I.O.U. One Great TableScape (and why this isn’t it!)
Hello-Hello to all my friends.
And welcome to Fox Hollow Cottage, to anyone new here today or visiting from the Fall Ideas Party!
This was an odd post for me so either get comfy or I apologize. Take your pick!
I Am Not A Tablescaper.
If you have already visited the other tables and are now here… I’m so sorry.
Normally, I can fiddle my way through until I’m happy with the end result, but I just made some big changes to our home and this is the first anything I’ve done with this (new to us) table. In fact, I’ve yet to even refinish or reupholster the dining chairs.
There is something you should know about me…
I’m pretty dang transparent. I simply could not plug the pictures in, write a post and dash.
It’s impossible. I feel the need to tell you the story about this attempted tablescape.
Let’s start here…
This is our current table.
We just downsized from a big farm table. I’ll share it below…
You can see more of this space decorated [here]
Yes, we had TWO tables in our little cottage & NO formal dining room.
Let me explain. The round table in the kitchen is Broyhill and I bought it one day when I channeling someone else and thought I was rich. (I’ve never done that again!) Fast forward about 10 years and three houses later, and there it sat in our tiny kitchen eating area, over-filling the space. It wasn’t alone. No, it came with a full-size, gorgeous buffet that wouldn’t fit in the upstairs, so it was relegated to the basement level. One day, I decided to let them go to a new, loving home.
Perfect. Worked great, best decision ever. Didn’t even miss them!
In it’s place, with lots of room to maneuver around, we added a DIY kitchen island/storage shelf.
You can read all about it and get a better look [here]
I could not have loved this situation any more! The boys & I all loved that nothing was in the way when accessing the cabinets or when traveling from the front of the house, through the sun room and downstairs. The space was now so blissfully open.
Plus, it was a blast to decorate!!
Which leads me to the missing farm table… we brought it from another house as well.
Now, it might not look like it from this angle, but that farm table was a tight fit! When you walked in the front door, you had to skirt around it. Not good in the Winter, wet from rain and loaded down with groceries! For Austin trying to get to his room, or when welcoming guest into the house. Plus, it dwarfed the fireplace and threw the entire room off, it truly was too big for the space. And as our family situation has changed, the need for all that dining space has dwindled. I decided I didn’t want to live in my house inconvenienced and irritated year round, in exchange for a handful of days when it was used. That is what God invented folding tables for right?
Finally, after years of wrestling with the idea, I sold the farm table.
We opened up the space for easy in & out… and it feels wonderful, just like the kitchen did when we deleted the table & chairs and went with the island!
You can see below, the “island” has got a new home.
You can catch all the changes & details [here]
Then for some damn reason… apparently we need a table & chairs. I don’t know why some people are so high maintenance? They like it when I cook too.
It was a trade off when I sold the farm table. I knew it would result in loosing the beloved kitchen island and that open feeling, but really… we did need some kind of table.
In a perfect world, I wouldn’t cook & we wouldn’t even need one!! hahaha
But alas….
A table & chairs were brought in. Actually a quick-borrow from my booth project stash.
Which brings us back here.
Where I think; “Oh, won’t is be fun to stretch & push myself with my decorating and do a tablescape?”
No. No it won’t be “fun” !!
Because the new table fits great in the space… because it’s sooo small.
It’s so small in fact, that the placemats I had planned on using, do not even fit on it!! Too big.
And none of my go-to decorating items do either. Like the wood charger I use to layer… and the table legs are pure white and all my table linens are creamy white… and all the things I’m pulling out look terrible… and I think about pulling out of this party, but I assure myself something will come to me.
To give myself a little wiggle-room I added a leaf and looked for something to get started!
WOOD. I need wood. Where is all my wood?
Oh why did I wait until the day before to do this? (All the while, reminding myself I really didn’t… I just kept having false starts and stepping away!)
After finding an aged, whitewashed plank I intended to make a sign out of, I looked for some natural foliage. I figured since my Peegee Hydrangea only gave me one bloom… I’d sacrifice some stems to the cause.
I laid them out and prayed something would start to come to me.I had picked up a pretty Mum and so I wrapped it up and popped it in the middle, thinking I’d work out from there.
I cheated and turned a brown paper grocery bag inside out to cover the nursery pot.
And secured it with some twine.
Next, I started adding pumpkins. Real & velvet.
A few candles and Hydrangea blooms…
And this is all I could come up with!
My creativity was stunted. I knew that no mater what I did in that moment it was not going to get any better. I know me. I can’t force a thing. It’s not even a mater of giving up… it’s just not there. It’s like a wall comes down and I can’t get an idea to save my life. I could copy some random thing I’ve seen and do something totally un-original (oh say… like this!) hahaha. But I know when I’m done. It’s no use.
I’m primarily a percolator. I roll ideas around and really tend to mull them over and explore them… or they spill-out and everything clicks. Either way, it’s always on their own time.
Now, it’s not the it is sooo bad, it’s more that it simply doesn’t feel like me. Has that ever happened to you? You do something and think, how did that even come out of me? Like you were sleep-decorating!
One problem could be that this didn’t have the layers I’m used too… and those chairs I mentioned earlier? They desperately need to be recovered and the current fabric fought everything.
