table for four

Patisserie de Paris

/ Alycia Nichols / 67 Comments

After another short absence, I am back for a couple of weeks before my shoulder surgery next Friday, the 26th. Again, thanks to all of you who have been so patient with my on-again-off-again posting as I’ve tried to deal with soul-crushing pain in the wake of Daddy’s death. It has not been easy in any way. Add to that the physical pain with my shoulders and back…not a fun summer!

All that being said…I’d like to dedicate this post to two very special fellow bloggers. First up, Jennie Schumann of Got My Reservations went to Paris earlier this year and was so sweet and thoughtful as to gift me with this week’s colorful inspiration. Merci, Jennie!

Patisserie de Paris placemat - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One

INSPIRATION: Many thanks to Jennie Schumann for these easy-clean beauties!!!

I also want to dedicate this post to Linda at A La Carte who will be jetting off to gay Paris in September. She’s so excited about it, and I’m truly excited for her!!! What lucky girls! I can only live vicariously through them since I am so afraid to fly!
(Click on any photo, then click again to enlarge it for close-up details.)

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneOur deck is the site of this lovely French patisserie or bakery. It’s all set up for a lovely ladies luncheon, bridal luncheon, bridal shower, lady’s birthday, the girls’ way of celebrating Bastille Day (that’s a stretch!) or any occasion where femininity and fun are key elements.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneLet’s start with the petite dining table set for four.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneThe placemats are far too pretty to completely cover, so clear glass dishes are on tap today to let the design shine through.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneThis oblong placemat has a beautiful pink damask background with soft green borders. The image of the Eiffel Tower is set against what appears to be a lacy doily. Images of luscious French macarons seem to bounce right off the placemat. The flatware is International Silver “Royal Danish”. (FUN FACT: the word “macaron” is not an alternate spelling of macaroon. The two terms refer to two distinctly different things. Both macarons and macaroons are confections, and both names are derived from “ammaccare”, which is Italian for “to crush” — but that’s where the similarities end. The macarons as pictured are a meringue-based cookie made with almond flour, egg whites, and granulated and powdered sugar, then filled with buttercream or fruit spread. A macaroon, on the other hand, is more often than not that little quarter-sized dollop of egg whites & sugar rolled in dried coconut and toasted to sweet perfection. In France, this is called a “congolais” and is served during Passover because it contains no flour. Sufficiently confused yet? 🙂 )

Patisserie de Paris menu - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneYou may notice lots of layering going on throughout the space, starting with these 4-ply menus. (Click on the photo, then click again to enlarge and note how the menus honor Jennie and Linda!) A bright celadon green is topped with 2 different shades of pink damask cardstock from Hobby Lobby to complement the design of the placemat. It is held together with a metal fleur de lis brad, also from Hobby Lobby. The stemware used for this tablescape is from Old Time Pottery, and the napkin is from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Patisserie de Paris centerpiece - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Eiffel Tower collageThe dramatic “Eiffel Tower” centerpiece is one that, while very tall, can still be seen through across the table. I have used this piece in different ways for two other posts, “Springtime in Paris Buffet” and “French Poodle”. Here is is lightly embellished with dainty pink silk flowers and a few butterflies. The center holds a glass cake pedestal piled high with pastries.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneThe layered look continues with the table linens. A 108″ round LinenTablecloth.com tablecloth in “Tea Green” is topped with a soft pink 90″ tablecloth. Layered linens always give a richer, more sumptuous look to a table and allow multiple theme colors to extend below the table’s surface.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneSimple white resin patio chairs add to the “outdoor cafe” look.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneIt’s no jam-packed Parisian patisserie window, but I thought this vintage baker’s rack would be a neat way to display pastries and a few French-inspired knick-knacks as well as to bring the feel of an authentic patisserie to the deck. Notice the replica penny-farthing (bicycle) there on the floor as well as the fleur de lis symbols on the shelves. (TIDBIT: Frenchman Eugene Meyer is credited as the father of the penny-farthing or “high bicycle” by the International Cycling History Conference.)

