love these colors too. Happy October!
Beautiful flower arrangements, love the colors and I like both but actually the one in the gold bowl is my favorite for your table.
You have inspired me to use my grandmother’s Spode plates later this month for a dinner I am having. Thank you for such a beautiful fall post!
Ps the leaves started turning this week after the hurricane swept through our area….. fall is well on its way ? enjoy!
Thank you Theresa. I’m excited that you’re going to use your grandmother’s Spode plates! That’s what they are meant for, I love that! I’m glad that you are okay and that the hurricane has come and gone. Happy Fall!
The idea to place a table in the bedroom and in front of the fireplace there is oh so romantic. Should I say so French? All of the flowers are lovely so can’t chose a favorite. My favorite houses are small ones where your imagination must be in full bloom to use every inch to its best advantage.
Alice, it is a sweet place to have a romantic dinner or breakfast. Also to have te .with a close friend! Especially in Fall, with candles and the fire on.
Such beautiful table settings. You have inspired me to use my tucked away dishes to make even weekday meals special!
Oh, that makes me so happy Dianne!
Stunning this floral arrangement is perfect and makes a beautiful statement all by itself, than add the linens and dishware! Loved every single thing about this table right down to the ribboned place cards! A top 10 for sure!!! Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Denise
Thanks so much, Denise…I’m really fond of this setting too. xo
Your October Harvest setting is lovely and elegant.
HAPPY OCTOBER
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thank you so much. Happy October to all of you, too!
You curate a table for the seasons using your antique china and linens so impeccably showing us that we can gather our everyday things to create a beautiful seasonal table….No matter where you set your table, it is always in a most serene atmosphere….no dining room necessary! …. The linens are exquisite!!! Love how you created the sweet place cards with the ribbon. Your arrangement and oh those roses!! Happy October Lidy!!!!
Happy October, dearest flower friend. xo
Lidy, I’m obviously late arriving, and are savoring each image as I scroll through. Your Chinoiserie setting is perfection. I’m one who embraces orange, and the antique plates are exquisite as are the linens. I love the way you wove the ribbon through the little cards to add a personal touch to each place setting. How special it would be to dine at this table.