INSPIRATION: Our neighbors’ fabulous honeysuckle arbor!
Hello, and welcome to my neighbors’ backyard! This past summer when the honeysuckle on their arbor was in full bloom, they phoned to say get over there and get a tablescape done. You don’t have to tell me twice! The beautiful color in the blooms, though, reminded me more of a fall day. So I created this tablescape (way back in late June!) to bring to you this autumn season. That’s REALLY thinking ahead, huh? 😉
(Click on any photo, and then click again to enhance/enlarge it.)
This is the view from our deck. They’ve got so many beautiful trees! I did another fall tablescape in their yard a couple of years ago, September Wine, that is still one of my all-time favorites.
I wanted the table to convey a bit of elegance, so I started with a flowing, full-length ivory tablecloth from LinenTablecloth.com.
I loved how the sun cast long shadows and danced around the table! The time of day this was photographed caught just the effect I wanted! Each place setting started with a mustard gold dinner plate from Pier 1 Imports that I bought at the clearance store years ago. The olive green bowl (for the mostaccioli!) is also a long ago purchase from Pier 1 and is a part of our everyday collection at home.
The tea towel napkins were purchased at Dollar Tree. They really have a pretty decent selection, and I like to use these for napkins when messy food is served. I hung the napkin off the side of the table to add a little color at that level. You will notice how the olive branch motif mimics the centerpiece. The bright red-orange bowls are for my copycat version of Zio’s Italian Restaurant dipping oil. You can find how to make it on my recipe page HERE. This will become a staple in your pantry!
The glassware is standard from Old Time Pottery. The personal wine carafe at each place setting is something I like to do sometimes instead of sitting the actual bottles on the table. Each person can refill their own wine glass at their discretion.
Crushed red pepper and grated parmigiano-reggiano are in bowls that match the dinner plates. The green ceramic water pitcher was a Home Goods purchase from a couple of years back.
Ramon brought a couple of wicker chairs from our master suite for the ends of the table. I plopped in a comfy toss pillow from Home Goods. (This same pillow was used in a recent Asian-inspired tablescape, Chinese Takeout.) The colors work so nicely in this setting!
I arranged a mass of faux olive branches in a towering stoneware vase from Pier 1 that usually sits in Ramon’s dressing area in our master suite.
Thanks to my neighbors for letting me invade their backyard space once again. It really is beautiful with all the trees (just look at that view through the branches!) and flowers and that gorgeous arbor!
More autumn tables on this site:
“Autumn” page (10 fabulous fall posts on this page!)
“Casual Fall Harvest Dinner“
“September Harvest Breakfast”
“Quick & Casual Plaid & Paisley Fall Dinner”
“Pumpkins & Peacocks“
“Wondrous Wheat“
“Pheasants & Peacocks“
“Best Laid Plans“
“Serape High Style“
“Sunflower Simple“
“Raining Orchids“
“September Wine“
“Autumn Blues”
“Autumn White Wedding”
“Copper Zen”
Other posts on this site using towels as napkins include:
“Popsicle Party”
“Black & White Barnyard Breakfast“
“Most Egg-cellent Fall Breakfast“
“Grill It Up!“
“Italian Honeysuckle”
“Picnic Ants“
Blog parties I’m linking up with this week:
Christine at Rustic & Refined for “Table It!”
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch “Tablescape Thursday”
Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One 
It doesn’t surprise me one bit that you’re famous in your neighborhood Alycia! I wish we were neighbors because if we were you gotta know you’d be doing my diva dinners and I’d save you a seat at the head of the table.
That honeysuckle looks like it’s been there and thriving for years! Just gorgeous, and some of the touches you executed I’ve never seen before, and that’s saying a lot because I’m kinda long in the tooth ;).
xxx
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This is gorgeous. Of course I am just a little biased. I LOVE being your neighbor. I get to see all your creations up close & personal.
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In appreciation, I wish to thank you for the beautiful and inspiring photos and ideas you share with me and others. You are so talented. I’ve used several of your ideas and suggestions since I’ve received your e-mails. Look forward to the next e-mail from you.
Thanks again.
Beverly
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So pretty! I can almost smell the honeysuckle on that beautiful arbor. Lovely nature color choices on the tableware, and the wicker chairs.
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Gorgeous.
