Vintage Valentine Tablescape

As most of us will be being good and spending our Valentines Day at home, why not make it a little special, if you set a cute table you won't feel as guilty about spending your day in pajamas ! I made this tablescape for lockdown lovers or a family brunch whether it's homemade or ordered in.

Start with a pale pink vintage embroidered linen set, a beautiful tablecloth instantly turns your table into a party and matching sets just are just so perfect, they really are a game changer, I find placemats may be practical but they can look cold and minimal and I'm over that and into a more tactile thing, this set is perfect for Valentines but will also work for anything Springy, a baby shower remember those , hopefully they'll be back soon, not to mention the sustainable aspect.

Then I added some vintage Wedgwood plates that have a lovely shape and simple flatware from Cutipol, for the glassware chose some antique opalescent swirl tumblers and some etched wine glasses which have a lovely subtle shimmer to them.

For the flowers I chose some simple pinky green tea roses from my local here in NYC, they always amaze me with their selection and great prices I cut them short and placed them in 3 vintage cranberry glass tumblers, I love the casualness of using tumblers they are a great height, I just placed them in an uneven line down the centre, and that's pretty much it. ( I kept the flowers cute and simple so as not to compete with any long stemmed red roses any of us may be lucky enough to receive ! )

One last tip I never iron vintage linens until just before I use them.

How to make a simple Tablescape with Vintage Linens

The addition of a beautiful set of vintage linen hand embroidered napkins and a couple of candles can transform your tablescape into something really special whether it's Sunday lunch with family, or a gathering of friends. For this tablescape I layered a gray linen tablecloth with some vintage ironstone plates then added these vintage lovely hand embroidered linen napkins.

It takes the same amount of time to layer vintage linens on your table as it does to place boring napkins and synthetic placemats , not to mention the sustainability of owning and using a vintage set. Here I layered vintage hand embroidered linen madeira placemats over some linen tea napkins used as coasters, then I added some vintage damask Irish linen napkins, I love the mixture of textures against the simple white porcelain plates.

Vintage napkins are the perfect way to start a vintage collection, they make a beautiful gift to treasure. They add so much to a table and are a lot easier to care for than imagined, they are built to last, or they wouldn't be vintage would they !

More on my tips for linen care to come soon, hand wash or delicate cycle, no harsh chemicals and air dry do not tumble dry are the basics to longevity.

How to make a Simple Tablescape with Seasonal Flowers

Paper whites are an inspiring way to start 2021 , I'm always inspired by what flowers are in season and available locally, so after the Holiday decor was finally taken down, I was looking for something fresh and easy !

To create this tablescape I layered some vintage white linen placemats over a matching table runner, then I added some simple gold bordered antique plates and my simple everyday flatware. Next came the glassware, I used some victorian opalescent swirl tumblers for water and some vintage Swedish etched goblets for wine. Then I added some vintage opaline glass salt and pepper little bowls.

So after I have all of the functioning parts of the table in place I add the more decorative parts , I used my favorite candle bowl as a centrepiece and some white votives in vintage pewter cups. Then I added the paper whites, I used three vases and cut them and just casually put them in a row. Then lastly I added the napkins, I always do this last as I feel that napkins should be the freshest part of a table !