Borrowing inspiration from the snow-tipped hills, white tableware heats up the dining room with texture and a touch of gold. Just like snowflakes, nothing matches in this tablescape, yet the elements somehow bind together.
While pristine white can be formal, it seems to work best in everyday settings. A whimsical garden gate tells your guests to expect the unexpected, and to have fun.
White pottery is crisp and peaceful--and it allows the food to be the star.
Mixed patterns in the dishes, glassware, and cutlery are united by white and gold. Crystal echos the ice just outside my door, but it takes on depth and dimension as candlelight casts a cozy glow, bouncing colors across the table.
Instead of a traditional centerpiece, a tureen serves as the focal point. Grocery store flowers can be pricey, but a single bunch of mums or daisies can be put to good use. Pottery creamers are perfect for mini-bouquets.
Clear votives add a bit of romance and make everything sparkle.
Winter White Slideshow
For tablescaping inspiration, and to view hundreds of tabletop ideas, visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly event, Tablescape Thursday.
Tablescaping Notes
China: Gibson (Big Lots) and Baroque (American Atelier)
Chargers: Horchow
Tureen: Baroque (Replacements, Ltd)
Ecru Napkins: April Cornell
Bee Box: Horchow
Flatware: International Sterling "Wild Rose" mixed with stainless (Barbed Wire and Twig)
votives: Big Lots
White heart placecard holders: Amazon.com
Pitchers and crystal: wedding presents, garage sales, antique malls
63 comments:
Aren't you getting a little tired of my leaving little notes everywhere???
TAH DAH I have the bee skeef just like yours. I used to have bee hives when I lived in the country.
As usual a stunning TT this week. My favorite is still Tuscany I. Damn you're such a good photog too. It's not fair one person gets all the talent.
I couldn't find where to enter for the copper Paella pot. I used to have an entire copper set hanging from S hooks on a huge round copper hanger over the island in the kitchen. But, 1 divorce later and it's all gone. Would you please enter me, since I could not find where to enter. Thanks Jackie A HUGE Fan.
Jackie, did you get my note about the bird dishes?
Here's some info on the Giveaways:
I'll be hosting Goodie Giveaways all year. Friends/followers of Gollum will be automatically entered in the drawing for the copper pan. The drawing is on Marck 5 (Foodie Friday).
On the Foodie Friday anniversary, there will be oodles of doorprizes. :-) That's Feb 19th.
The Le Creuset pears are a Facebook giveaway (drawing April 1st)
Michael, You have no idea how very much I enjoy your ideas and recipes. Thank you so much for hosting Foodie Friday...I am off this weekend to buy one of your books, it will be my first, which would you suggest I start with?
Wow, again your Tablescape is lovely. I love white table settings, and I adore the mix of everything...it just is breathtaking! great job. I agree with your other posters....lovely and I always enjoy seeing what you do!
Blessings,
Debbie
Very elegant! Love it!
Now I'm in love with that bee box! Your winter white table is so lovely and soothing. And as always your photography just transforms me.
Perfect as usual. I love the white and mix of elements.
Sandy
Michael Lee, This is my kind of table. Beautiful, luxurious and yet very inviting. Your mix of tableware and flatware is so fresh and chic. You have captured something so lovely here! I really enjoy all your white pieces, the tureen, the creamers/vases... they work so well! But the golden honey bee hive is my favorite! I am wild about bees!
See you for foodie friday.
Yvonne
Evening, Dear Gollum Michael Lee! :)
Oh, what a lovely mixed up table! You mix so well! I think I see your tiny little head in your little twig spoon! Yep, that's you! Your golden things are so pretty too!
Love the white flowers too!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
This table is so elegant! It makes we want to do a gorgeous white table myself. So pretty!
Love the winter whites! So clean and fresh! Love that soup tureen!
DD
This looks so wonderful. Thanks for sharing it with us. Cheers, Lia
What a beautiful table, Michael..Love how you mixed some many different things!
Hi Michael... absolutely beautiful. Ironically enough I was playing around with an all white tablescape the other day. Have photos ready to go and then boom life gets in the way. Guess that one is saved for yet another day.lol Thank you for your compliment with your last comment. It means the world coming from you. I enjoyed your EBook!!! It is wonderful. Once things settle down around here, definetly going to try it. Naturally your photo with the toile tablecloth stole my heart right from the beginning.. but all the goodies inside truly enticed me.. what an inspiration you are!!! hugs ~lynne~
Oh I just love that gate and the bird is just the perfect touch! Your mixmatched dinnerware makes such a lovely table, Michael. I love everything and your photography is just fabulous!...Christine
I love the mixed flatware and the white flowers in the white pitcher. It all adds so much charm to the table setting.
Susan
I totally agree - white dishes really let the food speak for itself!! I love white dishes!
Your tablescape is gorgeous, Michael (as always!!) I love how you mixed so many different styles. Truly gorgeous.
I truly love the abundant mix of whites here....they all do converge magnificently!!! Hugs, Lana
I love all white in decor and table settings--much more practical for tables! What is the bee hive box? I love it!! The reflections are beautiful and not a speck of dust in sight! Beautiful!
Michael your tablescape is so lovely. I love an all white setting. This is just beautiful.Kathysue
A very pretty white table!
A miss match heaven all of a glow. Thank you, thank you for the free e-books. Broadband is slower over here and I tried and tried to download them yesterday and got all angry with myself until Stephen did it for me.
Don't be mad at me but we are off to Staffordshire this weekend for some serious dish spotting :-). Kathy.
what a wonderful warm table, love love love the stunning tureen, wow it is beautiful and add the perfect touch to your beautiful table...all the white is so pretty I love the different textures, I enjoy your blog....Phyllis
Well this is just gorgeous but not unexpected!! You are so talented. Beautiful whites and so warm. LOVE the chargers. And the photography is stunning!
