This tablescape was inspired by a set of Pier 1 cocktail plates my daughter Lauren bought me for Christmas a year or two ago.  Cocktail plates are a wonderful invention. Perfect for snacks, as underplates for small sauce bowls of horseradish or mint sauce,  for holding a breakfast sandwich along with a big mug of coffee, or a biscuit or two with afternoon tea.

I had stored them away with the rest of the Christmas china and when I brought them out in November, was delighted to discover that they coordinated perfectly with the Haddington plaid plates Pier 1 released this year. Each set comprises four different but coordinating plaids. 

I styled the table very simply. A plaid runner and green linen napkins from years past at Pottery Barn, along with quilted cream placemats.  A large lantern with pillar candles served as the centrepiece, flanked with two more pillar candles in iron holders. 

I used Hartley Greens creamware salad plates under the plaid cocktail plates and Cupola Flatware from Williams Sonoma.  

The squirrel with pinecone  salt and pepper set is from this year at Pier1. I think there are still some available and very much on sale.

The detailed etching on the glasses really shows up in the candlelight. It’s one of my very favourite sets of stemware. The pattern is Belle Epoque from Nachtmann (discontinued and almost impossible to source now, regrettably). There is also a white wine glass in a tulip shape (not shown here).

I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.