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One, Cross and box collageCrosses show up a lot in French design and architecture, so I used this large wrought iron cross on top of the baker’s rack. The cross is flanked by two celadon green hat boxes with French flair.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Cake, coconut balls, cake plateau collage

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Floral, fleur de lis stand, meringues collage

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Sugar wafer & marshmallow cookie collageJust like in a French patisserie, there is a huge variety of sweet pastries from which to choose. I stuck with pastries in the same/complementary color palette as the table.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneWho knew a MoonPie looked so much like an authentic macaron? Hmmm….the MoonPie was created at the start of the Great Depression, so maybe it IS the poor man’s macaron? 🙂 And maybe it’s why they have been a traditional “throw” during the Mardi Gras (very French!) parades in many Southern states since the 1950s? (Where are my ‘Bama girls to back me up on this? Ellen? Sandra?) Something to ponder….! 🙂

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Small cakes, Pirouette cookies, cupcake collageMore pastries on the dessert buffet, including beautiful pirouette cookies and pretty little cakes that make me want to slap on a crown and shriek, “Off with their heads!“, are displayed in and on glass and silver.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Cake server, forks & napkins, dark fleur de lis collageI bought several of these beautiful silver cake servers yeas ago. They come in quite handy for dessert buffets! The dark wrought iron fleur de lis seen here, as well as the white one in previous photos, both came from the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby for just $1 apiece.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Buffet table

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Pink & green table runners from LinenTablecloth.comThe buffet table carries on the theme of pink, green and white as well as layering. This 90″ x 132″ white tablecloth is topped with pink and tea green satin runners, all from LinenTablecloth.com. It looked nice with the plain white tablecloth, but adding bits of color (for such a teensy, tiny price!) just kicked it up a notch! I used 3 runners to represent the 3 vertical bands of the French flag.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Coffee service collageThe coffee service set up on one end of the buffet table features a silver 25-cup coffee urn, a vintage creamer and sugar set, soft pink napkins, and a billowy floral design in a French-inspired white vase. The pastoral scene on the side of the cups is decidedly French, too.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - Bread & cheese collage

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-OneLoaves of bread stand tall in a silver champagne bucket while croissants and other breads are displayed in a silver wire basket with Victorian-era tongs alongside assorted cheeses. The Austrian crystal cheese picks and forks add just the right amount of bling.

Patisserie de Paris - Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One - French decanter & corks collageFinally, this fancy glass decanter with the word “Paris” on it is filled with corks instead of a beverage for a nice decorative touch.

Many, many, many thanks to Jennie for this wonderful bit of inspiration!

More posts using pink & green on this site:
“Showered in Pink”
“Blushing Bridal Shower”
“Fairy Tale  Wedding Shower – Princess & the Frog”
“Mother’s Day Luncheon in Pink”
“Pinky Peter Cottontail”
“Pleasant Under Glass”
“Springtime in Paris”
“Easter Brunch”

I’m joining a couple of blog parties this week:
“Let’s Dish!” with Cuisine Kathleen
“Tablescape Thursday” with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

I’ll be back next week with one more post before surgery. It’s gonna be a doozy, and you won’t want to miss it!
Until next week, au revoir!

Platinum & Pink Valentine Tablescape

/ Alycia Nichols / 77 Comments

Valentine’s Day is just about a week away now, and I’d like to share a simple but impactful centerpiece on a table I have created for one of my upcoming tablescaping classes. While this is a table for four, it could be easily adapted to a more intimate table for two by removing two place settings and moving the centerpiece to the far edge of the table so the couple can sit side by side.

IFThe dilemma always exists in how to make a table suitable for the tastes of a man paired with those of a woman. My solution is to use a color that appeals to both sexes, although probably for different reasons: platinum! Men think of it as the color of a sharp pinstripe suit, tuxedo or morning coat. Women, of course, tend to think of it in terms of “da bling” (with a diamond strapped on that band big enough to break all 5 fingers!!!) 🙂 Either way it goes, it’s a fabulous color that works really well with touches of pink infused for softness. I draped this 48″ round table with a crushed poly platinum linen big enough to gently puddle around it.

IF

Napkin collage

Flatware, Stemware, Favor collageThe china used here is classic Easterling “Majestic” with a deep gray band and platinum rim. The chargers are silver-leafed clay. The pearly pink & silver napkin rings from Old Time Pottery are doubled up to give them more depth. Taking its cue from the centerpiece, a snippet of bling adds a dash of sparkle to the napkin.

IF

IF

IFThe simple centerpiece was created with heart-shaped oasis floral foam. This one is laden with faux carnations for class purposes (to see more on how it was constructed, visit Table Tips, #38), but it could certainly be made with the real deal. Fluffy fresh carnations give you a lot of bang for the buck, and just imagine the sweet clove fragrance!!! I dotted the arrangement with rhinestone stick pins and gently curved stems cut from a bling spray (that regular readers may recognize from my Christmas 2012 tree and living room wreath arrangements) to give it more of a 3-D look. Tri-level silver Revere candlesticks with white candles lined up on both sides of the floral arrangement round out the centerpiece and add a sexy glow.

