A Dinner at The School House

Last weekend we hosted a dinner at The School House.  My Aunt and Uncle were visiting, so we treated everyone to a dinner (mostly) from our garden.  Dinner at the school house is a unique setting - it feels sort of like a country house, but also a little like a store.  We had plenty of wine and music and a delicious fresh menu that tasted like summer.

It was mostly adults (except for Emma and her baby cousin), so I took the opportunity to set a pretty table using the new linens from the Classic Collection - Navy Fleur Block Print.

I took these photos in the afternoon, but we didn't have dinner until 8pm, so you'll have to imagine the candles flickering and the sun setting over the field against the huge wall of windows.

I design all of the runners in my store to be extra wide and extra long.  I love big, rustic farmhouse tables - I love to see the patina and character of the wood.  I'm not much of a placemat person, so this extra long, extra wide runner provides a little padding, color and protection to the table, without overing it up completely.  Also, it helps to visually scale down the huge table and makes it feel a little more cozy.

Navy Fleur Napkins, set of 4, $34

Table Runer, $46

When we got up the next morning, I took my camera out and in my barefeet, walked around the property to take photos.  The light is so warm and pretty coming in from across the fields.

I used hydrangeas from the hydrangea standard tree we planted out front in my collection of creamware creamers and tea lights.  Such a simple, but pretty setting.  I love the look of the coordinating napkins and runner for a cohesive look on the table.

Navy Fleur Napkins, set of 4, $34
Table Runer, $46

The Menu

Heirloom Tomato Sauce with Rigatoni

Pesto Shrimp Skewers

Butter Lettuce & Firm Ricotta Salad with Lemon Shallot Vinegrette

Peaches & Vanilla Whipped Cream


I designed this menu to feature the best of the summer season, but to not be a typical "summer dinner."  It was fresh, flavorful and so delish.  Everything is easily prepped ahead of time.  The only thing to do just before dinner was cook the pasta, dress the salad and put the shrimp in the oven.

Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce Recipe >

Pesto Shrimp Skewers

I tossed the shrimp in pesto, then skewered them.  For dinner, I put about 6 large shrimp on each.  I put the skewered shrimp on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, then roasted them in the oven for 8 minutes.  You can also grill them, but we don't have a grill at the school house and it is much easier to just stick them in the oven!

Pesto Recipe >

I wanted dessert to be very light and taste like the essence of a summer peach.  So, I sliced fresh peaches (with fuzz and skin on - my favorite way) and topped them with a big dollop of vanilla whipped cream.  It would also be so yummy with a cookie... maybe a warm snickerdoodle or gingersnap.

Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream >

We love spending time at The School House on the weekends.  I still haven't decided on a color for the front doors (just primed now) - my instincts tells me to keep it white on white, but I feel like I should do something a little more fun.  Thoughts?

For those of you that are new, The School House is the home of my online store.  The products are stored, packaged and shipped from here.  You can learn more, here >

Here is our garden that is starting to produce tons of tomatoes... which is mostly what we planted.  It has been a tough year to establish trees, grass and a garden due to the extreme heat and lack of rain.  We'll be doing more plantings this fall and will share our plan with you.

One of the garden quadrants is planted with zinnias.  So pretty and fun!  They are just starting.

I planted lilac bushes along the fence line.  I can't wait until they start growing big and filling in.  They will perfume the entire property.

The School House Team is busy packing orders from The Classic Collection.  Shop >

Garden Table Setting for Spring

There is such a wide range of entertaining styles out there.  Some think that entertaining should be about crystal, china and lit candles, and some think about a big crowd of family around the island munching on dips using paper plates and napkins.  I like to live somewhere in between - I think most of us do.  I love sitting down to a pretty table, but I don't like to feel like it is fancy or stiff.  I love crowding around the island, munching on snacks, but I still like pretty platters and artful displays.  

I think at the end of the day, we all want to just feel like family when we're invited to someones home.  We want to feel casual enough to linger in the kitchen while helping ourselves to wine, but we also love that feeling of sitting down to a thoughtfully set table.  This setting is all of those worlds wrapped up into one.   It is a bit rustic with terra-cotta pots right on the table, but elegant with fresh gingham checked napkins and fresh flowers.  This is a table that could easily host adults or kids for an Easter meal.

Notice how wide and long the generous gingham runner is?  I love this look.  It is not thin and whimsy, but wide and generous without the formal feel of a tablecloth.  I have kept this runner on my table all month - it really lightens the feel of our dark wood table, exactly what I want for spring when this area can feel a little heavy.

Extra Wide & Extra Long Natural Gingham Runner

Natural Gingham Napkins
Garden Tool Stationery (tag as the place card, tablets and note cards also available)
Classic Cream & Sugar Set
Creamware Platters
Creamware Creamers Collection of 5

Classic Cream & Sugar Set

Creamware Creamers Collection of 5

Garden Tool Stationery

Natural Gingham Napkins

Extra Wide & Extra Long Natural Gingham Runner

Extra Wide & Extra Long Natural Gingham Runner

Natural Gingham Napkins

Garden Tool Stationery

Garden Tool Stationery

Extra Wide & Extra Long Natural Gingham Runner 

This is a lovely gift to your guests, or a hostess gift if you are headed to someone's home this spring.  I love this for a teacher or birthday gift, as well.

