DINNER IN THE LIBRARY?

Huh?...We don't have a library...

Ever since I can remember my husband and I have dreamed of a home with a real "LIBRARY".  We have had homes with rooms that could have served as a library but opted to use those rooms as either guest bedrooms or computer/craft rooms...You know sometimes FUNCTION comes before wishes...however, one of the things we fell in love with in this little old house we bought last year was the BUILT IN bookshelves off one end of the living room, and so we now have the "library" we have always wanted...well, sort of...

To celebrate, I have set a table for two in the "library"...won't you join me...

Nothing says library better than dark woods, rich fabrics and; of course, books...I found this beautiful antique drum table last fall at a local antique shop for just $50.00...it is beautifully detailed with real brass feet and hardware (not shown)...I topped this beautiful table with a leopard print scarf, a few books, lamp and clock...I think this makes the perfect library setting...don't you?

I have used vintage frosted stemware and vintage cream and gold dinner and dessert plates at each place...These plates boast golden snowflakes (or at least what I believe to be snowflakes)...and are from the 1950's...

...very RETRO yet sophistocated in my opinion...

A vintage silver fork was tucked gently into a crisp white battenburg lace napkin, tied with gold ribbon and simply placed on top of the dinnerware...not necessarily a formal setting, but very elegant...

No table is complete without a little candlelight...

I saved one picture for last...actually I wasn't going to include this picture because it looks kind of CREEPY instead of romantic...but what the hey...CLUE was one of my favorite board games growing up so I just had to share it...as this picture says....Muhahaha...Colonel Muster did it in the "LIBRARY"

Well, thanks for joining me for DINNER IN THE LIBRARY...

I am joining some fabulous parties again this week...stop on by for a look, leave lots of comments, make friends and become a follower...

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP
Rock N Share @ The Shady Porch
Primp your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here

CIAO AND HAVE A FABULOUS WEEK!!!

AUTUMN SPLENDOR TABLESCAPE...

AUTUMN SPLENDOR

by:  Lynne Adams

Autumn Leaves

Bright and vibrant

Warm sun and bright blue sky

Chilly Breezes blow

Golden Leaves from Heaven fall

to ride the wind and swirl around

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Brown

Colors of Beauty slowly come down

A symphony of Autumns Gifts sing

From God with Love to You and Me

Hi everyone,  I have missed you all so very much.  It's been a little while since I have had a chance to do any posting here at Beyond the Portico, but I haven't forgotten about you all...while I've been busy planning my little ones birthday party, attending a ladies retreat and seminar in Branson, Missouri and enjoying festivities at my church's annual fall festival...I did manage to put together a little tablescape for your enjoyment. 

I found these beautiful dinner and salad plates a few months back at GW for $5.00...I absolutely love them and I just knew they would work perfectly for this AUTUMN SPLENDOR table...

Don't you just love the colors and design...

...for the centerpiece I used a large basket of faux fall leaves and a few mini pumpkins, flanked by red and orange mosiac candle sticks....

...to carry the leaf theme throughout the table, I topped each plate with a hand inscribed paper leaf doily place card...

I also used a paper leaf doily as a coaster under each "leafy" goblet...these doilies were very inexpensive and I think give the table a finished look.  I took a ton of pictures so I will stop talking and let you enjoy.

I am really loving how this table turned out...how about you?...

and now a little golden glow...

AUTUMN SPLENDOR

I'm joining some fabulous parties this week...stop by and have a look, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here

Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

"FALL AT IT'S FINEST" TABLESCAPE

The leaves have finally turned, changing the countryside into a colorful tapestry of reds, golds, oranges, greens and browns...the fragrance of fallen leaves fills the air as if to say, come lay down and enjoy nature's blanket...excitement abounds as children anxiously await a trip to the pumpkin patch and to snuggle in for a hayride...cider is brewing on an open fire and s'mores are in the making.  WELCOME FALL!!!

Hello all you bloggers out there.  Have you been enjoying fall so far?  I have! My only complaint is that I have a day job and don't get as much time as I would like outdoors to enjoy this beautiful time of year...nonetheless, life is good and I am EATING it up...

In early spring I found a table scarf at one of the thrift stores here in town and I just knew it would be GREAT on a fall table.  I have been waiting PATIENTLY all year for autumn to arrive so I could use it in a tablescape...

The tag on the scarf says "Made in Italy"...it is simply beautiful and I was blessed enough to have gotten it for a dollar...the center of this scarf boasts a beautiful fall bounty of corn, nuts, apples, pears, grapes, leaves and other harvested items...

I paired this beautiful black and creamy white scarf with PB--Emma dinnerware...the leafy stemware is from Dollar Tree...and the bubble rimmed water glasses were from the antique mall here in town...those are my FAVORITE and they coordinate well with the dotted rim on the dinnerware...

The centerpiece boasts a bowl of walnuts freshly harvested and gives guests a hint as to what's on the menu...Crisp, white battenburg lace trimmed napkins, tucked gently into the stemware, steal the show...inviting guests to come and dine at this black tie affair...

Candlelight and music set the mood...

