Cat Mom

Just because it may not be one's style doesn't mean it's not beautiful! That is a gorgeous table. I really like the DR chairs and I really like the place settings that you created. Very unique! Hope you had a great time!

lovely rooms everyone! On my table... a beautiful metal tray with a silk flower arrangement in an old ironestone pitcher (my first try at arranging), tray also has a candle, and a big ceramic pear. I previously had a very large silk arrangement made by a talented friend, just got tired of it and tried my hand at something simpler.
Oh yes..... and dust!

I love seeing all of the nicely decorated tables, no matter what the style, and it makes me long for my construction to be over so I can go back to having something pretty on my table!

I was incorrect, it's not cardboard on my table (that's covering my dropleaf table) it's a moving blanket! So much classier!

My old house and my table set for prom. I made dinner each year that our daughter went. It was so much fun to see all of the girls and their dates all dressed up! The tablecloth was meant for use when the leaf was in...way too long in this picture!

Old house again, decorated for Easter

I hope when all of this renovating is done I can have a nice dining room to decorate for the various holidays! I've never kept the table set, seems like a lot of work to do that, mine would get dusty too quickly I would think...or have dog hair on a plate...bleck, I couldn't stand that!

Kat :)

I usually keep it bare with just a runner. I have it covered now.

OK - who would have thought such a simple question would have such a domino effect?

I read this post a couple of days ago and realized that I had spent literally years not liking anything I had tried to put on my dining room table - except one thing that I had only used at Christmas time. So, I decided to remedy the situation. :)

I pulled out the one thing I had liked - a large copper pot (large horizontally, not tall) and went to the store and got lots of low light plants and put them in it. I had used this pot with poinsettias one year. I've tried tons of different things, and I'm really finally satisfied. :) So, thanks for starting this thread.

Of course, I didn't stop there. The dining room table looked so good, I decided to redecorate the buffet table, then I had to redecorate some side tables, move some plants around, take some things out of the attic, etc., etc., etc. I'm still not through - just taking a little break! lol

Lesmis your space makes me drool. Oh gad what I would do for a dining room big enough for more than one piece of furniture :) I love the little dreser on the window wall. I was just thinking about my dining room today. It's a tough space to place furniture because it's so narrow. But I suppose that's another post LOL

cat mom - that is one GORGEOUS table! Worth the wait, I'd say!

Thanks coleen! We think so, too!

Thank you Igloochic, I've enjoyed seeing the glimpses of your lovely house, views, and your "moose" neighbors! We left a nice big 5 bedroom house with a big DR/LR to move to our current house which has no living room and a much smaller DR. We've taken down walls and opened it up some, but it will never be as nice as what we had at our old house so I can relate to the smaller dining room issue. The location of our current house is much nicer though, so I can't really complain, though I still do sometimes! :) One day I hope it will all be finished so I can post pictures of my current stuff instead of having to go back and find pictures of my "old" house.

Kat :)

What a wonderful thread this turned out to be! Welcome to all the new folks and those who hardly ever post. Post more often. :o) Hahahaha at all the funny responses. I'm really enjoying your pictures; thanks for posting them! I hope we're all getting inspired here.

My table needs help right now. I washed and accidentally dried my table runner (see in this Fall photo below). It matched my wall paint almost perfectly. Now it has shrunk and wrinkled.

Fall arrangement

At the moment, all I have is my grandmothers hand painted punch bowl with live greenery. I feel I need something underneath, but cannot find another long table runner like the one I had. I am alright for winter, as I have a nice burgundy runner, but it's too Christmasy looking for summer.

Table now

Another angle

Close-up of current center piece

I thought our table had a large silver bowl centered on an ivory runner that my grandmother embroidered, but just noticed that dh cleared the table when he replaced some chandelier light bulbs last month. Now it only has some dust and pollen on it. Oops. Guess that shows how rarely we use the formal dining room.

My the tables are lovely. We do not set our table.
Ours in an old oval oak that my great aunt purchased from the state pen wood shop when she got married about 90 years ago. We keep table cloth-usually a quilted lap quilt on ( I use various ones depending on the holiday) or a table runner and a center piece. Most often the center piece is a large carved swan. Simple but good.