Natural Gingham Napkins
Garden Tool Stationery (tag as the place card, tablets and note cards also available)

Shop this table :

Natural Check Runner
Natural Check Napkins
Creamware Creamers Collection of 5
Classic Cream & Sugar Set
Creamware Platters

Warmest & Coziest Thanksgiving Table | Rust, Moss Green, Pumpkins & Plaid

On Thanksgiving, you just want to be wrapped with all of the warm and cozy.  Isn't it a wonder that everyone's favorite holiday isn't about presents?  Ok, it is really about the food.  BUT, more than that, I think it is that feeling everyone loves of walking into a warm house on thanksgiving day that is bustling with family or friends, that smells like a wood burning fire, cider simmering and pies baking.     It is a big table, maxed out to the brim to squeeze everyone together, with mix matched chairs and glasses.  I think all of this is what we really love about Thanksgiving.

Extra Long & Extra Wide Runners.  They look great on any size table.

Harvest Berry Runner, $36

Mix & Match Silverware

Lately I've kept my eye out for silver plate flatware at estate sales and 'treasure shops' as Emma and I call them.  I mix and match them with our own silver from our wedding.  I don't mind that it is a little tarnished (I never polish!) and everything goes through the dishwasher in our house.  Mixing my collections helps me expand my sets for the entire table.  For example at one setting, I'll use the forks from one collection and the knives from another.  In the next seat, I'll use the knives from one and the forks from the other.  They go together, but they don't match exactly.

I do the same with napkins & plates.  If I only have so many matching plates, I'll mix in white plates every other seat, and use the coordinating salad plates on top of the white plate, then matching pattern salad plate on top of the white dinner plate.  It stretches the collections.

Deep Brown Topiary Linens + Rust Candles + Rust Velvet Ribbon

I love adding a sprig of something to a setting.  They aren't too bulky and they smell delish.  

And definitely mix and match chairs.  These new windsor chairs were a steal at a local antique shop.  They match our table perfectly in a dark cherry wood.

I love how throwing the Plaid Blanket Wrap over the chair brings balance and even more warmth to the dark and cozy table.

I'm so obsessed with this magical centerpiece pumpkin.  It is so ancient looking.  I love how the pewter finish salt and pepper and creamers add a refined balance to the table, too.

Velvet is the warmest and coziest of it all.  I love these deep rich tones that will carry over into the Christmas season.  Velvet Ribbon, here.

Piling on the Velvet Pillows is the ultimate relaxing spot next to the fireplace after the big meal.

Find more cozy Thanksgiving ideas, here >

Thanksgiving Greens | Layers of Patterns & Pumpkins

Not all of us are orange, gold and red people : )  I do tend to embrace those rich colors this time of year, but my heart always sits with tonal neutrals.  I was so drawn to the green pumpkins at the patch this year - maybe because this has been such a strange weather year and everything is still so green around here?  Whatever it is, this table scheme is right up my alley.  It feels cozy and fall-ish, in an entirely new and unexpected way.

Do you know what else I like about this setting?  Take away the pumpkins and you have a great start to a beautiful table for Christmas, too : )  These linens with some hurricanes going down the center, maybe some blooming paperwhites would be a perfect holiday table.

I love how the greens and tans play with the dull finish silvery pewter pieces.  The Edgartown Sand Taper Candles mimic the stems of the pumpkins and also the Warm Velvet ribbon.  I like to think about three colors when I'm designing a table setting - or a room.  Each finish or color should be repeated 2-3 times for the balance to be right.  Here is the formula for this table : 

Green : Pumpkins & Green Hydrangea Block Print Tablecloth ($36-48) & Napkins ($32)

Tan : Pumpkin Stems, Edgartown Sand Taper Candles ($10.50), Warm Velvet Ribbon

Dark Brown : Spode Woodland Dishes & Wood Furniture (Chairs, Desk)

Pewter : Candle Sticks, Salt & Pepper, Gravy Boat, Flatware

To make 8 place settings, I used 4 Green Hydrangea Block Print Napkins + mixed in 4 Hemstitch Napkins.  I use this trick a lot since I usually don't have more than 4 of each napkin.  The Hemstitch basics helps me to expand my seasonal items.

I added the "H" by hand by making a quick little stitch with embroidery thread.  I sketched an H with a pencil, then did little stitches - so easy and took 5 minutes.  

How charming is this little touch that cost hardly anything and was done by hand.  I really don't have any sewing skills, so don't be afraid to attempt!

I tied the print settings with velvet ribbon and added a sprig of rosemary.

I continued the muted theme with orange and green pumpkins on the sideboard/writing desk in our dining area.  The creamware platters create the perfect tone-on-tone backdrop.

I love these Salt & Pepper.  They are impressively heavy, too.  They would be the ultimate Hostess Gift for someone you really like... and we all know they should be well rewarded - hosting Thanksgiving is Hard!

I added more tonal, comfy touches to make the space more luxurious, too, like these Velvet Cashew Pillows.

The adjacent hearth room is also decked in coordinating Green Hydrangea Block Print & Velvet Pillows.

Shop the Thanksgiving Harvest Collection for more ideas for table settings and cozy ideas for your home this Holiday.

Visit this Gallery of  my Thanksgiving Table Settings for more ideas >