As a child my favorite color was purple. I don’t think about purple much any more, but my daughter who knows the favorite color of my youth always points out anything that’s purple and says, “Look Mom! It’s purple, your favorite color!!”
I often say, “Huh? Oh yeah, how cool!” or something equally lame like that. I don’t notice ‘purple’ things any more. That’s kind of sad, in a way. Remember those days, when you knew what your favorite color, animal, and flower were? When asked who your best friend was, you didn’t have to think about it. Remember when everything was black and white and the world was simpler?
I think that is why we like vintage things. They remind us of simper, easier days, when screen doors slammed, kids played outdoors, and life moved at a slower pace.
Today I’ve combined my love of vintage dishes and silver with vintage linens and yes, my favorite color… PURPLE. The tablecloth is a vintage purple and yellow one that I inherited.
I’ve planted some purple Dianthus in vintage dishes, but if you do, keep in mind, it’s best to put pebbles or something in the bottom of the dish so the plant roots aren’t sitting in water.
This old cream pitcher is one that has been in the family for almost 100 years (if I had to guess.) It’s filled with vintage silver and cotton napkins. See the CH on the silver? No I didn’t have it custom-made. It was originally made for the Harmonie Club, and I bought it second hand, well… for obvious reasons.
So my tip for a table setting is…
- Try using vintage dishes,
- Pick a particular color theme
- Try arranging or planting flowers in unusual or vintage container.
Have any tips for setting a fun table? Leave your tips in the comments for other readers to enjoy.
Purple is such a versatile color you can use with most things to make for a fun, vintage or glamorous table. Found in so many natural items such as flowers, fruit and vegetables, the color purple is a wonderful accent for any décor. Can you tell how much I truly love purple?
I love purple, reminds me of lavender fields in so many places I have travelled.
Love your articles. Thanks
So pretty and I’m not a huge purple fan either. How lucky to find the monogrammed silver.
So pretty, love your tablescape. I admit, purple has been my obsession for several years…It’s always a color that makes me feel feminine and strong at the same time….
Great post!
Soo pretty Anita 🙂 One thing I did that has helped our family of five out a lot at the table with the whole pass the salt, etc. is I bought a vintage silver pedestal lazy susan (found at Goodwill for $3). I painted it with chalk paint on the top and I usually have something pretty in the middle. Around the outer rim are all the essentials (salt, pepper, napkins, toothpicks in one of my ironstone creamers, etc). It’s within reach of all of us and a simple spin is all it takes to get what we need.
I loved purple as a child too. I remember an Easter dress in particular. I always wanted to do a room in purple balanced with violets – but it’s never happened. However, I do love lavender and will gravitate to that color in the clothes rack. Sadly, it’s not a color option that often.
Love your blog; can’t wait for photos of the blue bonnets (being a fellow Texan).
Purple, I must say, not a colour I think of very often either. What a luvly table set with vintage dishes, silver and linen… very romantic!
I’m not a huge fan of purple…but I adore purple flowers….that I can do! Great inspiration! 😉
So very pretty Anita. Love the silverware. The flowers and sunshine are gorgeous. It is so very cold here in NJ and another snowstorm Monday. UGH, does it ever end????
Cynthia
How can one NOT love purple? Haha. As a child I chose purple letters off the tray, around 1-2 years old and my Mom said it was my favorite from then on. I see it as the combination of reds- strong, and blue, faithful, to come together as a lovely, elegant, strong and faithful color– and very feminine and beautiful wherever it chances to dwell. Especially in nature. It is also the color of February– amethyst– and my birthday as well. So, for me, it is quite a fitting way to close the month out. Beautiful table. One of my faves!
Hi Anita,
I just posted about using radiant orchid…I found myself getting excited about it, even though I’ve nixed color for a couple of years in my home updates. Red Violet was always a favorite crayon color, and my favorite flowers are always the magentas and purples…so your post resonated with me. I have used only white flowers recently as well, but this year, purples reign!
-Revi
How very beautiful, Anita. I agree- I think it is the vintage pieces that take us back to a simpler life and time and that is a big part of the appeal. Your pieces are gorgeous!
