Estate Sale China Tablescape

Thrifting WonderlandFlowers, Photography, Tablescapes, Tutorial23 Comments on Estate Sale China Tablescape

Welcome to the Blog today, I’m so happy you are here. I’m looking forward to sharing some really nice china I found at an Estate Sale this week. It fit right into my plans for a luncheon tablescape and I’d love to show you exactly how it came together.

I was able to purchase four, three-piece place settings of this lovely Ralph Lauren blue and white china in the “Mandarin Blue” pattern. I really loved the white and blue patterning on the salad/dessert plate that is repeated in miniature around the edge of the dinner plate. The coffee mug is the same pattern as the salad/dessert plate. I knew it would work in many different settings and who doesn’t love blue and white?

The inspiration for a table setting often starts with the centerpiece. I had these wonderful roses in oranges and whites and yellows and I set them in a blue pottery vase. The table cloth came next and I began with a neutral dark blue and added a table topper in yellow, with lovely white lace that picked up the colors in the roses. So far I was really liking the combination. Then I thought, “Why not use the china I had just picked up at the Estate Sale?”

I wanted to keep white as one of the predominant colors so I used a white porcelain charger as the base of the plate stack.

the Ralph Lauren dinner plate came next and I liked how things were coming together. The border in the china picked up the blue in the first tablecloth.

I don’t like things to be too “matchy matchy” but the pattern in the salad/dessert plate is quite a contrast to the dinner plate while maintaining the color and feel. It looked great.

Then I added the cups and it was still pleasing to my eye. Time to add some additional elements.

I decided a blue water goblet would work but now I had a couple of different shades of blue.

Flatware came next and I had to decide between silver plate, sterling silver and stainless steel. I didn’t want the setting to be too formal as I wasn’t serving wine so I opted for a slightly more formal stainless steel flatware that is one of my every day choices. It adds a touch of elegance without being too formal.

The next decision was what type and color of napkin to choose. I debated between a flowered napkin, plain white, yellow and the deep blue I finally chose. It picks up the tablecloth and the color in the china beautifully but doesn’t make the setting too cold or too busy. I worked for me. But I still had to deal with the varying shades of blue on the table. So this is how I solved the problem and brought the whole setting together.

I added this lovely two-handled soup bowl and matching plate to the plate stack and the varying colors of blue all seemed to blend together. The bowls have hand painted flowers in the center which picks up some of the colors in the centerpiece so that worked as well.

The table setting came together and the colors in the centerpiece were balanced by the colors in the plate stack. Now all I had to do was come up with a menu that would fit the table setting. LOL

I have a great recipe for roasted red pepper and butternut squash soup that would fit the table beautifully and the deep orange color of the soup would pick up the color in the centerpiece. Next would be a simple chicken salad sandwich served on a croissant with a side salad of greens, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, and green onions. The salad colors would look great on the salad plate and the chicken salad on croissant would be easy to eat and taste great. I usually incorporate some halved grapes into the chicken salad and that adds some additional color. Dessert would be a mix of raspberry and pumpkin tarts with a spoonful of whipped cream on top. Coffee or tea would be served in the mugs and complete the meal.

I think my guests will enjoy lunch at this pretty table. Wish you could join me and have a wonderful week.