WELCOME to CAROLINA PANACHE! I believe our homes should be a haven, a place of beauty and peace that reflect who we are and what's important to us. I'm on a journey to add personality and panache to every corner of my house. For me, good design evolves, grows and changes with the needs of one's lifestyle. I want my home to be creative, to be stylish, to be entertaining, to be real. I hope you will join me on my journey. It's always more fun to travel together.
This blog is all about bringing style and elegance to the home. The art of dressing your home goes beyond hanging a few items on the wall and arranging furniture. Much like a fabulous set of earrings or a new stylish handbag may take your little black dress from fine to fabulous, home accesories and key furnishings can take your rooms from ho-hum to singing the Halleluiah Chorus! Join with me as we discover new ways to add panache to every room of the house.

Tablescape Thursday - "The First Blush of Love"


Hello and Welcome to Tablescape Thursday. This lovely blog party is hosted each week by Susan at (Between Naps on the Porch) so be sure to pay her a visit for a complete list of tablescapers. Today's table is called "The First Blush of Love" and it has been created to pay tribute to those first tender stirrings of one's heart when true love is suddenly realized. I'd like to dedicate this table to my friend, Kathleen Ellis who has inspired me this week with her lovely and romantic posts highlighting Valentine's Day vignettes. For more romantic living ideas please visit her here.
For us women, romance is all about feeling pampered. Beautiful surroundings evoke feelings of pleasure, love and fantasy. I believe that special occasions should be celebrated with nuances that stimulate all the senses - sight, sound, smell and taste. Sitting down to an elegant dinner is twice as nice when the presentation has been thoughtfully considered.
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This table has been set for a special Valentine's dinner for two. Each element was added to heighten the romantic mood of the occasion.
The focal point of the centerpiece is this adorable garden cherub bust. This was on the clearance table at my local HomeGoods store. I am sure he is thinking about love.

I started with an ivory lace cloth, then layered on a quilted ivory placemat. I wanted to keep the color scheme to pink and ivory. My pinks range from a soft pastel pink to a deep saturated fuchsia. The dinner plate is ivory and the salad bowl is ivory with a pink band around the edge and gold trim. I found the salad bowls on clearance for $1 each! What a steal.

To add a little more romance, I used two ornate picture frames in antique silver and printed initials on pink card stock, then I cut them to fit the center of my frames. You could also use photos of your loved one or pictures of you and your significant other as a couple. I sat each frame next to a placesetting. For a large dinner party, use smaller frames, placing initials or names in each one to assign places at the table.

Of course you can't have a Sweetheart table without any hearts. This hot pink velvet heart box is the perfect place to tuck away a little Valentine's gift for later. ;-)


On the back of each chair, I attached a mini heart-shaped wreath.


A small votive candle holder shaped like a heart held a rose scented votive and was placed inside the shallow salad bowl.


Two small pots of pink Peonies (my Grandmother's favorite blooms) flank either side of the cherub centerpiece. Ivory napkins held by sterling silver rings cradle a silk rose in bright fuchsia.

Perhaps you will be spending Valentine's Day by yourself this year. You can still have a romantic dinner. Go ahead and treat yourself. Pull out that good china and crystal, make yourself a scrumptious 7-course dinner, light some candles, turn on some soft music and enjoy being alive! This antique wood and rattan tray has been set with the single diner in mind. A couple of birds perch on the corner of the tray to remind you that Spring is just around the corner and everything will be bursting forth with new life! That's cause to celebrate!

Meet Miss Daisy. This adorable plush bunny was a gift from my youngest son. She is just the perfect guest at my Sweetheart table - not overly talkative but pretty to look at. LOL!

The crocheted lace you see in this photo was handmade by my Mother-in-law, Ann who lives in FL. Through the years she has made me lovely doilies, placemats and tablerunners. These are cherished items - keepsakes that hopefully, one day but not anytime too soon, my own daughter-in-laws will cherish.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed "The First Blush of Love". I want to thank each one of you who left such lovely and encouraging comments on my tablescape last week. Your kind words let me know that you receive joy from looking at my table and that makes me very happy. I want to leave you with this thought:
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"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
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So whatever gift that you have I pray that you will offer it freely to bless the lives of those around you and to beautify the garden in which you've been planted.
Happy Valentine's Day!
~Alisa















46 comments:

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Alisa

Love your table! I always love to visit your site because I leave with inspiration!

Thank you!

Susan

C'est moi Claudette said...

I do love Miss Daisy sitting at your table.
Your Valentine display is just perfect. I would LOVE to sit at your table.
Love Claudie
xo

URL: claudie@frid.com I do not use my google acc

Julio Muao said...

wow! I didn't think you would be able to top last Thursday's Tiffany theme but YOU DID! your my new idol...thank you for the inspiration.

Melanie said...

Alisa, This is so beautiful and reminds me of our special Valentine's Parties we hosted. Good times!
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

I love your centerpiece! The cherub is the perfect touch! The frames are gorgeous and unexpected!...Debbie

Unknown said...

A vision of Romance! I love it!

The Bliss Journey said...

Very soft and pretty. The face on your cherub is beautiful.
Kathleen

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Alisa,
You really outdid yourself, everything is so pink and soft and romantic. All the special touches are so creative and the crocheted items are such a treasure. Thanks for sharing Cindy

DEB said...

Beautiful table! Love the heart wreath idea on the chair backs and the picture frame place tags are a great idea!