Hi, I have started lurking here. I love to garden and started over there last year. I have been choosing new floors and that leads to wanting new decorating ideas. So...I usually have an appliqued, quilted and beaded tablerunner that I designed on my table. Right now the table is in the living room covered up to keep dust off. They started ripping out moulding last week (I'm going to refinish and reuse it). Sometimes I put a piece of large pottery on the table runner, or flowers if I have some. Thanks for letting me lurk. I love your sense of humor(s).Some beautiful tables! Rachel

NHB, I love your grandma's hand-painted bowl. Since it's so beautiful, how about putting a mirror under it to reflect its pretty sides?

Organic_rach, thanks for coming out of lurking. Lurking is a bad habit. lol!

Legos.

oceanna - Thank you...I'll give it a try!

BTW - I do not have anything directly planted in the punch bowl. The bowl is porcelain and will stain. In fact I did stain it once. I soaked a denture tablet in water overnight and the stain came out. The plant is in a separate planter.

A melon jar with rose starts for the garden. Just planted the last two, they were "Hi Neighbor" roses. Now I have papa meiland stems rooting. :0) I'd like a new table runner.....need to go shopping! :0)
{{!gwi}}

You guys are cracking me up. I had iced tea coming out of my nose! Lets see, on the dining room table is a tablecloth and a blue hand blown tall vase with some flowers. (Frankly I need a different table cloth but like this one.) Now on the kitchen table I have dirty placemats (wash day tomorrow) coaster, salt and pepper shaker and a box that came in the mail today.

OMG cat mom, that table is gorgeous and I LOVE those chairs. I agree that it was worth the wait. Question: What's up with the tin foil creation in the middle of the table? Calling aliens to fill up that table?

KK! Oh how I've missed you and your wicked sense of humor! How are those morgue drawers doing? Keepin' 'em filled...? LOL

I'm glad you like the table and the chairs! As I mentioned, the table was made for us by a furniture maker in Brooklyn. The chairs are from Calligaris.

That "tin foil creation" as you so lovingly put it :-), is a Michael Aram ice bucket (called "Bark"--looks like a piece of a birch tree) and MA tongs ("Twig"). We plan to keep them on top of our buffet when it is completed.

Perhaps I put it there on the table, knowing I'd end up taking and then posting pics, and knowing it's lure would be too powerful for you to resist....bwaaa-ha-ha....!

Oh, now that you mention it.....it does look like bark. Very cool. (It was too powerful and I couldn't resist.)

All part of my devious plot KK........see, even cat_moms can be lured over to the dark side!

So now I'm wondering what it is that my DR table is needing? I've always liked the simplicity yet it's missing something.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Thank you all for your beautiful photographs and your responses. I think everyone here has such beautiful rooms to be very proud of. I think two have particularly captured my heart and tastes: Jejvtr, I remember how much I liked your DR the first time I saw it. I still love it just that much. Monablair's too. I could live with either or both of your DRs.

Patricia -
You just MADE my day - what a kind thing to say - I'm gushing - Your compliment couldn't have come at a better time. Just heard that my Aunt passed - My mom's sister (mom passed in Sept) - An incredible woman who had quite a journey - I have to honor her - so bear w/me
She was born a twin - I think around 1928 or so. The other twin died (he was larger too) - she was sent home w/her parents I believe to die. My grandfather built an "incubator" - a shoe box with a light bulb in it! - My grandmother pumped her milk and fed her with an eye dropper. Well she grew up & went on to have 10 children of her own - She went into the hospital a few weeks ago and got MERSA infection - to think of the odds in the way she came into the world that she had to go out due to MERSA
Ok I'm done - Good by Aunt Joan, say hello to mom xo

So thank you patricia, I love your keen eye and your
compliment means all the more!

Patricia, thank you for the compliment. I'm happy with the way our restored discards fit into the room and work with our table and chairs.

jejvtr, sorry about your Aunt Joan. MERSA is so prevalent these days and sooooo dangerous, especially when the patient is old and feeble.

Jejvtr, what a story of real triumph and the pioneering spirit of our predecessor women, her, her mother, who never gave up. I am so sorry for your family's loss, but what a story and a celebration of life. You have much to be thankful for in having such a wonderful heritage.