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Isn’t that sweet of your neighbors to have you do a beautiful Italian table near their honeysuckle arbor? I’d love to be sitting there enjoying some food, wine and conversation. The centerpiece of Olive branches is spectacular, Alycia. Those Dollar Tree napkins are the perfect touch. Thanks for sharing how inexpensive a pretty setting can be.
I made your Zio’s dipping sauce and it is sooooo good!
Hope all is well with you! xo
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What a beautiful setting! Yay for wonderful neighbors!!!
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Lovely tablescape my friend and I bet that honeysuckle is just amazing to sit next to because of the gorgeous smell!
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Alycia, Wonderful honeysuckle arbor and your Italian inspired table. Love Ramon’s urn with the olive branches. I clicked on your dipping oil recipe link..OMGosh, how have I missed your recipe section? I’m headed back to read and save your recipes. They all look amazing. Thanks!
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How utterly delightful Alycia! The table and the neighbors insisting that you do a tablescape! I would linger there all afternoon in a comfy wicker chair sipping something cool~ love the soft fall colors of the dishes and cloths~
Jenna
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I can just imagine the sweet smell of the honeysuckle, so pretty! I love outdoor settings and you did another great job on this, Alycia. I wish you were my neighbor and you can do my tablescapes too….Christine
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Beautiful setting to inspire a meal, Alycia. That honeysuckle is magnificent! The rattan chairs were perfect as was the pitcher arrangement. Rustic but elegant.
Sent from my iPad
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Very pretty. I love the earthy colors of it all.
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I love honeysuckle- the smell and the shape of the flower are both fabulous! Those wicker chairs look perfect in this setting. Love the Tuscan affect with these dishes and how you captured the lighting just right. The large vase with the honeysuckle looks reminiscent of olive branches like those in the towel napkins. Great job! 🙂
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Oh, Alycia..it is always such a treat to look at your blog. What a gorgeous setting, and you have honored it well. Your table is inviting, colorful and absolutely perfect for the surroundings. Lovely……. Rosie @ The Magic Hutch
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Such a fun idea ahahah – Come on over and do a tablescape!
The fact is that their garden is well worth of it and you did – as expected – a wonderful job.
Poor Ramon’s dressing area vase didn’t know what hit him 😉
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Beautiful! I have the same honey suckle vine, but mine is bare and almost dead. I was so bad this year not to water during our dry spells. I love the colors you used for the table. Great “napkins” from Dollar Tree. Bring everything over. It’s all perfect for my kitchen. 😉 Love the pillows and wicker chairs with this table! Hope you have a wonderful week.
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Ok, with my love of outdoors!! An enchanted garden..looking at this beautiful setting, I look really silly sitting here with my mouth hanging open to my chest! The honeysuckle arbor!! That first picture….This is so beautiful it looks like a fairytale dream enchanted garden. Seriously. Just give me a throw, soft music I’d entertain until nightfall you’d have to push/pull me away. Love the idea of the personal wine carafe! The centerpiece!! Really Lucky neighbors! It’s beautiful, outdoor garden, the ambiance, perfect!!
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What a fabulous setting — one could be in Italy or Southern France. That honeysuckle is stupendous! We planted some, but it died!
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yes, you can tell your neighbor that I’m jealous. I love all your tables!! This looks like I would spend a WHOLE day outside enjoying good conversation with the girls and listening to the birds singing and the bees buzzing around. Bees don’t bother me one bit!. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent.
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Your neighbor knows you well! What a lovely setting with that gorgeous arbor! I never knew what a honeysuckle flower looked like – so pretty, but unfortunately the aroma has never agreed with me!
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I love Honeysuckle. That was one of my grandmother’s favorite. I CAN SMELL THE BEAUTIFUL FRAGRANCE NOW.
MOM
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I’ve been so enchanted with your tables that I never noticed you had a recipe section, my bad. Bet I know it now! The motif and the setting are a perfect match and love those towels. Heartfelt thanks to your neighbor and to Ramon for bringing the chairs over.
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So, Alycia, if I call will you run over and do a table or two or three for me? That would be such fun. I could even come up with an outdoor space for you to make lovely as you did for your neighbor. I’m sure she stood back and clapped her hands with glee as your table evolved into perfection.