I thought about starting over and trying to salvage it. I did.
The sky was getting dark and threatening rain though, and I knew my widow for photos was closing.
So I ordered pizza and called it a night!
All the while knowing this little battle wasn’t over. I’m no quitter.
I owe you & myself one kick-butt table design and I’m going to practice hard and bring it soon!!
I bet you didn’t know this little blonde had such important goals did you?
Do you have a decorating arch nemesis? I think we all know what mine is. And since I told you mine, you should tell me your’s! What do you struggle with decorating wise???
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You can view ALL the other fab fall creations by clicking the links below. Have fun!!
Monday
Postcards from the Ridge | All Things Heart and Home
Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer | Domestically Speaking
Prodigal Pieces | Housepitality Designs
Mad In Crafts | My Creative Days
Tuesday
Refresh Restyle | 2 Bees in a Pod
Fox Hollow Cottage | Artsy Chicks Rule
Our Southern Home | Restoration Redoux
Savvy Southern Style | Atta Girl Says
Wednesday
H2OBungalow | Cottage at the Crossroads
Today’s Creative Life | Dukes and Duchesses
Hunt & Host | The Interior Frugalista
Sweet Pea | Petticoat Junktion
Thursday
Art is Beauty | AKA Design | At the Picket Fence
Town and Country Living | Cupcakes and Crinoline
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | So Much Better With Age
Donna Marie says
The mum is too tall (I think.)
Karen Baumgardner says
I think you ARE a “tablescaper” and don’t realize it! Look at all those beautifully styled shelves in the backgrounds of your photos..all they are is a flat surface ( i.e…table top) elevated to another level. I also like the more traditional setting you have…as if you dared to break away from all the other neutral displays done by the other bloggers. They are gorgeous in their own right, but so is yours.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Oh I do my own thing! If I like something, I’ll buy it/do it. But never because it’s in style, only if I like it. I keep my things too long. lol. I have to really love them 🙂 Thanks, I love decorating that apothecary cabinet. It was in my sons room for many, many years and I’ve just had it back a few now. It’s a joy.
Kim @ Hunt & Host says
Cracking up…I love that the struggle is REAL!!! We can’t be crafty all the time. I would say your off day is better than most of my on days, it looks beautiful to me! I love putting stuff together that you just have on hand…that is real life! Thanks for sharing the real stuff 🙂 kim
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Heck yeah! Only real here. I can’t do anything else. Me too, I don’t want to run out and buy all new for everything. It’ll come to me. I’m sticking to my story and blaming it on the chair fabric 😉 hahahaha
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Oh Shannon, I love your honesty! And if I were on the mantel day, I’d have to admit the same thing. Nary an idea here for it. Actually, I love your tablescape because it’s REAL!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Girl, no one would go in the house… who would leave that porch of yours??? Always to die for.
xo Shannon
Paula@SweetPea says
I would never know that you weren’t an old pro at creating tablescapes. The one that you created here is lovely and perfect for a fall dinner. Covering the mum’s nursery pot with a paper bag was a great idea!
Lilies and Glitter says
Oh I love your tablescape…I know what you mean about not be totally satisfied and wanting the chairs to be perfect. But, we’re always harder on ourselves than we would be of others.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Thanks so much for stopping to comment! I think we have all been there huh?
Just that… can’t get it right thing.
kristin says
I love the tablescapes, so beautiful!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Thanks Kristin. Happy fall, hope you guys gets some cool weather soon 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Silly Shannon!!! 🙂 I think you did a beautiful job on this…and the wood plank aka “sign to be” is PERFECT!!! I always enjoy seeing photos of your home. Can’t wait to see what you do with your new table and chairs!
And yes, I do exactly the same!! My tablescape I posted today is actually the very first one I’ve ever done!!!
We are just not that fancy around here!! lol
xoxo
Nancy
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
Well for someone that says she’s not a tablescaper, you sure did a beautiful job! Love the mum wrapped in the bag! Just beautiful. LOVING your new to you table and chairs! XXOO Christy
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
I do like the paper bag. It’s about the best thing on the table! hahahahaha
It’s okay, just not me, and doesn’t flow with my house or other decor?
I’ll be doing a retake once I get those chairs done 🙂
Jessica says
You’re too hard on yourself. It’s adorable! I especially like the paper bag around the pot!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
I wasn’t trying to be. It’s not the end of the world… lol. I know this, but it was also soooo not me. I’m a talker & explainer. It’s like it was impossible for me to post that with out telling you all what I thought.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Oh my gosh, I so enjoyed this post Shannon – keep’n it real! But honestly, for someone who wasn’t feeling inspired, it looks pretty darn good.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Always real 🙂
I just can’t help it. hahaha
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
Oh my gosh, you are so funny! A+ for effort, girl and your centerpiece really is beautiful! 🙂
Debbie Refresh Restyle says
Stop it! I love this tablescape! It has color, balance and beautiful natural elements. And now I want pizza.
xo
Debbie
Kim says
You are so funny and the centerpiece is fabulous, girl!!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
You are much like me, Shannon! Always changing it up and having fun. 🙂 Such a lovely setting and inspiration.
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Yes, I’m a changer for sure.
The biggest with furnishings in awhile being those table changes for sure.
I’ll get it sorted. Eventually 😉