Mine changes only if it's Christmas or if I'm hosting a special occasion.

NHB thanks for the good tip about the denture tablet to clean our stained porcelain bowls and vases. How clever of you! I have fallen in love with every picture you've ever posted. You have decorating talent coming out your eyebrow tips, girl.

Cooperbailey, I love your collection of antique pieces on your table. Easter has passed, but your decorations still look pretty and spring-y. Yumm on your bumblebee chair fabric! Lesmis, that's a very pretty room and I love your purple flowers. The white ones look great too -- what are they? Marybeth, your silver chandy is very classy. Deborahnj, your green and white is so refreshing, so garden-y, and your burgundy lampshades are just the right touch. Threegrad, I love your chairs, they're so arts and craftsy and the finish on them is rich and lovely. Trailrunner, hard to see in the dark but that bowl looks beautiful. Loribee, your decor is so light and soothing. I drool over your LR. The plant looks great on the stand, and it picks up the color of your WT.

Monablair, your whole room is ooolala. Catmom, your table is scrumptious.

Donnagwd, I think you'd enjoy a nice table runner under your pretty vase.

Jejvtr, I love your DR. It's warm, inviting, and interesting. I am so sorry to hear your aunt has passed, but it looks like she had a very rich life and left a lot of folks behind who loved her. Thanks for sharing her interesting story with us!

Nicole, please tell us how you propagate roses! I need a few more and my son has a lot of pretty ones. I just bought two and they're too expensive. I love your turtle pics and your furniture is beautiful and stately.

Jejvtr, sorry to hear about your Aunt's passing. Sounds like you come from a long line of strong, creative, determined people!

Kat :)

This is a great thread. I find dining table decorating to be one of the hardest things for me. I've had this table 2 years and I'm still working it out. Here it is now with 2 apothecary jars and the other pic was from the fall. I never was crazy about it but didn't know how to improve. Great inspirational pics you guys, keep them coming.

This is my Summer table. I keep a centerpiece on it between meals. We eat out here every night but Fridays and weekend breakfasts, too.
Lynn

I like simplicity.

{{!gwi}}

What a great thread. I usually have a large cut crystal bowl with potpourri. I change it on the first day of each season.

Oceanna, thanks so much for the compliments on the table. Maybe I should purchase the runner and napkins again. As for the lamps and shades, I actually thought that they didn't work in the DR and I've been looking for new ones for forever but haven't found anything I like. I look at all the beautiful DR's here and always feel like mine is just not quite there yet.

P.S. Denture cleaner is great for cleaning porcelain (teeth, bowls, etc) but is also great for cleaning and prepping for manicures (I think that is what they use in some salons) and it is fantastic for cleaning your jewelry. Use a pick and denture cleaner to clean the gallery work of your jewelry (especially where it is hard to reach).

Oceanna......If that dinningroom set hadn't been given to us.... I'd own cat mom's set!!! :0) And.... went into the Ethan Allen store to look at furniture....came out with turtle prints!!! :0)

Rooting roses. Cut a stem with 3 to four leaf nodules, off the top, new growth. Use a clean knife to scape about 3/4" of the green bark off the bottom of the stem, dip in rooting hormone, plant in really wet soil. Put a plastic bag over the top or a mayonnaise jar over the top and leave for about 2 weeks....then start watering once a week. I keep it covered for the next 3 months, then start hardening it off to be planted outdoors. In the meantime...it blooms right there in my jar!!! :0)

Mine currently contains only a tent

{{!gwi}}

Such inspiring pictures! Mine is filled with gifts from baby showers. I have to get thank you notes out ASAP and get organized. It is way worse than this pic now. I put the first item DH put together on the DR table so it would be out of the way and the cats wouldnt notice it.

Not 5 minutes later I walk by and:

oceanna - Thank you so much for the compliments on my house. Sometimes though, I think you are talking about the young person. lol

dgmarie - The tent in the dining room brings back so many childhood memories. There was a family down the street from where I grew up, and their living and dining rooms were one big playground for the neighborhood children. It was great!

boopadaboo - Precious!

Thanks oceanna and nicole--glad you like our table! It's so exciting to finally be able to renovate/decorate our home--we've been here 10 1/2 yrs! I have to pinch myself sometimes when I look at what we've been able to do recently :-)

marybeth1 i LOVE that chandy!

