This is my Valentine's Day tablescape submission. I do not like red in general in interiors so I won't be doing a tablescape this week in red. I don't think I have any decor in my house that is red. I do like red outside in my flower garden, though. Camelias, Roses, Zinnias, Geraniums, etc. A Valentine tablescape can be any color actually to set a romantic environment. Also, in this month's issue of House Beautiful on the color topic of pink, they mention on page 73 the color orchid and show an orchid painted room. In a room with the right light, that could be very pretty indeed.
I am more than in love with the color orchid right now, I'm over the moon with it. I go through phases of color love and right now it is orchid. Maybe it is because I am anticipating spring, but I love this color in the spring. Right after this, I go into my Robin's egg blue phase, then the coral phase, etc. My dream interior is an all white Swedish home so I can switch out the drapes, artwork, pillows and china on a whim and no other color will be competing with it. Someday!!
The basis for this tablescape is the orchid linen tablecloth.
I like to sew my own so I can get a width of 108" which is impossible to buy. I love this linen because of the embellishment of the embroidered paisley motifs. Sewing two panels 58" wide will give me 108 after hems and the joinder seam down the middle. If I want a table for six, I buy eight yards, table for ten, I buy nine yards so I can put one 22" leaf in the table. There are three leaves, so 11yards is needed to cover all three leaves. Sometimes vendors only wrap 8 yards on a bolt, so I need cuttings from two bolts to make it work for the bigger tablecloths. My wrestling that big of piece on the ironing board and my portable sewing machine would make a good comedy video. I try to catch the fabric on sale. This linen is from the fashion section of Hancock's and was $112 to make.
The floral centerpiece this time was easy as pie. Just get two florist bunches of lilac Stock and one of lavender Statice. I used my cachepot made by Guerin before 1934 that has hand painted Pansies on it. It is 12" high so it is good to hold the tall Stock stems.
I found the Guerin cachepot at an estate sale in mint condition. I was late getting there so all the wonderful things were already sold. I spied this piece on the fireplace mantle with a very ugly dried arrangement in it. Nobody had noticed the container. I found it in Mary Gaston's Limoges resource book for $1,000-1,200 estimate. I don't think anyone would pay that for it, though, at least not me. Lucky score. Also in the table's center are two pieces of natural sea coral and two 4" pots of white Cyclamen.
This would be a great time to use orchid colored stemware. Unfortuately, I don't own any so I used clear stems, the Stratton pattern by Simon-Pearce and the Colleen pattern by Waterford. I'm also using gold monogrammed Limoges bread and butter plates.
If you have been following my blog, you will recognize this service plate. I'm in love with this German plate also. The raised gold enamel "cloud" design around the edges makes my heart flutter. It looks like a Richard Klemm piece to me but I have not been able to verify the maker. It was imported for a store in Boston before 1916. The floral sprays are really a magenta color but I have pushed it to the orchid side for this tablescape. Before, I pushed the color to the lavender side in another tablescape. The color it reads is the color you put it against. This is a foundation of color principle. The color will "read" what you compare it to. Another example is the color shell. It will read pink until you put it next to pink and then it reads peach.
To start the plate layering, I used a gold charger by Raynaud in the Horizon Granite gold pattern.
I don't usually do this, but this time I am using the same pattern for both the dinner plate and the rim soup to serve either soup or salad. This is Richard Ginori's Torino pattern.
The sterling this week is Durgin Iris. Since Iris flowers can be this orchid shade, I thought that pattern would be perfect. William Durgin had fabulous talent but died early as did his son of an illness. I can only imagine what fabulous patterns they could have made if their lives had not been cut short. The originality, quality and weight of their flatware is just marvelous. I am also using crystal knife rests that my sister gave me and 29" lapkins with a family monogram purchased in France.
Dessert is served on these Coronet Limoges fish plates hand painted by Barin. There is just enough orchid in the flower on the side and on part of the fish to make this work. Since I don't serve a separate fish course for the meal, I use fish, bird and game plates in other ways to give great interest to the tablescape.
You may have also noticed the gold initial monogrammed Limoges gravy boat and covered serving dishes. I think they are fitting for this scheme. I find many of these pieces as well as platters in mint condition where they have been in a home's china cabinet for decades, being saved for "good company" events that never happened. I am thrilled to be their new caretaker.
I tried to stay away from making this look like an Easter table. If I wanted to go that direction, orchid is a color that can instantly take you there with the addition of some white Lilies for a centerpiece and clear glass bunny containers at the placesettings.
I hope you have enjoyed joining me for my orchid color lovefest.
I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch.
To see all the entries, go here:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
All the best to you,
Summer
Photos: Swede
