It’s our final week of the Merry and Bright Blog Hop, and I dare say it’s my favorite little tour yet! Kitchens and Dining areas are always the heart of the home. It’s where we gather as family and friends to enjoy good food and each other’s company. Certainly does not get any better than that!
I don’t actually decorate my kitchen for any Holiday, except maybe a little centerpiece on my kitchen island. But I didn’t even do that much this year. With everything else going on, I was craving a simple and clean kitchen. Nothing to move around, just get straight to baking and cooking and enjoy every moment I can with my little family. Because I didn’t decorate my kitchen, I’ll just be sharing my dining tablescape with you today…
It definitly shares the common theme throughout my house this season of Juniper berries, mercury glass, white and wood tones, and of course a pop of red. There’s a tiny touch of vintage, classical, charm too. Maybe it’s not as “simple” as I thought. LOL! No, I’m kidding, this really is a very simple tablescape. There’s just plenty of adjectives to describe it. haha!
The centerpiece consists of Mercury glass candlesticks that I found on sale this year from Pottery Barn, along with a few simple silver candlesticks I got at Michaels last year, to cover the length of my table. Michaels still sells those silver candlesticks. I then filled it in with just 5 Juniper berry stems from Afloral, and my mercury glass ornaments that I’ve collected over the years. The Silver “flocked” pine cones are new this year from a darling shop: White and Fig.
All of the napkins you see pictured are from Pottery Barn. I first stumbled upon the vintage Santa ones months before the Holiday season began, and immediately fell in love with them! I couldn’t justify the price though. Still, I checked back often, mostly dreaming up ways I could create the same look for less, and one day found they were on sale. I didn’t hesitate to purchase them right then. LOL! It came in a set of four different Santa’s, but I only ended up using two for my table. I felt the red striped ones were needed for more color.
And it was a good choice in my opinion. That little pop of red made a big difference for me!
The plate chargers you see in the middle of the table were unfinished wood ones found at Michaels, that I stained and slightly whitewashed. Dinner and salad plates are from Anthropologie. I haven’t seen these same ones listed on their site in the last little while though.
The tiny chipboard houses were a find on Amazon. After making my large salt-dough gingerbread house, I thought it would be darling to continue the little village onto the dining table. Only, that big house sort of did me in. As you’ll see further down this post, that house (as my dear husband describes it) is very, um, rustic looking. haha! I just didn’t have the desire anymore to try and make 6 more tiny houses. A quick Amazon search led me to these, and I love the way they turned out! They came pre-assembled, I just added the “snow” with the same puff paint that I used to paint my gingerbread ornaments and house. I did my best to make them all different, but it turns out, it’s really really hard to get in much of any detail with such a small house (they measure about 2 inches) and some puff paint. haha! So most of them just have “snow” nestled onto their roofs.
These fleur de lis wood charges at either end of the table are from Pier 1 Imports.
The small wreaths that surround the houses were found at a local craft store called Bennion Crafts. I went home as giddy as a school girl with this find! They were on sale at the time for $3 a piece. They are small enough to fit on a salad plate, but they also aren’t cheap looking. I love how full they are, and of course the little juniper berries sold me over also. I’m sure you could find, or even make tiny wreaths for cheaper, but like I said, they aren’t thin, and even look real to me. I’ll get to reuse them year after year, and for more than just a table setting. They would be darling hanging off the back of chairs, or hung in a frame etc. I’m going to have fun with these, I just know it! haha!
And did I mention how much I LOVE these candlesticks? Because they might just be my favorite. Dinner by candlelight? Yes please!
My light fixture gets the same treatment every year. I got the garland, red berries, and red bead garland all from Bennion years ago when I worked there. (At the time it was called Ben Franklin Crafts) I don’t know why I never change it up for this light, I guess I just really like it! 🙂
The Buffet Table:
The buffet table got a bit of a makeover this past month, when I moved my large chalkboard the the Mr. made me to hang above it, and also hung some white plates on either side. I am loving this change! Sometimes us girls need to have a little change. Some of us like to change our hair or clothes; I like to move furniture and decorations around. LOL.
You can find the recipe for these salt dough ornaments and house HERE. I strung my ornaments into a little garland to hang on the chalkboard. And see what I mean about my big gingerbread house? Pretty rustic, eh? More cracks keep showing up, and getting wider each day. Honestly I didn’t know if it was even going to hold up by the time I got around to taking these photos! LOL. But so far it’s still standing. I was going to share a tutorial on this house, but I decided it was too much of a fail. haha! The small ornaments are MUCH more manageable, and have held up very very well. so I’d recommend just keeping to small houses and ornaments for this recipe. 😉
Small bottle brush trees add the vintage flair, and ambiance to this tiny “village” of two houses.
And you can’t forget Santa’s sleigh and reindeer!
I hung some medium sized wreaths on the buffet cabinet doors. These ones were a find from Michaels last year. I added the red striped ribbon just to help tie in all the other red stripes from the napkins to the table runner on the buffet.
Nothing fancy, but I find it’s always the small details that make the biggest difference.
Did you make it to the end?!?! Oh I’m so happy you did. I know that was a lot of pictures and talking of one tiny space. But when it’s your favorite spot in your home, sometimes you just get picture happy. Right? Just me? Ok, well, I do apologize. haha! But I’m still glad you stopped by.
And guess what?! The inspiration doesn’t stop here!! Be sure to check out these other lovely bloggers and their gorgeous kitchen’s and dining spaces! I have enjoyed getting to know these girls so much. Their talent is endless, and they are as sweet as they come too! <3
Cherie you knock it out of the park EVERY time. This is just so beautiful and I, for one, ADORE your “rustic” gingerbread house! I’m obsessed with the little ones too – you are just so clever! I’m so happy to have been on this blog hop with you my precious friend!
Amazingly beautiful!
Love it all but especially those silver candlesticks and those cute little houses! Oh, and those cute bottle brush trees and ……all of it!!! Sharon from IG @houseonheatherfield
I absolutely adore this Cherie!! I really love the little gingerbread houses! So cute!
Hi Cherie!! I love everything about this beautiful table!! I’m planning to try to recreate this in my dining room this year. Just having a hard time locating those ADORABLE little wreaths. ☹️I’ve even called Bennion’s and they are keeping an eye out for me if they come in. I live in Florida but the sweet manager said she would mail them.(if they come in) Any suggestions? I’ve looked @ Michaels, and Hobby Lobby, and even online to no avail!
Thanks for your kind words! I think the Christmas stuff must be still coming into the stores. I would also check Joann’s Fabric store if you have one near you. I would also search on Amazon for small faux pine wreath. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bennion got those same wreaths back in in the next few weeks, so I’d be sure to check back with them. Good luck!