So let's see...
Right now we don't really have a formal dining room, but this is what we have:

The former dining room table (it's more of an eat-in area/breakfast nook) currently has a floral tablecloth and is accessorized with the toaster oven, a set of four cobalt blue canisters, the electric griddle and the wood fruit bowl that normally site on the kitchen peninsula. It also has some coffee grounds and lots of dust.

The drop-leaf table that we acquired as part of a set that was intended to be our new formal DR set is currently sitting in the family room (which if/when we are done will be the formal dining room) and has some folded towels and blankets on it.

The table that we acquired today which will replace the drop-leaf table as the center of the not yet existing formal dining room is in pieces in our "project"/dumping room.

Sophie's mom, that's very elegant and lovely. No sense changing anything that looks that good.

Mimi, I think your centerpieces are very nice and imaginative too. You may think you're behind but I disagree; you're way ahead of me.

Oh Lynne, what a pretty centerpiece! I've never seen a Talaveras piece quite like that, and the flowers are perfect. Nobody could be depressed at your table!

Debi, very pretty. Looks like you are all staged for an open house.

Deborah, I really like it. I'm a red and green fan. But hey, whatever we pick there's always something we like better down the line somewhere, and you'll find it.

Patricia, thanks for the additional info.

Put a plastic bag over the top or a mayonnaise jar over the top and leave for about 2 weeks....then start watering once a week.

Nicole, thanks for the rooting instructions! But wouldn't that depend on the weather? Are you saying leave the soil damp for two weeks, or let it dry out? Are there certain months of the year when we can or can't do this?

Mari, you should win a prize for most unusual DR furniture. hehe

oceanna.....the soil stays "wet", the plastic tent you use,bag over the pot or jar will have water droplets inside. I've even had moss start to appear. :0) Plant outside in the Spring, once all dangers of frost have past. I kept the last 2 roses(Hi Neighbor's) sitting outside the jar, on the dinningroom table to aclimate to our dry climate, before moving outdoors. They bloomed like crazy when they were in the jar! My success rate depends on the species of rose. Of the "2" papa meiland, only one is gonna make it....of the "2" Hi Neighbor(buck rose) both made it!!{{gwi:315295}}

Nicole another rose question. How do you get the rose out of the melon jar? Are you talking about miniatures? What varieties have you had the most luck propagating? thanks

Fun, fun thread!

I just got my dining room table back. We are a homeschool family and the 'formal' dining room has long been our library and school room. The youngest just graduated so I had him move the computer into his room and shelved all the school books on shelves. Later this summer, I'll go through and declutter those bookshelves enough to eliminate a couple of them.

For now, I'm rejoicing in a pretty gold tablecloth and a piece of Italian pottery. Just think, I get to have centerpieces and table runners instead of algebra books and science projects. My fingers are itching to quilt a couple of table runners and to get out the fancy hand stitched tablecloth we purchased overseas.

Thanks Oceana and pbrisar! It replaced a lovely circa 1980's globe lamp LOL!

cooperbailey......The rose cutting is only 4"-5" long, planted in a 3" pot. My BIG melon jar holds "2" comfortably. I've seen people set up grow lights in their basement and put bags over rows of rose cuttings.....an old clear produce bag from the grocery store works just as well.

The success rate....well....the newer the growth the better. The stem needs to be soft and green. If a flower bud has formed, cut it off. I've read that older roses with single petals are easiest, like our ancestors in the covered wagons brought over their stem cuttings to this country....but I think that's "misinformation" to protect patents...:0) I think the newer roses that are under patent are just as easy to start...& I'm "not" selling them...so there's no patent violation. Hi Neighbor is a beautiful, hot pink, multipetaled rose....under patent....and easy to propagate!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hi Neighbor Rose

Thank you so much for the rose info...been wanting to do that, but didn't understand all that I knew about it ;^)

My DR table has a big squarish hand made doily thingy set on the diagonal and a not quite as big squarish silver tray set square in the center. On the tray is a collection of old crystal candleholders.
The DR faces west and when the sun hits the table in the afternoon it is amazingly beautiful.

and dust and a few cat hairs :^)