blue plate special

20 times blue plates stole the show      

As you may know, I love blue and white plates. They’re my “go to” item when setting a table, so today I’m sharing twenty of my favorite ways to set a table with blue and white dishes, mostly transferware.

You often see me layer plates of different sizes at a place setting, and my preferred way is to highlight a pretty plate right on top.

                     

Typically I use an interesting salad plate and place it on a plain white dinner plate. That way the pretty plate is framed out and sitting right on top where everyone can see it.

When I do change it up a bit, it’s fun to experiment with different blue and white patterns or mix in different colors of transferware.

I also love interesting borders on dinner plates. You can reverse the look with a white salad plate, and frame it out and just show the pretty pattern along the outside edge of the larger plate.

I’m thinking about starting a series of blog posts about using blue and white china with other colors like green, turquoise, yellow, orange or pink, and highlighting a different color combination each week. 

Would you guys be interested in this?

To further accentuate this look, I love using a natural texture as a base for the plates. I have a small collection of round and rectangular raffia placemats that work perfectly with the blue and white.

Wooden charger plates also do the trick and bring the perfect amount of texture to the table.  

We can’t forget about the napkins! Typically, I love a graphic pattern like a stripe or gingham as a juxtaposition to the mostly floral patterns on the plates, but simply textured and luxurious linen napkins are my latest obsession!

Table runners are more versatile than tablecloths, and I love how they let a little bit of the table show through. It’s a great look to add naturally textured placemats or chargers with your choice of fabric for the table.

And of course glassware is the final glistening touch to any table. I just love vintage colored glass, especially the goblet shaped variety. (Stay tuned for a blog post on glassware soon!)

With blue and white on the rest of the table, it’s just so pretty to continue the look with the blue glasses as well, but sometimes it’s fun to change it up a bit!

I love the look of this fuchsia colored orchid with the bright cobalt blue of these vintage plates. This castle adorned plate is the only one I have, but it works flawlessly with lots of other blue and white patterns. 

  

Teeny weeny bread and butter plates also look exquisite stacked on top of the larger plates. Don’t be afraid to layer, layer, layer!

Utensils can be an unassuming accent, or really make a bold statement… it’s up to you!

Blue and white pattern-on–pattern is a fun look. It’s almost like selecting pillows for your couch, haha. See how the stripe in the table runner, the intricate design in the plate and the mini print of the napkin all play off each other?   

These Blue Pheasant plates and napkins designed by Mark D. Sikes totally coordinate for a whole different look. 

It’s always s fun to have a little coastal accent on a table, either with the plates or placemats, or in the centerpiece. 

Blue and white works flawlessly for any holiday or celebration, and it’s simple enough to use in everyday life too.  

I’d love to hear your favorite way to set a table with blue and white plates...

Do you mix it up or do you like everything to match?

ciao! fabiana

personalizing my home for summer

Do you restyle and refresh your home for each season? 

Well, summer’s definitely here, and it’s probably the easiest season to incorporate into our décor. I love to play up the summer motifs in my own home with fun accessories and other things I love. In my foyer, I’ve created a beach-ready coastal look for summer.

Summer hats are on standby with our favorite beach tote and towels. A rustic sea fan mounted on a distressed wood panel plays nicely with our vintage turquoise hall tree, and an inexpensive Jassa seagrass rug from Ikea brings in another natural element, and can be easily changed out in the fall.

In the family room, I updated one small wall with a few of my favorite blue and white plates mounted in a free-form display. Blue and white decor is a one of my favorite ways to brighten up my home for summer. 

The classic combination of white and vibrant blue reminds me of summertime at the Mediterranean and conjures up visions of the iconic white and blue architecture in Santorini, Greece. Nothing says summer like the blue of the ocean, so why not incorporate it where you can? 

I’ve been collecting plates since I was a teenager. I think I have an innate passion for pretty transferware plates and love to use them to set a lovely table or to accent a wall or vignette. Once in a while I do swap out a few so my collection doesn’t get out of hand. The key is to collect what you love. It’s so fun to play with different patterns and tones of blue, especially for a tablescape. 

Collecting plates and dishes is a great start way to start collecting blue and white. You can find them virtually anywhere, from estate sales, to Ebay, to Home Goods, to high-end boutiques and department stores. I'm always on the hunt! 

It's really fun to mix and match elements and create that perfect "summer" look.

