A Black, White and Red Christmas Tablescape and a Great Tip

 

Today, I'm showing you how I changed my black, white and green tablescape to red.  In yesterday's post, the black and white table runner set the tone for a traditional-modern table setting. In this red setting, I took away the bright green and added more tradition while keeping the look fresh.

Here's the table in red...

I took away the white table cloth and changed out the chargers from green to gold.  Then I added red napkins instead of white, layering them between the charger and the dinner plate for drama on the plate.

The square white plates from Home Goods add a touch of modern, I think, and set off the traditional salad plates I've had for 20 years. 

I bought the red berry sprigs at a nursery last year, and kept them for just the right occasion (true confession: I am an anything- Christmas hoarder.)   I added them to the plate for additional color and interest, and tied them with an organza ribbon to bring the black onto the plate as well.  If you go back to the first image above, you'll see I did the same thing with a thicker grosgrain ribbon in the green setting.

So here's the Tip: using a dramatic table runner or tablecloth can help you create a beautiful, interesting table without adding a lot of fancy dishes and decorations.  So, if your budget or is tight or your decorations are scarce, go for impact with linens that you can use on other occasions.   This table runner can be found here.

I hope you feel inspired!  I'm off to figure out my next table to show you, and start planning what I'm bringing to Thanksgiving next week!

Have a great day.

Join me over at French Country Cottage for some great inspiration in Feathered Nest Friday!

For help creating a home or a table you love, contact me at CarolBeckInteriors.com

Black and White Living Room Design Inspired by Pillows

Yea, this series is definitely pretty irregular.  But as I was going through the pillow inventory on 6 Wilson today, I realized I had two pretty great pillows that would work for my latest color pallet obsession -- black, white, and honey with a pop of green. 

Naturally, I had to stop everything I was doing and put a design board together.  Doesn't everyone do that?  So, here it is...

I've been in love with this Nina Campbell hydrangea wallpaper for quite some time, and it is the perfect mate to these pillows...

Add a sisal rug, a brass chandelier, two Montgomery chairs from Ethan Allen, and a Ballard Designs garden stool, and voila!

Inspiration for decorating can come from the strangest of places.  The keys to keep in mind when building around your inspiration piece(s)?

1.  Only use what you LOVE and want to look at every.single.day.

2.  Pull colors for the space from your inspiration piece.  In this case, super easy, because I knew I wanted to create the pallet I've been crazy about, so it was only three colors plus the pop of green.

3.  Make sure to add lots of texture (cut velvet black works great against smooth white linen chairs, grounded by the heavy, rough texture of sisal.)


I could go on, but those basics are enough to get started.  If your inspiration piece has lots of colors, like a piece of art might, pull out no more than THREE colors from the artwork to use in you room, and let one of those colors dominate the others.  This will help keep the room calm and cohesive.

I hope you all are enjoying the start to a lovely fall, and I plan to be back, posting with more regularity here and at CarolBeckInteriorsBlog.com.  I hope you'll come back and visit!

Black and White Check with Green Equals Cozy

When I saw this image the other day, I just sat and stared at it.  Really.  I did.  I could picture my happy self in this room, and wondered how I could make it happen in my own house.  (True confession: I do this all.the.time.)

Source: cocokelley.com via Carol on Pinterest

In my mind, this is incredibly cozy.  Inviting.  Peaceful.  Of course, I love the pillows. 

So, if this little space has you wondering how to make it happen in your house, too, check out these pillows in 6 Wilson...

How crazy is it that I had these listed before I saw this image? 

When you want your home to reflect you, and not just the latest trends, shop 6 Wilson, where's it's all about quality and personal style.

Living in Black and White

It's funny.  I absolutely black and white rooms,  yet I don't have one in my own home.  Instead, I punctuate my rooms with black and cream accents, though it's not the same.  This image below sings to me of home and comfort, because of the humbleness of it and the strength of the black...

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Carol on Pinterest

Black and white floors are so classic I will never tire of them (and the leopard is a total bonus, on a French chair with an orange pillow, no less)...

I imagine I would be happy making some comfort food in this kitchen.  Grand it is not, but full of warmth and so inviting, indeed it is...

I guess I'm in a comfortable-home kind of mood, with the wind chill at 2 degrees outside this evening, because I'm loving these homey images. This next bathroom is a bit more formal, and I'm nuts about it.  It's the wallpaper with the black chest that just gets me, but to make it mine, I'd have a wide plank pine floor and a rustic mirror.

Source: Uploaded by user via Carol on Pinterest

Please, please, fairy godmother of dream homes, can this be my foyer?

Source: bananneliese.tumblr.com via Carol on Pinterest

Okay, so I'm a little all over the map with style in these images, but it's fun to look at how a color scheme works in different homes, isn't it?

Source: lovinglivingsmall.blogspot.com via Carol on Pinterest

Loving these shelves, above.  Totally says "home."

So this next one's not a room, but black and white houndstooth on a channel-back antique chair?  To.Die.

Source: caitlincreer.com via Carol on Pinterest

Well, I could go on and on, but if truth be told, it's Sunday night and the season 3 finale of Downton Abbey is almost on.  So, I have to run.  Clearly.

But before we go, might I just say that you can always add a bit of black and white to your space with a pillow from  6 Wilson on Etsy.  Just sayin....

etsy.com/shop/6wilson

etsy.com/shop/6wilson

Thanks for reading, my friends.  I appreciate it more than you know,

Carol