This table, expanded to seat more guests, would be ideal for wedding-related events, an anniversary, or a special lady’s birthday. The floral centerpiece (used with different supporting elements) would work nicely for a baby shower.

More tables on this site suitable for a Valentine’s Day celebration:
“Should Have Put a Ring On It”
“Queen of Hearts Card Party”
“Be Still My Heart”
“Chocolate Traditional”
“Peonies & Pearls”
“Days of Wine & Roses”
“Love’s Arrow”
“Princess Pink Birthday Dinner”
“Roses in October”
“Pretty in Pink”

The blog parties this week are brimming with love! Join me, won’t you, for Cuisine Kathleen’s “Let’s Dish!“ (anytime after 6:00 p.m., CST on Wednesday), The Style Sisters’ “Centerpiece Wednesday”, Susan’s “Tablescape Thursday“ (anytime after 9:00 a.m. CST on Thursday), and for the very first time Beverly’s “Pink Saturday”. Don’t miss the Valentine blog hop at “Bargain Hunting With Laurie” starting Sunday, February 10th!

♥ Have a Happy and Loving Valentine’s Day! ♥

Pumpkins & Peacocks

/ Alycia Nichols / 61 Comments

Here we are once again at the crazy transitional time that calls for us to walk that pencil-thin line between summer and autumn tablescapes. A September tablescape can be one of the most difficult as we teeter on the cusp of the bright colors of summer and the warm, deeper tones that come with the crunch of autumn leaves. This mix of a bright pumpkin color and the flickering jewel tones of peacock feathers is a tablescape that might satisfy the need to meet in the middle. And, as the peacock is the national bird of India, this might also make a fun table for the festival of Diwali which marks the end of the harvest season.
(Click on any photo to enlarge/enhance it.)

The foundation of this colorful Fall tablescape is an attention-grabbing floor-length pumpkin-colored linen from LinenTablecloth.com.

While the layers of the tabletop include more of the bright pumpkin hue, the deepness of the greens and purples ground it a bit more and bring it even closer into Fall.

This table for four features complex layers that speak to the cooler autumn months but don’t abandon what’s left of summer. A double layer of square gold chargers from World Market hosts a French-inspired plate adorned with a gorgeous peacock, his iridescent plumage on full display. The lower right corner of the plate comes alive with brightly colored gloriosa lilies.

Gold-tone flatware complements the orange-y hue of the linens. Around the napkin is a showy purple “gemstone” napkin ring from Z Gallerie, usually reserved for Mardi Gras around here. (See it used HERE and HERE.) The purple in the napkin ring complements the jewel tones in the eye of the peacock feathers.

Inexpensive but nonetheless lovely green Dollar Tree stemware complements the green tones in the peacock feathers and offers another layer of color to the table’s palette.

I didn’t have a lot of gloriosa lilies, but I did have on hand enough of these faux orchid stems that were very close in both color and form. I chose to create a kind of wild, untamed, uncontrolled floral arrangement…much like the demeanor of peacocks! While a faux orchid floral arrangement is used for this demonstration, it would be REALLY cool if your budget allows for real ones!!!

Tiny pumpkin-colored tea light votives candles produce ambient light and extend the surface level girth of the centerpiece.

A simple straight line of votives across the fireplace mantel mimic those on the table.

To see more Fall tablescapes on this site, visit:
“Autumn” page (has TEN different posts on one page!!!)
“September Wine“
“Autumn Blues“
“Autumn White Wedding“
“Roses in October“
“Sunflower Simple“
“Serape High Style“
“Raining Orchids” (another great transitional table!)

Next week I’ll have photos of one of the four tables I have been laboring to set up for my “Fabulous Fall Tablescaping” class through Longview Community College’s Community Education department. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I get the requisite number of students so that the class isn’t cancelled. I know people are very busy and that the economy really sucks right now, but I have such great plans for this class!!! I hope it fills up! If you live in the Kansas City, MO area, you have until Friday the 14th to enroll, so give them a call at 816-604-2030. Classes start Tuesday, September 18th.

I am joining Cuisine Kathleen for “Let’s Dish!” starting Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. CDT. Also on Wednesday I will be joining The Style Sisters for “Centerpiece Wednesday“. Then on Thursday, please come along with me to Susan’s “Tablescape Thursday” starting at 9:00 a.m. CDT. I hope to see you then!