Tablescape Ideas
Do you ever wonder if the table always looks like this?
If the silver is always shined and the glassware always sits immaculately next to the square silver chargers layered with white ware and sparkling silver chandelier plates.
Ummmm…negative.
*sigh*
Not even close.
You see….there’s too much action around here for milk glass and orange flowers and black chargers to stay in place.
Last night…..as I stood in the kitchen in the middle of the general melee’….
….two children rushed past me with a notebook and sunglasses and promptly ran and hid behind the kitchen island.
I didn’t even ask why.
I didn’t even raise an eyebrow.
I never paused to glance their way.
I just stood there…..thinking about fall decorations and tablescape ideas and trying to decide if I could make trees for the table out of acorns…..or if acorns were too heavy and maybe I should use birch bark instead.
“Mom….hey mom” whispered my son from the other side of the island.
I didn’t answer.
There was no need.
They would explain eventually.
Instead….I spent the next minute thinking that maybe the trees should be made out of tiny pieces of pine cone….decorated with glitter.
“Mooooooom…..hey…..mom….don’t tell anyone we are here. We are playing Prank Wars,” he whispered again.
What?
Prank wars?
Seriously.
On a Monday night?
I started to ask about Prank Wars and who was involved and what it meant and why did they have a notebook and why were they wearing sunglasses…..
…and were any of the bedrooms still standing?
But before I form a sentence….my son stood up….motioned to his sister….and together they started silently gliding slowly out of the room.
“You never saw us…..we were never even here,” he whispered to me with a nod of his head.
I nodded back.
And as they turned to leave….he said in all seriousness….“Oh…and one more thing Mom…..if you see a mattress coming downstairs….
…..don’t pay any attention to that either.”
I didn’t move.
I didn’t say anything.
Those kind of things don’t even phase me anymore.
And besides….there were table decorations for the fall to think of…..
….maybe trees made out of monogrammed burlap are the way to go. 🙂
PS If you need a little more tablescape ideas…be sure to check out my post over at Lamps Plus today!
LOVE it! My problem is, I try to engage my children in my decorating thoughts. . . So, I have this idea. I think I am going to make owls out of picket fence posts. I think I am going to use big wooden circles for their eyes, and paint them with stain, I just can't figure out what to use for the beak. . . And, they just stand there and look at me, and nod their heads, and smile. And, on some level wonder if I am ok? :)
Beautiful and such a sense of calm with sunshine. Love you and shared your blog with Susie from New Hampshire.
You set a beautiful table, Miss Karianne! Look forward to seeing you at Haven in a few days!
Each setting is lovely, KariAnne. And, I enjoyed your post at Lamps Plus. I imagine table settings in my head, too. Sometimes they turn out just like my vision, and other times they are a surprise even to me.
I really love the white and orange and I would never have thought of that...thanks so much!! My daughter has white dinnerware and I am going to pass this along to her!
I don't know what's sweeter...the post or the tablescapes....Loved your story. It reminded me of one day many years ago when after a 12 hour day working outside the home I walk to the door to find my 2 girls sitting in lawn chairs at the base of the tree....with my youngest.....the boy....at the top of the tree. Both my girls, arms crossed, glaring up at him yelling..."you gotta come down sometime"....LOL. Needless to say it was way more important for me to get inside to take my shoes and bra off first. Thanks for sharing!
hahahaha, I bet it's non stop 'prank wars' in that house for the kids and tablescape ideas in your brain. :) I've been thinking about glittered pine cones for some reason too, we have these huge ones from nothern California, so fun to unpack somethings that have been in storage for over three years!
BEAUTIFUL tablescapes. I am especially drawn to the Autumn set up. Love the orange mums and how they 'pop' in the milkglass. Classic. Mattresses coming down the staircase? Oh. Lord. I pray the session of Prank Wars ended in a truce. It's amazing what creative, crazy ideas our kids can come up, isn't it? I wonder where they get that? Oh. Nevermind.
This post brought back memories........it is amazing how mothers can think about the funniest things while chaos swirls around them. I love your tablescapes and I agree, everything looks better with a little glitter!