Tonight's fare includes a crisp garden salad followed by Walnut Crusted Pork Loin with Apple Maple Reduction and mashed sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon and brown sugar...a holiday worthy meal...but easy enough for any night of the week.

 

BON APPETIT!

Joining Susan and a whole bunch of other talented ladies for Tablescape Thursday over at BNOTP.  Pop on over and feast on everyone's lovely tablescapes. 

Also partying over at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday. Stop on by and see everyone's thrifty finds.

DINNER IN THE TROPICS

I am becoming rather FOND of this tablescaping business...and have put together ANOTHER little tablescape using some thrift store finds...I call this one DINNER IN THE TROPICS...

...I apologize up front for the dark pictures...I was having some TECHNICAL issues...

...I found this palm tree dinnerware by Home Trends (5 dinner plates and 5 salad plates) at a local thrift shop for $6.00...more than I normally would spend....but I REALLY liked the pattern and so I SNATCHED them up...

...I found the white linen napkins and wooden napkin rings there also (on different occasions)...I gave $1.00 for the napkins and $1.00 for the napkin rings...I thought they were perfect for these dishes...

...I've used my everyday flatware and smoky brown drinking glasses which I already had....I have been on the hunt for some COCONUT drinkware to go with this...wouldn't that be so cute?...

...I found a LEAFY green placemat for .25 cents at another thrift shop and two RATTAN chargers for .50 cents that I thought would be perfect for the centerpiece...I used one of the chargers, the remaining plates, a treasure chest full of greenery and frame (which I already had but were all thrift store finds a few years back), and my newest candlestick from Hob Lob (clearanced at $2.00)...

...had a little trouble getting the plate to stay up after my little one bumped the table...but still turned out okay...

...to add a little more green to the table and balance everything out, I used a green salad plate as a candle plate on either side of the centerpiece...the runner is a white sheer curtain panel....shhhh don't tell anyone...

...I really like this look...now if only I were on a BEACH somewhere...sipping an ICE COLD drink...dining on some delicious LOBSTER or shrimp...ISLAND BREEZES blowing...and soaking in some SUNSHINE...I would HAVE it made!!!...

...HAPPY DINING!!!

I am joining these fabulous parties...won't you join me...

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Nifty Thrify Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps On The Porch 
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Whassup Wednesday @ Elements Interiors
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 

VINEYARD ROMANCE TABLESCAPE

I had so much FUN putting together my FIRST ever tablescape last week....the little blue and white one HERE...that I just couldn't resist playing in the dishes again this week...

...this week's little tablescape features touches of PLUM and SAGE green...I call this GORGEOUS table...VINEYARD ROMANCE...

...I loved it soooooo much...wrinkles and all...that I snapped a bazillion shots of it and YOU are going to get to see most of them....LUCKY YOU!...

...LAYERING, LAYERING, LAYERING...it's sooooo important for romance, don't you think?....(would you listen to me..I sound as if I know what I'm doing here and this is only my second tablescape, lol)...Anyway, I just love this look...I started with a wrinkle textured white organza tablecloth...then added a swatch of a soft sage green BROCADE fabric to the center as a runner...I topped that with a vintage FRINGED white linen table scarf...

...a little glimpse of the hubster at the door...

....for the centerpiece I used my new LANTERN I got from Hob Lob for $9.00 a few weeks ago...a bargain at 80% off...added some vineyard inspired GREENERY I already had, and my favorite little BIRD statues (see them HERE too)...I just love this centerpiece...I think it's why I named this table VINEYARD ROMANCE...It's just so vineyardy romantic...

...the sun streaming through the window just made everything that much more romantic...for balance I placed a sweet little rose vinyette on either side of the centerpiece...

...I found these adorable footed crystal plates and the pewter candle plates at a thrift shop a few months back and thought they made a beautiful little addition to this table...I was fresh out of wine (don't drink), grapes and cheese, but wouldn't that have been divine?...

...now onto the most important part of setting the table...THE DISHES...

...I used my Royal Duchess, Bavarian china (won at auction many years ago...I think for $3.00...4 place settings)...

...the flower is GERMAN MOUNTAIN BELL...it's so delicate and beautiful...I love the sparkle of the SILVER rim...and the little touch of GREEN in the leaves goes PERFECT with this table...I've used the dinner plates, tea cups and saucers...wouldn't this table be just perfect for BRUNCH or high TEA with the girls?...

...this table even makes my everyday flatware look good...I've used the same soft sage green brocade fabric for napkins...simply folded in thirds...GORGEOUS...

...as day gave way to evening and night settled in...I just couldn't resist but take a few more shots of this beautiful table...

...a touch of candlelight...

...a golden glow...

 ...well...there you have it....my VINEYARD ROMANCE tablescape...I had so much fun putting this table together...too bad about the wine, grapes and cheese...but...I still loved it...In fact, I loved it sooooo much that I changed some things up, and used the fabrics and centerpiece as a vingette someplace else in the house...perhaps a post on that later...

...Thank you so much for stopping by ...I hope you have enjoyed your little visit here today...and please...don't be shy, feel free to comment...I love hearing from YOU!

I am linking up to these FABULOUS parties this week...won't you JOIN me...

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps On The Porch 
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Whassup Wednesday @ Elements Interiors
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home