Thanks for doing this topic! I was wondering if we could also see everyone's kitchens again, along with their tables.

I'm in a lull since Christmas and not sure what to put on my table and if I want to switch things out on my countertops, shelves and hutch.

Below is a link to the Holiday forum where they do a ton of tablescapes which may give you a few ideas

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas and Holiday Forum

I don't "decorate" the kitchen table, just the dining room one.

The kitchen table is in heavy use, so I see no point to having extraneous items on it.

With three kids (and their crafts, etc.), three meals and snacks... isn't yours used a lot too?

I repurposed a vintage wooden box to hold napkins and S&P. DD2 thought I was crazy when I picked it up to buy, but she gets it now. ;D

When our three were still young and at home, I didn't keep anything in the center since I used round wicker placemats with copper chargers on top. Not much room left. But I would have loved this back then.

Here is a link that might be useful: Last picture

I prefer to have fresh flowers on the kitchen table. I use a straight sided clear glass wide brimmed vase (Walmart special) with white flowers of whatever I can get at the grocery. I prefer lillies but can't always get them. Right now I have 3 bouquets of small white mums (3 for $12). It doesn't take long to take it off the table to eat.
Dee

You don't have cats do you, Dee. ;D

I have an old vintage tray with woven/wicker sides to hold a hurricane-style candle holder, salt-and-pepper -- plus various items like a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit or napkins, a vase with flowers, etc. Just depends on the season or the reason! LOL! :)

Using a tray to "corral" the items makes it fast and easy to clear or clean the table.

Actually, Allison, I have 2 cats.:) One is a 21 year old female who couldn't get up on the table if there was a 50 pound tuna there. The other is a younger male cat who does get up there, but doesn't seem to bother anything, beyond sometimes chewing on the leaves, which he then kindly leaves behind in a puddle of slime on whatever expensive rug is closest.
Dee

allison ...... that is beautiful!! I love repurposed vintage/antique items :)

I have blue mason jars and clear milk bottles on mine. I don't have kids, though! I figured I could put fresh flowers in them when it's the right time of year. Meanwhile, I love the way the light shines through them. :)

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I always have to have something on my kitchen table and enjoy changing it frequently altho it seems I seldom take pics of the actual table. Even when my Grandchildren are visiting it's fun to set a nice table. One thing to think about is which items are essential for your mealtimes. Such things as salt and pepper, other condiments, perhaps candles, maybe a napkin holder with extra napkins handy for kids, or whatever your family needs. I often use a tray, large plate, or platter to 'corral' these items together. It also makes it easier to remove everything when the table needs to be used for other purposes.

Another idea is to use a bowl with something in it. Fruit is an obvious choice and could be embellished, for example at Christmas or in the winter one could use pine cuttings placed in with the fruit. Here's my copper strainer with apples. The pic shows it on my island but it could be on the table.

This pic shows a rustic sheet metal tote that I sometimes use to hold all sorts of things. In the left upper corner you can see my wood lazy Susan that is also useful on the table to hold condiments. Likewise the pottery bowl with apples could be used on the table.

This silver pedestal cake plate holds tealights in metal tart tins.

I have a collection of roosters but the odd hen gets in as well.

Hen and rooster...

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Here's an inspiration pic showing a breakfast table. You can use the food you are serving as decoration if placed in a nice serving piece.

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I think either of these items might be enough but if your table is large enough both would work. Both of these last 2 pics are probably from Pottery Barn.

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This blog may give some inspiration and there are also many links to other blogs there.

Here is a link that might be useful: a tablescape blog

I have a heavy porcelain and wood tray on mine. It's so heavy that it makes a great book rest for reading at the table. LOL! Sometimes, I add a simple vase with a flower or two to it. It just depends on what I have blooming.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I was looking at some home blog the other day (don't remember which one), and she had a big, low wooden bowl filled with crayons on her table. I thought it was brilliant. Colorful, happy, and about as kid-friendly as it comes...as long as they don't color directly on the table.

Nothing on my kitchen table except yesterday's newspaper that I haven't finished reading yet.

