Last night we had a little dinner party and I had two requirements that made setting the table a challenge.
I could not use a tablecloth because the purpose of the dinner was to thank our neighbor, Mike, for helping Steve build our new dining room table and also to show the table to friends.
When Steve decided to make beef stroganoff for dinner, I was limited to these bowls for the main course.
KC and I drove to Home Goods on Saturday to find small plates, napkins and place
mats and you will notice there is nothing in my usual primary colors.
mats and you will notice there is nothing in my usual primary colors.
Red and yellow was my original plan.
With KC's influence and her aqua/mint green/ turquoise palette, our table ended up looking quite different.
The first step was to tear the tablecloth up to make 6 napkins and 6 place mats - I still have enough fabric left to make a table runner if I decide to go with an aqua table setting again.
I have used primary colors for so long, it was kind fun to branch out from my comfort zone.
Hand stamped Valentine bags were filled with Dove's chocolate hearts and questions were added to the back of each place card.
Hands down, the funniest answers were to the question asking what we got in trouble for when we were young.
I love the preparation for a dinner party - especially when Steve does the cooking.
I also love the day after a dinner party when the house is clean, filled with flowers and I can relax.
As I look around the house, I noticed various shades of green that were already party of my February decor.
So, I guess aqua in my house isn't such a surprise.
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Carol,
ReplyDeleteI love the aqua. Perfect for your beach cottage home. Your table looked so pretty. Dinner sounded yummy too. I love the little questions game too. How fun.
Kris
That aqua is perfect since you live by the beach! It's a nice summery color. I use a little bit of aqua in my decor as well - I have my living room china cabinet painted a soft aqua. Although I want to paint it red :)
ReplyDeleteYour table looks just beautiful!
I adore your new aqua tablescape that is perfect for your beach cottage! Just love it all especially the dishes. I was just at Home Goods today and it is hard to get out of there without buying something. I brought home a white birdcage that I can hang and put a plant in or anything really....and some other goodies.
ReplyDeletepretty! And aqua goes beautifully with yellow and red, too.
ReplyDeleteThe aqua is gorgeous. Fresh and pretty. A change of palette can be a kickstart to creativity. Love the party questions.
ReplyDeleteI love the aqua in your dining room. I never thought of tearing a tablecloth up to make napkins and placemats. They look like you just went out and bought them.
ReplyDeleteLove the aqua, beautiful table. I love the questions you always use, that has to be so much fun!
ReplyDeleteMary
I love the aqua. I posted something aqua today, too! I've proclaimed aqua and blush pink neutrals in our home! ;P
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute table for a fun dinner party!
xo,
RJ
It looks.lovely.and sounds.like.you had.lots of fun :))
ReplyDeleteVery pretty table! I'm loving aqua and pale green lately. I wanted to also Thank you for stopping by my blog the other day. You asked about my husbands mix of chalk paint. The plaster of paris makes the paint stick and so you don't have to use primer. It was so easy and much cheaper then the other paints out there. Love your table!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteBig change for you, but oh so pretty. I love the little gift bags and the questions to engage conversation. You are so clever and really know how to make your guests feel pampered. You have got my brain swirling with all the things that you did with the table cloth, and fabric left over, Wow!
This is a very impressive post. I'm so happy that I stopped by.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Your blogging sister, Connie :)
the stock (flower/color) really makes the aqua color pop. love the table setting. enjoy the questions too. sounds like such fun. ( :
ReplyDeleteI love aqua and when we get around to painting I will probably have a wall or two (or three) in the colour. We must be opposites because every now and then I yearn for a deep yellow and red with white dots.
ReplyDeleteIt's truly lovely, Carol. I like the aqua touches. They are perfect for a beach house and fit right in with the primary colors. Well done! ;-)
ReplyDeletethat table is gorgeous! I would never put a table cloth on it. and the aqua is such a relaxing and soft color. make me want to visit the beach. :0)
ReplyDeleteDebbi
-yankeeburrow
Aqua ia my new color too...I know mine comes from the UK with their wonderful use of red and aqua together that I just love. I still love the primaries but I may be going a little softer in my old age, ya think?
ReplyDeleteYour tablescapes are always lovely and what a great table!
Your table is beautiful. I liked the strips too. oxox, Susie
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm a bit prejudiced because aqua/turquoise are my favorites colors... so I think your table setting is swoon-worthy!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Yay for you for stretching your comfort zone ~ seaside houses NEED a bit (or more) of aqua!!
You know I am loving this gorgeous aqua tablescape! I especially love the placemats and napkins....:)The stripes are great! And, I always love your questions. One day I am going to do that at a gathering....so fun! Have a wonderful Wednesday....Vicky
ReplyDeleteOh I love your aqua! What a surprise though! The table looks lovely and a good way to do the questions. We played another game that would be somewhat similar --- answering a question and guessing who gave what answer; somewhat like the dictionary game.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! Your guests probably loved it all. The little candy bags are adorable.
