Simple French Supper with Antiques at the Table

If you have been following me on FaceBook, you know that we are having our ceilings scraped, stuccoed and painted. And all the walls. oh. my. goodness. I know it's going to be beautiful, but what a mess! The meetings, guests and meals we have here with family and friends just continue in parts of our home that are not wrapped in plastic, or full of plaster dust. Outside. Inside. They have been, by necessity, simple. Today I am sharing a simple dinner tablesetting I set up on the kitchen table a while ago when 8 of my friends came to dinner, using French Country antique plates, antique French monogrammed Napkins and a vintage Hotel Silver Carafe filled with herbs and lavender from the garden as the centerpiece.

I love the simple French plates, like the ones above, on our wood table. The runner is a length of hand woven linen, which I used as a country style runner. On each plate I wrapped a small baguette in a napkin, and added a sprig of rosemary for green color. {Great to have a few fresh herbs growing in pots on your back patio.}

Really simple, with French flatware, glasses for water and wine. Nothing fancy, but stylish enough to say "welcome, I am excited to have you here!"

Antique French glass jar with a paper label holds some twigs from the garden. The hotel silver carafe has a little bouquet of mint, rosemary, and a clipping from our French lavender plants. Pretty, simple, stylish. And fits right in with my crazy "painting" schedule. Menu?

*French Cheese Platter with nuts, dried fruit and assorted crackers.

*Salad with goat cheese, candied nuts and cranberries.

*Asparagus quiche

*Fresh strawberries

*Red & white wine, Blood Orange Spritzer from Trader Joe's.

It was fun. delicious. easy.