Dee, Boo won't leave anything fresh alone. There are some flowers he leaves alone more than others, but I've found it's not worth the hassle. I end up putting them in the pantry at night/if we go out. I love sunflowers, but they are so top heavy, I then worry about one of them knocking the entire vase over! Do love them though. lol

Thank you, lolauren. There's something about old mason jars. The combination of the glass and color(s).

Allison, I have two cats and always use museum putty on the bottom of the vases and other breakable objects. Works perfectly!

I have a question that's kind of embarrassing to ask. What is the purpose of a Charger? lol. You said you keep your's on the table, but do you use them and why? I think they're pretty but it's just one more thing to wash.

I also like the idea you have with the box, and also a Lazy Susan would be pretty on a table. I loved the Lazy Susan's my mom would always keep on the coffee table, especially when she'd have a gathering.

Allison - I have the same problem with cats that you do. Our male kitty is fine, but our female will chew on and eat just about any fresh plant/flower. Then I discovered amaryllis. While she may occasionally bat at a leaf, Ms. Kitty basically leaves amaryllis alone. I plant them in heavy terra cotta pots that support the weight of the plant and that Ms. Kitty can't push over. Amaryllis flowers are not subtle, but if I stagger the planting, we have many months of beautiful fresh flora in our home!

I have my kitty cat cookie jar in the middle of my bk table, with her 2 kittens salt & pepper

Oh my...a lot of people against a decorated table! My island has 2 barstools that the kiddos like to eat their snacks at. Also, when I have had something nice, like flowers, my 3 and 5 year old really feel special at the table. I have a LOT of accessories to my Pfaltzgraff (Pistoulet) dishes. I do have some large platters that I could use with candles, S&P, or some bowls that I could put something in.

I have been staying at home for 5 years and live in the country. My life revolves around taking care of my children, feeding the dog, outdoor cats and chickens. While I am very blessed, I feel a strong urge to have my own identity, even if that means having some useless decoration on my table :)

I am not big on the buying flowers expense, having them swiped by a child, the constant watering, etc.

beyond sometimes chewing on the leaves, which he then kindly leaves behind in a puddle of slime on whatever expensive rug is closest ...

Lovely. ;-)
I'm sitting at my desk and just happened to look up at the silk orchid I have in front of me. I'm not much on silk flowers, but I recently brought this one home from my office and wanted to use it somewhere. I now see that "someone" has given all the leaves nice little cat-tooth-sized puncture marks. Thanks a lot, whichever brat it was who decided that'd be a great idea ...

oakleyok: I think chargers are just for decoration, though I have heard that people like them if they are using expensive linens on the table because they will catch most food that slips off the edge of the plate. Also, if you are serving the food buffet-style and have the plates stacked by the food, then the chargers allow you to have what appears to be a fully "set" table, even though you don't have plates on it.

Dee...you mentioned Lillies. PLEASE know that they are deadly to cats...even one bite can be toxic. The minute I get a bouquet with Lilies in it, I set it outside and give it to my neighbor. There is nothing more deadly to a cat. Just want to keep your fur babies safe! :)

I used to have nothing, because our kitchen table gets used for a lot of activity. But I found a vase that I loved at West Elm and now, I buy myself a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store every week and put them in the vase on the table. It just makes me happy! I do have to move them to the counter when we sit down to dinner (the only meal we eat all together at this table -- because we do have an island), though.

Thanks, Cathy for the info. Max, the only cat who gets on the table, has never bothered the lillies, and I've used them for years. We also grow a lot of oriental lillies and always display them indoors, and he's never bothered them, either. He usually only chews on things like ferns, or ones that have long grasslike leaves. Max thanks you for watching out for him. ^_^
Dee

Nostalgic, I also live in the country and always keep something on my table. I decorate farm/country/vintage/old world...well, you get the idea. lol.

I love a simple table runner, you can get short one's where the kids can't pull it off. A big bowl would look nice too.

I think table runners give the room that special cozy feeling with that style of decorating.

Sueb20, I've been eying some vases at West Elm. Care to share a picture of your table? Thanks