ReplyDeleteI stood at Home Goods and lusted over aqua plates the other day but they only had 4. They absolutely look great with primary colors in my mind. My husband actually loves that color too so sooner or later I'll bring some home. :)
Hello Carol! aqua is a great fresh colour,your table looks really beautiful,I think you had lots of fun! besos. Lilián.-
ReplyDeleteCarol, the table is lovely and I too have been drawn to Aqua lately. I think it is a beautiful addition to your color palette! The little bags and questions are a fun addition to a dinner party! Fun!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
I love it! This is a color I adore. Love how you crafted the mats and napkins out of the cloth. I like to do that, too. We have a round table, and I find that it is easiest to crisscross two runners when there are four diners and use a cloth when there are more.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Carol!
xoxox
Sheila
Ooooh, such a pretty color, and you did a terrific job setting a beautiful table!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Cute table and I love the striped fabric.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to use the table cloth for placemats and napkins. The decorations turned out lovely and I think aqua looks great in your home.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I love the aqua color. You're inspiring me to bring some fun colors into my house to beat the winter blahs!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks wonderful! After finding all these foreign blogs with the pastel colors, I'm feeling like mixing some into my primary color palette too. Soften it a bit.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Love it. The aqua is so pretty against the wood. Love how you created placemats and napkins from a tablecloth. Such a great idea. Also what a creative idea with the questions on the place tags. I bet you had fun. Your home and table looked fabulous with the aqua.
ReplyDeleteHave a great rest of the week.
Hugs
Carol,
ReplyDeleteThe Aqua looks refreshing, I have always loved Aqua and I'm sure everyone at last night's dinner party did too. I think the questions were genius and I can just hear the laughter and conversations around the table with the answers.
XO,
Vera
Wow! Wow! Wow! I LOVE the turquoise/blue table setting/decoratiosn! It's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful table setting! The aqua looks gorgeous!,great job!
ReplyDeleteJudy
The aqua looks terrific and really showed off your beautiful table.
ReplyDeleteYou really out did your self - everything was perfect. Love the questions and I bet you had tons of fun.
Mary
I love that you branched out lady! It is beautiful and the flowers just sing against that aqua!!! Looks like an ocean table! I'm glad you had a nice dinner on your beautiful table with your friends! A wonderful week to ya pal! Tell your daughter she did a good job too! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour table setting was so pretty!! I love the aqua...so perfect for where you live. The question game sounds like a lot of fun. I bet there was a lot of laughter when it came to the answers you all gave.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Cindy
What a great way to use the tablecloth. I love the colors, aqua is so springy and I can't wait for spring!
ReplyDeleteIt came out pretty! Aqua is my favorite color.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color added to the primary colors really does work. Of course I love the torn fabric mats and napkins.
ReplyDeleteIt turned out simply gorgeous and it is fun to bust out every now and then. I agree that setting the table is my favorite part!
ReplyDeleteThe aqua is so refreshing, like little splashes of a blue sky amid your vibrant reds and yellows! I've been craving this colour for a while now, and love it with red!
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous, Carol!
Poppy
I AM SO LATE but nonetheless HERE, enjoying my favorite color on this fantastic table. Carol, this hue of aqua is perfect. And I love how you and Steve entertain and how YOU share it. Your colors are making me happy, putting me in a place of escape from this terrible cold. THANK YOU MY FRIEND! Anita
ReplyDeleteI love that colour scheme ... so fresh! M x
ReplyDeleteOh Carol, your table splashed with aqua was beautiful and the pink flowers just popped off the table. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteLove the table setting. I was at Homegoods too, & kept looking at the same tablecloth. With piles of snow everywhere the light beach color is so welcoming. Love the mix of using the blue mason jars too. I see a return trip to Homegoods here.
ReplyDeleteLove the aqua! I think it compliments your other colors nicely. And the little goody bags are so fun :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
LOVE that table setting, Carol! And the fun questions, too! ♥
ReplyDelete(For some reason, when I enter here through bloglovin, I'm unable to comment. I had to enter another way.)
It doesn't look like you're out of your comfort zone at all! The aqua looks so summery with the yellow walls, and all the place settings look so inviting. Great idea with the questions, but you forgot to say what YOU got in trouble for the most ;) I think the only time I saw my dad really angry at me was when I poured gasoline in the wrong tank in the car ... he controlled his anger well, but he had a heck of a time fixing my mistake! Wendy x
ReplyDeleteI think your aqua table setting is beautiful!!! I love the table cloth you used to make everything out of. I never would've known it wasn't already placemats and napkins. You are so clever!
ReplyDeleteI saw the title to this post right before my tablet went dead last night and I couldn't wait to see the aqua in your home! You could not have chosen a better color to use as an alternative to the primary colors. Your table is so cool and contemporary! I know your friends really appreciated your efforts to say thank you. And I wish my husband would cook up some beef stroganoff!
