When decorating for the holidays, I like to focus on one or two colors or a particular theme. Today’s theme was rustic French red and white. Okay, I added a bit of lavender to round out the color, because lavender goes with everything, right?
This is an antique from France.
So I started with cream chargers, added a very large lavender plate (made in Italy, topped with a toile red and white plate made in France. French and Italian things usually go very well together. These red and white plates are some of my favorites. Each plate depicts a season. This one is Winter.
I used French silverware. Note the silverware is ‘upside down’.
This is the French way to set a table with the silverware upside down. And you can tell this is the way the silverware is meant to be placed on the table, because the design is on the back side of the forks and spoons.
The tablecloth is an antique linen one made probably on a loom at home. You can tell because of the center seam. Small looms used at homes were not very wide, and thus most things have a center seam.
The crystal is vintage from my mother in law; from the USA post-WWII. Notice the red and white tureen? It’s another French antique with a sweet crown. I added cedar from our farm CEDAR HILL, of course. It’s sitting on top of a Spode red and white cake plate.
I like to add something to the places, but the design on the plates was too pretty to cover up. Aww what the heck? I did for this shot.
The napkins are also antique French linen with the S monogram.
I added some gifts wrapped with brown paper and red tartan ribbon from the UK. There is more cedar in the toile bucket. And the wood bowl is sitting on a red and white monogramed grainsack.
I’ll back up so you can see more of the table.
I used matching grainsacks on the two chairs at each end of the table.
I got this little vintage creamer last summer, and I have just been waiting for just the right post to show it off. I thought it was so adorable. But I do feel the need to warn you, if you are coming to my house for a meal this season don’t get your hopes up. The pitcher won’t be attached to any real gifts. The mini pitcher stays here (for now.)
On the back wall I have several boxwood wreaths, because I love them.
Okay I think I’ve shown you everything. Oh no, I didn’t. I forgot the little tree.
And that’s that.
LOVE the table setting! Also, wonderful culture lesson about the French silverware and setting. Had not heard this before. A gorgeous way to use red and white Christmas with lavender. Very inspiring!
Thanks for my morning decorating “fix”..
Vicki J
I would love to win your book and the other prizes. Could you tell us, the paint colors you used throughout your house. We are thinking of painting our house and love the whites you used. It almost looks as if you used only one color but just wanted to be sure.
LOVE LOVE LOVE EVERYTHING YOU POST, SO BEAUTIFUL
So, so lovely (but why would I expect anything else?!!!). Wishing you and yours happy holidays and many blessings in the coming year.
Inspiring me once again! Beautiful simplicity….
Just found your site. Awesome!
I love how you combined lavender with garnet and red…genius, as always!
You have such lovely table wear. Everything looks so pretty together. I like wrapping packages, big and small, in brown paper with pretty ribbon…rustic and elegant. Such a nice touch.
I love decorating with red and white. Your table is lovely – thanks for sharing!
Always so beautifully done. Love all of the wonderful details on the table and those gorgeous antique linens and grain sacks, not to mention that beautiful vintage tureen!
I just love the sweet old feed sacks. I keep looking for some up here in Niagara.
Yes, the vintage linens with red accents are a delightfully subtle way to add Christmas red to one’s decor. It is a fabulous idea and I will be adding my vintage red and cream linens to our Christmas setting as well. Thanks for the marvelous inspiration!
I would love to decorate the way I’m seeing on your blog and others, but having cats seems to limit so much of what I can do. I thought I could put my breakables on top of the rolltop desk, but they have discovered it! We can learn so much from the French, can’t we !? Would love to know why they turn the silverware upside down. Interesting!
I loved your ideas & didn’t know about the table settings to be laid upside down! Thanks I’m going to do that?
Love the little Christmas tree and packages! Always enjoy your posts, Anita.
LOVE those tips on the French silverware, and my aren’t the patterns beautiful!
I really like the way that you decorated your table. The little boxes wrapped in brown paper are so cute and I do like that little creamer – HA!
It all looks “simply” divine, Anita. And that lavender is gorgeous! Went to a shop in Florence that sold that dinnerware in a multitude of colors. Now I’m regretting not purchasing a few lavender plates. Oh well, if I don’t have them, I’m glad you do. Xo, Ginger
The table looks beautiful, Anita! I love the French antiques {that’s a given!} what a great table for family and friends to share a meal.
Love your humor!
