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.

Showing posts with label Better Homes and Gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Better Homes and Gardens. Show all posts

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY - True Blue

I have to tell you that this week's table has been fun! The inspiration started when I was at my local grocery store - Harris Teeter - and saw that Le Bleu water was on sale! I just loved the bright, rich blue of the bottles and the scroll-like script used for the brand. After drinking the water I saved three of the bottles planning to use them outside on the deck to hold fresh cut flowers the next time we dined out. The bottles are shatterproof so they make a great alternative to glass vases. After looking through the cabinets for dishes and crystal, I spied the Le Bleu bottles sitting on my counter! BINGO! This week's table would take its queue from the bottles - a classic pairing of yellow, white and blue was the natural thing to do! I set the breakfast room table using a yellow, hem-stitched linen placemat and layered a round, straw placemat in Aegean blue on top. I just love to layer placemats. I didn't use any chargers but laid down my Blue Churchill plates and topped them off with my favorite IVORY salad plates. I sat a small white hobnail vase holding bright yellow daisies in the center of the salad plate for added punch. I only have one of these little vases but would LOVE to have 8 or 10! They are the perfect size for holding individual sized bouquets.
To form the centerpiece I used an oriental wooden tray and filled it with three Le Bleu bottles filled with white hydrangea and three white milk glass vases filled with "sunshine-y" yellow daisies. I filled in around the vases with the infamous birdie salt and pepper shakers and the votive candle holders.
Remember these? I think it's time for Susan to host another "Target Birdies go on holiday!" party. We'll have to let her know!
These fluffy white hydrandeas came from my local market. They were the manager's special this week - only $1.99!

To get a better shot of the Blue Churchill plates, I propped it up on a plateholder. I've had these plates for 20 years or better. I have cups and saucers to match but can not find where I've stored them. I still have boxes of dishes I haven't unpacked from 3 years ago! Yikes!

By now you are well acquainted with my IVORY dishes from Better Homes & Gardens. I use these dishes more than any others. They are so pretty. I love the embossing. They can be dressed up on an elegant, formal table or dressed down with a gingham checked tablecloth on the back deck!
The sparkle of crystal goblets will add panache to any table.
This is the third week I've used the Bamboo flatware. I am finding myself reaching for it over and over. I love the texture it adds to the table.
I found these napkins at HomeGoods a few months ago. I purchased a package of 4 for $2. You can't beat that! I looked for more packages but to no avail. They are hand blocked and painted. I can see myself using these in a new beach table - stay tuned for that! These little white wrought-iron birdie napkin rings are my favorites. I use them on my table almost continuously during the Spring and Summer months.
Yellow, White and Blue - next to Red, White and Blue it's the perfect summer time trio of colors - a true American tradition. I hope you've enjoyed looking around today. For tons more inspiration and FABULOUS tables of all types, sizes and styles, visit Susan at:
Until I see you again,
Happy Decorating!
~Alisa










Welcome to My First Tablescape Tuesday!

Hello! Today is Tablescape Tuesday and this is my premier posting! Thanks to Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this fun tablescape party! Since New Year's Eve is tomorrow, I thought I would do a tablescape to prepare for the festivities.

I decided on a color pallet of Ivory, Gold, and Warm Chocolate.
Let's take a look.


I love to layer my table. Nothing warms up a table like layers of table linens.
I started with an Ivory silk blend tablecloth from Ralph Lauren Home.
I was fortunate enough to find this at a HomeGoods store.
I did not have brown placemats on hand so I turned a silk brown napkin on the
diagonal and laid out my placesetting on top.
I used a matte gold charger in the Italian Countryside motif, then placed a solid Ivory plate on top. The dishes are part of a line from Better Homes and Gardens.
I doubled my napkins by layering a fine Shabby Chic ivory cotton with a scalloped edge inside a gold satin with a jacquard weave.

Here is a wider angle. I tucked the top corner of my "placemat" under but you could allow it to overlap your tablerunner if desired.
The tablerunner is a gold chenille with heavy fringe.
I used the runner as the boundary for my tablescape accessories.

Since it is New Year's Eve, I wanted to keep the theme along the lines of time.
I gathered clocks from various rooms of the house and clustered them down the
center of the table.
I collect Old World Santas and have three that are dressed in Ivory and Gold.
The perfect model for "Father Time" so they were added to the mix.

Here is a full shot of the table featuring "Father Time" and 7 clocks.
Today I will set each clock to a different time zone - New York, Dallas, LA, London, Paris, Tokyo, and of course Charlotte!


I also used a couple of gold metal stands trimmed in crystal teardrops and beads.
This helped to elevate some of the clocks to balance with the largest "Father Time" figure.

I love Mercury Glass! I started collecting it about a year and a half ago.
I featured some of my collection of candleholders in this tablescape.
As seen in this photo I used single Crystal Goblets and to play off the crystal and add sparkle,

I used some clear acrylic beads and scattered them along the table top.

The last accessory I used was large gold orbs. A rather whimsical nod to the
"Big Ball" in Times Square. I just randomly placed them around the base of the tablescape.

Here's one more look down the table.
I guess all that is missing is Baby New Year
but I just couldn't find a baby in the house!
Below is a close up shot of one of the Old World Santas
a.k.a. "Father Time".
Notice the pretty gift he carries on his shoulder.
That gift can represent our NEW YEAR.
You see another year IS a gift from GOD.
None of us are promised tomorrow
but by grace we live and breath and have our being.
I've been thinking alot about 2009 and how I will spend it.
What direction will my life go? How will I use my gifts and abilities
to honor the One who gives all life? I know that my steps are ordered so I move
confidently into the New Year with hope, peace and joy.
I pray that as you celebrate by ringing out the old year
and ringing in the new that you will take a moment
to give thanks for the gift of another year.
May PEACE, HEALTH, and GOD'S FAVOR
rest upon each of you I pray!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tomorrow I will be posting the menu
for our NEW YEAR'S EVE buffet.
Stop back by for some yummy ideas!












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