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I am glad you chose to visit! My blog is a compilation of the many hats I find myself wearing. On any given day I may be an encourager, an instructor, or just a lady who is venting. You, dear reader, will probably identify with my triumphs and my tribulations! These snapshots fit into my Life Scrapbook I have named A. McInnis Artworks. I hope you will find something worth your while.


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Summer Tablescape + What Design Type Are You?

I am trying to decide, at almost 62 years of age, exactly WHAT is my decorating "type"? I've tried them all...Early American, Primitive, Contemporary (reluctantly), Country French, on and on.... the only one I keep returning to over and over is Traditional with an Eccentric twist. (No, I didn't mean Eclectic...I mean Eccentric. I am just plain weird....as my friends and family will be more than happy to attest to.)

With that info in mind, I enter Tablescape Thursday (see button on right to visit. It will be live tomorrow 6/2) and my photos will show a rather restrained tabletop. But, first things first.

While pondering my "decor type" I was perusing a Victoria magazine (Jan/Feb 2011...p. 78) and it hit me...I was reading about a designer named Jessie Davidson. She is a Chicago designer, and I noticed something about her showcased home that was very appealing. Her colors were extremely muted, she used lovely traditional accessories and then...THERE IT WAS... a pop of color here and there.... that's all...just a WOW factor casually thrown in. However, if you look closely, you will notice NOTHING she designs is just thrown in. It may look like it was casually tossed in the mix...but she has a definite MO. (For non-CSI fans...that's method of operation.) P.S. I also LOVE HGTV's Sarah Richardson's sense of style.

I gravitate toward that look...muted but with a twist. The thing that made the look so appealing to me is that it's not suffocating, nothing is overpowering. It all flows together in a very calming way. No red walls...just a subtle red used here and there. Ahhhh....I feel better because I LOVE red, but in overdoses it makes me jittery. So here I am, here's my style...Muted with a Caveat!

My photos today are of the "other side of my back porch" with the outdoor wrought iron table set for a breakfast for two. Do the hubster and I regularly dine at 6:00 a.m. with such frills? NO.



But because I had "done" the other side of the porch, I couldn't let this side feel slighted.
However, an early morning breakfast would taste even better outside on the porch!
(For a full view see Back Porch Makeover post from earlier this week.)




Here's where my "weirdness" comes in...the centerpiece is a wreath made from Paula Deen's green checked cupcake papers...I know, I know...I can't help myself.



I have done my dead level best to make sure that every home in Rankin county has at least one bird's nest residing somewhere in it. I can't do it alone...help me. I've loved nests since I was a little girl. Here, I plopped one in the top of a topiary that I've had for years and still love her!

Berry wreath charger; McCarty Dinner nutmeg plate; green "majolica" salad plate; hobnail glass; Peter's pottery mug; Gorham Buttercup silver.



McCarty Pottery sugar and creamer...FYI: that's the Mississippi River flowing down the sides of this nutmeg pair. (McCarty trademark...McCarty is located in Merigold, Mississippi.)

Tea, anyone? Ok, you caught me...sorry to burst this bubble but do you REALLY think I could get the hubster/coach to sit on the back porch and sip hot tea? NOT ON YOUR LIFE...Gatorade, maybe. But it IS a pretty little teapot.

Could you have passed up this embroidered tablecloth with 6 matching napkins for $6 at the Flea Market? May I be frank? If you said, "Yes", then you don't know a bargain when it's staring you in the eyesockets! I use green as an ever-present neutral in all my decorating.

Vintage salt cellars and salt spoons that match my silver pattern.


May we talk? Look, I know there's nothing particularly spectacular here...but what good does it do to show tablescapes that are totally out of the reach for most of us? (Except to make us dream and maybe covet...oops.) The way I see it, if this post gives you a little boost and a few ideas, then it's time well spent. But if it depresses you and makes you think, "I can't do that...I don't have all that stuff "...then the post has defeated it's own purpose! Now, go put a bird's nest somewhere in your house!




Wishing we could all eat out on the porch every morning,

8 comments:

Donna (My Mothers {favorite} Daughter) said...

I love this table...and really relate to your words...this is about inspiring and you did just that!!

Ricki Treleaven said...

Angela, I adore your green and white table. It is simply lovely! I do not know what my style is at the moment. I tend to buy what I like and hope for the best. If I could only pick one, I guess it would be shabby chic due to comfort. Also, lately I have been getting rid of stuff that does not serve a purpose. I only want stuff around me that we actually use. I am also getting tired of "vignettes." I think they are fun maybe for holidays or special occasions, but honestly, it gives you more stuff to dust when you could be doing other stuff. ALthough I must admit that I like looking at them on other people's blogs!

*sorry for the mini rant* :D

xoxoxo,
Ricki Jill

a quiet life said...

very relaxing...

hidden art of homemaking said...

this table just draws me in...very well done....

Bev said...

Angela, I'm originally from MS and I LOVE McCarty pottery. I think you've done a fabulous job on your porch and I love your style.

I too am in the 60'ish range and I'm having a style crisis. HELP! I'm trying to lighten things up. In the meantime the only thing I've accomplished is making my sweet husband nuts while I go from room to room and project to project.

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Love your green and white table. The centerpiece looks very interesting as well. Your porch would be such a lovely place to dine. I'm not sure what my style is-I just put emphasis on comfort now (and durability due to pets.)

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I love your cupcake paper wreath! How cute. Your greens and whites look so refreshing and cool.

abeachcottage said...

Love your white and green table setting, looks great!