Robin Flies South...

A blog about decorating and tablescaping with an emphasis on creativity and smart shopping over cash!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Endless Summer

Welcome to my first tablescape!  I am joining the party at Between Naps on the  Porch (BNOTP) for Tablescape Thursday.  After following blogs for months I am finally taking the plunge and jumping in.  I hope the water will be warm and welcoming.  I look forward to your comments and advice on surviving in blogland.  I know how grateful I am for all the ideas and entertainment I have received since I started following them.



Here in Florida we have lots of summer left and the theme I have chosen is appropriate any time of year.  Last week I had some time to kill before going to dinner with my daughter and my husband, so we popped into the Pottery Barn in Hyde Park Village in Tampa (my husband stood outside with a stopwatch!).  As much as I love obsessing over their catalogs, there is nothing like seeing it all in person.  Two floors of it!  Of course, most of the merchandise is out of my budget but when they mark stuff down, they really mark it down!  I picked up 2 sets of napkin rings (seashells and butterflies) and couldn't resist these placemats that became the basis for this tablescape.  Six placemats and 8 napkin rings for just over $30.  You get that nice handled bag with the PB logo on it, too.
When we moved down here from South Jersey we thought we might downsize until we actually looked at a smaller house.  Sorry, not ready for that yet.  So I was very happy to still have a separate dining room in this house.  I will tell you more about this room in the future but for now let me say I am so happy to have this space.                                                                                                                                                           
I used a table runner upside down that looks like burlap along with the placemats.  The "chargers" are from IKEA, the dinner plate is from a set I received in a trade with my mother almost 30 years ago, Federalist Ironstone, the camel colored salad plate was on clearance at Burlington Coat Factory, less than a dollar each. 
The wine glasses are from that exclusive, upscale store, Dollar Tree.  The drinking glass is actually acrylic and is from Beall's Department store.  I bought them with matching plates for use by our pool but I thought they looked good here.


The silver palm candlesticks are  painted wood from Ross.  The hurricane (also from Ross) wasn't tall enough so I put it atop an inverted glass bowl.  I'm always adding height to things so there is a change in levels.  My sister-in-law gave me the sand (she even washed and bleached it).  I would love to say I have collected all the shells I have but I didn't. 

The flatware was my mother's and I used to hate it because it was so plain.  Now I love the teak handles and brushed nickel simplicity of them.  The napkin rings are from Old Tyme Pottery for .99 each (I got a dozen for that price!)  The napkins are from Burlington Coat Factory and Beal's Outlet.  Once you double up your napkins, you will want to do it all the time. 
I used these square plates for the ends of the table to pick up the blue in the glasses and the placemats.  It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I had only 4 of the other plates!  I bought these at Beall's Outlet.  If you live in Florida you will find that they have an abundance of "Florida Decor".  Now you know where to go for all your Flamingo needs!
Just like people,, I think most tablescapes look best by candlelight.  In summertime, however, it means eating dinner at 8:30pm!   
Even though these plates have no color design on them, the texture still makes them interesting and they seem to sparkle in the candlelight.

Thank you so much for stopping by. This tablescape will give you some idea of what kinds of things you will see from me in the future.  I love neutrals but I also have some ideas for some bright, cheerful tables too. One thing you can be sure of, you will never see fine china, crystal or silver from me.  Not that I don't admire those things but I don't own any of them and I'm a strict budget girl.   Of course, if I find a great estate sale or hit the jackpot at Goodwill that could change!  

16 comments:

Elaine said...

Love your blog! I am honored to be your first follower! Mom's flatware never looked so good. Your tablescape is beautiful AND very inspirational. Very tasteful for a Joisey girl!

Staging Tips - Help for Selling your Home said...

What a beautiful table! And I LOVE the wall colors! Jane Ann Lance

pumkinhd1 said...

I am jealous of your creativity. I hope you are getting paid to do tables like this!