Sue said...

Beautiful, simply beautiful, Everything just flows!!!
Blessings,
Sue

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Alisa, this table is so pretty. Love that cherub, and all of the pretty pinks. laurie

Martha said...

Great table -- love the cherub and I love to have garden things indoors!

Kathy said...

Your "First Blush of Love" tablescape is perfect, so romantic, elegant and fun all at the same time and the tray set up for dining alone is beautiful, Kathy.

Kathleen Ellis said...

Alisa...you are such a sweetie! I'm so tickled that I've inspired you in some way! You've inspired me as well...as a matter of fact, I've linked you in my TT post...is that too funny, or what?! Hmmmm....
Your table is just beautiful...I LOVE it! Your cherub is adorable and I love how you included a pretty tray setting for those who may be dining alone...you're so thoughtful!
Thank you for inspiring me!
Happy Valentine's Day!
xo

santamaker said...

What a wonderfully creative valentine setting. Love the dishes!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I love your table. The frames with the initials is a great touch! Very pretty.

Unknown said...

For me that hot pink velvet heart just pulled it all together. Lots of creative juices within to your fabulous table - great job.

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Alisa - Lovely and romantic table. Your cherub is perfect as the centerpiece and the beautiful pink florals and lace pull everything together. Your dishes are beautiful too! Happy Valentines Day!

Miss Janice said...

I loved your romantic tablescape...lots of ideas there! I especially loved the "Dinner for One" vignette...that is absolutely precious and thank you for featuring that!

Jewel Sauls said...

Gorgeous table! Full of so many wonderful details!! I love the little birds tucked near the centerpiece and the pink bowls are beautiful! :D Jewel

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Love it all....but the peonies - WOW! Hand crochet by a family member is always a wonderful heirloom! Linda

JudyBug said...

Beautiful table! What a sweet table for a sweetheart!

Maryrose said...

Beautiful table. So soft and warm. Very inviting, your tables are always a work of art and love. Thanks for sharing, Maryrose

Anonymous said...

What awesome thinking.I love this.And your garden angel is perfection.I also love the pretty pink plates.Well done,well done...ann

Terri Steffes said...

I love the table, and I am loving the idea of naming the tablescape!

On The Wings Of Love said...

Wow, this is gorgeous ! I love the heart wreath on the back of the chair. Great idea ! And I'm envious if those peonies are real ! Our ground is still frozen.

Cheers,
Bre

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

I adored the First Blush of Love table!

Your ability to mix whimsy in & still keep it utterly elegant is sooo charming! Love, love, love, love this table!

Scribbler said...

This is my first look at your blog, as it was my first Tablescape Thursday. Your table is gorgeous and imaginative, and the whole blog is totally eye candy!
Ellen

a quiet life said...

very sweet, happy vday to you~

redsoxmom said...

Alisa, What a romantic table! Very pretty, and very reminiscent of those vintage cards you mentioned. Lovely job! P.S. I've seen those pink plates as well and debated buying them. They look pretty on your table.

Blessings!
Linda

"Blossom" said...

So romantic and it's just perfect for this 14th holiday. I don't think you left one thing out about feeling, love and the mood. So lovely.

Cass @ That Old House said...

Lovely table, and that bunny rabbit just makes me smile! Wonderful!!!

Cass

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

You always have such fabulous tablescapes. I am in awe! Everything looked so romantic. I loved it all!

Unknown said...

When I saw you had a tablescape I just had to pop by. It's BEAUTIFUL...I love all your touches and the fresh flowers are gorgeous! GREAT JOB!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Your tablescape for two is just stunning. I love the use of the garden cherub and the picture frames with the initials. How thoughtful to also do a tablescape for one. I agree it is important to pamper yourself. Thanks so much for sharing, I always look sooo forward to your blog. Hugs, Marty

Linda Q said...

Lovely fresh table! Love the flowers and that angel. Darling idea with the picture frames.
Linda Q

ellen b. said...

So pretty and romantic. I love all the unexpected accessories you added to the table. I always enjoy coming here and seeing your creativity...

~CC Catherine said...

Alisa, I loved your First Blush of Love tablescape today! How gorgeous and romantic everything was! ;) ~CC Catherine

Bab's Kitchen said...

I love it! The rose heart for the chairs are my favorate.

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Alisa, Your table is gorgeous! You always have such beautiful tablescapes!

I looked at your flowers from last year and they were really pretty. I love the reds, purples and yellows together, or pinks, lavenders and yellows. I just love all colors, it's so hard to pick! I will probably do red, purple and yellow this year, but that could change.

I am ready for spring too. Especially after being in Maui and seeing all the flowers. I hope you have a romantic Valentine's day! Kristen

A Hint of Home said...

You set a very pretty table! Have come to enjoy my visits here.

You are very creative and I enjoy your ideas.

Your landscaping is lovely and any color you pick will surely look good.

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Alisa, :)
Every week you just amaze me with your creativity and beautiful tables.
I don't know if I could ever pick a favorite but this one is right up there.
LOVE the frames!
~Gorgeous~

Happy Valentines Day! :)

PAT said...

Beautiful Valentine table Alisa!

Fifi Flowers said...

Pretty table! Looks like you are ready for the next holiday with that cute bunny!

Laura said...

What a beautiful blog! I can't wait to come back for another visit soon.

Tardevil said...

Your last sentence or 2 says it best. Love the pink dishes, heart candle holders, birds & cherub!

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