Color life is so funny. When I was a kid I did NOT like purple at all! But, when I was 24 I was dating someone and we went to visit his Mother-and she lived next door to her sister (his Aunt). They did not want us sleeping in the same house (very conservative) so I got to sleep next door at his Aunt’s house. I did NOT want to leave. The room was done top to bottom in a small violet wallpaper with a creamy white background. The bedding and chaise lounge were covered in a coordinating pattern and all the accent pieces were gold. The room was on Lake Sebring and there were French doors that opened out onto a small terrace overlooking the lake. I stayed there for two nights and felt like a princess. There have been so many times over the years that I have thought about that room. I have “re-created it” with my own take on the theme for a guest room here. Everyone loves how peaceful and restful the room is. So, my LOVE of lavender (light purple!;>) came as an adult and has stuck with me! xo Diana
I love any shade of purple flower and I wear purple well, but not often. I always think of Easter with purple. My teen bedroom was a canopy bed with ruffled linens in a violets print in an all white French Provincial Room. My dad had left us so it was very hard for my mother who went to work full time and we had little money for extras. My brother had to go live with a relative and we had to leave our home but couldn’t afford a refrigerator for many months after renting a small apartment so we used a styrofoam cooler. But somehow mom found a way to give me a pretty room and I felt so feminine in there. I still feel feminine whenever I set out purple strewn dishes for tea 🙂
Dear Anita,
Love the vintage items. I wish I had my grandmother’s beautiful things, satin tablecloths she used at
holiday time, crystal, hand painted wall plates, and a few hand painted vases and pitchers from Germany.
My two aunts sold everything in a garage sale after she passed….such a terrible shame! Thank God
I still have photos and memories. One piece I always liked was a beautiful three foot? high gold piece
that held pink hydrangeas atop her stereo cabinet. I think that’s where I got my love for those flowers.
That gold piece wasn’t real gold, obviously, but it was unique in its design. I’ve never sen anything that
closely resembles it anywhere. Some people don’t have a sense of good taste…..
Ann
Anita, this is the loveliest of posts! I find the details of your table beyond charming, and couldn’t agree with you more about your thoughts on vintage things and your tips for setting a pretty table. I’m off to pin a few of your photos to my inspiration boards. Love, love, love! ~ Sarah
Beautiful! I have a new appreciation for purple now. 🙂
How so very lovely!
I adore your photos… Living plants on the table make such a natural impact… adored the dianthus in the little jug!
And that lovely vase, or was it a pitcher, had purple flowers on it! How neat.
I’m a purple fan when it’s used like this! When I was a teenager, it was my favorite color, and I had a purple room.
Anita,
Your “favorite color” purple is one that continues to g r o w on me!
Thephoto of the white pitcher with the purple ribbon tied to the handle made my heart skip a beat!
Thank you for sharing your lovely talent of capturing such a lovely tablescape from behind the lens!
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Fondly,
Pat
So very pretty! I love how you found the initials on the silver…it makes it even more special.
love the vintage and family dishes. how wonderful you were able to find silver with your initials.
I don’t understand why the picture in my email is about pillows but when I open it is about dishes. I wanted to read about the pillows!
I know why. I messed up!! I’m so sorry. I thought the email was ready to send and I didn’t have it scheduled Sunday morning, so on my way out the door, I hit ‘send.’ In the middle of church, it hit me… I didn’t check the email to be sure it was ready to send. I use the last’s week email as a template and change out the text, photos and the links. Uggh, I really am sorry about that. I was going to send out an email explaining the mistake, but wondered if people would get annoyed getting another email from me. Here’s the link.
https://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2014/03/accessorizing-with-pillows.html
What type of camera do you use…Your pictures are always so bright and cheerful!!!
It is a 5D Mark II.
I just love, love, love your writing! I immediately went back to happy times of my favorite gingham dress and playing outside as a 6 year old little girl. Warm & fuzzy :-)) thanks so much, Anita!
Love the post and the purple and the white is so pretty. Looks so fresh. I am especially crazy about the silver – you have inspired me to polish mine.
Your blog is always a treat in my email – thanks for all you do and especially the inspiration!
I am not a purple fan at this time of my life but do remember a dress my mother made for me that was a tiny lavender gingham. That dress fit so well and I felt beautiful in it. Thank You for the reminder. I do enjoy purple flowers in my garden though.
Lovely….Purple was my Mother’s favorite color and when she went to heaven a few years ago, I seemed especially drawn to it. Now I consider it my color too because of her and it is beautiful. Last year I purchased a purple microfiber (very silky) sheet set and I’ve been adding purple and lavender to my bedroom — it is such a joy every time I look at it…..