Notice something missing? Yes, I have managed to make it to the age of 32 without owning 10 cloth napkins. How is this possible??? Any napkin recommendations? Of course I could just go white but Im feeling like a little color or pattern would be nice here.
Ps #1: In case you think I've gone off the deep end, I didn't set the table just for this photo. Mr. L was having his old country relatives over for lunch so it had to be done.
Ps #2: For those that commented they liked the old table better: I totally 100% agree with you! The problem was that it did not function in a way that I needed it to. Whats the point of having a big dining room table if I have to make guests eat standing up? If I could have made it so that it would sit 12, I would have happily paid a small fortune to make it so. (or if the table would have fit in any other room I would have gladly repurposed) So for $225, I have an intermediate solution that should last for a while and be more functional. Its not by any means perfect (it only seats 10 and it has its share of damage)but it works for now. When I find a table I love AND seats 12, I will be chucking this one and plunk down the cash to buy it.
PS #3: For commenters concerned about my hoarding tendances I'm happy to report that I have given the table to my brother who just happened to be dining room table less. Its still in the family but has gone to a good home. Everyone wins - especially my scare storage space.
And all this dining room talk has me itching to host a dinner party. Timing might not work out with Halloween coming up but maybe I can squeeze one in to christen the table?
I love the dwell studio cloth napkins, try those out!
ReplyDeleteOr make them yourself :)
I think the new table looks great! I don't think it is too shiny for the floors, and looks like it was meant to be in your dining room. Glad the old table found a good home too! My recommendations for napkins are brown polished cotton ones. They will blend in with the table, and mine can be dressed down for more casual get togethers and dressed up for more formal ones. And they can always be used for the rustic look. I have plenty of colored cloth napkins, but always end up using the brown ones for every occasion.
ReplyDeleteHello. My name is Sue and I don't even know how I found your blog but I really am enjoying it. I love this table! You mentioned napkins and I have a beautiful table which I prefer not to cover unless absolutely necessary with a tablecloth BUT I love to change out my napkins, both for different designs and at holidays. Only problem they are quite pricey - SO what I do (very easy if you have ANY sewing abilities or perhaps a friend) is to buy a tablecloth you like (I usually purchase mine at Bed Bath & Beyond w/a 20% coupon) or find a tablecloth on sale. Buy a rectangular one and cut it into squares the size you like, hem the edges (you can even use that fabric "glue") and voila! you have beautiful napkins (sometimes as many as 16) out of ONE tablecloth!
ReplyDeleteSHUT THE FRONT DOOR-- I thought you were in your 20's! You look fabulous.
ReplyDeleteSo great that the former table was able to be used by family (best win win situation).
Your new table looks gorgeous in your dining room!! You might want to scope out etsy for some beautiful cloth napkins. Good luck!!
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ReplyDeletehaha, I completely agree with the comment above.. my only response to this post (as I know nothing about napkins and couldn't care less whether you hoard or not) is that you look like you're about 25. I would've never guessed a year older.
ReplyDeleteI think your new table is beautiful and I also love those damask head chairs!
ReplyDeleteI would have guessed 24. But then EVERYONE seems quite younger than my 45 years!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis will sound nuts, but Pier 1 has the most amazing coated napkins that repel stains and water like nobody's business. They come in solids and prints. Water literally beads up on them and I've yet to find anything that can stain them. Plus they're super cheap and look good!!
ReplyDeleteI love the table and I can't get enough of your end chairs!
ReplyDeleteNapkin ideas! I love a napkin with sheen, and use my muted gold ones from Bed Bath and Beyond often, but for more casual parties and such I bought solid-color bandannas in various colors from Hobby Lobby for less than $1 each. They look just like napkins if folded properly, but are thin so I do have to iron them. But that way you can grab navy, brown, butter... and change your mind all the time!
ReplyDeleteI think it turned out lovely. Even without the napkins. I'm so glad the old table is "still in the family." Oh, and I think you are about as far away from a hoarder as you can get. You just never know when you might need something...right?
ReplyDeleteSo many fabulous cloth napkins on the market...or with your sewing skills you can just make several sets for the same cost.
ReplyDeleteThe table looks great, and the best part in my mind is that it already has some damage, so no worries while hosting a wonderful diner party!
Janell
I did something similar...I had a gorgeous, expensive table that I loved from Crate and Barrel, and then had three kids, and thus the beautiful table was forever hidden under elasticized oilcloth tablecloths. I got tired of having a cow everytime the kids ate at the table (like, 3 times a day?), so I bought a kind of dinged up table off craigslist that has a nice dark brown color. And now I don't care that the kids stab their forks into it. (My pretty table is wrapped in a blanket out in the garage.) (Actually I have a whole post on it, but that's the long story short.)