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Elegant alfresco dining tablescape and atmosphere! That arbor is lovely to provide a beautiful background for your lovely table.
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How lovely, and what a sweet neighbor! The arbor covered in honeysuckle makes a perfect spot to set a table. The fragrance in the air must have been like perfume. Gorgeous scape, love the mustard color and so perfect for this fall season. Reminds me to pull my mustard colored plates to use.
Happy Autumn Alycia.
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All the colors of the land and an overhead canopy of elegance. A perfect mixture of heaven and earth.
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Hi Alycia, We both seem to be in an Italian frame of mind this week. 😀 Your tablescape is so pretty, and I love that it’s al fresco during this gorgeous time of the year. You definitely captured the quality of that autumn sunshine in your pictures — one of my many favorite things about fall. I love your faux olive branches and the way they tie in with the tea towel napkins. The colors of your plates are perfect for fall, too, and I LOVE that pretty ceramic water pitcher. It has a rustic sort of look that is perfect for your tablescape.
I bet you really enjoy being able to look at your neighbor’s beautiful yard throughout the year. It’s just gorgeous!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Italian Honeysuckle before, but wow, what a beautiful plant and arbor!! Your neighbors are real sweethearts to invite you to use their yard for a tablescape. 🙂
I really enjoyed this one, Alycia; thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week!!
Warm hugs,
Denise
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If you were my neighbor, I would plant anything your heart desired if you would come over and do an al fresco tablescape in my yard! I don’t think any of my neighbors even know what a blog is! The Italian Honeysuckle is beautiful and I love the arbor.
I would love to a similar table for my hubby. His family was from Sicily and were involved in a lemon and olive farming business.
Hope you are healing and will have a wonderful week!!
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Oh, so pretty, Alycia. I know that definitely wasn’t done today…in the rain! What a beautiful setting for an evening meal. I love the warm colors you chose to go with that awesome honeysuckle arch and those comfy looking chairs.
Hope you and Ramon have a great weekend.
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Only if we could also enjoy that fragrant aroma that you must have enjoyed as you created your table setting. I can only imagine how heady that scent must have been. 🙂
Alycia…I always appreciate your little touches, including the “napkins” from the dollar store. What a great idea. Your table had a beautiful Tuscan feel and the colors are so cozy for fall. With your comfy chairs, a delightful dinner was sure to be had. Did your neighbors get to enjoy dinner after the fact on at your beautiful table?
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Oh what a gorgeous setting for alfresco dining! Your neighbor’s honeysuckle arbor is beautiful Alycia along with your wicker chairs, tea towels and wonderful shadows…*sigh*
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I feel like I just stepped into Italy for an enchanted alfresco dinner! That honeysuckle arbor is just beautiful, and you were smart to save this one for the fall! Of course, you think of everything–from the cute individual wine carafes (love that idea) to the wicker chairs and cute pillows and the awesome tea towels that coordinate beautifully with your lovely centerpiece ahh, I would love to eat some pasta and drink some wine at this table!! What nice neighbors you have! Love!!
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Wow, what a yard! Perfect for your lovely table al fresco! There’s nothing like the scent of honeysuckle on the summer breeze….sighs…..
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Love, love, love! Those dishtowel napkins are perfect…don’t we all love Dollar Tree! Your photos are gorgeous and the setting could easily pass for Tuscany!
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I thought i had commented on this gorgeous setting. How beautiful to be able to set a table with this gorgeous backdrop. I feel transported to a lovely countryside. Your wicker is always so fresh and inviting. Another gorgeous table Alycia.
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This is so stunning, Alycia! The tea towels really are the essence of this setting and it very much evokes Tuscany. I love how your solid colors brings out the sunbaked feel. I so miss the warm sun, even though I’m enjoying the season changes. What a lovely setting!!
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What a gorgeous table and outdoor setting by that gorgeous arbor of honeysuckle!….Such a wonderful Tuscan feel to the table which is the perfect compliment to Fall weather….exquisite table with a stunning view Alycia!!!
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Hi Alycia, I’ve been away on vacation, but am getting all caught up on my blog reads now. I love your table (and your neighbor’s honeysuckle!). You’re right – the shadows cast this late in the summer/early fall are just wonderful and really enhance your tablescape. Always inspiring, always tasteful.
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what a really nice and elegant table setting!!!
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