You might be right about moving the cake plate there instead... the sweets would be further out of view that way and my waistline would thank you! :)

Good idea Abbyjean! I think I'd wait until holiday items are out.....probably in about 6 weeks! I remember a ton of beautiful mercury glass balls everywhere last year, even at Target. They're too expensive right now.

You're right! Christmas ornaments to match... genius!

I think your table looks beautiful. The candles are a great color but I would buy one size shorter so they tie in with the height of the bowl. You really don't have to put anything in the bowl, but a small amount of cream and silver pearls mixed would be elegant. Simple and it will bring all your colors on the table together. You can find them in craft stores. Good Luck!

Funny 3sons1 I almost suggested raising the bowl. I have mine raised an inch by placing it on a mirrored pillar candle holder, but there are a number of small items you can use to raise it a bit.

You can just google blue and white ceramic decorator balls would match china beautifully.

mercury balss would look wonderful and, change it up for Holidays seasons...good Luck...Life is good...

also go to rummage sales...church are the best as there prices are cheap and had to find ole ornaments...
love ole ornaments, brings me back to my childhood..now they made of plastic...yuk!

Perfect solution would be lemons that pick up the beautiful yellow in your adjoining room.

Gorgeous bowl! Put it on a square of mirror or a mirrored tray and put some pieces of sea glass into it.....make sure the light hits it...you,ll get reflections of color dancing all over the room!

If you are using the bowl while serving dinner, put a colorful salad in it. I wouldn't leave the bowl empty as a centerpiece guests or not.

I believe Pier One has several decorative glass balls/pebbles, etc.

If you are going to use it for food, do make sure it is food-friendly and not decorative only. I would put seasonal fruit in it, and then eat the fruit regularly. There would be a regular turn-around then, and it would match the season. Lovely apples in the fall. Oranges in the winter. And so on. But then, we eat in the dining room every day except when we are eating outside on the deck. Whatever you do, enjoy it.

Fill it with whatever is in season. Fill it partially up with some sand, scatter some shells and small tealights, would look so pretty during dinner. Small stones, narly twigs, tuck gorgeous real or artificial fall leaves, cranberries and pinecones in for the fall. Artificial snow, evergreen branches and tiny Christmas glass balls in the winter. Small pots of spring bulbs or flowers covered over with sheets of moss for Spring.

What about the candelabra on the radio? Looks like it should go on the table!

Lemons! And light the candles for a minute or two to make them look more alive. (Never have naked white wicks showing.)

Use a plate stand and enjoy the complete bowl as it stands on your table. Remove the candlesticks however.

Use a bowl stand and put it on the radio in the other room. Move the candlelabra to the dining table and put the pair of candle sticks together on a buffet or sideboard you may have.

I agree with putting something under the bowl so it doesn't blend in with the table. Even with something in it, have something under it. I like the mirror. I have a bowl w/papier mache fruit that I hauled home from a trip to Mexico. The fruit not the bowl. Also have another with a bunch of those glass floats from Japan but those aren't available anymore. Pier 1 has a good selection of various colored shiny balls. Also changing out with the seasons is a great idea.

I would use the bowl for salads, green or fruit, not as a centerpiece. Be careful with those candles though, I agree you never have new, unburned wicks showing! Also, the candles and holders are too short for the center of a dining table as they will flicker right at eye level when lit and that is really annoying! They should either be really low or very tall so you aren't staring into them! Same thing goes for a flower arrangement...you must be able to see over it...or under it when seated. No fun craning your neck to talk with the person across from you!

http://www.pier1.com/home-decor-accents/accent-pieces/decorative_spheres,default,sc.html

We don't burn the wicks of new tapers here, we used to, but not anymore. My guess is that it used to be done to test a candle, make sure it lights and doesn't smoke too much, and to let guests know that they're tapers that are used and not just for display (does anyone have candles you save only for display?), but I've also heard this story:
With the invention of the light bulb, the people that had money and could afford electric power to light their homes no longer used candles but in order not to embarrass those who could not afford electricity, it was considered a polite gesture to burn the wicks of the candles on display so it was not known who had electricity and who did not.
My mother always told me never to light a candle before dusk, but I don't pay attention to that one either. I think burning a candle in daylight would have been seen as being very wasteful, not anymore.

What about raising it up a bit on a scrolly, elegant wrought iron stand, maybe in a grape leaf motif? You could go for a silvery-pewter finish to blend with the blue hue of the plates. There are many other options, too. It is lovely.

I vote on lemons.........

How about a small string of cool little lights LED maybe with a battery compartment with on/off switch that would let the glass glow through and you could put some different colored wooden balls on top and nestled in the string.

Pears

I think its too small and short for the table. Maybe use it on occasions for holidays or with lemons for a pop of color against your blue and white plate or just for serving. Overall I would not use as a permanent piece on the table. Its an outdated look.

If you grow tall bearded irises, float three in the bowl. Your guests will think they're orchids!

Its a beautiful bowl and you want to enjoy it, not stash it away in the china cabinet. I will add my vote to those who suggest a table runner in order to set it off from the table. There are so many beautiful seasonal items you can add to the bowl. I immediately saw mini pumpkins in it for halloween. Have fun.

I think it is a pretty bowl and does not look unfinished empty. Use it- put something in if you feel like it or leave empty when you don't. It is pretty enough to do either.

Marbles. Come in different sizes and colours. They'd look good. I usually have a jar or bowl of them somewhere in the house and have them ranging in age as I've collected them.

How about some large sea shells & some coral?

I like the lemons idea above. Real fruit like yellow pears would also look nice.

I make and paint centerpiece bowls. If the bowl makes a statement, put nothing in it.

Since the adjoining room is yellow, lemons (maybe with a few limes thrown in) would be pretty. BTW, have you considered switching the bowl with the domed cake stand that's on your coffee table?

Sorry leelee, I saw your post after I'd submitted mine. They say great minds think alike.....

Pier one has the balls.

travisinteriors!!!! i'm rolling in the aisles!!!!

... why am I suddenly thinking about Alec Baldwin and my second all time favorite SNL skit, "Schweddy Balls" ...

well, now that we've hijacked Kay's thread :) My fave, that I can remember at the moment, was the Julia Child skit..i don't think I have yet recovered!!!

I think putting different colored pebbles or floating flowers in the bowl would be delightful!

Better YOU rolling in the aisles than the balls! LOL LOL LOL My husband wants to know why I am dying here!

Bed bath & beyond has a tall clear pillar candle holders that hold crystal pebbles and a laminated light. Then add a few more pebbles around very elegant.

Kay wants shiny balls!

Lemons!

LEMONS for sure!! they're fresh, natural, well scented and bring some life and color into the room!

You have a wonderful selection of ideas here - my suggestion - remove the placemats - thay can date the look of a table - place a runner in ivory down the middle. Set the table with silver and then rest a bottle of wine in the bowl - simple. Show off your beautiful table. Add some bling - napkinrings!

Aaaahahahaha!!! Reading aaaall that was the highlight of my day. I have lots to think about now! Lemons, balls, etc. :)

Wow very long discussion here...I would simply buy a lush green ivy plant to ground the tablescape. Not faux but living... Home Depot sells wonderful hanging pots so all you need to do is remove hanging hook and place in bowl. Then once a week lift out and water well in sink.

Lemons and mercury glass balls then every one will be happy- color and shiny balls : )

I agree with posters who suggested lemons, but I would first elevate the bowl on some type of decorative stand and perhaps a napkin inside
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I say lemons also, but first elevate the bowl with a decorative stand to add more interest and height.