ReplyDeletePs. I think your dining room looks lovely with the new table:-)
ReplyDeleteI think the table looks great and is a great "for now" solution. In the past I've always thought if I can't get what a really want I'm just not going to get anything. And my house is painfully empty because of it. I'm trying to embrace the idea that a house is collected over time and doesn't appear all at once, and sometimes you need to compromise for what fits your space and budget for now even if it's not your ideal situation.
ReplyDeleteI think the new table looks fantastic! My table had legs all over underneath, too. Sadly (or happily?) it was just a Target table and I could unscrew the cross bars to let my chairs tuck under the table.
ReplyDeleteAs for napkins, I like the set of simple, white ones I bought a while back, but I also like to pick up fun ones when I see them at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods. :)
Sew some napkins! You are great with the sewing machine and then you can get pretty fabric and coord with any color theme you are working with.
ReplyDeletePS- loving the table!
You...a hoarder? Never happen. I'm glad your brother will be able to use the former dining room table. As for napkins, I'm too lazy and bought them from Homegoods.
ReplyDeleteWorld market has some great patterned napkins I have some placemats from there too and they washed good.... with four kiddos they are washed frequently...
ReplyDeleteI love how this room looks! I especially love the chairs!
ReplyDeleteI think Target sells cheap but nice linen napkins. The table looks great.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!!! My favorite part---your gorgeous host+hostess chairs. You may have already looked here but i LOVE World Market for cloth napkins. They have gorgeous options!
ReplyDeleteSeeing your lovely Subway print reminds me that I have a English vintage bus blind that I must get around to having framed. Maybe I will now I've written it down!!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you have two photos next to each other. I must try and work out how to do that. My to do list is getting longer and longer as I type!!
I really love this table and you cannot beat this price! Looks great - I really think some simple burlap looking napkins would look amazing here - but if you are looking for pattern and color I'd check out dwell.
ReplyDeleteI actually got my fall pottery barn catalog yesterday and started seeing all of their halloween decor and I got to thinking about how excited I am already to see your home decked out for Halloween!
Very beautiful dining room. Cloth napkins? check TJ Maxx or Marshalls. And white plates...can't go wrong with white. They look so crisp and clean. I'm enjoying your blog
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice...placemats needed and napkins, well I like white, but you can do whatever if you go neutral too. I'm liking the size of your wine glasses too....
ReplyDeleteCindy
I am now trying to rework our dining room although ours is much smaller.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I love this table! Much more than the other one. I hope you can find some napkins you like. I have simple solid brown ones that I love, from Boston Store. They hide dirt well, too!
ReplyDeleteBlack napkins!
ReplyDeleteI like the new table =) I just bought a pack of 12 white napkins at Target for $9.99. They're not fancy, but they do the trick.
ReplyDeleteI have about 4 dozen of the white cotton Williams Sonoma napkins. I wash them and add bleach and they always come out looking great! Great value! The new table looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI saw it mentioned above, but I love World Market for napkins! Although sometimes I just got with different colored bandanas as napkins, especially if I'm using Fiestaware.
ReplyDeleteI usually end up making my own napkins. It is so much less expensive, & then you get to choose the fabric you like! Beautiful room.
ReplyDeleteWarmly, Michelle
I have the Williams Sonoma 12-pack of heavy cotton white napkins that have held up great and can be bleached, etc if need be.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the table! I do agree with your comment in an earlier post though that the chairs may need painting/replacing sometime in the future.
ReplyDeleteI scored on a big garbage bag full of linen and cotton napkins when a family friend's elderly (posh) mother passed away. He didn't have any use for them but heard I'd be interested. After a hot launder and ironing, they are wonderful! Try ebay or even etsy for a deal like that. Target used to have a pretty hemstitched linen napkin. Pottery Barn has lovely ones and you can have them monogrammed. The bonus there is that it's unlikely they will discontinue that style if you lose or ruin a few in the future.
Love the table and the ballroom chairs mixed in.
ReplyDeletexo xo
Loving the new table...and the chairs are perfect!
ReplyDeleteHorchow! Hem stitched...every color/thread color imaginable for a monogram. They also have cocktail size too and sooo affordable. Make great gifts too.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your blog and amazing taste. I went to Kenya 6 years ago and it is truly one the most amazing places I have ever been. Thank you for sharing. Your pictures were incredible...it made me miss it even more.
ReplyDeleteYour dining room is beautiful, just as the rest of the house. Do you mind me asking where you found the upholstered host chairs??? I have been looking all over for something similar.