ReplyDeleteI love the soft aqua tablescape. You did really good for something that is not your usual palette.
ReplyDeleteI love it, obviously. Your artist's eye always amazes me in the small details.
ReplyDeleteI like the aqua, it's my favourite colour and matches your beach cottage perfectly. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors! I am going to steal your idea of cutting up a tablecloth to make napkins and placemats. Brilliant! What a fun idea to have little questions for conversation starters. Might steal that idea too ;)
ReplyDeleteI love aqua and think it goes perfectly in your house with the primary colors. Aqua and yellow and aqua and red actually go very well together. I bet your dinner party was a lot of fun, especially with the questions as conversation starters.
ReplyDeleteI love your new aqua. I think it's perfect for your cottage because it reminds me of the ocean. Sound like a fun time was had by all...love that question.
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE the aqua; one of my fav colours! Your table looks wonderful and aqua goes stunningly {is that a word??} with red! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by. Happy Valentine's day to you and your hubby!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
You know I love aqua Carol. Try it with red, you will love it! The table turned out darling and I love the fabric! Would like to find some like that! The questions were great fun I'm sure!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Love it. But then aqua is my fave color. Combine it with red and I love it too. Your table looks so pretty. I have several things in aqua but need some aqua plates
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about remodeling our upstairs and I want to used aqua in one of the rooms.
Love the aqua and your lovely table settings! The little bags with chocolates and labels are adorable!
ReplyDeleteHelen xx
Oh I just love this, especially the little goodie bags with questions, what a great idea. I was looking around my house the other day and noticed I really keep to a very specific color scheme and I Need to branch out. This was a great post to read this week! Hope you enjoyed your dinner party!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific festive party you put together! I am in love with your table and your turquoise theme!!!
ReplyDeleteHope the party was a success....
:)
How lovely it all looks...lucky guests! Thank you for your lovely comment,
ReplyDeleteSarah --x--
Good Morning Carole, Isn't it lovely to be influenced by some one else. I love the colour aqua, but I don't own one thing which is aqua.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of buying a tablecloth, then cutting it, to make napkins and place mats.
With your husband being the cook, it must have been nice for you to be able to concentrate on the table setting.
.... and I have to tell you Carole, I love your new table.
Best Wishes
Daphne
That table is lovely and glad you went with aqua...perfectly beautiful! Gosh, It's been years since I was invited to someone's house for dinner. It's always been me extending the invitation and work.
ReplyDeleteLove the table with the aqua placemats. Are they sweet peas in the mason jar? Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day. Beef stroganoff is one of my favorites too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful table, dear Carol! Your husband is certainly mullti-talented...
ReplyDeleteI think the color of the tablescape is very soothing, and the pink flowers give that extra "pop"...
I am finding that gettiing outside of one's comfort zone can often bring wonderful surprises. :)
So glad you all had a great time at the dinner party...I love your ideas for the sweet treat bags...and the questions!
I wish you a most blissful Valentine's Day!
xoxo,
- Irina
The table looks fantastic with the aqua; you must have a very impressive collection of table lines, Carol.
ReplyDeleteKaren
What a team you are! That color is absolutely gorgeous! I didn't think that there was any color that you excluded! (including grey! *smile*)
ReplyDeleteYou did a lovely job decorating your new table and letting it's beauty be visible too. The colors look wonderful to me! I love so many shades of blue/green.
ReplyDeleteWhat a kind and beautiful way to say thank you.
Hugs,
Terri
Very pretty....I love the aqua color :o)
ReplyDelete~Des
I love the aqua and it's so fresh, it goes with all your primary colours. I also love the detail on new aqua dishes, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteOh I love the aqua! Perfect for your beach home! xoxo Jen
ReplyDeleteYou always set the loveliest table! Your table is too beautiful to cover with a tablecloth. It looks so lovely.
ReplyDeleteAqua is lovely in your home. A perfect compliment to the other colors. Love the place cards with questions. You're quite the hostess.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I love the day after a dinner party!
ReplyDeleteAqua and red or aqua and pink go so well together. Your table setting was beautiful and the party sounds like it was a lot of fun.
I really like the aqua and white. It all look so pretty! Thank you for sharing it at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great weekend! ~Deborah
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet table setting...I love the aqua as well.....it reflects the color of the sea and is perfect for a cottage..even one done in primary colors... The questions are great.
ReplyDeleteI love how you always incorporate that into your dinners.
Carol
ReplyDeleteYour aqua table setting is so pretty.
And I love, love, love your rustic table top.
That's a beautiful table setting. The table itself is beautiful too. :) And I love that you attached the question-cards. Did people get into answering? Do the cards "work"? I always love ideas like that when I come across them but always wonder. I hope they do, it's such a clever and fun idea. :)
ReplyDeleteAqua/teal are one of my favorite colors along with purple but I'll be damn if I have that color anywhere in my house. I have lots of reds
ReplyDeleteLoved your table. You always have such cute settings.