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Just beautiful. Love the plates and the silverware. How nice that it is your mothers. You did a wonderful job putting your table together. It is perfect!
Blessings,
Debbie

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Beautiful table!!!! I adore those placemats!!! My in-laws lived in Fl. so I ahve been shopping in Fl. at Bealls for MANY years!!! I love that store. I ahve a "Palm tree thing" and have gotten ALOT of palm tree stuff on trips down there. We live in Pa. I also love your flatware and am glad you now love it too! I will be back. XO, Pinky

our daily dishes said...

love your sandy colors~

Debbie said...

Tried to make a comment earlier and it wouldn't post. Grrr.

Welcome both to Tablescape Thursday and to Blog Land. It's a wonderful place to get inspiration, that's for sure.

I love everything about your place setting. The charger was the perfect choice, and I love the way the starfish looks on the caramel colored salad plate.

Marlis said...

Stunning table. Love the chargers.. wow those are very cool. Great dining area too. Your accessories are perfect for your theme. so pretty! xo marlis

suzyq said...

Robyn, well done on your '1st table'. Once you get hooked on this you will be amazed how adventureous you get! I used to be a real shabby chic girl but now I do tables in all colours. Please pop in if you have time.
Suzyq

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Hi Robyn,
I'm visiting from BNOTP. I completed my first tablescape a few weeks ago. Once you do one, you will find that you are bitten by the bug! Your table is really beautiful. I especially love those placemats that you found. Love those chargers and the table runner, too.

Alycia Nichols said...

Hi, Robin! Alycia Nichols from Table Twenty-One here. Welcome to blogland and Tablescape Thursdays!!! Your very first table looks great, and you are going to have SO much fun! This is a fun group of gals and guys who are all Dish and Ambience addicts, so you'll fit right in and do fine. The fact that you're from New Jersey and living in Florida will give you a lot of perspective, too, because of the difference in weather, decorating trends, etc. You probably have TONS of shopping opportunities in your area, too, which makes it that much greater! (I already see you have an Old Tyme Pottery and a Pottery Barn there....that's half the battle!!!) If you are a "strict budget girl", then there are several bloggers on here who know where to find incredible bargains. I know that thrift stores are hit-and-miss, but Bill from Affordable Accoutrements and Laurie from Bargain Hunting & Chatting With Laurie seem to have an excellent handle on that! I love bargains, too, although I've not once been able to find anything worthwhile at a thrift store. I'm not giving up, though! My bargains come from exercising sheer patience (and buddying up with the sales people!) at stores like Z Gallerie, Pottery Barn, Pier 1, Crate & Barrel, etc. I love TJ Maxx, Marshall's/Home Goods, Burlington and Old Time Pottery, too. They have incredible buys to start with, and if you can wait it out awhile you can get the stuff at an even better price! I am a VERY patient person who constantly has her fingers crossed and keeps a little pocket list of "things I'm patiently waiting to go on sale." I almost always get my way! :-) You have some beautiful pieces (those Ikea placemats and Federalist Ironstone plates are fabulous!!!). I look forward to seeing lots more from you in the weeks and months to come! Welcome aboard!

Marigene said...

Beautiful table...love those woven placemats.

Allison said...

im so proud of you for getting this blog going (with my help of course) its been a year in the making and im so happy you found something that you and i both enjoy doing together (besides shopping, drinking margaritas, floating in the pool, going to movies, watching baseball......) love you!

Entertaining Women said...

Welcome to blogland. You have a good eye for design, and you're going to have a ball! You have some wonderful elements to mix and match for many great looks...and once you start looking, it'a absolutely how many thrifty treasures there are out there. I look forward to seeing your tablescapes in the weeks to come. Thank you for sharing your lovely design. Cherry Kay

Kathy said...

Hi there...I just found your Blog...and I love it!!! I have been toying with the idea of moving to the Charlotte County area, as a couple of my best friends vacation in the Port Charlotte/Sanibel Island area. They are thinking of retiring there. I am hoping that you are near that area and can give me advice. I am in my early 50's, single, work full time and Garden full time. I would love any advice you could give!
Thanks!!!
Kathy

Carrie said...

I adore your tablescape! Nicely done. Your newest follower,
Carrie
www.projectpossessed.com