For this table setting, the casual stripes and gingham remind me of summer picnics and barbecues. A fun succulent arrangement and seashell accented placemats bring to mind fun times spent at the beach. Remember to decorate with what you love and what makes you smile! 

Blue and white is a tried-and-true combination, and so versatile. It can be styled as super-fancy or casual, and it's really a stunning look all year long!  It’s practically a new neutral, like denim. 

The great thing about blue and white is it pairs beautifully with just about any other color. Sunflowers have just come into season here in Southern California, and pairing them with blue and white is a match made in heaven!

If you’re not sure of your sense of style, it’s ok to copy people you admire. There are also great resources, such as Havenly and their group of interior designers, that can help to find your favorites! A little bit of one or two of your favorite designers combined with a little touch of your favorite blogger, and you’ll come through with your own personal style. Just remember to follow your heart!

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

Quite often time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to Amazon for one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items they have to offer! And I'm constantly updating this page with my new favorites. 

You can check it out here, at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

red, white & blue summer inspiration

 

Welcome to our “Red, White and Blue Blog Hop”! Today I’m joined by 6 super talented bloggers, and we’re all showcasing our favorite ways to decorate with patriotic colors now that summer is around the corner. 

 

It’s the middle of May, and that means summer will be here before we know it. I know summer doesn’t officially start until June, but Memorial Day weekend really kicks off the season for me! 

 

That's the time when red, white and blue really comes into play. So of course, that’s my favorite color combo when setting beautiful summer tables. 

 

One thing I love have when setting a pretty table is lots of options! So today I’ll show you a few of my favorite ways to create “options” when setting a table.  

 

First, I’ll be showing you all the details of two totally different looks for a lovely holiday weekend tablescape, with a few options for each. I’ll then turn it over to Brittany, Jessica, Heidi, Stacey, Stephanie and Rebecca. 

 

This table in my breakfast room starts with an eye-catching tablecloth from Table Top Shop. I used a lot of natural textures here with the use of vintage woven placemats and a few wicker-wrapped bottles from my collection. 

 

Of course, blue and white transferware plates are the perfect addition for this look, and I mixed two patterns here with different dinner and salad plates. 

 

Fresh cut flowers from the garden placed in a simple ironstone pitcher anchors the center of the table. A few sea shells scattered around just feels like summer!

Here’s where the subtle options come into play...  

 

This is the place setting with the simple addition of the napkin on the plates to add color.  

 

For the next option, I swapped out the salad plate and added this fun French bistro inspired one. I replace the seashells with a little Eiffel tower collection, and now this looks has a definite Parisian twist. 

 

Option number three is to use this pretty clam shell shaped plate as the salad plate and add white starfish to each table setting. This is such an easy coastal look to pull off.

My final look ended up being the first option with the addition of the white starfish which not only adds a beachy vibe, but also adds a patriotic touch too! 

Now let’s move outdoors... 

 

This blue and white Palm tablecloth from Pacific & Rose says it all! It’s sooo summery, fun and elegant that I couldn’t wait to show it off alfresco style in my back yard. 

 

To accentuate the blooming red trumpet vine growing on my shed, I chose to pair this Palm print with a gorgeous red Gayatri napkin, also from Pacific & Rose. 

 

More than anything, I love to mix and match patterns and textures at a table. I do love the way these two patterns play off each other.  

 

More flowers from the garden are selected for the center of the table, but this time we stayed within the red and white color families. The vases have a fun woven detail on them. 

 

Fun round raffia placemats have the most beautiful seashell detail, and then I added the traditional bamboo flatware for just another touch of texture. 

I refreshed the lanterns with a bit of cobalt blue spray paint, and I love the results!

 

All in all, I have my bases covered when it comes to Memorial Day choices in red, white and blue. Whether we entertain indoors or outdoors, I have a few great options when it comes to personalizing each place setting for my guests. 

 

Which look would you choose? 

 

  

 

Now on to sharing more Red, White and Blue inspiration with my friends here: 

Eleanor Rose Home 

White Wood and Grain 

Green Valley Gable

Itty Bitty Farmhouse 

Returning Grace

Rouse in the House 

ciao! fabiana 

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram! 

 

 

 

Info on table accessories: 

Table Number One

Grand Millennial Tablecloth

White Starfish

all other items are vintage

Table Number Two

Palm Tablecloth

Gayatri Napkin

Belita Napkin

Round Seashell Placemats

Blue Goblets

Bamboo Flatware

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