Can I just start with this?: BOURBON ROCKS🥃!!! Neat, up, or on the rocks…it ROCKS!!! Now on to our regularly scheduled program.
🏇Kentucky Derby 2021, No. 147 in the famed race history, is just a couple of short days away🏇!!! I’m putting my (fake!) money on Bourbonic because anything with the the word bourbon in it is a favorite of mine!
I’ve posted several Derby tablescapes over the years, but this one is a little less…mmmm, shall we say…over the top! No towering show horses in the middle of the table this time! Nonetheless, I hope you will enjoy and garner some ideas from this year’s installation. (And, yes, those are my long-awaited new chairs and area rug. Thank you for asking!)
The tablescape was built around a runner I found at Nell Hills that resembles a gentleman’s seersucker or pinstripe suit one might see at the Derby. I added Kate Spade for Lenox “Rutherford Circle Navy” dishes on gleaming nickelplate chargers along with the contemporary J.A. Henckels “Bellaserra” stainless flatware. Stemware from Pier 1 Imports (gosh, I miss their physical stores!!!) and the obligatory silver mint julep cup along with a hemstitch cotton napkin cinched with a Pier 1 napkin ring rounds out the place setting. I like these napkin rings in this setting because they mirror the mix of silver and aluminum elements on the table.
I’ve amassed a few of these wonderful aluminum “trophy” vessels over the year and find them great for decorating all around the house. Here they spill over with red roses and whatever these cool wispy, green, furry branches are that I found at The Painted Sofa and Very Violet Boutique. I have a collection of horse-related decor because I live in Longview Farm, a subdivision where a famed horse farm once stood. These probably came from Home Goods some years ago. Tall metal case candles in staggered heights (am I the only one besides the church that still uses these?) tower above.
Dessert – a very Southern red velvet layer cake – and a whiskey sour station using miniature julep cups are set up on the vitrine behind the dining table. I’ve “had to” taste a lot of bourbon these past couple of weeks to decide which would be best for the mint juleps (Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel won in this category) and which for the sours (Old Forester Kentucky Straight by a nose over Elijah Craig Small Batch!).
If you’d like to check out other Kentucky Derby posts on this site (or posts that would be suitable for it if you just make a few tweaks), click on the link below!
Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One 
Alycia, I love taper candles. Where do you purchase yours? I love different colors and they are hard to find in Dallas stores, if you can believe that. So glad you are tablescaping again. Gayle
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You are ready to party! I didn’t even realize the Kentucky Derby was this weekend until someone invited me to a party. LOL! The only celebrating I will do is to be making Kentucky Derby Bars. I will be hoping that you double your fake money on your bourbon-inspired horse.
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Alycia, I LOVE that area rug! The trophy cups are such an elegant touch. My secret joy is looking through the old posts as well and getting ideas–so many elegant looks that you are so generous to share! Enjoy the Derby; I’ll be sippin’ Bourbon on the rocks 🙂
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Beautiful, Alycia! Love your new chair and the new rug. Everything looks super-classy and elegant. Your choice of dessert seems perfect to me.
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What a table to toast Derby Day! Each element looks carefully planned for your table. When we moved to Kentucky, my daughter quickly bought a horse head similar to yours for their mantel. She said when you live in Kentucky, you must have some horse decor! We are attending a derby party Saturday and I have my derby hat ready.
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In this case less is more! The Parsons chairs are very nice.. and they pull the look of the rug together.. (great selections). My favorite is the centerpiece. The red roses with the faux green stems are stunning.
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That looks awesome for the Run for the Roses, Alycia! I noticed the chairs and rug right off. Sharp!
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Those chairs and rug were worth the wait! I love that this table is gender-neutral and hurray for tapers! How do you store yours? I wrap mine in tissue paper and lay them flat but they still seem to develop a curve. Anything Kentucky Derby-ish always reminds me of “Pretty Woman”. I even had a brown and white polka dot dress at one time. Enjoy the festivities!
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Looks beautiful! I was in Louisville last weekend and went to the museum at Churchill Downs. In their gift shop, I bought a hat to wear at my party and some of the special bourbon they make every year for the Derby. They couldn’t ship the bourbon, had to carry back on the plane. It was so much fun to be where you knew the Derby was going to be held. Someday, I am going to attend……
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Alycia, your Run For The Roses table is so elegant. I love all of the details and the pinstripe runner was the perfect choice. I immediately noticed your beautiful new chairs and rug. How fun it would be to sit at your table!
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Red and black make for such an elegant look. Love this table. Bourbon is hubby’s favorite drink. He’ll wonder what your favorite brand is. We are doing a road trip to North Carolina for a wedding in late September early October and are considering a stop along the Bourbon trail on our way. Happy end of April to you!
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Yes, ma’am, you are ready to party tomorrow in style! Every detail is perfect for the Running of the Roses. The Lenox dishes, chargers and napkins set an elegant tone and the silver touches take it over the top, Putting those roses in trophy cups are a great idea to continue the theme, too. I’m not a bourbon fan but my men are and they agree with your choices, although they prefer it with a little ice. Is there really a horse named “Bourbonic” in this year’s Derby? LOL!! Have a great weekend dining at this beautiful table, Alycia!
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Love your new chairs and rug, and your table looks so elegant and festive! I am having friends over to watch the Derby on the patio tomorrow and have been wishing I had some horsey elements to decorate with…I did fill a silver champagne bucket with red roses, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten! We are having ham biscuits, mini pecan pies, and other Southern goodies…the horse names this year are really crazy, I like Highly Motivated and Hot Rod Charlie! Besides Bourbonic, there’s Midnight Bourbon, so bourbon is a major theme this year! Your table is gorgeous, have fun!
Jenna
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How on earth did I miss “Midnight Bourbon”?!?!?!?? Ha! That’s the best kind next to breakfast bourbon!🤣🤣🤣 Have a great time, and party hard! Sounds like you’ll be eating REALLY good! Next year you can start early and paint horses and boots and riding crops and such on cocktail napkins! Horsey elements problem SOLVED!!!😁
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Several years ago we traveled the Bourbon Trail, took a tour of many horse farms, and had a Mint Julep at Churchill Downs while watching the race. Oh and tried on a wide variety of hats! A very good thing!
Your beautifully adorned table of Kentucky Derby themed items in a most elegant setting is truly inspiring!!
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