Your tablescapes are always beautiful. I wouldn't have thought that all the whites could look so nice!
I love your white table with the touches of gold! I adore individual flower arrangements too! We are expecting over a foot of snow on Fri./Sat. I don't want any more snow:):) I am SO ready for SPRING!!!! Xo, Pinky
What unusual silverware! Great tablescape.
I love a white table. I also love, love your bee box! So pretty.
LOVE IT ALL!
Beautiful, once again BEAUTIFUL! The picture from a distance of the complete dining room table with the chandy showing just takes my breath away!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Fabulous! There is nothing like all white in the middle of winter. I LOVE to mix things up at the table and the white against the dark wood was perfect!
xoxo Pattie
Amazing the variety and interest you have created with "just" white. Love the mixtures of textures and patterns!
I love the way all that pretty white looks against your dark wood table. So beautiful.
Justine :o )
Love love love that garden gate... it inspires reveries!!
What a pretty white table. I love how you mixed up the flatware. I've got those same little placecard holders/vases. Love the beehive. I had seen that on Horchow's Website.
I like the vintage flatware the best.
The bee hive is just glowing. Cute.
you're so right! white makes a tabel look crisp & refreshing & makes the food inviting as well as pleaseing to the eye, beautiful setting, I love how it all compliments each other
Helen
I love a white tablescape and you do them so beautifully and effortlessly. The little beehive is just a special touch that looks just right. Love the mis-match of the flatware.
Simply lovely...one of my favorite tablescapes!
Whew...as always, your table is stunning. I love white dishes dearly and I also love your use of different flatware...so pretty. I just wish I had that many patterns!! :(
Love everything you did here....
Love the white against the dark table--beautiful!
Michael, I love the idea of mixing different elements for this table and your analogy with the uniqueness of snowflakes. This is a lovely table with all the glistening gold among the white. Love that bee box. I'd love to find one of those.
Thanks for sharing this winter wonderland!
I love how you present things so to speack " out of the box".
As always I love the way you present a tablescape, food dishes etc. to make your guest feel warm and special. Your ideas and presentaions are ones that you remember. Simply stunning.
The twig spoon is adorable. I love the way all the whites and creams blend together. Helps me to remember not to be so worried about matchy-matchy. Thanks for sharing.
One of the things I love about your designs is your eclectic mix - Horchow and Big Lots! Fabulous!!
The bee skep is my favorite.
Your entire blog from sidebar to post is amazing.
I love the way you mixed and matched the flatware, the glasses...I just love the unexpected. I really love white dishes. I'm currently on a search for another set. This was lovely and really set a mood.
Sue
Ahh, Michael. I said it earlier and I'll say it again-I love this table
xoxo Pattie
GORGEOUS table!
Hi Michael,
You have such lovely tableware pieces and I especially adore the pheasant tureen and the bee keeper.
Thanks for dropping by my blog yesterday and leaving your very kind comment. I wish I had more time in the day, I'm back at work and not getting much time to visit everyone, especially you and I always enjoy coming to your blog.
It's filled with so many interesting stories. I'm off to read your posts on Ebooks, very interesting Michael, as I too have been following this change as well for a couple of years.
xx Coty
Neat! Neat! Neat! Love this, Gollum. You do such great tablescapes.
XO,
Sheila :-)
I really am quite speechless...this is one of the most beautiful tablescapes I have ever seen....stunning!
Best wishes, Natasha.
Beautiful and elegant. How do you come up with both of those every week?
Greetings,
Supurb. .again. I love the mismatched table. Matchy matchy makes me a little crazy. Oh yes, If you ever tire of the soup tureen Please send it my way. I have yet to find one of my own. I love making soups too. The lack of tureen makes no good sense to me.
O, Michael...a daily newsletter? Bless your heart...I've never seen anyone as busy. I just signed up for it and can't wait!!
Child...do you ever rest??
xo bj
Oh those winter whites are so elegant...I love the ironstone tureen! Such a detailed table with each element perfectly placed! I can just picture how beautiful dinner is on these plates..as the food would really be showcased against the white!
Enjoyed your post!
Miss Bloomers
Michael, this table is so pretty. I love that you mixed the flatware, and you have some absolutely stunning stemware. Those chargers are amazing! laurie
I don't know how you do it, week after week, Michael! The sparkle & shine of this table plus all the warmth from the golden colors just draws me in. I want to reach out & touch many of your beautiful items.
Your blog is like the most exquisite magazine that arrives almost daily...and for FREE!! Southern Living should hire you!
You are an incredible inspiration & I thank you for sharing your beautiful things with us.
I'm going to hunt over your blog to see if I can find out what kind of camera you use. I need a new one but I suspect its the operator that makes your photos so special!!
fondly,
Rett
Dear Michael,
In a word: beautiful, wonderfully evocative, charming, elegant, whimsical ...
Oops ... I suppose I overshot the "a word" limitation! ;)
Another winner, Michael, a vision perfectly executed and charmingly captured in stunning photographs!
Warm regards,
Bill
Beautiful and welcoming settings. I love your bee box and your silverwares.
Happy week-end.
Beautiful tablescape! I love the mixing and matching...soooo interesting and it all works so nicely together. The bee skep is darling...makes me dream of summer.
You may have just converted me to white dishware. When I got married a few years ago, I wanted plates with "character". But, now I'm stuck with the problem of having plates that only go with a few linens. I am now thinking that it's the linens that should have "character" (at least in terms of color) and the plates should glory in white elegance.
Beautiful.
- The Tablescaper
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