Wednesday, May 21, 2014

reader question...a new series


I'm excited to share this new series with all of you! 
I'm always getting emails from readers asking questions and it dawned on me as I was
 answering one today that it might be fun and helpful to share them with everyone here. 
And that is how my, yet to be named, new series came about. You guys always
 have great ideas, so feel free to chime in if you have a suggestion for our reader.

 reader ~ amy:

I know this sounds silly, but I don't know what to put in the center of my
dining room table, everything I try looks too contrived.  

pam:

My favorite is any variety of live plant.
 It brings life, texture, color and a fresh dose of nature that never feels contrived.
 You can inject your style and personality in the type of plant or container you
 choose. It's easy to change up containers to fit the season, too.
A bright striped pot for spring, a clam shell for summer,
 a rustic basket for fall, an urn with patina for winter,
a classic blue and white ginger jar or porcelain pot always works.

inspiration:

succulents...

Christina @ greige
ruemag.com 

greenery, bulbs and flowering plants... 

jcress.com

Red Door Home

houzz.com

orchids...


 pollyannapumpkin.tumblr.com
decorpad.com 

topiaries...


3.bp.blogspot.com

Thanks for the great question, Amy!
What do you have on your dining room table?


25 comments:

Unknown said...

Today I have a wooden tray filled with 7 or 8 Quimper creamers in various sizes and 4 majolica candle sticks. I will probably change it out for the holiday weekend into something red, white and blue.

Kristen @ Pursuing Vintage said...

Fun series! Can't wait to read more!

Sonny G said...

I love this question and answer series...
Your answer was terrific, especially with all the different samples.

I too have a design dilema and would love answers from bloggers as to what they would do or use.

I really love the dough bowl of succulents but if someone didnt feel they had a green thumb-like me:)- then green apples or lemons would look great and smell wonderful too....
bunches of lilacs in the bowel would bring a pop of the 2014 color into the room..
I know really great dough bowls can be expensive but they can be used in every season with so many different fillers,so you get your monies worth out of it. It can also be moved to other room if you tire of seeing it on your dining table.. My neighbor uses her's on the coffee table in her family room ..
again, love this series..
Sonny

Dana Frieling said...

Next question in your series..."How do you keep said live plants alive and thriving?" I'm glad you specified 'live' plants though because there's nothing worse than cheap faux plants.

Jen (House of Ruby Jean) said...

Great series, Pam! You're always so helpful and genuine about giving help. Thanks for being an awesome blogger!

Julie said...

That was a really great question! I have also found that containing a grouping on a tray helps to create cohesiveness. Love this new series, Pam!
Julie @ Renaissance Mermaid

pcb said...

I normally have a grouping of antique silver and crystal candlesticks with nice candles. I have a large soup tureen that I use sometimes with fresh greenery. Haven't thought of using live plants; the room is on the dark side so it would be tricky in the long term.

I agree with Julie; using a tray really works with some groupings.

My table now is covered in the contents of my kitchen cabinets while we remodel kitchen!

Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles said...

Fun series! That one is always tricky for me too.

home before dark said...

Since my new dining room will also function as a library, I plan to use stacks of books!

Unknown said...

I'm so excited about this series! Currently my kitchen table is sporting two lanterns and a bowl of succulents. The dining room has been holding a giant piece of driftwood and my grandma's silver candelabras - I think I need some plant life in there!

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

This is fabulous! I constantly struggle with this problem and end up with a bare table!!! I too don't do well with live plants. Any help there would be appreciated. Can't tell you how many succulents I have replaced!!! I have the containers, what else could they be filled with? Thanks all
Patty

Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door said...

Love this series idea Pam! As for this question - we keep a pretty footed bowl of crayons in the middle of our dining room table - because most of the day it is a place for drawing and having fun. Then its easy to just throw all the crayons in the bowl at the end of the day to clean up for dinner.

Haley said...

Great question! My mom always sets up some great table displays: wooden tray with candles of varying heights and pebbles (ikea), short glass vases with candles and different fillers (ie., pebbles, cranberries, etc), white pitcher with fresh flowers, or set of three bud vases with flowers. On my table, I keep a vintage mirrored tray with different candles on it or a woven African bowl with random things in it.

Anonymous said...

Excellent idea for a series, and Amy asked a question that I have often considered myself. This has given me plenty of ideas and options.

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Working on large glass jars with candles as I write this....Thanks

Holly Gruszka said...

Plants are my answer for everything I feel like. For not a lot of out of pocket $$, plants add so much to a room. I need to venture into some larger plants. I have a bunch of smaller plants that I've collected until my little one gets a little bigger I will wait for a large plant.

Libby said...

I like this series! It's going to be hard to limit it to one questions at a time, no? So many small details we all want to know about! Can't wait to read more.

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

I love plants in the house. I'm not great at keeping them alive, but I try! I love the organic feeling they bring to a room. These are great inspiration images, and I think this series will be great!

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

Great idea Pam...Greenery always looks good on a table...it gives it some life...I always like to do something different on my dining room table...right now I have an antique blue and white jars and candlesticks....who knows next week it could be something the cat drags in! Always changing...

Leslie said...

Yes! good idea Pam and I like the question/answer. Happy Friday!

Julia@Cuckoo4Design said...

Love the new series! My favorite are the succulents in the center

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Great idea for a new series! I can't wait for me! Love these inspirations of using fresh plants on the table…..plants just bring a space to life!

Kris @ Driven by Décor said...

Love all of the inspirational images, especially the ones with just a single planter or planter paired with candlesticks. For our small kitchen table, I refuse to do anything more elaborate than that and have to move everything on and off the table before and after every meal! Have a great weekend Pam!

Mimi said...

What do you think about furniture in front of windows? I don't have a formal dining room and the eating area in the kitchen/family room has two big windows in it. Can I put a china hutch in front of the window with the least attractive view? Thank you. Mimi

Jaybird said...

ummmmmmmmmm you didn't mention a beautiful white fluffy cat!!!!
I like the center of the dining table because the heat/air vent is right over that spot! My Mom and Dad try to discourage me, but I just wait until they leave ;^)
As my Mom always says, Be Blessed,
Love, Princess Posie

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