Always informative……always beautiful!!!!! Never knew that about the French way with setting the table!!!!!! Thank you again for your beautiful posts!!!!! ❤ Roxann
I never knew that the French set their tables with the silverware upside down! I love your subtle red touches with all of the brightness of the “natural-neutral” background. Lovely!
That is very interesting about the French way of placing the silverware upside down. Thanks. Love the use of red and white.
Such a serenely designed Christmas room. Beautiful and timeless!
Such a serenely designed Christmas room. Beautiful and timeless! Thank you.
Very lovely as usual, I really love the child’s china creamer. I actually have the whole set of china dishes that matches the creamer. It came with cups,saucers, plates,large serving plate,coffee pot and lid, creamer and sugar bowl and lid. My grandmother got it for all the granddauhters when we were little and we used to have tea parties with it. I always loved the pine and pine cones on the dishes.
So gorgeous! I love the vintage crystal especially! The lavender is a unique touch! Really pretty!
I inherited my great-grandmother’s wooden dough bowl and loved the picture of a similar bowl filled with brown paper wrapped gifts in tartan ribbon, plus greenery. Thank you for the clever idea. I think it will make an attractive addition this Christmas season.
Oh yes go set it out! I know it will be lovely.
All of it looks so sweet! I too love the red and white combination, it looks so nice with lavendar added.
I Love It All!!! Wish I was there to see it in person! Just Lovely!! Happy Holidays!!
OK I’m in love with red and lavender!! One of my favorite color combos! What a beautiful French table! So much eye candy with all those stunning layers! I’d love to sit at your table 🙂
As someone who has for my entire life cherished a well-appointed table, I ADORE your posts, esp the lovely little kraft-paper-wrapped packages on the plates with sprigs of evergreen tucked into them. The flatware is splendid ; I adore Columbia flatware for their patterns, also Godinger as well as several vintage British flatware makers.
Your table is gorgeous; I love that I’m not alone in adoring a beautiful table. Thank you for the great pix !! 🙂 Your Fan, Susi
Thank you Susan. I do love dishes!!
Anita, I love the combo of red and white with a little bit of lavender. Very clever!
Red and white are definitely my favorite colors for Christmas. With a title greenery it is so festive. I loved the note about the silverware on a French table. The beautiful monograms or family crest can really be appreciated. Thank you for your blog.
Anita, this table is so pretty and also very special! I really love all the vintage and antique bits. They make the table what it is – unique and gorgeous nonetheless. The lavender was a fun surprise, as well. Nicely done!!
How beautiful! I loved this table with the red/white and lavender!
So gorgeous, Anita! I could move right in. I love every single detail.
Hugs, Jamie
Of course I love all he red and white Christmas touches. But I also like the way you incorporated the cedar cuttings for a natural look. Because I live in the Texas Hill Country, I can easily cut cedar and copy some of your greenery ideas as well! Thanks for all of it!
Beautiful…..thanks for sharing.
Anita, what a lovely table you have set! Just love everything! Your antiques are gorgeous! There’s just something special about antiques. I just love the ones I have inherited — and bought at antique shops. I love using them!
It was interesting to read how the French people place their silverware! Your posts are just so interesting. I always look forward to reading them! I appreciate all the work involved with your blogs. You always do such a great job! We thank you for all you do for your readers!
Bless you!
So beautiful Anita! I love your vintage pieces and that little tree you shared at the end is absolutely darling!
Your house is so beautiful. I just love it.
Loving the chic simplicity of this setup! Stopping by from the Inspiration Monday party.
Oh my, I am going to try to find a chandelier like yours….I’m in the middle of a remodel and have looking for a new one…..love yours!
I absolutely love your Santa toile plate. It will add so much cheer to the table. Merry Christmas.
Anita:
Your blog is a daily, weekly and monthly treat offering wonderful design inspiration! I’m always open to fresh, new ideas for all seasons, but especially Christmas/winter. I’ve been looking for a angel to hang above my large nativity scene…and found it in your shop! I ordered it today, and can’t wait to receive it! Merry Christmas to me!!
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
So pretty Anita! Love the soft colors you used for your holiday home.
Oh my goodness! I adore your Christmas tablescape! I’ve got to clear off my dining room table and set it up for Christmas dinner this afternoon. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
The way you mixed things is perfect. I am as curious as a cat as to what is in the little packages? A small picture frame, a wine topper, diamond earrings? ?