I can honestly -- and thankfully -- say that I have no idea what prank wars is! That's the difference between having 2 kids and 4. Household "play" is a lot different around here. And quieter! And less destructive. :)
Your tablescapes are lovely, of course, but the Prank Wars? Ah, just wait until they're 20-something... it'll still be going on. :) xo Heidi
as always - love, love, love!!!!!
Prank wars? That needs a post all by itself! Sometimes it's better not to know...! ;)
I love all your blog posts. Gorgeous ideas, plus entertaining, witty stories. You're my absolute favorite!
Hysterical! We're living in the same house! Hysterical! The tablescapes are beautiful too!!
I love all of your tablescapes especially the black, white and orange. I could look at tablescapes all day! Glad to know I'm not the only one who plans projects in their head while my family is running around and talking to me.
Beautiful tablescapes, Karianne! I'm certainly ready for fall (shh, don't tell anyone!). Have a great day!~~Angela
Hahahahaha! love it....however, I would watch the acorns, I once thought I was oh so smart and collected some for a table scape. well, they had tiny worms in them...fortunately I found out before they made it to my table!! I can always count on you to make me smile! Have a wonderful week, Karianne :) Linda
Oh, how I miss the days of mattresses sliding down the stairs and pretending I didn't see anyone! It's such fun and still makes me smile all these years later :) You have a style of writing that's all KariAnne - mixing humor, encouragement, childlike wonder, joy, genuine emotion, and inspiration. Have I mentioned lately that you should write a book? Lovin' all the wonderful seasonal tablescapes. I'm so ready for fall and looking forward to creating a fall tablescape from your inspiration! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I love them all. So hard to pick a favorite, but I am going with the orange with milk glass also. Then too, the pine cone trees are just too adorable. The Lamps Plus were gorgeous too!
I never knew to do a tablescape when my kids were that young. I would welcome that distraction right now. I just posted a HAPPY table today:) Love to hear your sweet stories, Kariann, keep them coming. XO
hahaha! gotta love a good prank war! Beautiful Table scapes! Thanks for lightening up my otherwise dull morning KariAnne. :)
Love, love, LOVE the springtime one! That tablecloth is one of my favorites. Tablescape? You mean that doesn't include stuff we drop on the table as we walk through the house? Purses? Mail? Bibles? Odds and ends of giftwrapping, etc.? ;) I know what I need to do this evening - CLEAN OFF THE TABLE! lol Have a fantastical, prank-free (or -full, if you're so inclined), day!
bahaha - so you're saying the crazy never ends huh? Mine have been wearing their halloween costumes every day =)
I really like all of the table scapes. Your children sound like a lot of fun and I bet they keep you on your toes. Thanks for sharing your tablescapes. Mary
These are all very elegant. ~Diane
Sigh... I miss those days. Now there is only 1 boy left at home, the other having gotten married 2 months ago. I'd luv to press rewind! LUV the tablescapes. Glad I have you to think of Fall and Winter tablescapes already as I am stuck in canvasses at various stages on completion... bright orange and yellow poppies ( 2) a Palomino and other horses... Luv the post Hugs, Gee
Love the tablescapes but I REALLY love any kids games that involve WHISPERING!;>) You're a good Mom! xo Diana
Prank wars is a serious matter here in our household. You don't mess with the other child's mattress. Or else.
So...have you filled a book with all of your stories of mattresses and twirly skirts and turtles in the field?....So love your family stories...truly never a dull moment in your household...Love all of your beautiful tablescapes Kari...See you soon!!! Travel safe!!
Such beautiful tablescapes! I love the silver!! You always share the cutest family stories! I feel like I'm on the other end of the phone with you while the silliness occurs. You have such a way with making us feel like we are all part of your life! I took a long break from blogging, but I've been reading yours everyday! Today was my first day back posting on my blog. I have a new name and look too! I hope you can check it out and say hi! I'm planning to be at Haven this year too, so I will see you there! Have a great day! xo-Lisa
Karianne, I love the winter one best! I can not wait until Christmas!! Christine
Karianne, I am simply in love with autumn so the first tablescape was love at first sight. GORGEOUS.